Author: Bedik Zaminian

Eurasian Intergovernmental Council session kicks off in Armenia

Bedik Zaminian

 17:56,

TSAGHKADZOR, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS. The extraordinary session of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council has kicked off in the Armenian resort town of Tsaghkadzor.

[see video]
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko, Kazakh Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov and Kyrgyz Prime Minister Akylbek Zhaparov are participating in the meeting.

The prime ministers of the EEU member states are set to discuss strengthening of the integration processes and define the strategic vectors of the union’s development for the mid-term and long-term prospects.

“Preserving and cherishing the heritage” at Camp Javakhk

Bedik Zaminian
 Nanar Avedessian Diaspora, Youth 0

Khoren and Nanar wrapped in the Armenian flag

“If it wasn’t the best thing in the world, I wouldn’t have gone back three times.” My friend Ani’s words kept ringing in my head as I stood at the entrance to the educational and cultural youth center of Ninotsminda. My excitement and nervousness mingled together, creating a sense of anticipation I hadn’t felt before.

I felt overwhelmed by the crowd as about 120 kids barged into the center to greet this year’s Camp Javakhk counselors. Their eyes were wide with curiosity and excitement. The more extroverted kids started asking questions and immediately initiated conversations. The shy ones simply stared, smiled and walked away.

The participants were split into three groups—red, blue and orange—according to their age. Each group was paired with two counselors and a few local teenagers, or oknagans, eager to assist. Patil and I were co-counselors for the youngest group, ages 8 to 10.

During the daily schedule’s free period, I connected with participants from other groups. I sat on the stairs with the older girls and learned about their hobbies and interests. Their talents surprised me—one was a yellow belt in karate, another was a language enthusiast, and another was an adept bead maker.

Amid the excitement, kids tugged my arms, urging me to visit their impromptu “tattoo salon,” where they passionately sketched the Armenian and Artsakh flags, the iconic silhouette of Mount Ararat and a cross on my hands. In their vibrant strokes, I saw not only artistic _expression_ but also a profound connection to our national identity and heritage and a shared love for our homeland.

In their vibrant strokes, I saw not only artistic _expression_ but also a profound connection to our national identity and heritage and a shared love for our homeland.

We headed to a field near the center of the village, and despite the scorching sun, being with fellow counselors, oknagans and kids lightened the walk. The view of the field took my breath away, reinforcing my belief that I was in heaven. I immediately messaged my friend Ani: “You were right!”

As the days progressed, bonds formed with both the kids and my fellow counselors. Amidst the countless moments that wove the tapestry of our camp experience, a few stood out as favorites: the morning marzank, or exercise, which we always ended by playing “Gats” by Taline and Friends and dancing with the kids as our absolute silliest selves; our time spent at the field, embracing the breathtaking landscape and even learning some karate moves; dancing to Armenian music with the older girls, celebrating our shared heritage.

The late-night planning sessions and candid talks with my fellow counselors brought us closer together. We shared stories, laughter and a common purpose. Each counselor added something unique to the mix. Tania’s homemade tahdig offered a taste of tradition and love. Lorik’s thoughtful preparation ensured a cup of tea was always at hand. Aram became a companion in appreciating the beauty of Manuel Menengichian’s songs. Naira shared a sense of humor that melted away our exhaustion. Patil radiated sunshine with her optimism and good vibes. Isabel’s presence as the best roommate and confidant added warmth to every moment. These connections, simple yet strong, shaped an unforgettable journey at camp.

The campers’ reluctance to say goodbye was a testament to the bonds we’d built. Kids gifted us handmade bead rings and heartfelt letters, accompanied by the admonitions to “please don’t forget me.” Khoren and Hovo gave us persistent hugs and invitations to their homes. In those moments, I realized that being a Camp Javakhk counselor extended far beyond our five short days together. It was about leaving an indelible mark on their lives and carrying their stories with us, wherever we went.

As a Camp Javakhk counselor, I witnessed growth not only among the campers but also in myself. Saying goodbye to the campers, I realized I carried more than just memories. I was taking with me a renewed sense of purpose and a deeper connection to Javakhk and our fellow Javakhktsis.

The Javakhk region, with its rich history and cultural significance, stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of the Armenian people. This added a layer of meaning to the opportunity to immerse myself in this vibrant community. As I bid farewell, I carried the weight of this importance alongside the memories, a reminder of the responsibility we each held in preserving and cherishing the heritage of this remarkable region.

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Nanar Avedessian is a Syrian Armenian, who graduated with a master’s degree in public relations from Emerson College. She moved to Armenia in 2014, where she pursued her BA in English and communications with a minor in human rights and genocide studies. She is the print layout designer of the Armenian Weekly and a member of the AYF Greater Boston “Nejdeh” Chapter.


RFE/RL Armenian Service – 08/21/2023

Bedik Zaminian 
                                        Monday, 


Karabakh Leader Again Fuels Talk Of Resignation

        • Artak Khulian

Nagorno-Karabakh - Arayik Harutiunian and Ruben Vardanyan meet in Stepanakert, 
September 8, 2022.


A former political ally of Arayik Harutiunian has accused Nagorno-Karabakh’s 
president of reneging on his pledge to resign.

Fresh rumors about Harutiunian’s impending resignation began circulating last 
week amid a worsening humanitarian crisis in Karabakh caused by Azerbaijan’s 
eight-month blockade of the Lachin corridor. One of his top loyalists flatly 
denied the rumors on Friday.

Nevertheless, Ruben Vardanyan, a former Karabakh premier, claimed over the 
weekend that Harutiunian told him and several other individuals “early this 
week” that he has already decided to step down and will not change his mind.

“Some of the eight individuals present at that meeting did not believe your 
words, while others thought that maybe you are telling the truth this time 
around,” Vardanyan said in video appeal to Harutiunian posted on Facebook. He 
gave no other details of that meeting.

Vardanyan, who was sacked by Harutiunian in February, went on to brand the 
Karabakh leader as a liar who is “wrecking state institutions.”

Harutiunian pointedly declined to respond to his former top minister. His press 
secretary told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service on Monday that he will not comment on 
the allegations.

Meanwhile, Harutiunian’s Free Fatherland party issued a statement accusing 
Vardanyan and “some groups” of trying to force the elected president to resign 
for the sake of their “parochial interests.” But it did not explicitly deny the 
resignation pledge allegedly made by Harutiunian.

Harutiunian already fueled speculation about his impending exit early this year. 
In January, he signaled his desire to force snap elections in Karabakh despite 
the Azerbaijani blockade. In March, he helped to enact a constitutional 
amendment that empowered the Karabakh parliament to elect an interim president 
in case of his resignation.

Vahram Atanesian, a local pundit, claimed on Monday that Karabakh’s three main 
opposition parties increasingly cooperating with Vardanyan are trying to force 
Harutiunian to quit and install a new president allied to them. None of those 
parties has publicly called for his resignation.

An opposition leader, Davit Ishkhanian of the Karabakh branch of the Armenian 
Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun), was elected parliament speaker 
earlier this month. Lawmakers representing Harutiunian’s party voted for him.




Yerevan Downplays Lack Of UN Security Council Action On Karabakh


UN - UN Security Council discusses the humanitarian situation in 
Nagorno-Karabakh, New York, August 16, 2023.


The Armenian government downplayed on Monday the United Nations Security 
Council’s failure to formally demand an end to Azerbaijan’s blockade of 
Nagorno-Karabakh as a result of an emergency meeting held last week.

Armenia initiated the session in a bid to drum up stronger international 
pressure on Baku. Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan attended and addressed it, 
saying that Yerevan expects the Security Council to condemn Baku, demand the 
immediate reopening of the Lachin corridor, send a fact-finding mission to 
Karabakh and provide humanitarian aid to the region’s struggling population.

Although most of its members, notably the United States and Russia, urged the 
lifting of the Azerbaijani blockade, the Council stopped short of adopting a 
relevant resolution or statement. This fact led some in Armenia to question the 
wisdom of initiating the meeting and sending Mirzoyan to New York.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry countered that the format of the meeting did not 
“presuppose the adoption” of any such document.

“Besides, only the 15 (permanent and non-permanent) members of the UN Security 
Council have the right to draft UN Security Council resolutions and initiate 
voting. Armenia, not being a member of the UN Security Council, does not have 
such authority,” the ministry spokeswoman, Ani Badalian, said in written 
comments to the press.

Badalian insisted that the Security Council session was worth it because the 
international community could now pay more attention to “possible catastrophic 
consequences” of the worsening humanitarian situation in Karabakh. She also said 
Yerevan will continue to “work actively in the UN and other platforms” with the 
aim of achieving the reopening of Karabakh’s land link with Armenia and the 
outside world.

The United States, the European Union and Russia have repeatedly called on 
Azerbaijan to allow renewed commercial and humanitarian traffic through the 
Lachin corridor. Baku has dismissed their appeals.




Armenian Mining Output Shrinks Amid Economic Growth

        • Robert Zargarian

Armenia - Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian visits a mining enterprise in Agarak, 
August 18, 2023.


Mining and metallurgy, the key manufacturing subsector of the Armenian economy, 
contacted significantly in the first half of this year despite continued robust 
GDP growth reported by the country’s government.

First-half data released by the government’s Statistical Committee shows a more 
than 7 percent decrease in the production of metal ores and ore concentrates 
which totaled 218 billion drams ($566 million). The production of copper, 
molybdenum and other base metals was down by as much as 16 percent year on year, 
at 74.4 billion drams.

This was one of the reasons why overall Armenian industrial output, worth about 
1.2 trillion drams ($3 billion), was practically stagnant, contrasting with a 
roughly 10 percent increase in GDP recorded by the Statistical Committee in 
January-June 2023.

Economic growth continued to be primarily driven by double-digit gains in trade 
and other services resulting from massive cash inflows from Russia sparked by 
Western sanctions against Moscow. Armenia’s trade with Russia has skyrocketed 
since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The Armenian mining industry remains oriented towards Western markets. The South 
Caucasus country’s largest metallurgical enterprise, the Zangezur 
Copper-Molybdenum Combine (ZCMC), is also its number one corporate taxpayer.

Based in Kajaran, a town in Armenia’s Syunik province, ZCMC employs about 4,000 
people. The State Revenue Committee (SRC) collected a total of 35 billion drams 
in various taxes from ZCMC in the first half 2023, compared with 105 billion 
drams last year.

A smaller company mining copper and molybdenum near another Syunik town, Agarak, 
was seventh in the SRC’s 2022 tax rankings. Now it is not even among the 
country’s 100 leading taxpayers.

Armenia - An ore-processing facility at the Chaarat Kapan, September 6, 2018.
Some analysts blame these sharp decreases on a recent fall in global metal 
prices. A significant strengthening of the Armenian dram, another side effect of 
the Western sanctions, may be another factor.

The British-registered parent company of another Syunik-based mining enterprise, 
Chaarat Kapan, singled out the exchange rate fluctuation in an August 16 
statement announcing its decision to sell Chaarat Kapan to another firm for over 
$55 million.

Chaarat Kapan has about 1,000 workers. Hundreds of them went on strike last year 
to demand better pay and working conditions. The company management said at the 
time that it cannot afford pay rises because of the stronger dram and other 
unfavorable global developments.

Also, Armenia’s largest gold mine located on the border with Azerbaijan was 
largely shut down this spring due to systematic cross-border gunfire targeting 
its workers and production facilities. A Russian company operating the Sotk mine 
stopped open-pit mining there and put many of its 700 workers on unpaid leave.

“Unless new mines are opened, the mining industry will start slowly declining,” 
said Hrant Mikaelian, an analyst with the Yerevan-based Caucasus Institute. “As 
far as I know, the creation of new mines has been very slow in recent years.”




Flights To Armenian Border Town Go Ahead Despite ‘Azeri Gunfire’

        • Ruzanna Stepanian

Armenia - A plane carrying Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian lands at Kapan 
airport, August 17, 2023.


An Armenian airline began regular commercial flights to Kapan on Monday after 
what Armenian officials described as cross-border gunfire from Azerbaijan 
targeting the border town’s airport.
The Kapan airport reportedly came under fire on Friday less than 24 hours after 
a plane carrying Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian landed there. According to 
Armenia’s state border guard service, three gunshots were fired from Azerbaijani 
army positions overlooking the facility, damaging its roof and one of the 
windows.

Another shooting incident was reported on Saturday. Karen Balian, an aide to the 
governor of Armenia’s Syunik province, of which Kapan is the capital, said on 
Monday that airport employees heard gunfire several minutes after a plane 
carrying other senior officials from Yerevan touched down on the runway.

Balian accused Azerbaijan of trying to disrupt the first post-Soviet flight 
service between Yerevan and Kapan launched by the NovAir airline. While 
acknowledging apparent security risks involved, he urged travellers to fly to 
and from Kapan.

“We must not succumb to these provocations and must carry out the regular 
flights which are very important for Syunik,” the official told RFE/RL’s 
Armenian Service.

The inaugural 50-minute flights went ahead as planned on Monday morning, with 
NovAir using small L-410 aircraft capable of carrying up to 17 passengers.

A spokeswoman for the Armenian government’s Civil Aviation Committee told 
RFE/RL’s Armenian Service that there were only two passengers on each of those 
flights. They included Syunik Governor Robert Ghukasian’s deputy and adviser, 
according to the provincial administration.

The private carrier plans to carry out such flights twice a week.



Reposted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2023 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

“The future belongs to Armenia more than Azerbaijan” – Armenian analyst

Bedik Zaminian
JAM NEWS
Aug 21 2023


  • JAMnews
  • Richard Kirakosyan on the Armenia-Azerbaijan issue

“The future belongs to Armenia more than Azerbaijan, but it will take several years to achieve real results,” political scientist and head of the Center for Regional Studies Richard Kirakosyan, commenting on the reforms in the defense sector of Armenia, said.

In his opinion, Armenia is too weak and lags behind the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, so it should invest more in quality, not quantity, that is, “in professionalism and modernization.” The political scientist welcomes the government’s decision to purchase weapons from India and not rely on “poor quality weapons from unreliable sources such as Russia.”

On the air of Radio Azatutyun (Freedom), Kirakosyan also talked about the settlement of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations, the possible signing of a peace treaty, the blockade of the Lachin corridor, the position of the United States, Europe and Russia.

  • “A curious proposal on Karabakh”: a document attributed to Lavrov
  • Man dies of starvation in unrecognized NKR, blockade continues
  • “It is impossible to abandon the idea of opening the Lachin corridor by force.” Opinions from Yerevan

Kirakosyan commented on the results of the UN Security Council meeting, which was convened at the request of Armenia “in connection with the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh as a result of the blockade of the Lachin corridor by Azerbaijan.” The political scientist considers it important, but insufficient, that Baku had to respond to Yerevan’s diplomatic initiative.

Invites the government of Armenia to think about other steps, in particular

  • “refuse to negotiate until Azerbaijan ends the blockade of the Lachin corridor,
  • consider the possibility of air communication with Nagorno-Karabakh without a real risk of military aggression.”

Explaining the essence of the speech at the meeting of the UN Security Council of the representative of Russia, who promoted the position of Baku, Kirakosyan said:

“Russia’s position now is to save face. She supports the idea of the Aghdam corridor [we are talking about Azerbaijan’s offer to the Armenians of NK to use the route through its territory through Aghdam instead of the Lachin corridor linking the unrecognized republic with Armenia], in fact, admitting her own humiliation, because she was unable to fulfill her obligations under the terms of the ceasefire agreement”.

Opinions of members of the Security Council on the blockade of the Lachin corridor, assessment of the results of the discussion by the Prime Minister of Armenia, analysts’ comments on the likelihood of adopting a resolution

The analyst regards the blocking of the Lachin corridor, as a result of which 120,000 people are trying to survive in the conditions of a humanitarian catastrophe, as a war against civilians:

“If you look into the current situation, then we are dealing with a medieval siege, a blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh in the style of the Game of Thrones series. The cause of hunger and loss of life is not a drought, not a natural disaster, but a catastrophe created by man.”

According to him, what is happening is not new, but “another Azerbaijani escalation, the target of which is not the military but the civilian population.”

Speaking about the possible signing of a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Richard Kirakosyan stressed:

“Judging by the internal political events in Azerbaijan, the current authorities need to constantly have a conflict and an enemy. I am much more interested and worried not about the peace process or the peace agreement, but about what will happen the next day. It will not be enough for Azerbaijan that it will receive after the signing of the peace treaty.”

Former Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian believes that the prime minister made a mistake by recognizing the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, and this is the reason for the “blockade of the Lachin corridor”

“It was a mistake to allow Turkey to put forward preconditions in the process of normalizing relations with Armenia,” Kirakosyan said. Turkey’s precondition, he said, is not to do anything, not to take steps to normalize relations with Armenia until a peace treaty is signed between Armenia and Azerbaijan. At the same time, he believes that Turkey is very unhappy with its own weakness in relation to the now dominant Azerbaijan:

“It should be remembered that Azerbaijan is now the number one foreign direct investor in Turkey. He gained weight and influence during the economic crisis.”

Richard Kirakosyan believes that after the elections held in Turkey, “Armenia has become more important for Turkey”:

“Because Russia has actually excluded Turkey from all projects for the restoration of trade and transport. Normalizing relations with Armenia is the only way for Turkey to restore its regional role in the economy and trade.”

He believes that Turkey should not be perceived as “as strong as it was before”, now it is much more vulnerable, and this is proved by the events around Cyprus.

Regarding Turkey’s military support to Azerbaijan, he emphasizes that now it is much less than the help from Israel.

In the Armenian village of Margara, bordering Turkey, they are “cautiously optimistic” about a possible reopening of the border

The expert believes that unrest is possible in Azerbaijan, given the “precedent of a military coup in the 90s, as well as the presence of a minister of defense with dangerous ambitions, who receives the support of Turkey.”

According to him, changes in Azerbaijan are “guaranteed, but most of them will be negative” for the Armenian side:

“The question now is not whether there will be an “explosion” inside Azerbaijan, but when and how it will happen. I think Azerbaijan’s looming instability is being taken into account and has become a cause for concern in Washington, Brussels and Moscow.”

Victory in the 2020 Karabakh war, according to Kirakosyan, is “defective to a dangerous degree for the Azerbaijani authorities, and Aliyev is walking a tightrope of nationalism and is between competing elements inside Baku, supported by Russia and Turkey.” He thinks the tipping point is obvious:

“We have seen in recent weeks that even supporters of the Aliyev government have been arrested. That is, the Aliyev regime is now going against its own people, even in the conditions of confidence brought by victory.”

Former ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo published his opinion on the situation in the unrecognized NKR under the heading “Armenian Genocide in 2023”

“The states are postponing the suspension of Section 907, which was traditionally done in June. This means that the allocation of military assistance to Azerbaijan is being postponed.”

Amendment 907 to the Freedom Support Act was passed by the US Congress in 1992. It limits the provision of military assistance to Azerbaijan until Baku takes steps to lift the blockade from Armenia and NK and gives up the possibility of using force. However, the addition, adopted by Congress in 2002 to the 907th amendment, allows the suspension of the act by the President of the United States.

According to Kirakosyan, there are three reasons for this:

  • “The United States does not have much leverage on Azerbaijan, Article 907 is a rare exception,
  • after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, Azerbaijan is now much less important to the Pentagon, has much less strategic importance,
  • the disappointment of the Americans, which is connected not only with the blockade of the Lachin corridor, but also with the latest round of Washington talks between the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan.”

At the same time, he does not think that this is important for Azerbaijan.

As for Armenian-American relations, Kirakosyan notes that there have been changes in US policy. In his opinion, the States are trying to strengthen the “strategic importance of a more democratic Armenia.”

He emphasizes that the point is not to help establish democracy in Armenia, but to protect its achievements.

“But it would be a mistake on the part of Armenia to overestimate the importance of the United States. It is the European observers [on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan], the European presence is probably more effective now.”


Armenia denies Azeri accusation of sabotage infiltration attempt

Bedik Zaminian

 14:42,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 16, ARMENPRESS. The statement disseminated by the Ministry of Defence of Azerbaijan that the Armenian Armed Forces launched a sabotage infiltration attempt in the eastern part of the frontier zone is an absolute falsehood, the Armenian Ministry of Defense has announced.

Prior to this, the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia made a statement regarding the reservist and participant of the training assembly G. V., who had left the combat position according to preliminary information, the defense ministry added in a statement on social media.

A possible version and all the circumstances of the reservist appearing on the Azerbaijani side are being investigated.

Armenpress: Russian peacekeepers record ceasefire violation in Nagorno-Karabakh’s Askeran

Bedik Zaminian

 21:21, 8 August 2023

YEREVAN, AUGUST 8, ARMENPRESS. Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh have recorded a ceasefire violation in the Askeran region, the Russian Defense Ministry said in its August 8 bulletin.

No one was hurt in the incident, it added. 

“The command of the Russian peacekeeping contingent is carrying out a joint investigation into the incident together with the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides,” the Russian Defense Ministry added.

Armenia denies Azerbaijan’s accusations on Yeraskh steelworks, demands cessation of unlawful use of force

Bedik Zaminian

 12:21, 8 August 2023

YEREVAN, AUGUST 8, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Ministry of Environment has received a letter from the Azerbaijani authorities regarding the construction of a steelworks in Yeraskh and has responded to it, Ministry of Environment spokesperson Ani Hakobyan told ARMENPRESS.

In the response, Armenia denied Azerbaijan’s accusations which claimed that the plant is being built in violation of environmental norms, and in turn demanded Azerbaijan to cease its unlawful use of force against the sovereign territory of Armenia.

Azerbaijan is falsely accusing Armenia of violating the provisions of the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context.

“We’ve responded to the accusation and we’ve stated the standards with which the plant will function. The factory is being built without violations. Armenia demands Azerbaijan to cease its unlawful use of force on the sovereign territory of Armenia, the shootings targeting the construction site, because this has resulted in injuries among the employees, and material losses. This conduct is a gross violation of the provisions of the Convention which they themselves are citing, while Armenia remains committed to all its international obligations,” Hakobyan told ARMENPRESS, adding that the content of the letter, as well as the response, is within the framework of the Convention.

The construction of the $70,000,000 steel mill in Yeraskh is being carried out by the U.S.-affiliated GTB Steel. The construction site has been targeted by Azerbaijani troops on several occasions. Two workers were shot and wounded in one particular cross-border shooting by the Azeri military.

Representatives of humanitarian organizations visit Kornidzor

Bedik Zaminian

 16:11, 4 August 2023

KORNIDZOR, AUGUST 4, ARMENPRESS. Representatives of a number of humanitarian and children’s rights organizations operating in Armenia have visited the border area of Kornidzor, where humanitarian aid trucks intended for Nagorno-Karabakh are still blocked. 19 trucks with 361 tons of humanitarian aid sent by the Armenian government, as well as 2 trucks loaded with confectionaries from the candy-producer "Grand Candy", continue to stand in the border area of Kornidzor, near the entrance to the Lachin Corridor, because Azerbaijan prohibits their entry into Nagorno-Karabakh.

The representatives of the organizations are accompanied by the Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Affairs of Armenia, Anna Zhamkochyan.

“We consider this an act of genocide. The object of our concern are the 30,000 children who live in Artsakh and are currently deprived of food and medicine. Families are separated. All children's rights have been violated, and it is our expectation that this issue will be resolved as soon as possible, and measures will be taken to open the corridor,” Knarik Garamfilyan, the president of the Armenian Child Protection Network (CPN) said during an interview.

Mira Antonyan, the representative of the Child Protection Center of the “Fund for Armenian Relief” noted that their organization is a member of the Eurochild organization where specialists who deal with child protection issues are united.

"We are extremely concerned, and we want to inform our international partners and ask them to knock on all possible doors, to deliver the messages that 30 thousand children cannot starve in broad daylight, in front of the eyes of the world. The children of Artsakh have the same rights and opportunities as all the children of the world," Antonyan said.




Armenia to present Nagorno-Karabakh humanitarian crisis at UNSC debate on famine, conflict-induced food insecurity

Bedik Zaminian

 17:21, 3 August 2023

YEREVAN, AUGUST 3, ARMENPRESS. On August 3, the UN Security Council will hold an open debate on famine and conflict-induced global food insecurity at the UN headquarters in New York, during which Armenia will present the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, the Head of the Department of Multilateral Policy and Development Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Davit Knyazyan has said at a press briefing.

"Of course, the topic is completely relevant for our situation, and the Armenian side will make a speech presenting the situation,” said Knyazyan. “We will use all available tools in all international instances to secure the reopening of Lachin Corridor. There are many such tools, we consistently use them and implement them as needed, the purpose of which is to strengthen the international pressure on Azerbaijan, which is already happening," he emphasized.

Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Vahe Gevorgyan will deliver a speech at the debate.

As a result of Azerbaijan's illegal blockade of the Lachin Corridor, the humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh is deteriorating day by day. The 120,000 population of Nagorno-Karabakh is deprived of supplies of essential goods: food, medicine, fuel. Azerbaijan also cut off gas and electricity supply to Nagorno-Karabakh.

[see video]

Armenpress: Nagorno-Karabakh man accidentally crossed into Azeri-controlled territory after getting lost – statement

Bedik Zaminian

 21:14, 1 August 2023

STEPANAKERT, AUGUST 1, ARMENPRESS. The man arrested by Azerbaijani border guards for allegedly violating the border whom Azeri authorities described as a citizen of Armenia is actually a citizen of Nagorno-Karabakh who accidentally crossed into Azeri-controlled territory after getting lost, Nagorno-Karabakh authorities said on Tuesday.
The arrested citizen, Rashid Beglaryan, born in 1962, is a local of Shushi who was displaced as a result of the 2020 war and was living in the village of Hin Shen of Shushi region, according to the official InfoCenter of Nagorno-Karabakh. According to preliminary information the man appeared under Azerbaijani control as a result of getting lost. Authorities are clarifying the circumstances.
Nagorno-Karabakh authorities said they’ve notified the Russian peacekeepers on the incident.