Skip to main content

Author: Greg Madatian

Political scientist: Unlike Treaty of Moscow, Treaty of Kars states that territory of modern-day Tigranashen belongs to Armenia

Greg Madatian
Panorama, Armenia
Sept 10 2021

Unlike the Treaty of Moscow, the Treaty of Kars states that the village of Tigranashen belongs to Armenia, political scientist Edgar Elbakyan said on Facebook on Thursday.

“The funny thing is that unlike the Treaty of Moscow, the Treaty of Kars, which Armenia’s enemies, Turkey, Azerbaijan and the capitulator, refer to, states that the territory of modern-day Tigranashen belongs to Armenia. Before the Great Patriotic War, the territory was unilaterally annexed by Azerbaijan as an enclave through administrative violence,” he wrote.

“However, since the so-called Armenian-Azerbaijani border demarcation talks are not based on an _expression_ of good will and ratio decidendi, but rather Azerbaijan's efforts to impose whatever it wants on the capitulated leader of Armenia, there are constant signals about the imminent threat facing Tigranashen.

“Unfortunately, there is silent consensus of the Euro-Atlantic and ruling Russian circles over the further rule of the capitulator. The Armenian nation, not as a modern, static reality, but as a national-political collective of people who have lived, live and will continue to live in the Armenian Highlands, united around the idea of a unified Armenian statehood, is alone in this struggle and must rely only on itself,” Elbakyan said.

Opposition "Armenia" bloc issues statement on PM’s statement on "vivid celebration" on Sep. 21

Greg Madatian
News.am, Armenia
Sept 9 2021
Opposition "Armenia" bloc issues statement on PM's statement on "vivid celebration" on Sep. 21
21:42, 09.09.2021

Today it is not correct to talk about a “vivid celebration” in an atmosphere in which there are thousands of victims, vulnerable sovereignty, serious security challenges, captives and a pain that the nation has not recovered from. This is stated in the statement issued by the opposition “Armenia” bloc.

“During the recent government session, there was a statement about a “scaled and vivid celebration” to be organized at Republic Square on September 21st.

Unquestionably, September 21st is one of the most valuable national holidays of the Armenian nation. On September 21, 1991, the people of Armenia voted in favor of building an independent state. The past years have been years of nation-building and reinforcing our victories, and our collective efforts were aimed at valuing the past, fixing our flaws and building a dignified future with the will of the whole nation. Unfortunately, the past three years and especially the 44-day war not only disrupted the course of our statehood, but also made our society suffer irreversible human losses and made our country suffer losses, and the country faces an uncertain future.

Today it is not correct to talk about a “vivid celebration” in an atmosphere in which there are thousands of victims, vulnerable sovereignty, serious security challenges, captives and a pain that the nation has not recovered from. It is disrespectful towards the memory of our victims and has justly sparked the frustration of the parents, family members of the heroic boys and men and our society.

We are not refusing the symbol of valuing our independence, but the best _expression_ of this had to be enshrining of our statehood, cessation of the campaign for consistent destruction and humiliation launched by the authorities against state and national institutions, formation of an atmosphere of solidarity in the country and real resistance to threats.

We are certain that it would be possible to value the holiday with modesty adequate to the moral-psychological atmosphere, if a state commission was set up ahead of the 30th anniversary of Independence.

At the same time, “Armenia” bloc declares that it will serve all of its political capacities for the strengthening of Armenian statehood and national interests,” the statement reads.

‘’IGorts’’ program’s 22 participants of the first stage repatriated. 50 professionals receive certificates

Greg Madatian

‘'IGorts’' program’s 22 participants of the first stage repatriated. 50 professionals receive certificates

Save

Share

 19:19, 7 September, 2021

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER  7, ARMENPRESS. At the government of the Republic of Armenia at the closure ceremony of the ‘'Igorts’' 2020 program 50 professionals received certificates. ARMENPRESS reports High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs Zareh Sinanyan, ministers, vice-ministers, program participants, who came to Armenia from 19 countries a year ago and worked at 19 state institutions were present at the closure ceremony.

Head of the Program Implementation and Monitoring Department of the Office of the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs, head of ‘'iGorts’' program Liana Simonyan said, what ‘'iGorts’' gave an opportunity to diaspora professionals to work at state institutions of Armenia. ‘'The participants of our program, who were 52, according to the professional needs presented by the state bodies, implemented activities at the state system and had opportunity to invest their experience and knowledge in the improvement and development of respective fields. We chose specific standards – the participant had to have masters or higher degree, be sufficiently patriotic, be ready to live one year and work in Armenia'', Simonyan said.

According to her, the 52 participants were from 19  countries Russia, the Netherlands, USA, Germany, Austria, Lebanon, China, Ukraine, Iran, Georgia, Israel and so on. Speaking about the goals of the program Liana Simonyan mentioned that by ‘'iGorts’' program they wanted to use the human potential of the diaspora in the development of the management system, also facilitate the professional repatriation.

Zareh Sinanyan thanked the participants. In the framework of ‘'iGorts’' 2020 programs were implemented in healthcare, education, culture, social work, territorial administration, economy and investment fields. All of our participants are great professionals in their fields. 22 of participants made a decision of repatriation, 14 will stay at state system and 8 will work at private fields’', mentioned Sinanyan, thanking all the participants and the coworkers of High Commissioner of the Diaspora.

Minister of Healthcare of Armenia Anahit Avanesyan thanked the participants for their work.  ''This program had great success and I hope that in the future greater progress will be made’',- said Avanesyan.

Hayk Margaryan, who is one of the repatriated by the program, in conversation with ARMENPRESS mentioned that today he was appointed as the director of the centre of innovation and entrepreneurship. While talking about repatriation, he emphasized that for him it was very important to live in Armenia. Now he lives in Armenia with his wife and two children.

Turkish press: Ancient Akdamar Church to hold 9th holy mass

Greg Madatian
  • 07:00:00

The Akdamar Church in Turkey's eastern province of Van will host its ninth special mass on Sept. 5 since reopening in 2010 after a hiatus of 95 years.

Previously attended in the hundreds before the novel coronavirus pandemic struck last year, participation in the annual mass will once again be subject to limitations as part of efforts to prevent infection.

A team of 25 people will perform the ritual, said Van Governor Mehmet Emin Bilmez, who added that Akdamar Island, near the southern shores of Lake Van, and the 1,100-year-old church built on it have become a major center of religious tourism.

"This church was built at a time when Islamic civilization was dominant and has been standing upright in these lands for about 1,000 years. This is the most beautiful indicator of Anatolian civilization," said Bilmez.

Located on Akdamar Island in Lake Van, the church was built between 915 A.D. and 921 A.D. by architect Bishop Manuel, under the supervision of Gagik I Artsruni, an Armenian king.

Baku declares that "Zangezur corridor will become new corridor stretching from fraternal Pakistan to Turkey"

Greg Madatian
News.am, Armenia
20:47, 27.07.2021

The Zangezur corridor will become a new corridor stretching from fraternal Pakistan to Turkey and Azerbaijan. This is what Chairperson of the Parliament of Azerbaijan Sahiba Gafarova said during the first trilateral meeting of the parliamentary speakers of Azerbaijan, Pakistan and Turkey, local presses reported.

A declaration on Baku was signed after the meeting.

PACE rapporteur to visit Baku to gather information for report on Karabakh war

Greg Madatian
Public Radio of Armenia

Paul Gavan (Ireland, UEL) will visit Azerbaijan on behalf of the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Population of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) from 26 to 28 July 2021, to gather information for his report on “The humanitarian consequences of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan”.

He will hold meetings with parliamentarians, including the Speaker of the National Assembly (Milli Mejlis), and with representatives of different ministries dealing with the humanitarian consequences of the conflict. He will also have an opportunity to hear from displaced persons, and will meet with the Commissioner for Human Rights of Azerbaijan and civil society representatives.

The visit will also allow him to understand better the role and contribution of international organisations working on this issue in Azerbaijan, including the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). He already visited Armenia in the context of the preparation of this report in May 2021.

Mr Gavan plans to continue his work over the summer and aims to complete his report in September.

Armenian American Museum Groundbreaking Held Sunday In Glendale

Greg Madatian
Author: CBSLA Staff at 10:15 pm

GLENDALE (CBSLA) – A groundbreaking ceremony was held Sunday evening at the Glendale Central Park for the new Armenian American Museum.

Plans to build the new museum have been in the works for years. The groundbreaking comes after millions of dollars in donations by organization, individual families and the state.

State Senator Anthony Portatino praised Governor Gavin Newsom’s support for the museum.

“Governor Newsom embraced this museum and was instrumental in getting $5 million. The state has invested a total of $8 million into the museum and I think that’s a testament to the Armenian activists,” Portatino said.

The two-story facility, which will span more than 50,000 square feet, will house archives and highlight historical and cultural moments of the Armenian people over the past 5,000 years.

Hundreds of attendees came out for the evening’s festivities, which included dignitaries, special guests and informative video segments on the future cultural and educational center for the museum.

Many of the guests told CBSLA that this will be a place to share a history that people may not yet know.

Louisa Tutunjuan, a supporter of the museum, said the new cultural attraction will introduce the Armenian culture to everyone in the city.

A dignitary, Consulate General of Armenia, Ambassador Armen Baubourtian, expressed how he felt about the new museum.

“It’s going to be a bridge between Armenia community and all other communities in Los Angeles and California,” the ambassador said.

The Armenian American Museum , which is expected to open mid-2024, will give special recognition to the 1.5 million lives lost in the Armenian Genocide, which until April had not been formally recognized by a sitting US president.

 

Watch the video at  

Talks underway with Russia over deployment of border guards in Gegharkunik province – Armenia caretaker deputy PM

Greg Madatian

Save

Share

 14:51, 23 June, 2021

GYUMRI, JUNE 23, ARMENPRESS. Talks are underway with the Russian side over the deployment of Russian border guards in Armenia’s Gegharkunik province, Armenian caretaker deputy prime minister Tigran Avinyan said during a briefing in Gyumri.

He, however, noted that this can happen only in case of the complete withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from Armenia’s territory.

Avinyn said Armenia will not change its position over the border situation.

“The Azerbaijani armed forces must pull back from Armenia’s sovereign territory, and we will spare no efforts for this. There is a discussion with the Russian side, but the Russian peacekeepers will be deployed only when the Azerbaijani forces pull back”, he said.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Armenia will soon acquire new batch of COVID-19 vaccines

Greg Madatian

Save

Share

 15:47,

YEREVAN, JUNE 22, ARMENPRESS. In the process of acquiring vaccines against coronavirus, Armenia has adopted a policy which wouldn’t limit to people at risk only, but also will allow each citizen to decide which vaccine he/she wants to get, Deputy Director General of the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Gayane Sahakyan, said at a press conference in Armenpress.

She informed that .

“We continue our work with Covax platform which offered us new vaccines by Johnson & Johnson, as well as the US-made Novavax vaccine. There will also be new batches of AstraZeneca vaccine”, Gayane Sahakyan said.

Armenia has recently been supplied with the new batch of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine. Asked whether the vaccination criteria will change, Mrs. Sahakyan said it depends on the volumes of a new batch.

“We expressed a wish to acquire large amount of vaccine from Russia, but there is a production problem there. That was the reason that our second batch – the 60,000 doses for 30,000 people, delayed. We continue the talks with Russia to understand the availability of batches. And accordingly, the vaccination policy with Sputnik V will also change”, she said.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

CIS observers to monitor early parliamentary elections in Armenia

Greg Madatian

Save

Share

 11:25,

YEREVAN, JUNE 17, ARMENPRESS. The international observers of the CIS Inter-parliamentary Assembly are starting their short-term monitoring for Armenia’s early parliamentary elections.

On June 19 the CIS observers will attend a ceremony of laying flowers at the Mother Armenia monument in Yerevan. On the same day they are scheduled to have several meetings in the Armenian Parliament. The observer mission will hold discussions with the leadership of the Parliament, as well as with the representatives of political forces participating in the elections. In particular, meetings with heads of election headquarters of Prosperous Armenia, Civil Contract and Bright Armenia parties are expected.

On June 19 the CIS observers will also meet with Chairman of the Central Electoral Commission of Armenia Tigran Mukuchyan to exchange views on the election processes. Thereafter, they will meet with the representatives of the “Armenia” alliance, the alliance With Honor, Our Home Is Armenia.

They will continue their observer mission on June 20 – the voting day. The observers will also meet with the representatives of the OSCE/ODIHR.

The CIS observer mission will give a press conference on June 21 summing up the results of the elections.

CIS observers will conduct their mission in Armenia at the invitation of Speaker of Parliament Ararat Mirzoyan.

The early parliamentary elections in Armenia will take place on June 20.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan