Author: Antranik Varosian

Park of Life to be established in Botanical Garden in memory of victims of all the Artsakh wars – PM Pashinyan

Antranik Varosian

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 20:22, 21 September, 2021

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan delivered a speech at the main event dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the independence of Armenia at the Republic Square of Yerevan. ARMENPRESS presents the full speech of the PM.

‘’Honorable President of the Republic of Armenia, Honorable Speaker of the National Assembly, Distinguished Members of the Government, Security Council, MPs, Distinguished Representatives of the Judiciary, dear parents, relatives of our martyrs, dear attendees, let’s first honor the memory of all our martyrs who sacrificed their lives to the Motherland and its Independence with minute of silence.

Thank You.

But you are standing alive with your old and new wounds,

You are standing thoughtful, on the mysterious path of the new and old.

With a groan from the depths of your heart, you are speaking to the God

Pondering of a deeply hidden symbolism in your torments,

Pondering about the Word you will tell the world,

And you will become the country, where our spirits strive,

Motherland of hope,

Motherland of light.

These words of Hovhannes Tumanyan probably most accurately express the situation of our homeland, the Republic of Armenia, which is already 30 years old. What will we see if we look back at the 30-year history of our independent state? We will see successes and failures, we will see victories and defeats, we will see tears and joy, we will see inspiration and despair, we will see rapture and disappointment, we will see wars, both victorious and defeated.

The burden of the 44-day war in 2020 is hovering over this square, and perhaps this circumstance is the symbol of the crossroads that the great Tumanyan is talking about. How to live after this tragedy, how to look into the eyes of the children, widows, fathers and mothers of the victims, how to make their sacrifice not be considered meaningless.

This formula is perhaps our biggest task, to formulate the guideline of our life and future at this point of 30 years of independence for the coming decades of our independent state. My formulation is the following.

History has shown and proved that victory in wars has not always been victory in general, in the same way the defeat in wars has not always been defeat in general. We must transform our defeat into victory, but we must also transform our formula for victory, because history has shown that it is not always necessary to defeat others for a victory. To win means to overcome despair, to overcome hopelessness, to overcome the fate, to overcome death.

So where are our martyrs?

They fell so as Armenia can live, they fell so as Artsakh can live. And as long as Armenia lives, as long as Artsakh lives, they are alive. When the Republic of Armenia is developing, when Artsakh is developing, their sacrifices have achieved their goal, because it’s about the homeland of their children, their brothers and sisters.

And I want us to see the presence of our martyrs with us today, to see them as a symbol of life, and not of death, to make them symbol of victory over death, symbol of overcoming despair, overcoming hopelessness.

We have been discussing for a long time what kind of project we should carry out to eternalize the memory of the victims of all the Artsakh wars, symbolizing their presence, their living next to us. And we decided to establish the Park of Life in the Yerevan Botanical Garden, where trees symbolizing the aliveness and presence of all the victims of all the Artsakh wars will be planted, and the culmination of the park will be the Tree of Life, symbolizing the lives of all our martyrs sacrificed to the homeland.

It will not be a memorial, it will be a park of life, where children will run, make noise, play, young people will have fun, adults will walk and talk, and that park will be about that they fell in order all these people, Armenia and Artsakh can live. And the living Armenia, living Artsakh, peaceful and developing Armenian statehood must become the victory they created.

Here, in the heart of this bright square, wrapped in Armenian flags and guarded by the guard of honor, these trees will be moved to the botanical garden, symbolizing the beginning of a new era in the history of the Republic of Armenia, the beginning of an era of peaceful development.

Live Armenia and rise, live Artsakh and rise, for the sake of the martyrs who fell for you to rise.  

Congratulations on the 30th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Armenia’’.

Tigran Abrahamyan: Armenian authorities deliberately disrupting work of parliament’s defense and security committee

Antranik Varosian
Panorama, Armenia
Sept 22 2021

The appointment of the deputy chairman of the Armenian parliament’s Standing Committee on Defense and Security is being thwarted for various reasons, MP Tigran Abrahamyan from the opposition I’m Honored bloc told reporters on Wednesday.

His comments came after the ruling Civil Contract faction MPs voted against the candidacy of opposition Armenia faction MP Artur Ghazinyan for the post for the fourth time.

Abrahamyan said that the failure to appoint a deputy chair disrupts the activity of the Committee on Defense and Security.

"There is another aspect, too. It is unacceptable that the committee holds a meeting to discuss an issue, which has no significance for the public. There are priorities that have been set and presented during this period. They are related to the problems on the border, the concept of army reforms, as well as the situation on Goris-Kapan interstate road, but are not put on the agenda," the lawmaker said.

He considers it inappropriate to constantly delay the appointment of the deputy chairman of the committee against the backdrop of such important issues.

"It goes to show that the authorities are deliberately disrupting the work of the committee," Abrahamyan said.

Referring to the nomination of another candidate, the opposition MP noted that it's not for the authorities to decide which candidate should be nominated by the opposition.

"At the moment we have decided to take a common position on the issue of candidates. We won't be guided by the whims of the authorities," he said, underlining that security issues are a priority for him.

Ukraine and Armenia ink cooperation deal

Antranik Varosian
BroadBand TV News
Sept 15 2021

SEPTEMBER 15, 2021 09.04 EUROPE/LONDON BY CHRIS DZIADUL

The Ukrainian and Armenian regulatory authorities have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation in the field of TV and radio broadcasting.

The document, which is valid for five years and can automatically be renewed, identifies four possible areas of cooperation:

Promoting the exchange of audiovisual services and the creation of a joint audiovisual product
Conducting mutual consultations and exchanging information on specific sectoral issues
Exchange of specialists and experts, as well as organisation of visits and meetings
Organisation and participation in joint seminars, symposia, conferences, round tables in the field of TV and radio broadcasting regulation

The document was signed by Maksym Onoprienko, a member of the National Council, on behalf of the Ukrainian media regulator, and Tigran Khakobyan, the chairman of the Commission, on behalf of the Armenian side.

Research paper competition dedicated to Syunik

Antranik Varosian
September 9, 2021 Guest Contributor Announcements 0

Syunik plays a historically important geopolitical role in ensuring and guaranteeing the national security of Armenia and the Armenian people. After the 2020 Artsakh War, Azerbaijan continues to threaten and make territorial claims on Yerevan, Sevan and especially Syunik.

It is the responsibility of the Armenian youth to strengthen the resilient spirit of the people of Syunik, to combat pan-Turkic ideology and to fight against the defeatist policies of the Armenian authorities.

In light of the above, and especially in the context of the “Towards Syunik” program, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Youth Office, in collaboration with the Nikol Aghbalyan Student Association, has launched a competition for research papers dedicated to Syunik’s geopolitical importance, security, demographic and youth-related issues. The ARF Youth Office urges 18 to 27 year-old students living in Armenia or in the diaspora to participate in the preparation of these papers.

The research papers should focus on the following topics (new topics may be proposed):

  • Syunik in light of the 20th century’s developments (historical review)
  • Syunik’s security challenges (i.e. border, internal and external security) and prospects for addressing them
  • The geopolitical position and role of Syunik in the process of countering pan-Turkism agendas
  • Policies pursued by the current authorities of Armenia in relation to Syunik’s problems
  • Syunik-Diaspora relations
  • Demographic, economic and agricultural mapping of Syunik, relevant challenges and potential solutions
  • Approaches to increase public attention on Syunik
  • Syunik in Armenia’s foreign policy
  • Syunik’s historical and cultural heritage

The research papers may be submitted in Armenian or English and will be reviewed by a panel composed of:

– Tatos Avetisyan, member of the RA National Assembly, economist
– Tereza Yerimyan, Director of Government Affairs, Armenian National Committee of America
– Kevork Hagopjian, international law expert, Vienna
– Meline Anumian, historian, Turkologist, Yerevan
– Yeghia Tashjian, political analyst, researcher, Weekly columnist, Beirut

Finalists will receive scholarships and will have the opportunity to travel to Syunik and present their papers. In addition to the finalists, the remaining students who do not receive an award but are endorsed by the review panel will be published on social media and in the press.

Documents can be submitted through this online form. Deadline is October 15, 2021. The results will be published on October 31, 2021. For more information or inquiries, please contact: [email protected].




National Democratic Axis Party to hold rally in Yerevan on Oct. 1

Antranik Varosian
Panorama, Armenia
Sept 9 2021

The National Democratic Axis Pan-Armenian Party will hold an anti-government rally and a march in Yerevan on 1 October, resuming its “active struggle”.

In a statement on Thursday, the party said the move is conditioned by the imperative to prevent in every way possible the signing and implementation of “destructive documents by the treacherous regime” in the coming months.

It said the ultimate goal of its struggle is to “oust the regime” and form a national transitional government.

The first rally and march will be held on October 1, at 6pm, at the Liberty Square, it said.

"We urge our compatriots joining the struggle to take into account the fact that the process will be difficult and long, so it is necessary to be resilient and patient," the statement reads.

Armenia’s top court to examine the constitutionality of the NA Speaker’s election

Antranik Varosian
Panorama, Armenia
Sept 6 2021

The Constitutional Court of Armenia (CC) will examine the petition submitted by one-fifth of the total number of deputies of the National Assembly, challenging the constitutionality of parliament decision adopted on August 2. The latter concerns the election for the Speaker of the Armenian parliament Alen Simonyan. 

As the Court said in a statement, the consideration of the case is scheduled for January 25, 2022, at 11.00. Judge of the Constitutional Court Yervand Khundkaryan has been appointed as the reporter of the case. 

To remind, Alen Simonyan was elected as Speaker of the National Assembly by 71 in favor votes of the ruling "Civil Contract" faction. The two opposition factions boycotted the vote and later turned to the top court disputing the constitutionality of the vote results.

Political analyst: It is decided in Moscow who will or will not visit Artsakh

Antranik Varosian
News.am, Armenia
Sept 4 2021
17:55, 04.09.2021

YEREVAN. – After the Second Artsakh War, Armenia actually handed over to Moscow the keys to guaranteeing Artsakh's security. Political analyst Argishti Kiviryan said this at a press conference on Saturday.

"After the signing of the [trilateral (Armenian, Russian, Azerbaijani)] statement on November 9, 10 when the Russian peacekeeping military were deployed in Artsakh [(Nagorno-Karabakh)], Moscow is in fact the guarantor of Artsakh's security; and globally, it is decided in Moscow who will or will not visit Artsakh. After November 9, this issue is not decided in Yerevan, it is decided in Moscow," he added, in particular.

According to the analyst, the Armenia side in a very difficult situation today, and any irresponsible step can lead to new cataclysms for the Armenian people, especially now when the Armenian side does not have its security guarantor: the army.

"Well, it is clear that the lackeys of the [ruling] CC [Civil Contract Party of Armenia] who had gone [to Artsakh on the occasion of its Independence Day anniversary] would be greeted in that way by the Armenians of Artsakh. If the Armenians of Artsakh had greeted [them] even much more rudely, they would have done the right thing. Moreover, they were greeted rather mildly, since this catastrophe for the Armenians and the Armenian people happened as a result of the policy pursued by those people. Nobody says the previous [authorities] were right; but at that moment you were in power, you were not able to govern, hand over power," said Kiviryan.

Asbarez: Dr. Suren Manukyan to Discuss ‘Top-Level Perpetrators’ of Armenian Genocide

Antranik Varosian
by Contributor

 

 

 

in Latest, News, Top Stories

Dr. Suren Manukyan

Dr. Suren Manukyan will speak on “Architects of the Armenian Genocide: The Top-Level Perpetrators” during a presentation that is part of the Fall 2021 Lecture Series of the Armenian Studies Program. The online discussion will be held on Friday, September 17 at 7 p.m. PST. Zoom registration is required.

Dr. Manukyan is the Kazan Visiting Professor in Armenian Studies at Fresno State for the Fall 2021 semester and is teaching a course on “Introduction to Armenian Studies.”

In the upper circle of perpetrators of the Armenian Genocide were decision-makers. They were responsible for the formulation of the ideology of the Genocide (Ziya Gökalp, Yusuf Akçura), making the decisions on carrying out the genocide (Mehmet Talaat, Ismail Enver), and supervising the course of the massacres (Mehmed Nâzım, Behaeedin Şakir). Decision-makers sent hundreds of thousands of people to death, often without participating in their killings personally.

The perpetrators of this level were high-ranking state officials, party elites, and a few influential individuals, who had a decisive role in masterminding the Armenian Genocide. Dr. Manukyan will discuss these various perpetrators in his lecture.

Dr. Manukyan is the Head of the UNESCO Chair on Prevention of Genocide and Other Atrocity Crimes at Yerevan State University and Head of the Department of Comparative Genocide Studies at the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute (Yerevan).He is also a Visiting lecturer at the American University of Armenia and has been a Fulbright Scholar at the Center for the Study of Genocide and Human Rights at the Rutgers University of New Jersey.

To sign up for the Zoom discussion, visit the website.

For information about upcoming Armenian Studies Program presentations, please follow us on our Facebook page, @ArmenianStudiesFresnoState or at the Program website.

Azerbaijani serviceman detained in one of houses in Artsakh

Antranik Varosian
Panorama, Armenia
Aug 26 2021

A serviceman of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces have been detained in one of houses in Artsakh's Martakert town. The report was shared on Facebook by expert Alen Ghulyan. According to him, the serviceman, identified as tank-man Jamil Babayev, was found in one of residential houses and was later detained by police officers. Ghulyan has also shared photos and a video showing the serviceman's detention. 

Later, the Prosecutor General's Office of the Artsakh Republic released a statement, confirming the detention of the Azeri serviceman. According to the official clarification, Babayev has been found in one of the houses on Teryan street in Martakert town. 

A criminal case has been initiated and charges on illegal crossing of the Artsakh Republic border, threat to murder to minors living in the house and espionage were brought against him. Babayev is arrested, an investigation is underway. 

Azerbaijan MOD confirms: Azeri soldier captured in Karabakh arrived there from Ganja city

Antranik Varosian
News.am, Armenia
Aug 26 2021
13:07, 26.08.2021

Jamil Babayev, a soldier in the urgent military service of the Azerbaijani army, voluntarily left the psychiatric ward of the Ganja city hospital, Haqqin.az reported, citing the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry's press service.

"A criminal case has been filed against Babayev, an investigation is underway. The Ministry of Defense states that, presumably, the Azeri soldier crossed into an area under the control of Russian peacekeepers," the source added.

Earlier it was reported that Jamil Babayev was detained in an apartment in Martakert, Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh).

The aforesaid statement by the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan, however, raises questions rather than providing explanations.