Author: Eduard Nalbandian

Caucasian Knot | Residents of Azerbaijan detained for violating ban on visiting Karabakh

Eduard Nalbandian
The Caucasian Knot, EU

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In the Kelbadjar District, policemen detained five residents who were trying to enter non-demined territories in the Karabakh conflict zone, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) has informed.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that law enforcers are systematically detaining residents for violating the ban on visiting the Nagorno-Karabakh territories that have ceded under Azerbaijan's control and where military operations were conducted during the last autumn conflict escalation. Thus, on April 3, three residents of the Gubadli District were detained for entering non-demined territories.

Now, law enforcers have detained five Azerbaijan residents in the Kelbadjar District, who tried to enter the places of hostilities in the Karabakh conflict zone, the APA News Agency has reported today with reference to the Azerbaijani MIA.

After detention, prophylactic talks were held with them; policemen reminded them of the danger of mines and unexploded ordnances. Administrative measures were also taken against the five residents, the "Report.az" has informed today.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on at 11:04 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

See earlier reports:

Nine Azeri residents detained for visiting Karabakh, Two residents of Azerbaijan detained for violating ban on visiting Karabakh, Violators of ban on visits to Nagorno-Karabakh detained in Azerbaijan. 

Author: The Caucasian Knot;

Source:
© Caucasian Knot

Vardan Voskanyan: Foreign Ministry ‘decapitated’ for first time since Armenia gained independence

Eduard Nalbandian
Panorama, Armenia

“Many issues in Azerbaijan are basically resolved not only or not by Aliyev’s will, but also as a result of Erdogan’s intervention,” Armenian expert on Iran Vardan Voskanyan, an MP candidate of the I’m Honored bloc, told a news conference on Saturday.

The expert said in this context, Erdogan's visit to Baku on 15 June and a provocative visit to Shushi also have a certain impact on the interests of other players in the region.

"Obviously, the visit to Shushi was exclusively provocative in nature, to the detriment of Armenia, Artsakh, Iran and Russia, because the meeting between Erdogan and the dictator of Baku in the occupied Artsakh town of Shushi targets not only the Armenian side, but also other players," Voskanyan said.

He also addressed talks about the signing of a new agreement between Turkey and Azerbaijan, the content of which is not yet clear. “According to the discussions on the Azerbaijani social media platform, the agreement may include a section on the military component, which, naturally, cannot but worry Armenia, as well as its ally Russia and friendly Iran. it remains to be seen what process we are dealing with,” he said.

The expert underlined Armenia’s Foreign Ministry is “non-functional” amid all these developments.

“Not only the foreign minister, but also the deputy foreign ministers have resigned and the Foreign Ministry of Armenia is decapitated for the first time since Armenia gained independence. And this happened due to the "efforts" of the regime, which still considers itself authorities in Armenia,” he said.

Vardan Voskanyan stated that as a result of the steps of the “criminal regime”, all state institutions in Armenia, including those that ensure various components of Armenia's security, have been “destroyed”.

“Now a paradoxical situation has arisen in which the regime is engaged in various populist activities aimed at pleasing the crowd, while the healthy opposition of Armenia, including the I’m Honored bloc, has undertaken the responsibility of presenting the security issues of Armenia to our population in an accessible way and elaborating the resulting steps,” the expert said.

Armenpress: Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 11-06-21

Eduard Nalbandian

Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 11-06-21

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 17:32,

YEREVAN, 11 JUNE, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 11 June, USD exchange rate down by 0.67 drams to 518.61 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 1.49 drams to 630.16 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.05 drams to 7.24 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 1.60 drams to 733.68 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price down by 140.02 drams to 31490.78 drams. Silver price up by 0.74 drams to 461.19 drams. Platinum price down by 308.42 drams to 19041.36 drams.

Armenia denies shooting at Azerbaijani positions

Eduard Nalbandian
Public Radio of Armenia
 

The Armenian Ministry of Defense has denied Azerbaijani Defense Ministry alleging that Armenian units fired on Azerbaijani positions, and described it as misinformation.

“The Armenian units did not fire on the military positions in the territory of Azerbaijan, but took measures to stop the engineering works being carried out by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces in the border area of Armenia,” the Ministry said.

On June 11, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces once again tried to carry out engineering works in the border area of Kut village, Gegharkunik region. The Armenian subdivisions responded, after which the engineering works were stopped.

CivilNet: Pashinyan Speaks of Enclave for Enclave Exchange Between Armenia and Azerbaijan

Eduard Nalbandian
CIVILNET.AM

11 Jun, 2021 03:06

By Emilio Luciano Cricchio 

During a campaign event in Armenia’s northern town of Berd on June 11, Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan referred to speculation that Armenia and Azerbaijan could return to Soviet era borders in future, and exchange enclaves. 

“The Artsvashen enclave (is ours) but is under the rule of Azerbaijan. Our logic is that the (formerly Armenian) enclave should be exchanged for a (formerly Azerbaijani) enclaves,” Pashinyan stated. 

After the collapse of the USSR, three Soviet Azerbaijani enclaves – Voskepar and Barkhudarly in Armenia’s northeast and Karki in the south – remained under the control of Armenia. Meanwhile, Soviet Armenia’s Artsvashen enclave came under Azerbaijani control.

Voskepar and Karki are of strategic importance for Armenia: vital interstate highways connecting Armenia with Georgia and Iran pass through these territories.

Pashinyan mentioned that during the negotiation stage in the run up to the November 9 ceasefire agreement, which ended the 2020 Karabakh war, there was concern over the topic of the enclaves.

According to the acting prime minister, the topic of enclaves has always been on the agenda of Armenia-Azerbaijan talks since 1999, and Azerbaijan has brought up the issue from time to time.

Pashinyan suggested that if Azerbaijani enclaves were to be given, they would have to be exchanged for Artsvashen, the formerly Armenian SSR controlled enclave. 

He went on to say however that “What is under our control should remain under our control.”

On May 21, Pashinyan stated during an extraordinary parliamentary session that Armenia and Azerbaijan are beginning a process of border demarcation, after Azerbaijani forces committed incursions in Armenia’s Syunik and Gegharkunik regions on May 12-13. 

Pashinyan went on to say that, “We can fix the existing situation by a state border,” implying that Azerbaijani enclaves inside Armenia remain in Armenia and Armenian enclaves inside Azerbaijan remain there. This would solve Armenia’s transportation issue to Georgia and Iran. 

Armenia and Azerbaijan did not demarcate their borders after the collapse of the USSR in 1991. In Soviet times, these borders were internal and thus did not have to be defined.

On May 21,  Armenia’s Secretary of the Security Council Armen Grigoryan said that a new Armenia-Azerbaijan-Russia trilateral working group will be created, which will finally determine the country’s borders. Grigoryan did not rule out a return to Soviet era borders, but stressed that everything will be resolved through negotiations. 

Caretaker healthcare minister hopes number of COVID-19 vaccinated citizens will pass 50,000 this week

Eduard Nalbandian

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 10:50, 8 June, 2021

YEREVAN, JUNE 8, ARMENPRESS. Caretaker Minister of Healthcare of Armenia Anahit Avanesyan hopes that the number of citizens who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 will pass 50,000 this week.

“The coronavirus vaccination process is being carried out on the sidelines of the national immunization program. I hope this week we will pass the threshold of 50,000 citizens. The vaccinates purchased at the expense of the budget in 2020 allow us to actively conduct the vaccination process at this moment”, she said during the joint session of the parliamentary standing committees dedicated to the presentation of the 2020 state budget performance report.

Summarizing 2020, she stated that the healthcare system didn’t face a lack of protective items during the year.

The healthcare budget for 2020 comprised 142 billion drams, which was higher from the envisaged funds. These funds were used for overcoming the crisis. The ministry’s performance comprised 98.3%.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Russia’s Putin signs law to denounce Treaty on Open Skies

Eduard Nalbandian

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 15:17, 7 June, 2021

YEREVAN, JUNE 7, ARMENPRESS. Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law to officially withdraw Russia from the Treaty on Open Skies, the document was published on the official portal of legal information on Monday, reports TASS.

On May 19, Russia’s lower house of parliament unanimously adopted the bill. The upper house followed suit on June 2 as the chamber unanimously approved the measure as well.

Washington withdrew from the Treaty on Open Skies in November 2020, citing Moscow’s alleged breaches of its clauses. On January 15, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced that Russia was launching domestic procedures to withdraw from the Treaty on Open Skies, justifying this step by a lack of progress in removing obstacles in order for the treaty to remain effective after Washington’s pullout.

Asbarez: Nevada Governor Signs Holocaust and Genocide Education Bill into Law

Eduard Nalbandian

June 1, 2021



Nevada Governor Sisolak

CARSON CITY, Nevada—A bill strengthening and mandating Holocaust and Armenian Genocide education in Nevada, which passed both houses of the state legislature with unanimous support, was signed into law by Nevada Governor Sisolak on May 31. Assembly Bill (AB) 231’s passing is timely with U.S. President Joe Biden’s unprecedented acknowledgement, affirmation and unequivocal use of the term “Armenian Genocide” after the 2019 passage by the U.S. Congress.

AB 231 is a bipartisan piece of legislation sponsored by Assemblywoman Lesley Cohen and Lisa Krasner and supported by Lieutenant Governor Kate Marshall. Armenian National Committee of America Nevada Co-Chair Lenna Hovanessian, Esq. spearheaded the bill with the Israeli-American Civic Action Network (ICAN) and the sponsorship of Lt. Governor Marshall, a strong proponent for inclusion of the Armenian Genocide, with relentless advocacy by Hovanessian, local and regional, ANCA, and the Nevada Armenian-American community.

“Education about the Armenian Genocide is central to the Armenian community’s identity and teaching about the Genocide in a historically accurate way in Nevada’s high school classrooms through this legislation ensures that our history will not be forgotten. Through this legislation we will combat denialism, hate and bigotry by raising a generation of global citizens in Nevada who are aware of the world around them,” remarked Hovanessian.

“In the context of the last 106 years since the Armenian Genocide and the 2020 genocidal War on Artsakh by Azerbaijan and Turkey- the self-proclaimed ‘one nation, two states’ – and recent invasion into Armenia’s borders, it is imperative to educate the next generation of students who will be leaders to understand history and empower them with accurate, comprehensive and worldly knowledge to promote zero-tolerance for hate and bigotry,” concluded Hovanessian.

The new law establishes an education committee within the Nevada Department of Education to evaluate curriculum standards, inventory classroom materials, and assess instructor training needs. In addition to education relating to the Holocaust, the bill also includes teaching of the Armenian Genocide, as well as Cambodian, Darfur, Guatemalan, and Rwandan genocides.

A coalition of Nevada organizations including ANCA-Nevada, local Anti-Defamation League, ICAN, and Jewish Nevada partnered to bring and advocate for this important legislation. Additional support for the bill was provided by ANCA Western Region Director Armen Sahakyan and Community Outreach Director Simon Maghakyan, as well as by the Genocide Education Project’s Director Roxanne Makasdjian and Honorary Consul Adroushan Armenian of Nevada.

ANCA-Nevada is a chapter of the Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region, which is the largest and most influential nonpartisan Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues in pursuit of the Armenian Cause.

Pashinyan releases details from meeting with France’s Macron and phone talk with Russia’s Putin

Eduard Nalbandian

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 09:49, 2 June, 2021

PARIS, JUNE 2, ARMENPRESS. During the meeting with the Armenian community of France at the Embassy of Armenia, caretaker Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan presented details from his June 1 meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, Armenpress correspondent reports from Paris.

According to Pashinyan, France is inclined to carry out an initiating policy for ensuring stability in the region.

“During today’s discussion I have recorded that President Macron is interested in and is inclined to carry out an active initiating policy so that the international organizations, including the OSCE Minsk Group, are more engaged in ensuring stability and security in our region. And several days ago I have made a concrete proposal during the session of the Security Council about overcoming the current situation, and today I have recorded that that this approach is acceptable for France”, Pashinyan said.

The caretaker PM informed that he has also discussed with President Macron what actions need to be taken to resume the settlement process of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict within the frames of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship.

As for Russia, Pashinyan said Russia is Armenia’s number one partner in the security field and is its strategic ally.

“We are in constant touch with our Russian partners. I had a phone talk with the Russian President yesterday [May 31] and can state that we, in fact, share the same approach over the solution of the situation that the Azerbaijani armed forces must pull back from Armenia’s border, and what is the border of Armenia. It is known to all, it is the administrative border of Soviet Armenia. And the administrative border of the Soviet Union in this case is the state border of Armenia. Moreover, in that section the state border in the Soviet times is demarcated and delimitated”, Pashinyan said.

He said Armenia’s position is clear – Azerbaijan must pull back its troops. Armenia expects that Russia will clearly formulate this position.

“Moreover, we do this by clearly recording that the maps we have, which were ratified by the seals of the Soviet Armenia and Soviet Azerbaijan, are identical to the maps existing in the Russian archives, and when this fact is recorded, Azerbaijan must pull back its troops from that sections. If they do not pull back after the recording of this fact it means that Article 4th of the CSTO must enter into force which calls that action as an aggression against its member state. And as a first step we expect that both Russia and the CSTO will clearly and publicly express a position over the matter. Our perception is that this situation must be solved through diplomatic means, we see this opportunity at this moment and will continue the efforts on this direction. There are CSTO working documents which have formulated the timetables and the procedures. And we hope that these procedures will launch in proper timeframes and will reach their logical solution”, Nikol Pashinyan said.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Tigran Hamasyan wins two awards from Deutscher Jazzpreis

Eduard Nalbandian
Panorama, Armenia
June 4 2021

Renowned Armenian jazz pianist Tigran Hamasyan has won two awards from Deutscher Jazzpreis for his latest album, he said in a Facebook post on Friday.

“I am really honored to receive two awards from Deutscher Jazzpreis for my latest album The Call Within: “Artist of the Year, International” and “Piano/Keyboard”.

“I would like to thank the organization and jury members at Deutscher Jazzpreis. Also big thank you and congratulations to all the incredibly talented musicians who have been nominated and awarded this year,” the pianist wrote.