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Author: Garnik Zakarian

Azerbaijani press: Azerbaijan determines rules of using Shusha city’s name

Garnik Zakarian
18:06 (UTC+04:00)
778

By Trend

The rules of using the name of Azerbaijan’s Shusha city [liberated from Armenian occupation in the 2020 second Karabakh war] have been determined, Trend reports.

In this regard, a bill on amending the law "On Azerbaijan’s cultural capital – Shusha city" was discussed at the plenary session of the parliament on May 13.

According to the amendments, the use of the word "Shusha" (phrases with the word "Shusha") will be allowed only with the consent of the body (structure) determined by the relevant executive authority, except for cases determined by the legislation of Azerbaijan and this body (structure), as following:

– in the names of legal entities, including media entities;

– in the names of awards and prizes;

– in the names of local, national or international events, including sports and other competitions, concerts, festivals, exhibitions, conferences, and seminars;

– for commercial and advertising purposes;

– on trademarks and geographical indications.

After discussions, the bill was put to a vote and adopted in the third reading.

Armenia "categorically" rejects Turkey’s hints about borders – MP

Garnik Zakarian
PanARMENIAN
Armenia – May 3 2022
May 3, 2022 – 19:06 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Lawmaker from the ruling Civil Contract party Eduard Aghajanyan has revealed that Turkey has indeed dropped hints about redefining the border with Armenia but added that Yerevan has "categorically" rejected the proposal.

Armenian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Vahan Hunanyan said earlier that there was no discussion or agreement on the re-demarcation of the Armenian-Turkish border, something announced earlier by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.

Aghajanyan said Tuesday, May 3 that the matter was briefly raised during the meetings of the special envoys appointed by the two countries. However, he said, the borders have been defined during the Soviet Union, so no new map is necessary, CivilNet reports.

"One can guess why Turkey raises this issue," the MP said, maintaining that the Armenian side doesn't see willingness from Turkey to take concrete steps in the short term.

Turkey and Armenia last December named special envoys to discuss the normalization of ties. Three rounds of talks followed on January 14, on February 24 and then on May 3. During the last meeting, the sides reaffirmed their goal of achieving full normalization between their respective countries.
https://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/300054/Armenia_categorically_rejects_Turkeys_hints_about_borders_%E2%80%93_MP

Armenian opposition leader urges people to join ‘struggle for our homeland’

Garnik Zakarian
Panorama
Armenia – May 3 2022

Armenian opposition members and supporters on Tuesday briefly blocked Abovyan Street in central Yerevan as part of a large-scale civil disobedience campaign to oust Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his cabinet.

The country’s opposition groups launched the campaign on Monday after rallying thousands of supporters in Yerevan’s France Square and setting up a protest camp there on Sunday.

"Join the struggle for our homeland!" Artur Vanetsyan, leader of the opposition Homeland Party, said during the protest on the street.

Ishkhan Saghatelyan, a deputy parliament speaker and chair of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Supreme Council of Armenia, said that in addition to the Yerevan streets, a number of regional roads were also blocked.

"All our compatriots should take to the streets to oust them [the authorities]," he said.

The demonstrators sat in the middle of the road, blocking it for a few minutes. Then, they continued the march along Abovyan Street, chanting " Unification, Struggle, Victory" and "Nikol the traitor”.

Armenia claims Azerbaijani forces fired at miners near border

Garnik Zakarian
Jerusalem Post
May 7 2022
By TZVI JOFFRE

 

Published: MAY 7, 2022 23:55

Updated: MAY 8, 2022


Armenia's Defense Ministry claimed on Saturday that Azerbaijani troops fired at Armenian military positions and at the Sotk gold mine in eastern Armenia, injuring one miner.

The Armenian Defense Ministry stated that the shooting was "suppressed by countermeasures," adding that the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border was "relatively stable" as of Saturday afternoon. The workers at the Sotk mine have all been evacuated.

Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry has denied the report, calling it "false and disinformation."

Earlier in the week, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry claimed that Armenian forces fired at Azerbaijani forces in the village of Zeylik, around 30 kilometers from the city of Ganga and nearly 40 kilometers from the border, adding that "adequate response measures" were taken by Azerbaijani forces. The Armenian Defense Ministry called the claim "misinformation."

A week before that incident, Azerbaijan's State Border Service claimed that a "sabotage group" of the Armenian Armed Forces attempted to infiltrate into Azerbaijan and warned that it would take "more serious measures" if the incident was repeated.


In April, the Russian Defense Ministry said that Azerbaijani forces had repeatedly violated the ceasefire between Azerbaijan and Armenia in the Republic of Artsakh, a de facto republic internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan. In 2020, the area where the republic is situated was recaptured by Azerbaijan.

In March, Azerbaijani forces crossed the line of contact near the village of Parukh in the Republic of Artsakh, entering the village of Khramort. A day later, an Azerbaijani Bayraktar TB2 drone carried out strikes against forces belonging to Artsakh, killing three Armenian soldiers.

The Russian Defense Ministry issued a statement at the time saying that Azerbaijan had violated the ceasefire reached at the end of the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war by crossing the line of contact, sparking outrage from Azerbaijani officials.


On April 6, Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed to hold peace talks to address tensions over the Nagorno-Karabakh area.

In 2020, a slightly more than month-long war broke out between Azerbaijan and Armenia in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh and nearby areas, ending with a new line of contact drawn and Russian peacekeepers deployed along the line. Sporadic clashes have been reported along the line since the war.

Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.



 

On the Armenian genocide, Ambassador Babakhanian says, “people are still waiting for justice”

Garnik Zakarian
Bolly Inside, India
May 6 2022

On the 107th anniversary of the tragic piece of history, Armenian ambassador to India Yuri Babakhanian remarked that individuals who lost their lives in the Armenian genocide are still waiting for justice. At the book launch of “Armenian Genocide, The Sin of the Ottoman Empire,” the Armenian envoy to India made these statements. “…It has been more than a century since the Armenian Genocide, when the Armenian people were deprived of their homeland and property. “However, the Armenian people as a whole are still yearning for justice because genocide has no statute of limitations,” he stated. Ambassador Babakhanian emphasized that if the first genocide of the twentieth century had been recognized and condemned sooner, the world would have been a better place.

He lamented that the genocide is a terrible tragedy for the Armenian people as a result of which they lost most of their historical homeland and about half of the population. “It is also the history of survival and struggle,” he said, adding “It was a fight in the name of life, struggle to preserve identity, struggle not to lose the memory of the nation, and the right and the opportunity to pass it on to the next generations.” Babakhanian continued by saying that during the past century, the Armenian people as the subject of the tragedy, raise this problem in various forms and focus the attention of the international community and the Turkish authorities.

According to the Armenian envoy, the issue of recognition that the Armenians raise before the international community and Turkey has several components and that is why Armenia constantly speaks from the rostrum of the United Nation, with an appeal to unite the efforts of all countries to prevent the “crime of genocide”. He noted that the mass extermination of Armenians in accordance with international law was officially recognized as genocide and condemned by many countries. As of 2022, governments and Parliament have 33 countries, including the United States, Russia, Germany, France, Italy, Canada, Uruguay and Brazil, formally recognized the Armenian Genocide.

The European Parliament has been trying for many years to pursue a Turkey to recognize the Armenian Genocide, Babakhanian said. He said the bloc adopted a resolution proclaiming April 24, 2015, in the EU as the day of remembrance of the victims of the Armenian Genocide, and also addressed Ankara with the corresponding appeal. Turkey in response warned that such calls could lead to a deterioration in relations with the European Union, he added. Turkey and Azerbaijan are the only nations in the world actively denying the Armenian Genocide. “We cannot accept such position of the successive governments of Turkey which have avoided and are still avoiding the recognition of the genocide, promoting the policy of denial at the state level,” Babakhanian added.

Some 1.5 million Armenians were estimated to have been killed during the course of the First World War. Rights experts believe it was the systematic destruction of the Armenian people and identity. Separately, Ambassador of India to Armenia KD Dewal paid homage to the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims. “Ambassador KD Dewal paid homage to martyrs of this great tragedy and placed a wreath at the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial,” India in Armenia said in a tweet.

Asbarez: Silicon Valley Armenians Commemorate 107th Anniversary of Armenian Genocide

Garnik Zakarian
by Contributor

 

 May 6, 2022

 

in Commentary, Latest, News, Top Stories

Homenetmen Ani Scouts with Fr. Datev Harutyunian at the Khachkar

BY ARRA YERGANIAN

On a beautiful Spring evening, St. Andrew Armenian Apostolic Church community commemorated the 107th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide with a memorable tribute to our ancestors in Silicon Valley.

Emceed by Tamar Grigoryan, the program kicked off with flag ceremony led by Homenetmen Santa Clara Ani Chapter Scouts. National anthems of the United States and Armenia were performed by Benjamin Choupak.

After the opening prayer, offered by Archpriest Fr. Datev Harutyunian, Ani Yeni-Komshian introduced honorary guest Congressman Ro Khanna, who serves on the Armenian caucus and is a staunch supporter of Armenia. “The world needs to remember that barbarian behavior took place 107 years ago. We are sadly reminded today of the atrocities of the past. We need to be teaching the human cost of the Armenian Genocide,” said Khanna.

A powerful message was delivered by Karin Yeni-Komshian, an American Armenian. “I’m fortunate to live in the safety and security of America,” said Yeni-Komshian. “I can’t believe I’m witnessing the continuation of aggression against Armenia. Azerbaijan’s aggression of Armenians in Artsakh and border villages of Armenia is deplorable. We have a quest for justice and, as a result, need to correlate history with justice. These actions have enabled other 20th century genocides – Rwanda, Darfur and many others.”

Keynote speaker Professor Taner Akçam Supervisor Joe Simitian offering remarks

Frustrated by the U.S. governments indifference to Armenia while being assaulted by Azerbaijan, Yeni-Komshian asked, “Why the double standard by the current administration?” Addressing her American-Armenian identity, she noted that, “This duality has given me strength and an advantage.”

“We must be engaged as US citizens and Armenians to help our country and Armenia,” said Yeni-Komshian. “We need to keep the Armenian diaspora alive by engagement—identity, culture and faith.” She concluded by asking us to participate in church, community, and language learning. “Armenia is experiencing an existential threat and each of us should to reflect on how we will help our community.”

Next, a stirring version of the poem “Ancient Country” was delivered by Anahit Tonoyan.

Following Ananhit’s recitation, accomplished 11-year-old pianist, Daniel Yousefyan performed “Elegy” by Arno Babajanyan. Daniel has earned numerous competitive awards. His performance was flawless and beautiful.

Keynote speaker, author and professor Taner Akçam asked us all an important question: “What has happened in America after the recognition of the Armenian Genocide? What will replace it as a rallying cry for Armenian’s outside Armenia?” Then he exclaimed, “There is a need for a new conversation.”

“What exactly is recognition? Is it just lip service? Things have to change,” said Akçam. He explained that, in a civilized society, historical injustices need to be remembered as to not repeat themselves.

According to Akçam, “President Biden’s recognition of genocide will not change a thing. We must understand denial and recognition. Denial is not just about an ideological attitude. It is impossible to disconnect denial from current policy creation. Turkey must reverse its policy of denial. Like apartheid in South Africa, and slavery in the U.S., denial fuels the aggression of Azerbaijan on Armenia. History is not something in the past. The past is the present. If democracy, peace and security are truly priorities, things must change.”

Akçam stated that the question of “What now?” is important. He recommended that we replace recognition with seeking justice and reparations for the events of 1915. “We must learn from the Jewish people regarding seeking reparations from Turkey,” he said. “It is necessary to establish an institution to claim reparations from Turkey.”

Akçam concluded his remarks by emphasizing that there is no guarantee of success and that the path would be long. “The campaign for recognition was long and arduous. The campaign for reparations will be no shorter or less complex,” he said.

Next, we listened to a stirring performance of “Garun A’ by Komitas. It was was performed by skilled composers, as well as guitarist Pardy Minassian. Her performance was accompanied by spoken work.

Community member and longtime supporter Supervisor Joe Simitian spoke took to the podium to speak next. Simitian has gained notoriety for focusing on keeping our community safe. Over the past three decades, he’s engaged in pro-Armenian bills as a member of California State Assembly.

“It’s time for a new conversation…we are awfully tired after 107 years,” said Supervisor Simitian. “I will take the professors invitation to start a new conversation and it will begin tonight. Recognition is important for no other reason that it is the truth. Any other word is at best a half-truth or un-truth, or candidly, a lie. I think that matters.”

Vice-Mayor Liang Chao, who was noticeably moved by the program, expressed that she was touched to witness, after 107 years, the survivors of the genocide.

Our next musical interlude was simply magical. Songs “Kilikia” and “Hyots Hovig” were sung by Dr. Lori Panossian, accompanied on piano by Alla Petrosyan. “Kilikia” begins with the stirring words, “When doors of hope are opened wide, and dreary winter flees away. Our beauteous Armenia beams forth in glad and smiling day… I yearn for Kilikia, the land where first I saw the light.”

Krikor Krikorian, leader of the South Bay Commemoration committee and Vice Chairperson of Homenetmen Ani Chapter expressed his thanks to the speakers and participants of the event, noting the dedication of the South Bay committee. “We must never give up and demand rights for our ancestors,” said Krikorian.

The evening concluded with a prayer and the placing of flowers around the Khachkar.

Special thanks to the members of the South Bay Area Commemoration Committee and their representatives, including: St. Andrew Armenian Church, Homenetmen Santa Clara Ani Chapter, AGBU of Silicon Valley, ARS Agnouni Chapter, ARF Sardarabad Chapter, and ANCA Silicon Valley.

PM Pashinyan expresses confidence that the reputation of the Compulsory Enforcement Service will rise

Garnik Zakarian

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 20:05, 5 May, 2022

YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. Today, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited the Compulsory Enforcement Service to attend a solemn event organized on the occasion of the Day of the Compulsory Enforcement Officer. Minister of Justice Karen Andreasyan, the Chief Compulsory Enforcement Officer Sergey Meghryan and other officials were also present.

Prime Minister Pashinyan congratulated those present on the occasion of the Day of the Compulsory Enforcement Officer, emphasizing that the service in our reality either did not exist in the past or existed very weakly. "There are many important civilizational nuances here. Due to this circumstance, if you remember, initially there was a lot of negativity about the Compulsory Enforcement Service, because it was perceived that a service was created that takes away, or cuts forcibly something from the people? This is a very important fact. But the reality or mission of the Compulsory Enforcement Service is a little different. Here we should keep in mind that the main mission, which is very important for the state and the public, is that, after all, the Compulsory Enforcement Service is the executive body of justice. And when he takes it, he does it to restore justice; in essence, he gives it to those who have been wrongfully deprived. And when it takes away something, it does it to restore justice; in essence, it gives it to those who have been wrongfully deprived. And secondly, it is very important to have such a civilizational subtlety, which, with great difficulty, nevertheless is fulfilled by your service. That civilizational subtlety is the following. Each of us must understand and record that our actions, behavior, lifestyle bring with them certain consequences. And it is when we find out our relationship with these consequences that we have to formulate the public relations that we are all striving for. In this regard, I will consider the rightful work of the Compulsory Enforcement Service not only purely legal, but there are many important civilizational nuances here. Because, yes, sometimes it is very unpleasant when there are traffic jams or various fines. Because, yes, sometimes it is very unpleasant when one receives traffic or other fines. But our message from this must be that as a result of all this, as a result of this relationship, we must be able to adjust our daily life, our customs, our discipline in such a way that we find the right balance between the public and personal interests. In this respect, the Compulsory Enforcement Service is extremely important. It is very important that this point of view is realized by both the service and the public," Nikol Pashinyan said.

According to the Prime Minister, due to objective and subjective circumstances, the image of the Compulsory Enforcement Service is obviously improving, because it is this perception that people are beginning to understand that this is a very important tool for protecting the legitimate interests of the state, law, individuals, organizations. "I must say that in many cases the negative attitude that exists and will still exist towards the Compulsory Enforcement Service, unfortunately, does not depend on the service itself, because it is already conditioned by to what extent the judicial acts made by the courts are credible for the public. Of course, the problems in our judicial system, the negatives that come from them, unfortunately, often fall on you. Here, too, it is very important that we do our best to make the judicial acts in the Republic of Armenia as credible as possible, so that the atmosphere around the Compulsory Enforcement Service becomes more and more positive”, the Prime Minister said.

Nikol Pashinyan noted that when assessing, planning the activities of state institutions, developing their strategies, one should not consider only the mechanical side of the issue, because they ensure the rule of law, have important civilizational significance, important significance in correctly balancing the individual-society, individual-law, individual-individual relations. "I hope that we will continue to follow this path, because I know that this perception becomes more and more present in our government every day. I must emphasize one more circumstance. We attach great importance to another dimension of the Compulsory Enforcement Service, because in the 2021 report on the activities of the Government, we emphasized that in the previous year, as a result of the activities of the service, the state budget received 600 million AMD. And we have set a goal to increase the revenues that are used to meet public needs.

 

Having said all this, I want to thank all of you for the work and service, I want to thank you for the willingness to face the shortcomings, to be ready to correct those shortcomings, to wear the shoulder board with honor. I would like to express my conviction that as a result of the work carried out within the framework of this ideology, the reputation of that uniform, shoulder board, service will continue to rise, and finally we will come to the public conclusion that the Compulsory Enforcement Service  acts not against, but for the sake of the citizen, right, law and justice," said the Prime Minister.

The solemn swearing-in ceremony of the newly appointed Compulsory Enforcement Officers took place, after which the Prime Minister handed over medals and letters of gratitude to a group of employees of the Compulsory Enforcement Service on the occasion of their professional holiday.

Russians’ trips to Armenia triple in Q1, data shows

Garnik Zakarian
PanARMENIAN
Armenia – May 4 2022
May 4, 2022 – 10:58 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Federal Security Service of Russia has admitted the sharp increase in the number of citizens who left the country in January-March 2022, RFE/RL's Russian Service says.

The number of Russians traveling to Armenia has tripled, while the number of those preferring Georgia has increased by almost five times, according to the data published by the authorities.

In the first quarter of 2022, 134,000 Russians left for Armenia. Most of those who left – 78,000 – mentioned that they were traveling for private purposes, while 41,000 said for tourism. For comparison, in the first three months of 2021, only 44,000 citizens left Russia for Armenia.

Departure to Uzbekistan (53,000 people who left against 15,000 a year earlier), Tajikistan (40,000 and 8,000, respectively), Azerbaijan (56,000 and 20,000) has grown significantly too.

Experts attribute the significant migration of Russians to a number of factors, including the lifting of Covid restrictions, which were still in effect in many countries in 2021. However, one of the key reasons was also the Russian war in Ukraine.
https://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/300063/Russians_trips_to_Armenia_triple_in_Q1_data_shows

Prosecutor’s Office probing police violence against opposition protester in Yerevan

Garnik Zakarian
Panorama
Armenia – May 2 2022

The Prosecutor General's Office of Armenia is investigating a video which shows a police officer hitting an opposition protester in the head and face in Yerevan on Monday, its spokeswoman Arevik Khachatryan told Panorama.am.

The video went viral on social media, drawing strong condemnation from people.

The man was taking part in mass acts of civil disobedience launched by the Armenian opposition on Monday morning in a bid to oust Nikol Pashinyan and his cabinet.

The footage clearly shows one of the police officers repeatedly hitting him in the face and head while detaining him. The policeman is taken away by other protesters.