Skip to main content

Author: Emil Karabekian

Weapons sold to Azerbaijan by SCTO member states were used against Armenia – PM Pashinyan

Emil Karabekian
Public Radio of Armenia

The reaction of the CSTO to Azerbaijan’s invasion of Armenia in May last year did not come up to Armenia’s expectations, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at the CSTO summit in Moscow.

“The Organization did not act as Armenia would expect it to,” PM Pashinyan said.

“For a long time, we have been raising the issue of arms sales by CSTO member states to unfriendly countries for Armenia. As a result, these weapons were used against Armenia and the Armenian people. This is also a problem,” the Prime Minister said, adding that “the reaction of the CSTO member states during and after the 44-day war in 2020 did not “encourage” the Republic of Armenia and the Armenian people.

Nikol Pashinyan emphasized the special role of the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin in stopping the war in Nagorno-Karabakh and reiterated Armenia’s commitment to the trilateral statements November 9, 2020, January 11, 2021 and November 26, 2021.

“Armenia, as a founding member of the CSTO, is committed to the further development of the organization and considers it a key factor for security and stability in the Eurasian region, the security of the Republic of Armenia,” the Prime Minister said.

Space Technologies and Armenia: What do we need to do and what do we lack?

Emil Karabekian
NEWS.am
Armenia –
18:47, 15.05.2022

The natural resources of planet Earth are far from endless, and therefore the future is not at all for the extraction of gas and oil, but for the development of space technologies and the conquest of space.

As the well-known astrophysicist Garik Israelyan noted in an interview with NEWS.am, in recent years, the interest in space technologies has increased significantly even among private companies, so the turnover in this area has increased unprecedentedly: more and more companies, both those who have long taken a stable place in the market, and start-ups – began to invest time and money in the construction of spacecraft, the development of various high-tech devices, laser communications, high-precision optics and artificial intelligence research.

The development of space technologies, according to the specialist, not only opens up new opportunities for the extraction of hard-to-reach resources from asteroids and other celestial bodies, and in the future for the colonization of other planets, but also affects many other related areas of science and industry: often developments in the field space technologies subsequently find application in many other areas. That is why these technologies deserve special attention today, and, as the astrophysicist noted, it would be good if Armenia did not lag behind these trends.

While Armenia, both at the state level and at the level of the private sector, shows little interest in this area, however, according to the astrophysicist, this does not mean at all that we are irretrievably behind and have no prospects. In the field of software development Armenia has a huge potential, as there are many talented programmers here.

But even in the field of hardware development, if we wish, we can easily reach considerable heights – this has already been confirmed by the experience of countries that have only relatively recently entered the field of space technology and have already achieved serious success.

For example, in Lithuania, a few years ago, NanoAvionics was founded, which was originally a spinoff of Vilnius University. Today it is Europe's leading company engaged in the creation of satellite platforms and propulsion systems for satellites. The portfolio of this company already includes more than 110 successful satellite missions and commercial projects.

Similar success can be achieved by Armenian start-ups in the field of space technologies, he noted.

What is needed for this?

No, not a huge investment, although this is what many will think of in the first place. As the specialist noted, if you invest a lot of money in science, it will change little if there is nothing else that is necessary for its development.

“If we invest, say, 100 million in our science, will something change? Of course not. Who will work in this area? Do we have so many quality workers? No. And so the efficiency of using these 100 million will be very low. Just going and investing a lot of money in science without doing anything else is like installing a good telescope in a place where the sky is almost invisible,” said the astrophysicist.

What is really needed in order for science to develop in Armenia and for companies working in the field of space technologies to begin to appear?

First of all, of course, we need specialists who can work in these companies. And in order to have such specialists in the country, it is necessary to seriously deal with the education system.

As Garik Israelyan noted, children need to be interested in science from the school desk: this requires both high-quality training courses and good teachers who can interest children and instill in them a love for learning and science. However, it is not enough to have a couple of good schools – it is necessary that the entire education system be up to par.

Universities will also need reforms: good teachers, relevant departments, interesting courses – all this is necessary so that smart children can receive a quality higher education after school.

The third step is perspective. Where will future physicists, astrophysicists and other specialists work? What can make them devote their lives to science, and not go to other areas where you can earn more?

Those who are interested in theoretical areas of science should have the opportunity to work in university or research centers. Such centers should not only be available in the country, but also offer competitive salaries. The creation and maintenance of such centers usually lies on the shoulders of the state.

As for the private sector, its development will already attract those who want to engage in applied science and participate in specific developments. If such companies begin to appear in the country, and young people see that it is also possible to work and earn money in this area, more and more people will want to do science, and all this will finally lead to serious changes in the country.

No Armenian-Azerbaijani document can secure them against geopolitical shocks – Arman Melikyan

Emil Karabekian
ARMINFO
Armenia –
David Stepanyan

ArmInfo.The 44-day-war in the South Caucasus disturbed the politico-military and geopolitical balance. And a new politico-military balance that would ensure long-  lasting peace in the region will take a considerable amount of time  to form, Ambassador Arman Melikyan said in an interview with ArmInfo. 

"The present geopolitical situation does not allow either the  Armenian or the Azerbaijani leaders to ignore the geopolitical  situation in our region and in the neighboring ones even during the  next six months. Under the circumstances, any document Yerevan and  Baku would sign here and now will not secure the signatories against  possible – and even expected – geopolitical shocks in and round our  region," Mr Melikyan said.  

Amid the ongoing geopolitical transformations, signing any interstate  document supposed to "legally cement" the Armenian-Azerbaijani  relations in terms of their level and content is pointless. On the  other hand, the negotiations amid the region's geopolitical  reconfiguration are, beyond doubt, a deterrent to possible use of  force.   

Even if Armenia and Azerbaijan sign a peace treaty in the foreseeable  future, such a treaty should not be expected to contain special  points on Artsakh. And given the fact that Azerbaijan's legislation  does not contain a point on a territorial unit named  Nagorno-Karabakh, Baku can at best guarantee the rights of the  Artsakh Armenians.  

"My greatest concern is that Armenia's incumbent authorities are  lacking experience and knowledge necessary to manage such complicated  processes. In this context, I think that the prospects of Russian  military presence in Artsakh will depend on the presence of the  Armenian population that needs protection rather than on an  Armenian-Azerbaijani peace agreement," Mr Melikyan said.

Deputy FM of Japan emphasizes role of OSCE MG Co-Chairs in peaceful settlement of NK conflict

Emil Karabekian

Save

Share

 19:23, 3 May, 2022

YEREVAN, MAY 3, ARMENPRESS. On May 3, Deputy Foreign Minister Mnatsakan Safaryan met the delegation led by the Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan Honda Taro, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of MFA Armenia.

At the beginning of the meeting, the parties exchanged congratulatory messages on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, noting the importance of the anniversary for further development of the bilateral agenda.  

Mnatsakan Safaryan emphasized the importance of further development and strengthening of the Armenian-Japanese relations, the activation of economic cooperation valuing the official assistance programs implemented by the Government of Japan in Armenia.

The Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister presented the situation resulting from the blatant encroachments on the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia by Azerbaijan, as well as the recent developments on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, reaffirming the urgency for a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh issue under the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs mandate. 

Taro Honda noted that the aim of his visit is the promotion of the Armenian-Japanese dialogue and expressed his satisfaction with the confirmation of Armenia's participation in the "Osaka 2025" international Expo. He reiterated Japan's position that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict should be settled through peaceful negotiations, emphasizing the role of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs in the process of settlement. 

During the meeting, the Armenian-Japanese collaboration on multilateral platforms, as well as further cultural exchanges and cooperation in the sphere of tourism were touched upon.

Asbarez: Peter Balakian Offers Keynote Address at Capitol Hill Commemoration of Armenian Genocide

Emil Karabekian
by Contributor

 

 May 3, 2022

 

in Featured Story, Latest, News, Top Stories

From left: Peter Balakian, Rep. Carolyn Maloney, Dr. Khatchig Mouradian

Legislators Rally Support for Passage of ANCA-Backed Armenian Genocide Education Act

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Pulitzer Prize winning writer Peter Balakian and U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Chair Nadine Maenza joined this week with Members of Congress on Capitol Hill in commemorating the Armenian Genocide, the first such in-person gathering since the U.S. Congress and President fully and formally recognized this crime. 

In eloquent remarks, Balakian expressed gratitude to Congressional leaders and President Biden for recognizing the Armenian Genocide, while forcefully challenging Turkey’s denials and obstruction of justice for this crime. “More than 30 nations have passed Armenian Genocide resolutions in Europe, in the Middle East, South America, and North America as statements of moral redress to Turkey for its failure to face its genocidal crimes,” stated Balakian. “Think of Germany’s restitutions and reparations for Israel and the Jewish people as the high moral ground. Reparations and restitution are always a necessity, as it is now in the Armenian case.” 

U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Chair Nadine Maenza ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian

Balakian argued that Genocide recognition is also important in understanding our contemporary world. “The Turkish extermination marks the first time a modern government used its bureaucracy, parliament, advanced technology and communications, organized killing squads and extreme nativist ideology – Pan-Turkism – to target and destroy an ethnic group in a concentrated period of time,” explained Balakian. “We can learn from the Armenian case a good deal about what the Nazi regime did to the Jews and Roma of Europe; what Pol Pot did in Cambodia; what the Hutu did to the Tutsi in Rwanda; and, the fates of Bosnian Muslims, Rohingya, Uighurs and other ethnic groups in our time, who are being subjected to the same.” 

U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Chair Nadine Maenza explained the pivotal role President Biden’s first Armenian Genocide acknowledgment played in 2021.

“As USCIRF said then, this step finally and firmly placed the United States on the right side of this terrible tragedy,” stated Maenza crediting the Armenian American community for its steadfast pursuit of recognition and justice. “As we reflect on this genocide of the past, let’s not forget the places where genocide is happening right now and other crimes against humanity. Let us renew our commitment to always stand together and stand against acts of hatred and intolerance wherever they may occur,” she concluded. 

A scene from the commemorative event at Capitol Hill

“Our community and coalition partners were honored to have Peter Balakian and Nadine Maenza at our first Congressional observance since the United States officially recognized the Armenian Genocide, and – of course – are gratified by the growing support for the Armenian Genocide Education Act,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “We look forward to working with legislators from across the aisle to see this bipartisan measure – introduced by Representatives Maloney and Bilirakis and supported from the podium by so many of the speakers at this year’s Capitol Hill remembrance – enacted into law.” 

Dr. Khatchig Mouradian, the Armenian and Georgian Area Specialist for the Library of Congress and an internationally respected Armenian Genocide scholar, offered remarks at the solemn observance, as did Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Jackie Speier (D-CA), Armenian Genocide Education Act lead author Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), and Representatives Don Beyer (D-VA), Judy Chu (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Brenda Lawrence (D-MI), Susie Lee (D-NV), Katie Porter (D-CA), John Sarbanes (D-MD), and Brad Sherman (D-CA). Among others offering remarks were Republic of Nagorno Karabakh Representative to the U.S. Robert Avetisyan and the Armenian Ambassador, as well as, Maria Martirosyan, Chair of the Congressional Armenian Staffers Association.

Fr. Sarkis Aktavoukian of Soorp Khatch Armenian Church in Bethesda, MD offered the invocation for the evening.

Turkish press: Bells to ring once again in Turkey’s historical Armenian church

Emil Karabekian
 DİYARBAKIR APR 26, 2022 – 2:28 PM GMT+3

Surp Giragos, the largest Armenian Church in the Middle East, Diyarbakır, Turkey, May 6, 2015. (DHA Photo)

After seven years, the bell will ring again at Surp Giragos, the largest Armenian Church in the Middle East, in Turkey's Diyarbakır. With restoration works now complete, the church will reopen its doors to worshippers in May.

The restoration of the Armenian Surp Giragos Church in the Sur district of Diyarbakır has been completed. The first service will be held at the church on May 8 with the participation of the Armenian Patriarch of Turkey Sahak Mashalyan. The church's foundation also submitted a request to the government to appoint a permanent clergyman to the church.

The interior and exterior restoration of the church, right behind the four minarets where lawyer and former Diyarbakır Bar Association Chairperson Tahir Elçi was killed, has been restored to its original state.

Surp Giragos, the largest Armenian Church in the Middle East, Diyarbakır, Turkey, Oct. 25, 2011. (Sabah Archive Photo)

The 600-year-old church was abandoned to its fate in the early 1990s after villages in the southeast were evacuated due to terrorist activity. An intense migration flow started to the cities, and in parallel, many non-Muslims immigrated to European countries.

Anton Zor, who ran an antique shop in Sur, did not abandon the church and claimed to "have a memory of every stone." Zor guarded the church until the end of his life, living in two chambers whose columns were badly damaged, and walls and ceiling had collapsed. When he died in the Surp Pırgiç Hospital in Istanbul, the church was left completely derelict.

In 2008, the decision was made to restore the church, which was by then riddled with holes made by thieves hunting for gold.

The church's restoration was launched through a project carried out by the Armenian Foundation and the Metropolitan Municipality. It was restored over three years and opened its doors to the Armenian community from all over the world in 2011.

Surp Giragos, the largest Armenian Church in the Middle East, Diyarbakır, Turkey, March 14, 2019. (AA Photo)

The original of the 100-kilogram (220-pound) onion-head bell in its collapsed tower was specially made in Moscow and brought to Diyarbakır. After 35 years of deep silence, the sound of bells rang through the streets every Sunday. However, the chiming stopped again after four years.

Surp Giragos Church was heavily damaged again in 2015 due to terrorist attacks. Some 24 security guards were killed in the neighborhood where the church is located. The church was again left in ruins over the course of three months.

Terrorists positioned in the church attacked security forces with rockets and bombs. They created escape tunnels in the church, where the wounded terrorists were treated and the walls were riddled with holes from heavy weapons. After peace was restored, a tender was made for the church's restoration by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization.

Surp Giragos, the largest Armenian Church in the Middle East, Diyarbakır, Turkey, March 14, 2019. (AA Photo)

Archbishop Aram Ateşyan, former deputy patriarch of the Armenians of Turkey, who visited the church right after the incidents, said: “This is the Christian Quarter. Churches and mosques, which were God's houses of prayer, were destroyed. We cannot call those who do this human. I saw that they broke it all over with sledgehammers. Those hand-carved features and the places we call Horan were shattered,” he said.

Surp Giragos Armenian Church, which was the headquarters of the German armies during World War I and with a closed area of 3,000 square meters, was also used as a cotton warehouse of Sümerbank for a while.

Armenia ex-defense minister: These authorities are able to use force inside the country

Emil Karabekian
NEWS.am
Armenia – May 2 2022
15:01, 02.05.2022

Several of our fellow MPs were detained, but now they are free. Many of our ideologues are now in police stations. Seyran Ohanyan, leader of the opposition "Armenia" Faction in the National Assembly and former defense minister of Armenia, told reporters this on Monday.

"The actions of these authorities are not proportionate; they use brute force. There are many videos of the police troops simply using force with a few people, beating our friends, demonstrators as well—which is not right.

These authorities are able to use force inside the country, but they are not able to use that force within the country’s borders and beyond. If the troops that are stationed in the city of Yerevan today had been stationed at our borders, our borders would have been strong. If these organized troops had been in Hadrut, Shushi [cities of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) during the war in the fall of 2020], had assisted our army, this catastrophic situation would not have happened, we would have achieved success," Ohanyan added.

Peaceful disobedience actions by the opposition have started in Armenia’s capital Yerevan early Monday morning. Accordingly, a number of streets have been blocked.

Earlier, Armenian News-NEWS.am reported that the opposition forces had set up tents Sunday at France Square in downtown Yerevan and stayed there overnight. Resistance Movement coordinator Ishkhan Saghatelyan—the National Assembly deputy speaker from the opposition "Armenia" Faction and a representative of the Supreme Body of the opposition Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Dashnaktsutyun Party of Armenia—announced Sunday that peaceful acts of civil disobedience will begin Monday throughout Armenia, especially the downtown Yerevan streets will be closed off. Also, he called for boycotting school classes and holding labor strikes.

To note, it is raining in Yerevan since the morning, and all these peaceful actions of civil disobedience are being held under the rain.

Armenian opposition to start mass anti-government demonstrations on May 1

Emil Karabekian
Panorama
Armenia –

POLITICS 13:15 29/04/2022 ARMENIA

The Armenian opposition groups will begin mass demonstrations across the country on 1 May in a bid to topple Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his cabinet, one of the ARF leaders and opposition Hayastan faction MP Ishkhan Saghatelyan said.

“Our country is facing numerous problems and serious security challenges. In essence, Armenia's existence is at stake here. This is not an exaggerated claim, but a fact,” he said at a meeting with the opposition activists marching from Ijevan, a town in Armenia’s Tavush Province, to Yerevan.

He states that the current authorities are ready to see Artsakh as a part of Azerbaijan.

“This is a sacred fight and there is no turning back,” Saghatelyan noted. "The people are standing up…On May 1, mass protests aimed at ousting the capitulant will start. If they stay in power, we will finally lose everything.”

Ahead of mass rallies, the opposition activists and supporters continue small-scale protests and marches across Yerevan in an effort to get the people to rise up. Another awareness march will be held from Republic Square on Friday evening, Saghatelyan said.

In the meantime, a group of oppositionists will start marching from Armenia's second largest city of Gyumri to Yerevan at 6:30pm.

Azerbaijani press: Construction of new highway bypassing liberated Lachin underway [PHOTO/VIDEO]

Emil Karabekian
21 April 2022 16:42 (UTC+04:00)
776

The construction of a new 32-km-long highway bypassing Azerbaijan’s liberated Lachin city is underway, the State Agency for Automobile Roads reported on April 21.

Under the project, the carriageway will be 7 meters wide, the roadbed will be 12 meters, and the shoulder sections will be equal to 5 meters in total (2×2.5), the report added.

The construction of the roadbed, as well as artificial facilities is underway, the state agency underlined.

Unsuitable soil and vegetation are being excavated in accordance with the "Construction Norms and Standards" in order to expand the roadbed. Special equipment is being used to widen and profile the road, and a new landfill is being constructed.

The construction of circular pipes and various artificial structures is also underway to ensure the transfer of water along the road, which passes through difficult terrain.

In this regard, the construction of a 139.5-m-long 4-span bridge on the 22nd km of the road is nearing completion.

The new highway is being built in accordance with the established timetable and technological sequence under the supervision of the State Agency for Automobile Roads.

The necessary forces have been mobilized in the area in order to finish the construction work this year.

One of the most important aspects of Azerbaijan's Karabakh rehabilitation plan is the reconstruction of road infrastructure.

All roads in the territory of the Karabakh and East Zangazur economic regions are designed to bypass large settlements, ensuring the comfort of both residents and road users.

The construction of a new route bypassing Lachin was agreed upon in a trilateral agreement signed on November 10, 2020, by the Azerbaijani, Armenian, and Russian leaders following Azerbaijan's victory in a 44-day war over Armenia. The new road was conceived as an alternative to the Lachin corridor, which connects Karabakh with Armenia and is controlled by Russian peacekeepers temporarily stationed in Azerbaijan's Karabakh region.