Author: Bedik Zaminian

 11:05, 2 March, 2021

STEPANAKERT, MARCH 2, ARMENPRESS. The rescue service of Artsakh re-started the search operations for the bodies of the war casualties and MIAs.

The search and rescue mission was halted since February 15, when Azeri authorities had banned the search operations in territories under their control. 

Artsakh Interior Ministry spokesperson Hunan Tadevosyan told ARMENPRESS that their rescuers re-launched the search operations in Hadrut, Varanda and Jrakan.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

While campaigning to become president of the United States, then candidate Joe Biden stated, “If elected, I pledge to support a resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide and will make universal human rights a top priority.” 

Despite this bold promise, I am not holding my breath. I’ve heard this talk before. President Obama while campaigning promised the same thing, only to balk at the threats of the Turkey government. Until we find a better location of our airbase, Incirlik, the United States will always be at the mercy of Turkey, and the Turkish government isn’t doing United States taxpayers any favors. The airbase has cost us billions of dollars and many “back stabs.” 

What made the Obama presidency unique is that his ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, wrote a book about genocide and openly talked about the Armenian Genocide. She too was mute when it came down to the recognition. She later apologized. Ms. Power is back in the Biden administration as head of the United States Agency of International Development (USAid). Will she have the strength to urge her boss to recognize the Armenian Genocide? Again, I not holding my breath. 

Tough talking President Trump also failed to recognize the Genocide. He never promised, but, it was under his administration that Turkey teamed up with Syrian foreign mercenaries and Azerbaijan to attack, take and push ethnic Armenians off of their historic homeland of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabagh). Civilians were beheaded, and to this day, more than 200 are held captive, including a family who headed back to their home in Artsakh to retrieve personal items. Already Azerbaijan’s government is at work erasing Armenian culture. Their claim? Armenian churches are really Albanian churches. 

I will give President Trump credit, he did sanction Turkey — not for the war provoking actions around the world, but for buying Russian military equipment. 

Already, the Biden administration is not off to a good start on this issue. United States ambassador to Azerbaijan Earle Litzenberger has reportedly congratulated Azerbaijan for “restoring its territorial integrity” and has expressed U.S. readiness to take part in rebuilding lands that came under Baku’s control after the war. 

If this is true, President Biden’s administration gets an “F”. Anyone who knows their history knows that Armenians inhabited that land well before Turkish and Azeri bloodlines got there. Litzenberger should apologize for his damaging comments. What hurts even more? He allegedly said, “American companies are ready to participate in reconstruction efforts.” 

As an American, I am appalled. Azerbaijan is a dictatorship, like Turkey. Since 1993 the Aliyev family has run the country. Perhaps Litzenberger should express “the U.S.’ readiness” to make sure the 200 held captive are returned to Armenia. He should also inquire about the Azerbaijani journalists jailed for speaking the truth about their government. It’s interesting, in Azerbaijan and Turkey, journalists get more jail time than ISIS members who behead people. 

I grew up saying “never again” to the Armenian Genocide, thinking that the world, especially in the 21^st century, wouldn’t allow such terrible atrocity to occur. Now I know how naïve I was. Not only did it happen again (Armenians being slaughtered for their ethnicity on their historic homeland) but it was well documented and the world saw it through pictures and videos on social media and did nothing to stop it. Never again? Unfortunately, I’ve learned those are two meaningless words.

 18:03, 9 February, 2021

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 9, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia NIkol Pashinyan received newly appointed Ambassador of China to Armenia Fan Yong on February 9, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister.

Nikol Pashinyan congratulated the diplomat and wished his productive work for the sake of the development of the Armenian-Chinese relations. The PM recalled with satisfaction his visit to China in 2019 and the impressive meetings with the President and Prime Minister of China, noting that the agreements reached during those meetings are being successfully implemented. ‘’Armenia and China have intensive relations, Chinese Business, culture, education are tangibly represented in our country. We are ready to consistently deepen cooperation in political, economic, humanitarian and other areas’’, the PM said.

According to Nikol Pashinyan, despite the difficulties in 2020 caused by the pandemic,, the volume of exports from Armenia to China has increased, which shows the positive dynamics of bilateral trade. The Prime Minister thanked the Chinese government for the assistance to the Armenian healthcare sector in the fight against coronavirus.

Thanking for the warm reception, the Chinese Ambassador assessed it an honor to hold a diplomatic position in Armenia and assured that he will make all efforts for the development of the Armenian-Chinese relations. According to him, the two countries are bound by mutual trust and understanding, and the Chinese government highlights partnership with Armenia.

The sides exchanged views on the post-war situation in Artsakh. The Prime Minister thanked China for its impartial position on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, noting that the issue of the status of Nagorno Karabakh remains unsolved and that Armenia highlights the negotiations under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs’ format.

Referring to the humanitarian aspect, Nikol Pashinyan stressed that the return of the detainees remains a priority, as well as the protection of the Armenian historical, cultural and religious heritage in the territories under the control of Azerbaijan.

Fan Yong noted that China supports the establishment of security, stability and peaceful cooperation in the region, and supports the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.

The interlocutors discussed issues related to the agenda of bilateral relations and its further expansion. In the context of the development of economic relations, the sides referred to the expansion of Chinese investments in Armenia, increase of trade turnover, implementation of infrastructural programs, activation of touristic flows, as well as the cooperation opportunities in the sidelines of the EAEU. Both sides considered promising the cooperation in high technologies, education and humanitarian fields.. The Prime Minister offered the Chinese companies to present to the Chinese companies the investment opportunities created by the unblocking of regional communications, the Chinese Ambassador assured that the information will be conveyed to Chinese business circles.

The Chinese Ambassador conveyed to the Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan the invitation to participate in the "Shanghai Expo – 2021" exhibition.

Delegation led by PM Pashinyan arrives in Kazakhstan

 21:45, 4 February, 2021

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 4, ARMENPRESS. The delegation led by Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan has arrived in Kazakhstan to participate in the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council session on February 5.

The correspondent of ARMENPRESS reports from Almaty that Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan, Deputy Foreign Minister Armen Gevondyan, Deputy Minister of Economy Varos Simonyan, SRC Deputy Chairman Ashot Muradyan and others are included in the Armenian delegation.

Starting from January 1, 2021 Kazakhstan assumed the chairmanship over the EAEU.