Author: Aram Torosian

Goal of Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno Karabakh is prevention of massacres of local population – PM

Aram Torosian

 14:32,

YEREVAN, JULY 25, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has commented on the probability of Russia withdrawing its peacekeeping troops from Nagorno Karabakh and the subsequent possible scenarios.

Speaking at a July 25 press conference, Pashinyan said that the Russian peacekeeping force in Nagorno Karabakh has a goal which is stipulated in the decision of the Russian parliament which authorized the deployment in 2020.

 “The decision says that the Russian Federation Council authorizes the Russian president to deploy a peacekeeping contingent to Nagorno Karabakh to prevent the massacre of the local population. Now, if Russia were to decide to withdraw, regardless of nuances, this would at least mean that there’s no such threat in Nagorno Karabakh anymore, because if there is such a threat in Nagorno Karabakh it’s difficult to imagine a decision like that being made,” Pashinyan said.

If a threat of massacres would no longer face the people of Nagorno Karabakh, it would mean that the Baku-Stepanakert dialogue under an international mechanism was effective and the sides decided that there is no longer a need for a peacekeeping presence.

California State Senate Passes Holden’s Resolution Condemning Azerbaijan’s Blockade of Artsakh

Aram Torosian
PASADENA NOW
Published on Thursday, | 4:57 am

The California State Senate passed a resolution by Pasadena area Assemblymember Chris Holden condemning Azerbaijan’s blockade of Artsakh with a unanimous vote of 39-0. 

“This resolution reaffirms California’s solidarity with Armenia and our 200,000 strong community of California-Armenians,” said Assemblymember Holden. “There is power in our solidarity and there is even more when we acknowledge the wrongs committed and urge for justice.”

Holden added that the resolution, known as AJR 1, sets a precedent for the future and creates long-lasting ties toward a better tomorrow.

The bill has passed both houses of the California Legislature with bi-partisan support. The resolution calls on the Biden Administration to work to immediately facilitate the provision of urgent humanitarian assistance by way of airlift to Armenians in Artsakh.

“Armenians in Artsakh are facing extermination by the Azerbaijani government, with their illegal blockade.  Mr. Holden and his colleagues in the California Legislature have stood up for humanity by condemning Azerbaijan’s barbaric acts,” said ANCA National Board Member Aida Dimejian.

“The Armenian American community is thankful for this resolution calling on the Azeri government to end its illegal blockade and to hold Azerbaijani government accountable for its relentless aggression against the innocent men, women and children of Artsakh.”  

Today, there are nearly three million Armenians living in the Republic of Armenia, which consists of a portion of the Armenians’ historic homelands. The United States has the second largest diaspora of Armenians.  California has the largest population of Armenians in the country.

https://www.pasadenanow.com/main/california-state-senate-passes-holdens-resolution-condemning-azerbaijans-blockade-of-artsakh

No big prospects for other peacekeeping mission, says Nagorno Karabakh

Aram Torosian

 13:08, 6 July 2023

YEREVAN, JULY 6, ARMENPRESS. Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) authorities expect Russian peacekeepers to make all efforts as part of their obligations under the 9 November 2020 agreement to lift the blockade of the Lachin Corridor, Nagorno Karabakh Foreign Minister Sergey Ghazaryan said on July 6.

“The situation in Artsakh is getting more difficult day after day, therefore, the Russian peacekeepers, being there, must make all efforts within their jurisdiction, moreover when the most important goal of the Azerbaijani provocations is to discredit the peacekeeping mission,” Ghazaryan said.

Now there’s no big prospect of having another peacekeeping mission in Artsakh, and such a scenario can’t happen swiftly because it implies a serious process, especially in conditions of the existing crisis in international relations.

Viva-MTS presents the latest volume of the book series "The Armenians of the World”

Aram Torosian
Armenia –
Viva-MTS has presented the book series “Armenians of the World” in partnership with the Panarmenian Geographic Association.

Recently, the 13th volume of the book series, dedicated to Armenian philanthropists of the world, was presented to readers’ attention. Those presented in the volume are people who personify true humans whose characters guide us as role models in today’s life.

This volume tells about Calouste Gulbenkian, Alexander Mantashyants, Mikael Aramyants, Paul Chater, Hovhannes Lazaryan, Poghos Nubar, Alex Manoogian, Kirk Kerkorian, Charles Aznavour, and Gerard Cafesjian.

The first four volumes of the book series “Armenians of the World”, published since 2011, are dedicated to about 800 Armenian monuments unveiled all over of the world. Then the series continues with publications dedicated to Armenians of the world (Armenian musicians, artists, filmmakers, influential women of the world). Among them, are both well-known personalities, as well as people known to only few. The book series is not for sale, but is available on the company’s website.

https://itel.am/en/news/14553

Foreign Minister Ghazaryan meets with France-Artsakh Friendship Circle member René Rouquet

Aram Torosian

 15:50,

YEREVAN, JUNE 27, ARMENPRESS. On 26 June, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) Sergey Ghazaryan received former member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and member of the France-Artsakh Friendship Circle René Rouquet who arrived in Yerevan on a working visit.

The Foreign Minister expressed appreciation to René Rouquet for his constant attention to Artsakh and valuable contribution to the consistent strengthening of friendly relations between France and Artsakh, the foreign ministry of Artsakh said in a readout. 

The sides also discussed ways of addressing the current situation in and around Artsakh, as well as a range of humanitarian issues.




Baku responds to proposal on negotiating ethnic Armenian’s rights

Aram Torosian
Al-Mayadeen, The Middle East
  • ByAl Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 25 Jun 2023 14:59

On Saturday, the Armenian Foreign Ministry said that the best way to settle the dispute was "to address the rights and security issues of the 120,000 Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry said on Sunday that Yerevan's proposal of negotiating Karabakh Armenian rights was unacceptable and considered the proposal as a barrier to the reintegration process.

"Efforts to misuse the issue of the 'rights and security' of Armenian residents are unacceptable. Azerbaijan is making efforts towards the reintegration of the Armenian residents, and it is necessary to put an end to Armenia's interference in the process under various pretexts, as well as its destructive obstruction," the ministry said in a statement, further noting that those representing the interests of Karabakh Armenians have refused assistance from Azerbaijan.

On Saturday, the Armenian Foreign Ministry said that the best way to settle the dispute was "to address the rights and security issues of the 120,000 Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh through the Baku-Stepanakert dialogue within the framework of an international mechanism."  

Read more: Armenia agrees to hold talks with Azerbaijan in Moscow

This comes after Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced on May 22 that Yerevan is willing to recognize all of Azerbaijan's sovereignty over all its territory including the disputed region of Nagorno Karabakh. 

"Those 86.6 thousand square kilometers also include Nagorno-Karabakh. But we also need to state that the issues of the rights and security of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians have to be discussed in the Baku-Stepanakert format," Pashinyan told a briefing.

Pashinyan said that he expects Baku to recognize Armenia's sovereign territory of 29.8 thousand square kilometers. 

Pashinyan added that guarantees should be given for the safety of Armenians living in Karabakh: to ensure that no ethnic purges or genocide is perpetrated against them. 

On his part, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said that a peace treaty between the two countries was inevitable. 

Armenian and U.S. flags raised in Yeraskh construction site

Aram Torosian
Panorama
Armenia – June 20 2023

The Armenian and U.S. flags have been raised in the territory of a metallurgical plant being built in Armenia’s border village of Yeraskh.

The under-construction plant has repeatedly come under Azerbaijani fire from June 13.

Two Indian nationals involved in the construction works of the plant were seriously wounded in a cross-border fire from Azerbaijani positions on June 14.

The GTB Steel LLC, which is constructing the black metal scrap processing plant (smelter) in Yeraskh, is determined to continue the construction despite the Azerbaijani cross-border shootings.

GTB Steel CEO Tiran Hakobyan told reporters after the flag raising ceremony on Tuesday that the flags were not expected to stop Azerbaijani gunfire.

"The decision to hoist the flags was made after long discussions in the Board of Directors. By raising the flags, we record that we will not leave this place and will continue to build the plant,” he said.