Author: Antranik Varosian

‘We reaffirm our commitment to prevention of new genocides’ – Armenia MFA

Antranik Varosian

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 09:16,

YEREVAN, APRIL 24, ARMENPRESS. The foreign ministry of Armenia issued a statement on the 105th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

Armenpress presents the ministry’s statement:

“This year on April 24 Armenians from all over the world will join with the friends of the Armenian people and all of humanity to solemnly commemorate the 105th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, paying tribute to the memory of 1.5 million holy martyrs of the Armenian Genocide.

This heinous crime, committed with the intent to destroy in whole the Armenian people and deprive them of their homeland, stands as the first genocide of the 20th century. This crime of genocide impacts on security of the Armenian people today as well.

Turkey’s consistent denial of the Armenian Genocide and its justification, the land blockade imposed on Armenia and the overt anti-Armenian position in the context of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict threaten the security of the Republic of Armenia and the descendants of the victims of the Armenian Genocide.

Beginning 105 years ago, despite the pledges and promises of international security guarantees, the Armenian people were abandoned and defenseless in the face of this crime of genocide and vulnerable to the unrelenting atrocities of its perpetrators. The Armenian people suffered through the horrific ordeal of Genocide, but against all odds they survived. In the wake of their genocidal trauma, these heroic survivors were not only able to preserve and promote their national identity everywhere they sought refuge and safety, but also managed to restore and regain the Armenian statehood. For each day since, the primary mission and main responsibility of the Republic of Armenia has been to ensure the security of its people on the territory of their historic homeland.

The decades-long struggle for the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide demonstrated that there is no single force capable of opposing the quest for historical justice and truth. The increasing number of countries recognizing the Armenian Genocide stands as the most important affirmation of this maxim. It is also particularly relevant that those nations who have made significant contributions in saving and providing refuge to the survivors of the genocide have been the most recent countries to join others in recognizing the Armenian Genocide.

The recognition of the past is essential for the present and the future, to serve as deterrence in order to prevent any recurrence of such atrocity or genocide elsewhere.

The sincere recognition of truth and remembrance of the past are essential requirements for upholding justice, human dignity, combating impunity and uniting in international solidarity.

Today, once again bowing to the solemn memory of the holy martyrs of the Armenian Genocide, we reiterate and reaffirm our commitment to the promotion of historical justice and the prevention of new genocides”.

Azerbaijan made over 190 ceasefire violations in Artsakh line of contact in one week

Antranik Varosian

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 13:16,

STEPANAKERT, APRIL 18, ARMENPRESS. During the period from April 12 to 18 the Azerbaijani forces violated the ceasefire regime in the Artsakh-Azerbaijan line of contact more than 190 times by firing nearly 1800 shots from various caliber weapons at the Armenian positions, the Artsakh defense ministry told Armenpress.

“The Defense Army forces of Artsakh fully control the situation in the frontline and continue confidently conducting their military service”, the statement of the ministry said.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




Artsakh reports first case of novel coronavirus

Antranik Varosian

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 15:10, 7 April, 2020

YEREVAN, APRIL 7, ARMENPRESS. The first case of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has been confirmed in the Republic of Artsakh, Artsakh’s information center said on Facebook.

“The Artsakh healthcare ministry informed that the results of the tests of two suspected cases sent to Armenia were received today, one tested positive, and the other negative. As for the confirmed case we want to remind that the citizen was transported to Kashatagh’s hospital on April 2 via an ambulance and has been put into isolation because he has returned to Artsakh from the settlement of Armenia that is considered “center of the infection”. The second citizen is the neighbor of the first citizen”, the Information Center said.

Given the fact that the citizen has stayed in Mirik village of Kashatagh region upon his arrival from Armenia to Artsakh, 17 citizens who directly contacted him, have been self-quarantined in advance and do not have any symptoms at this moment. The settlement has been under control after the isolation of the citizen.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




Yerevan Mayor congratulates women on Motherhood and Beauty Day

Antranik Varosian

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 12:23, 7 April, 2020

YEREVAN, APRIL 7, ARMENPRESS. Mayor of Yerevan Hayk Marutyan congratulated women on the occasion of the Motherhood and Beauty Day.

“Dear residents of Yerevan, today is the feast of Annunciation of the Holy Virgin Mary, the Motherhood and Beauty Day. I warmly congratulate all mothers and sisters waiting for the joy of motherhood. Be healthy”, the Mayor said on Facebook.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




CIVILNET.Armenian PM Says Statistics Mean End to Lockdown Won’t Be Ruled Out

Antranik Varosian
CIVILNET.AM

6 April, 2020 22:09 
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has presented a lockdown exit economic strategy. Karabakh presidential candidate Masis Mayilyan has called on people to not participate in the April run off election. The government has revealed a new app allowing citizens to test for COVID-19 symptoms. And Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will hold a live stream Q&A session this evening. 
 

Belarusian BelAZ ships haul trucks to Armenia

Antranik Varosian
BelTA, Belarus
April 1 2020
 
 
 
A BelAZ-75585 haul truck. Photo courtesy of the manufacturer
 
MINSK, 1 April (BelTA) – The Belarusian automobile engineering company BelAZ has shipped three haul trucks to Armenia, the company's press service told BelTA.
 
The haul trucks BelAZ-75585 with the carrying capacity of 90 tonnes will be used at the Sotksky mine of the GeoProMining Gold company in Armenia. They will not be the first Belarusian haul trucks the mine will use. The mine already uses 130-tonne BelAZ trucks with high effectiveness. When new vehicles became necessary, the Armenian company chose Belarusian trucks thanks to the optimal value for money they represent.
 
One of the three new BelAZ trucks is being tuned and will soon be commissioned. The two other trucks will be commissioned by the end of April. The trucks are being assembled by BelAZ representatives.
 
The haul truck BelAZ-75585 is powered by a diesel engine with the output of up to 1,200hp. New high-tensile steel is used to improve the reliability of the primary bearing members. Cast components are used to make the nodes that experience the highest tensions. Practice indicates that BelAZ trucks with this type of drive gear fully meet requirements of the most exacting clients. Such BelAZ trucks are used by the Russian companies Rusal, Stroyservis, and Mechel.
 
The Sotksky gold mine is Armenia's largest gold deposit, with its reserves estimated in excess of 120 tonnes.
 
The public joint-stock company (OAO) BelAZ is the managing company of the holding company BelAZ. BelAZ is the world's leading manufacturer of haul trucks and transport equipment for mining industry and civil engineering industry. BelAZ accounts for some 30% of the world market of haul trucks with an extremely large carrying capacity. The company makes the world's largest haul truck with the carrying capacity of 450 tonnes.
 

Azerbaijani press: Romania says so-called “elections” in Nagorno-Karabakh lack legitimacy

Antranik Varosian

Wed 01 Apr 2020 12:37 GMT | 16:37 Local Time

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Romani considers that the so-called “presidential and legislative” elections held on March 31 in the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh lack legitimacy, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

“The Romanian Foreign Ministry expresses its trust in the fact that the poll will not adversely affect the process of identifying a viable and negotiated solution for the conflict in the Nagorno-Karabakh region,” said the statement.

The Romanian Foreign Ministry reiterated its support for the activity of the OSCE Minsk Group, the only entitled format that can facilitate the peaceful and durable regulation of the conflict in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, and encourages the sides to manifest the political will which is necessary in this process.

CIVILNET.Human Rights Watch Questions Armenia’s New Citizens Surveillance Law

Antranik Varosian
CIVILNET.AM

3 April, 2020 21:25 
73 more cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Armenia. The EU will send 51 million euros to help with Armenia’s coronavirus response. The health ministry announces that further hospitals will be rededicated to treating COVID-19 patients. And Human Rights Watch has questioned a new law which gives authorities access to citizens phone data․
 

Azerbaijan Bears Legal Responsibility for April War, Says Stepanakert

Antranik Varosian
April 2, 2020

Artsakh soldiers man a cannon during the 2016 April War (Reuters photo)

On the fourth anniversary of Azerbaijan’s egregious and violent attack on Artsakh, which is commonly known as the 2016 April War, the Artsakh Foreign Ministry said that Azerbaijan bears international and legal responsibility not only for unleashing the brutal attack, but also for the barbaric criminal acts its soldiers committed against civilians and military personnel at the time.

In a statement issued Thursday, the Artsakh foreign ministry pointed to how official Baku elevated its military servicemen who committed heinous acts against Artsakh civilians and soldiers, but added that the 2016 April War further strengthened the resolve of the people of Artsakh to advance its statehood, “which is the best guarantee for the safe existence and peaceful development of the people of Artsakh.”

Below is the foreign ministry statement.

Four years ago, on April 2, 2016, in flagrant violation of the ceasefire agreement, the Azerbaijani armed forces attacked the Republic of Artsakh. They targeted not only the front-line positions of the Defense Army of Artsakh, but also the civilians. The intensity and scale of the hostilities, the number of forces and military equipment deployed by Azerbaijan, as well as the actions of the Azerbaijani side taken prior to the attack to deliberately escalate the tensions and disrupt the peace process indicate that the April 2 aggression was a carefully planned and prepared military operation.

Azerbaijan’s aggression was accompanied by gross violations of international humanitarian law and the rules of warfare. These crimes were documented in detail by the Office of the Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Artsakh and presented to the international community in two special reports.

The aggression in April 2016 was another attempt by Azerbaijan to resolve the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict by force. Only thanks to the decisive actions of the Artsakh Defense Army, as well as the support by all Armenians, it was possible to disrupt the military plans of Baku and to force the Azerbaijani side to comply with the ceasefire regime.

Azerbaijan’s attack on Artsakh became a challenge not only for our Republic, but also for the peace process under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairmanship, for the peaceful settlement of the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict. It is noteworthy that shortly before the April aggression, on March 19, 2016, the President of Azerbaijan openly accused the Minsk Group Co-Chairmen of “using their destructive activities to freeze the conflict, and therefore the faith of the Azerbaijani people in their activities is completely undermined.

Azerbaijan bears international legal responsibility for both unleashing the April aggression and for the criminal acts committed by its servicemen during the aggression against Artsakh. The fact that the Azerbaijani servicemen, who had committed war crimes, were personally awarded by the President of Azerbaijan is another confirmation that these actions were committed either on the instructions, or under the leadership or control of the Azerbaijani authorities. Given that such crimes have no statute of limitations, the Republic of Artsakh will continue exerting consistent efforts to bring those responsible to justice.

The April aggression only strengthened the determination of the people and authorities of the Republic of Artsakh to continue the chosen path of further consolidation and development of their statehood, which is the best guarantee for the safe existence and peaceful development of the people of Artsakh.

Today, we pay tribute to all those that deceased, repelling the Azerbaijani aggression in April 2016, or became innocent victims of the military adventure of Baku. We also express our gratitude to all and everyone who supported the people of Artsakh during these tragic days.