Author: Jirair Kafian

Iranian-Armenian artist Grigor Yaghoubi honored at Iranology Foundation Culture

Jirair Kafian
TEHRAN TIMES, Iran
Feb 21 2024
  1. Culture
– 21:59


TEHRAN-An exhibition of artworks by the veteran Iranian-Armenian artist Grigor Yaghoubi was launched at the Iranology Foundation in Tehran on February 19.

At the opening ceremony, Mohammad Hossein Rajabi Davani, the president of the Iranology Foundation, called the event a commemoration of a lifetime of efforts by Yaghoubi in the field of painting and considered Armenians to have a brilliant history in the field of art of Iran, ILNA reported.

Also speaking at the event, Razieh Yasini, Deputy of Research at the Foundation, pointed out the brilliant history of Armenians in Iran and considered Armenian compatriots to be hardworking in the field of culture and art. 

She further listed the services of Armenians in the field of social development, culture, art, translation, and architecture from the Safavid era to the present day and named artists, architects, and writers such as Karapet Derderian, Vartan Hovanessian, Paul Abkar, Ovanes Ohanian, Loris Tjeknavorian, and Marcos Grigorian. 

She emphasized that Yaghoubi worked in the context of the rise of modern art in Iran, while his art shows the effects of Iranian culture and the atmosphere in which he grew up. “His paintings represent the important events of Iran's history such as the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war, as well as Iran's culture, art and architecture, although gradually his style tends to abstraction and moves away from naturalism,” Yasini noted.

For his part, Yaghoubi, 87, thanked the Iranology Foundation, the organizers, and those present at the ceremony, and wished happiness to the lovers of art and culture. Then he was presented with a plaque of appreciation for his years of effort by the Iranology Foundation.

Yaghoubi is one of the most notable Armenian abstract painters there is. He is also known for his natural landscape oil masterpieces.

His paintings have been showcased in exhibitions all over the world in 50 different countries including Greece, England, France, and the U.S.

The Iranology Foundation was founded in 1997 to create a center for students and professors who share a deep interest in Iran and its rich history and culture. The foundation seeks to give people worldwide a comprehensive notion of the Iranian civilization and is willing to cooperate with foreign Iranologists in this regard.

The exhibition of paintings by Grigor Yaghoubi will run until March 5 at the Iran Art Hall of the Iranology Foundation located at Iranshenasi St., South Sheikh Bahayi St.

SS/

AW: Bringing “shoorch bar” to high school stages

Jirair Kafian
 Seta Sahagian Diaspora, Youth 0

Every year, my school, Bergen County Academies (BCA), holds an assembly titled “International Day of Acceptance” (IDA). This student-facilitated performance is a blend of cultures and backgrounds coming together to bring light to our multicultural community in Hackensack, New Jersey. Following months of preparation – including emails, auditions, practices, dress rehearsals and wardrobe procurement – student groups perform for their fellow students and faculty. Each group receives around five minutes total for their performance, including an introduction to the culture followed by the dance performance. Student leaders choose the melodies, along with choreographing, coordinating and preparing the performances. 

One main emphasis of this assembly is that a student does not need to be a part of a certain ethnicity to join their group. For instance, in my freshman year I chose to perform as part of the Hispanic IDA, dancing styles such as bachata, samba and merengue. Without any Hispanic dance background and just a pure interest in Hispanic culture, I enjoyed getting on stage to perform these various dances. Consequently, I returned the next year as a sophomore and now in my junior year as a co-leader.

While I have enjoyed my time in other groups, since freshman year I have always thought about what it would be like to have my Armenian culture on the BCA stage. There are just a few students with Armenian backgrounds at BCA, probably just six at most throughout all four grades. However, while our numbers are small, my culture is so grand in my heart that it pushed my desire to be represented at the IDA assembly. Just because there is small representation in my school environment, that does not mean that the students shouldn’t learn about our long history of arts and customs. Especially with recent events, and the resilience of Armenians in Armenia and Artsakh alike, it was crucial that I took this step. I put my thoughts into action, and this year I led the first ever Armenian IDA performance along with the help of another fellow Armenian classmate, Heidi Borekciyan.

Heidi Borekciyan and Seta Sahagian

It started with an interest email, the first step in bringing this idea to life. Then came recruitment, gathering my friends of all backgrounds to join. I expressed that this performance was more than a dance and has deeper meaning rooted in our fight as a nation. Then came the practices, staying after school on Tuesday evenings to learn choreography. I decided to combine six different Armenian melodies, including slow rhythms and fast beats. I wanted to capture the full Armenian spectrum, showing the beauty of our instruments that shine through in slower songs and the firm, upbeat nature of our battle or party dances. The choreography included songs from music geniuses such as Ara Gevorgian, Tata Simonyan and Karnig Sarkissian. 

During practices, as we went through the various styles, I would ask students which they liked the best. Many of my friends would say the “shoorch bars,” as they linked pinkies to dance in unison. As a young Armenian, these dances have been a large part of my life, whether at camp, Armenian dances or celebrations. To hear my “odar” (non-Armenian) friends say this made me realize how they can learn about the other half of my life. These friends said, “Now we can do this at your birthday,” or “I remember seeing you do this dance; now we can too.” With all my non-Armenian friends, I will certainly be playing some “Anapati Arev” at our next outing. 

As the performance neared, a lot of attention was placed on cleaning up formations and moves and our appearance on stage. This is where outfits came into question. Outfits would be crucial to fully showcasing the beauty of Armenian dance. I crafted a letter to send via email to various Armenian dance groups to borrow outfits for the performance. As these are important pieces in many groups’ performances, I promised that they would be kept in good condition, and any damage caused by the students would be corrected through payment. Looking to my Armenian community, I hoped that these groups would see the message I was trying to spread within my school walls. Unfortunately, I was faced with blank stares and barriers. Everyone either sought hundreds of dollars, which was not feasible for a student group, or did not respond to our inquiry. 

This experience taught me a great deal about the power of a few – a few thoughts and then a few Armenians coming together to attempt the growth of an idea. A few conversations with my friends turned into dancing together on stage in traditional Armenian dress.

Finally, shortly before the performance, I received an affirmative response. Sylva Asadourian from the Akh’tamar Dance Ensemble graciously allowed us to borrow about two dozen outfits. I am very thankful for her giving nature, for supporting a spark in the Armenian youth. Not only did all the dancers enjoy wearing traditional clothing, admiring the patterns on the skirts, but the audience continuously gave compliments about our appearance in the performance. 

This experience taught me a great deal about the power of a few – a few thoughts and then a few Armenians coming together to attempt the growth of an idea. A few conversations with my friends turned into dancing together on stage in traditional Armenian dress. All these girls came together because of some Armenian girl they knew and an idea she had. I feel lucky to have such committed and educated friends.

It is also important that we learn from our experiences to better our communities and create a future for the youth to take action. As an Armenian school graduate, member of the AYF and child of the Armenian church community, I have been surrounded by the idea of the Armenian community. As the youth, it is our duty to step up and spread the message of our people. We should use our connections to help one another for the united, shared cause to keep our multi-millennia-old identity alive. 

However, as I prepared for this performance, it was difficult for me to utilize these connections, especially when searching for group outfits. As a community, we should not look for profits and or be silent as the diaspora attempts to serve the Armenian community. Our Armenian dance ensembles and organizations are in place in order to educate, share and grow global understanding of the presence of Armenians. With that, actions speak louder than words. Let us help the youth to educate their classmates about Armenia, bring Armenian dance to their schools and continue our fight.

My mom was the backbone in letting this idea become a reality, from helping me choose songs and coordinate outfits to picking me up from school. She had watched me prepare for the four-minute performance for months. As she watched me on stage with 16 other students from my school, I could see her eyes shine. Hints of water reflected through them, as she watched high school students of all backgrounds – Japanese, Indian, Polish and Hispanic – come together for the Armenian cause. Every Armenian parent looks to their child to continue the cause, the fight of our ancestors. I could see the pride in my mother’s eyes and the pride of my great-grandparents from 100 years ago. It made getting on stage and dancing for my school community the most worthwhile.

For all the diasporan Armenians: You will be faced with challenges, whether it is being told “no” or struggling to find those who have a will as strong as yours. Be the one to start the group, reach out and represent our nation in every aspect of your life. The Armenian storybook only comes to life if there are storytellers to teach the tales of our people. Dance, sing, read, write, speak and share in any capacity you can. This is what it means to be Armenian.

Watch the Armenian IDA performance at https://youtu.be/chPqJR7ZkaQ

  •  Bio
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Seta Sahagian is 17 years old, a member of the AYF New Jersey "Arsen" Chapter and a graduate of Sipan Armenian School. She attends Bergen County Academies (BCA) in Hackensack, New Jersey.


Students from Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia share Berlin apartment: new episodes of Dolma Diaries

Jirair Kafian
Feb 18 2024
  • JAMnews

Three new episodes of the unique cross-Caucasian comedy web series “Dolma Diaries” have been released.

You can watch all three videos below.

This series chronicles the lives of three young men—an Armenian, an Azerbaijani, and a Georgian—cohabiting in a rented flat nestled within the bustling streets of Berlin. Their journey unfolds against the backdrop of their pursuit of education in Germany, supported by scholarships contingent upon the prerequisite of cohabitating with a perceived adversary.

A consortium of South Caucasian and German civil activists and media producers helm the series, with a mission to lampoon entrenched stereotypes.

“Despite the ongoing tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia, we aspire to peaceful coexistence and are confident that the stories of friendship and trust evolving among the characters of the Armenian and Azerbaijani series can serve as an example,” says the series producer, Oliver Meuser.

The first, pilot, episode was released with the support of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation in the fall of 2022, and you can watch it here. It’s worth watching the pilot episode first, as it introduces you to the main characters and highlights the main plotlines.

Oliver Meuser also explains how the “Dolma Diaries” series came about there. “Why not ridicule thinking that allows war as a possible solution to problems?” – says Meuser.

The comedy web series “Dolma Diaries” is being produced with the support of the German ministry of foreign affairs.

Starring: Beka Buchukuri, Sos Petrosyan and Anar Rzayev

Also starring: Elina Vildanova, Nino Ananiashvili, Anahit Krishchyan, Parvin Guliyev and Marie Scharf

Written and directed by Oliver Müser
Co-authors: Ashot Danielyan, Magerram Zeynalov, Sergey Sargsyan, Georgi J, Anar Rzyaev and Giorgi Janelidze.

Cinematography by Joshua Behrens

Edited by Sebastian Lehde

Watch the videos at https://jam-news.net/students-from-azerbaijan-armenia-and-georgia-share-berlin-apartment-new-episodes-of-dolma-diaries/

Armenpress: British delegation visits Jermuk

Jirair Kafian

 21:28,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 14, ARMENPRESS.  The British parliamentary delegation accompanied by the Chair of the Armenian National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Relations Sargis Khandanyan and Armenian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the UK, Varuzhan Nersisyan visited Jermuk, Jermuk community leader Vahagn Arsenyan said on social media.

The meeting held in the Jermuk community hall was followed by the meeting with the forcibly displaced persons from Nagorno Karabakh.

The delegation also visited parts of the city of Jermuk, which were affected by the Azerbaijani military aggression in September 2022.

St. Vartan Cathedral Hosts NYC’s Annual Prayer for Christian Unity

Jirair Kafian
PRESS OFFICE

Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)

630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016

Contact: Chris Zakian

Tel: (212) 686-0710

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.armenianchurch.us

 

February 3, 2024

___________________

ATTENTION EDITOR: Photo attached with caption below. Please credit Harout Barsoumian, Bars Images. Find additional photos at the following link:

https://easterndiocese.smugmug.com/St-Vartan-Armenian-Cathedral/Prayer-for-Christian-Unity-at-SVC-Jan-25-2024

 

 

HEADLINE:

 

Distinguished church leaders from throughout New York City gathered at St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral on Thursday evening, January 25, for the city’s annual “Prayer Service for Christian Unity.”

 

The Eastern Diocese hosted this year’s gathering as part of its celebration of the 125th anniversary of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America. Diocesan Primate Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan welcomed guests from more than a dozen Christian traditions—Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox—to the Diocese’s mother cathedral, which was enveloped in scaffolding as it undergoes an exterior restoration.

 

Inside, a spirit of warm collegiality prevailed among the clergy and faithful of various churches—many of them longtime friends of the Armenian cathedral, others visiting for the first time.

 

Bishop Irinej of the Serbian Orthodox Church delivered a powerful homily based on the theme for this year’s Unity service, drawn from the Gospel of Luke: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and all your soul; with all your strength, and all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself” (Lk 10:27).

 

Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of New York, offered closing remarks and an uplifting benediction.

 

Among the other dignitaries in attendance were Archbishop Demetrios (Greek Orthodox Church), Archbishop Mor Dionysius John Kawak (Syriac Orthodox Church), Bishop David (Coptic Orthodox Church), Bishop Paul Egensteiner (Evangelical Lutheran Church), Fr. Chad Hatfield (representing Metropolitan Tikhon), Fr. Sahag Yemishian (representing Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian), Rev. Julie Hoplamazian (representing Bishop Matthew Heyd), Rev. Nicolas Kazarian (representing Archbishop Elpidophoros)—and other brothers and sisters from the broad range of Christian traditions in the metropolitan area.

 

Bishop Mesrop set a tone of harmony and hope in his welcoming words. “On top of the cathedral—hidden from view now, but still pulsing with power—is the Cross: the great symbol of our Unity as Christians, and of God’s love,” he said. “Grounded in the earth, but reaching up to Heaven; extending its arms out to each side, as if to join hands with our neighbors. The Cross is the very image of the beautiful Gospel verse that is our theme for tonight…. Needless to say, our quest for true Unity is more urgent than ever. Because Christian unity is the foundation for—and indeed the road to—the unity of all mankind. Without the one, we cannot even hope for the other.”

 

A reception in Haik and Alice Kavookjian Auditorium followed the service. The event was part of the annual “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity,” which has been a feature of New York’s religious life since 1908.

 

Click the following links to:

·       WATCH a recording of the entire service on the cathedral’s Facebook page.

·       VIEW a gallery of photos by photographer Harout Barsoumian.

 

Find the list of church dignitaries below:

 

Cardinal Timothy Dolan

(Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York)

 

Archbishop Demetrios

(Greek Orthodox Church)

 

Archbishop Mor Dionysius John Kawak

(Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese of the Eastern U.S.A.)

 

Bishop David

(Coptic Orthodox Bishop of New York and New England)

 

Bishop Irinej

(Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Eastern America)

 

Bishop Paul Egensteiner

(Metropolitan Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America)

 

Bishop James Massa

(Rector of St. Joseph’s Catholic Seminary )

 

***

 

Very Reverend Fr. Chad Hatfield

(Representing Metropolitan Tikhon)

 

Reverend Julie Hoplamazian

(Representative of the Episcopal Bishop of New York, Bishop Matthew Heyd)

 

Reverend Protopresbyter Nicolas Kazarian

(Representing Archbishop Elpidophoros of America)

 

Pastor Gilford Monrose

(Office of the Mayor of New York, Executive Director of Faith-Based Partnerships)

 

Fr. Faustino Quintanilla

(Representing Archbishop Yeldho Titus)

 

Reverend Margaret Rose

(Representing Presiding Episcopal Bishop Michael Curry)

 

Very Reverend Fr. Brian Terry

(Minister General of the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement)

 

Very Reverend Fr. Amde Tsion-Durden

(Representing of Archbishop Abune Petros / Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church)

 

Very Reverend Fr. Sahag Yemishian

(Representing Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian)

 

Very Reverend Fr. Thomas Zain

(Representing Metropolitan Saba)

 

***

 

The Members of the Religious Community of the Crossing at St. John the Divine Cathedral

 

The Members of the Chemin Neuf Community

 

Representatives of the Focolare Movement

 

The Members of the Community of Saint Egidio

 

—2/1/24

 

***

 

PHOTO CAPTION:

Distinguished church leaders from throughout New York City gathered at St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral on Thursday evening, January 25, for the city’s annual “Prayer Service for Christian Unity.” The Eastern Diocese hosted this year’s gathering as part of its celebration of the 125th anniversary of the Diocese. Primate Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan welcomed guests from more than a dozen Christian traditions—Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox—to the Diocese’s mother cathedral. Pictured here (l-r) in the tahlij of the Diocesan Center: Bishop Irinej (Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Eastern America); Bishop Paul Egensteiner (Metropolitan Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America); Archbishop Demetrios (Greek Orthodox Church); Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan(Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America); Cardinal Timothy Dolan (Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York); Bishop James Massa (St. Joseph’s Catholic Seminary); Archbishop Mor Dionysius John Kawak(Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese of the Eastern U.S.A.); and Bishop David (Coptic Orthodox Bishop of New York and New England).

 

***

 

LINKS:

 

Photo Gallery (credit Harout Barsoumian, Bars Images):

https://easterndiocese.smugmug.com/St-Vartan-Armenian-Cathedral/Prayer-for-Christian-Unity-at-SVC-Jan-25-2024

 

Video Recording:

https://www.facebook.com/stvartancathedral/videos/321133560922661

 

# # #



RFE/RL Armenian Service – 02/01/2024

Jirair Kafian 
                                        Thursday, February 1, 2024


Pashinian Again Criticizes Armenia’s Independence Declaration


Armenia - Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian speaks during a news conference in 
Yerevan, July 25, 2023.


Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian has reiterated his criticism of a 1990 
declaration of Armenia’s independence resented by Azerbaijan as he defended his 
plans to try to enact a new Armenian constitution.

The declaration made reference to a 1989 unification act adopted by the 
legislative bodies of Soviet Armenia and the then Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous 
Oblast. It also called for international recognition of the 1915 genocide of 
Armenians “in Ottoman Turkey and Western Armenia.” The declaration is cited in a 
preamble to the current Armenian constitution adopted in 1995.

In an interview with Armenian Public Radio broadcast on Thursday, Pashinian gave 
more indications that he wants to exclude this reference from the new 
constitution.

“We really need to settle our relations with the declaration today,” he said. 
“The question is whether our state policy should be referenced to it and whether 
our state policies should be guided by that message and based on the decision of 
the National Council of Nagorno-Karabakh and the Supreme Council of Armenia on 
the reunification of Karabakh and Armenia.”

“If so, it means we will never have peace. Furthermore, it means that we will 
now have war,” claimed Pashinian.

Pashinian did not deny Armenian opposition claims that he wants to change the 
constitution under pressure from Azerbaijan. He said at the same time that Baku 
is publicly demanding such a change in a bid to discredit the constitutional 
reform and eventually “weaken” Armenia.

He also admitted that the new constitution envisaged by him would not 
necessarily prevent Azerbaijani aggression.

Pashinian’s political opponents and other critics say that his continuing 
unilateral concessions to Baku only increase the risk of another war.




Aliyev Demands Constitutional Change In Armenia

        • Astghik Bedevian

AZERBAIJAN - Electoral officials stick up a poster of Azerbaijani President 
Ilham Aliyev in Baku on January 15, 2024, on the first day of the official 
campaigning for the February 7 presidential election.


Armenia must change its constitution in order to make peace with Azerbaijan, 
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said on Thursday, stoking Armenian opposition 
claims that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian has already agreed to make such a 
concession to Baku.

“In case of changing Armenia’s constitution and other documents, peace could be 
achieved,” Aliyev said. “Armenia’s Declaration of Independence contains direct 
call for uniting Azerbaijan’s Karabakh region to Armenia and infringing on 
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. Armenia’s constitution cites that document.”

Pashinian stated on January 18 that Armenia must adopt a new constitution 
reflecting the “new geopolitical environment” in the region. Critics believe he 
first and foremost wants to get rid of the current constitution’s preamble that 
makes reference to the declaration cited by Aliyev.

The declaration adopted in 1990 in turn cites a 1989 unification act by the 
legislative bodies of Soviet Armenia and the then Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous 
Oblast. It also calls for international recognition of the 1915 genocide of 
Armenians “in Ottoman Turkey and Western Armenia.”

Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan acknowledged last week that Azerbaijan has 
objected to this constitutional introduction during talks on a peace treaty with 
Armenia. But both he and Pashinian allies claimed that the Armenian leadership 
is not seeking to change the constitution because of that.

Armenian opposition leaders portrayed Aliyev’s latest statement as further proof 
of their claims that Pashinian is planning to enact a new constitution at the 
behest of Baku as well as Ankara. One of them, Artsvik Minasian, said the two 
Turkic allies want to force the Armenians to “renounce their historical past and 
rights.”

“If you do what your enemy wants, it means you obey its rules of the game,” 
Minasian told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service.

Vladimir Vartanian, a senior pro-government lawmaker, stuck to the official line 
that Pashinian’s administration is not forced to embark on the constitutional 
reform. “No constitution can be adopted under pressure because if we adopt a 
constitution under pressure it means that we have a problem with our 
sovereignty,” he said.

Pashinian called for the new constitution just days after complaining that 
Aliyev has toughened its position on the Armenian-Armenian peace treaty and 
openly laid claim to Armenian territory. He went on to offer more security 
“guarantees” to Baku. Pashinian’s political opponents say this appeasement 
policy will not lead to a lasting peace between the two South Caucasus nations.




Armenian Minister Defends Arrested Deputy

        • Artak Khulian

Armenia - Economy Minister Vahan Kerobian attends a conference in Yerevan, 
February 1, 2024.


Economy Minister Vahan Kerobian on Thursday effectively denied corruption 
accusations brought against one of his deputies and other subordinates arrested 
on Wednesday.

Armenia’s Investigative Committee raided the Ministry of Economy building in 
Yerevan and conducted searches there together with the National Security Service 
(NSS). In a statement issued afterwards, the committee said that seven 
individuals were taken into custody in two criminal investigations conducted by 
both law-enforcement agencies.

In particular, the statement said, unnamed ministry officials illegally 
disqualified a private entity from a procurement tender to make sure that it is 
won by another bidder that charged a much higher sum. Ani Ispirian, who was 
sacked as deputy economy minister the night before her arrest, is understood to 
have been indicted in this criminal case.

The other case involves a ministry official, also not identified by the 
Investigative Committee, who allegedly abused his or her position to help other 
individuals receive government funding for an agribusiness project in violation 
of rules set by the ministry.

Speaking to reporters, Kerobian pointed out that the investigators have not 
accused the suspects of taking bribes or embezzling public funds.

“Therefore, I need an additional clarification of what they mean by abuse [of 
power,]” he said. “The biding process was constantly under the control of 
lawyers, other partners, including the Ministry of Finance, and we are more than 
sure that both the court and the investigation will conclude that there was no 
violation of procurement and related laws.”

It was still not clear whether Ispirian and other arrested ministry officials 
also deny the accusations.

It emerged, meanwhile, that other suspects in the case include Ashot Hovanesian, 
the founder of the software development company Synergy International Systems 
which is registered in the United States but mainly operates from Armenia. A 
Yerevan court on Thursday formally remanded Hovanesian in pre-trial custody.

Another arrested suspect, Ani Gevorgian, is the wife of Armenian parliament 
speaker Alen Simonian’s brother Karlen. Simonian is a key political ally of 
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian.




Armenia Formally Joins International Criminal Court


France - Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian meets Karim Khan, the 
International Criminal Court prosecutor who issued arrest warrant for Russian 
President Vladimir Putin, Paris, November 10, 2023.


Armenia formally joined the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Thursday four 
months after its parliament ratified the court’s founding treaty despite stern 
warnings from Russia.

Armenia’s Constitutional Court gave the green light for the ratification last 
March one week after the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Russian President 
Vladimir Putin over war crimes allegedly committed during Russia’s invasion of 
Ukraine. Moscow vehemently denies the accusations and claims that The Hague 
tribunal executes orders issued by Western governments.

The Armenian government pushed the treaty, also known as the Rome Statute, 
through the National Assembly on October 3, adding to its unprecedented tensions 
with Moscow. Russian officials said the “unfriendly” move will cause serious 
damage to Russian-Armenian relations. They dismissed Yerevan’s assurances that 
the ratification does not commit it to arresting Putin and handing him over to 
the ICC in the event of his visit to Armenia.

Still, Putin seemed to downplay the development afterwards, saying that he will 
visit the South Caucasus country again in the future. Accordingly, Putin’s press 
secretary, Dmitry Peskov, reacted cautiously to the country’s formal accession 
to the ICC confirmed by Armenian officials.

“This is generally the sovereign right of Armenia,” Russian news agencies quoted 
Peskov as saying. “But on the other hand, it is important for us that such 
decisions do not affect both de jure and de facto our bilateral relations, which 
we value and hope to further develop.”

The Pashinian government’s stated rationale for accepting the ICC’s jurisdiction 
is to take more legal action against Azerbaijan and prevent further Azerbaijani 
attacks on Armenia.

Armenian opposition politicians counter that Azerbaijan is not a party to the 
Rome Statute and would therefore ignore any pro-Armenian ruling by The Hague 
court. They say the real purpose of ratifying the treaty is to drive another 
wedge between Russia and Armenia and score points in the West.

The United States and the European Union swiftly praised Yerevan for ratifying 
the Rome Statute. Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the EU’s executive body, 
said that the extension of the ICC’s jurisdiction to Armenia applies to Putin.

“The world is getting smaller for the autocrat in the Kremlin,” von der Leyen 
said in October.



Reposted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2024 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

Mirzoyan Confirms Baku’s Concerns About Armenia’s Declaration of Independence

Jirair Kafian
by Asbarez Staff

 

 

 

in Armenia, Artsakh, Featured Main, Latest, News, Top Stories

Armenia's Declaration of Independence was adopted on August 23, 1990


On the heels of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan calling for a new constitution in Armenia, to be aligned with the region’s geopolitical realities, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan confirmed on Wednesday that Azerbaijan has expressed concerns regarding Armenia’s Declaration of Independence.

In an interview with Azatutyun.am’s Armenian Service, Mirzoyan said that there have been concerns voiced by Baku about Armenia’s Declaration of Independence and thus Armenia’s Constitution, which makes reference to the independence document that clearly calls for the reunification of Armenia and Artsakh.

“Yes, they [Azerbaijan] have loudly raised an issue. They consider [the independence declaration] problematic and have presented legal attributes. Accordingly, we considered their wording to be problematic in the same way,” Mirzoyan said.

During a press conference on Tuesday, Mirzoyan spoke about outstanding legal issues with the constitutions of both countries. In his interview with Azatuyun.am on Wednesday he emphasized that there are no mentions of constitutional changes in the peace treaty drafts that have thus far been exchanged between Yerevan and Baku.

“Within the general peace discussions, there have been concerns voiced about legal matters by both sides and both sides have provided clarifications on the issues accordingly,” Mirzoyan added, emphasizing that discussions about constitutional reforms or drafting a new constitution in Armenia started years ago.

The foreign minister said that while the constitution codifies principles of domestic interrelations for the Republic of Armenia, it can have an impact on regional issues.

“I do not deny that influence and that relationship, but I want to say that there is no such demand or text, project, nothing in the peace agreement,” Mirzoyan said.

Yet Pashinyan did not shy away from criticizing Armenia’s Declaration of Independence on the anniversary of its adoption last August, saying that the wording contained in the document sowed conflict with regional neighbors, characterizing it as a vestige of the Soviet Union.

His announcement last week, that Armenia needed a new constitution that would make Armenia more compatible with new geopolitical realities in the region, has raised concerns among many, including opposition forces, who have accused Pashinyan of kowtowing to Aliyev in advancing the notion of a new constitution.

Pashinyan’s critics were quick to assert that he wants to get rid of a preamble to the current Armenian constitution enacted in 1995. The preamble makes an indirect reference to a 1989 declaration on Armenia’s unification with Nagorno-Karabakh and calls for international recognition of the 1915 Armenian genocide.

Five lawmakers representing the main opposition Hayastan alliance last week issued a joint statement accusing Pashinyan of “preparing the ground for meeting another of the nonstop Turkish-Azerbaijani demands.”

One of those lawmakers, Gegham Manukyan, insisted on Tuesday that the main purpose of the planned constitutional change is to remove the preamble in question. Pashinyan’s initiative would thus “tear down the pillars of modern Armenian statehood,” Manukyan told Azatutyun’s Armenian Service.

Tatevik Hayrapetyan, an expert on Azerbaijan and a former parliamentarian critical of the Armenian government, echoed those claims on Wednesday. Hayrapetian pointed out that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev openly demanded constitutional changes from Yerevan in 2021. Baku, she said, now wants to make sure that “in the future Armenia will refrain from claiming its rights to Nagorno-Karabakh under any government.”

Armenpress: Ready to ensure communication between Azerbaijan and Nakhijevan – on the same terms as Iran does, says Pashinyan

Jirair Kafian

 23:25, 13 January 2024

YEREVAN, JANUARY 13, ARMENPRESS. From time to time, attempts are being made to form a “corridor” narrative regarding the territory of Armenia.
Moreover, when we say that this is an encroachment on the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Armenia, they say that this is an internationally recognized statement that there is a North-South corridor, a southern corridor, a northern corridor, and they give specific examples of communications passing through the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Armenian Prime Minister said Saturday in Gavar.

“There is a topic of the Azerbaijan-Nakhijevan connection, and parallels are being drawn about ensuring that connection through the territory of Iran.


To get out of the word games, we say that under the conditions that Iran provides the connection, we are ready for both the railway and the highway under the same conditions," Nikol Pashinyan said.

PM Pashinyan noted that Azerbaijan has been developing talk about the Zangezur Corridor for three years, referring to the tripartite statement of November 9.

“The two parties of the tripartite declaration that signed the statement dated November 9, 2020, have shown since September 2023 that this document does not exist for them. The actions that were taken in Nagorno-Karabakh, with the participation of the Russian Federation and Azerbaijan, are evidence that this document does not exist for them. 

It cannot be that this document ceases to exist for the two parties to the tripartite statement, but for the third party continued to exist,’’ said the PM.

Pashinyan mentioned that Azerbaijan has been developing a corridor discourse for three years already, referring to the statement of November 9. 

The Prime Minister emphasized that in the November 9 statement, there was no mention of the corridor, nor was there any provision stating that the security of the road passing through the territory of Armenia should be ensured by the Russian Federation.

According to Pashinyan, there is a political understanding that the roads and borders between Armenia and Azerbaijan should be opened based on the principles of sovereignty and jurisdiction. 

Addressing the statements from Azerbaijan that they need unhindered movement, Pashinyan said that Armenia is not against unhindered movement, but unhindered movement does not  imply a violation of legislation.



Margara crossing point at Armenian-Turkish border ready for use after repair

Jirair Kafian

 12:39,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 12, ARMENPRESS. The Margara border crossing checkpoint in the Armenian-Turkish border is ready for use after a major renovation, the Deputy Chairman of the State Revenue Committee of Armenia Karen Tamazyan has said.

“All infrastructures in terms of technical customs equipment, passport control, and for the border guards, are ready for duly implementation of the passenger service,” he said.

Turkey shut down its border with Armenia in 1993.

In 2021, Armenia and Turkey announced readiness to normalize ties. In 2022, the two countries agreed to open the land border for citizens of third countries and diplomatic passport holders. The agreement is yet to be implemented.

In October 2023, Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan said he hoped the border would be opened soon.

Armenian government to help forcibly displaced persons of Nagorno-Karabakh find employment

Jirair Kafian

 11:44,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 11, ARMENPRESS. The Cabinet approved on Thursday a new support program for the forcibly displaced persons of Nagorno-Karabakh aimed at creating employment opportunities for them.

The program was unveiled by Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Narek Mkrtchyan at the Cabinet meeting and is aimed at organizing vocational trainings and creating employment opportunities.

The program covers vocational training, internship and employment opportunities.

The government will pay the training and internship expenses.