Author: Jirair Kafian

POSTPONED: Journalist Simon Ostrovsky Will Delve into Latest Conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh

Jirair Kafian
Pulitzer Center, Chicago
Nov 3 2020

Unfortunately, the University of Chicago has decided to postpone this event. They hope to post a new date in the near future.

Pulitzer Center grantee Simon Ostrovsky will speak at a panel titled “What Just Happened in Nagorno-Karabakh: Deja Vu or Geopolitical Trend?” The virtual event will be presented by The University of Chicago.

The panel will consider the causes and repercussions of the fighting that broke out on September 27 between Azerbaijan and Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh, how this violence should be viewed in light of the region’s history, and whether the conflict should be understood as part of larger geopolitical trends.

Ostrovsky reported on the Nagorno-Karabakh crisis for PBS NewsHour as part of a Pulitzer Center-supported project. The project looks at the humanitarian consequences of the war, the process of brokering a cease-fire, and the geopolitical implications for the region. 

The panel also will feature Dr. Nerses Kopalyan, an assistant professor-in-residence at the Department of Political Science at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and Arman Grigoryan, associate professor in the International Relations Department at Lehigh University.

The University of Chicago is part of the Pulitzer Center’s Campus Consortium network. The event will be presented by The University of Chicago’s Center for East European and Russian/Eurasian Studies, Center for Middle Eastern Studies, and the Pozen Family Center for Human Rights.

Register for the panel discussion here.


President Harutyunyan sees chance for forming “government of national accord” in Artsakh

Jirair Kafian

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 11:00, 1 December, 2020

STEPANAKERT, DECEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. President of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan says he has launched political discussions with public and political circles over the existing challenges and future actions, and that he now sees “the opportunity that we will be able to form a government of national accord to unite all our efforts for the security and development of our country and the welfare of our people”.

He said he is always ready to cooperate with all his countrymen who are able to contribute to rebuilding the country.

“I expect us all to set aside personal ambitions and interests and serve to the same national goals shoulder to shoulder,” he said.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

Head of Rospotrebnadzor sees stabilization and decline in Armenia’s COVID-19 cases

Jirair Kafian

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 16:29,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. Head of the Russian Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing (Rospotrebnadzor) Anna Popova sees both stabilization and decline in the cases of the novel coronavirus being confirmed in Armenia.

“I would like to state that today undoubtedly there are good achievements in Armenia after a big growth [of cases]. Today we see both stabilization and decline. Despite all the difficulties existing in Armenia, you, our dear colleagues, can achieve good results. They are obvious today”, Anna Popova said at the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Yerevan on November 21.

He highlighted the work of doctors, scientists and the high professionalism in Armenia.

Anna Popova informed that a big conference on COVID-19 is scheduled to take place in St. Petersburg in December and expressed hope that it will also be attended by the Armenian colleagues.

Reporting by Anna Grigoryan; Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Moscow hopes UN will join solving humanitarian problems in Karabakh – FM Lavrov

Jirair Kafian

 

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 15:02,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS. Moscow hopes that the UN agencies will join the solution of humanitarian problems in Karabakh immediately after the International Committee of Red Corss (ICRC), Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said today, RIA Novosti reports.

“We hope that other humanitarian structures, firstly the agencies of the United Nations, will join the work. I mean the office of the High Commissioner for Refugees, the Humanitarian Coordination Leadership, and of course, Nagorno Karabakh is also facing problems of preservation of cultural heritage. Here UNESCO can play its role”, Lavrov said.

He said the ICRC is long in the region and its experience can be useful for other organizations. “I think that the cessation of military operations based on these agreements, of course, is opening additional opportunities for the operation of the International Committee of Red Cross which is present both in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and also Nagorno Karabakh”, the Russian FM said, adding that the ICRC can play a key role in overcoming the consequences of what has taken place in Karabakh.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

​Dutch Parliament calls for Nagorno-Karabagh sanctions

Jirair Kafian
European Sanctions
Nov 18 2020
 
 
Dutch Parliament calls for Nagorno-Karabagh sanctions
 
November 18th, 2020 | Michael O'Kane
 
The Dutch Parliament has adopted 3 motions concerning the on-going Nagorno-Karabagh conflict, calling on the Government to encourage the EU to:
 
  • Apply a moratorium on exports of weapons to Turkey that could be used in the conflicts in the Nagorno-Karabagh region, Libya or Syria (motion);
  • Impose sanctions on people in Azerbaijan and Turkey who are responsible for the violence in Nagorno-Karabagh (motion); and
  • Impose sanctions against Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, his family members, other key figures in the Azerbaijani offensive, and the Syrian fighters deployed by Turkey in Nagorno-Karabakh (motion).
  
 

COVID-19: Armenia reports 549 new cases, 881 recoveries in one day

Jirair Kafian

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 11:18,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. 549 new cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) have been confirmed in Armenia in the past one day, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 117,886, the ministry of healthcare said today.

881 more patients have recovered in one day. The total number of recoveries has reached 75,865.

1550 tests were conducted in the past one day.

25 more patients have died, raising the death toll to 1788.

The number of active cases is 39,779.

The number of patients who had a coronavirus but died from other disease has reached 454 (4 new such cases).

Reporting by Anna Grigoryan; Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

French MPs apply to President Macron calling on to recognize Artsakh’s independence

Jirair Kafian

 

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 15:48, 7 November, 2020

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. 39 members of the National Assembly of France have applied to President Emmanuel Macron, calling on not to show neutrality on the Nagorno Karabakh issue and recognize the independence of Artsakh, MP Guy Teissier said on Twitter.

In their call addressed to the French President, the MPs stated that only the international recognition, as in Kosovo’s case, will enable Artsakh to get out of the zone which doesn’t allow to get international, humanitarian support.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

CivilNet: Day 37, Diary of War, Nagorno Karabakh

Jirair Kafian
CIVILNET.AM

6 November, 2020 04:46

Met a very nice woman today. Her husband and eldest son are in the war, and she and her two children are in the shelter.

“Sometimes it seems to me that I can’t bear it anymore, but I don’t know where the strength comes. I lost my father after the first war, and now my husband and son are there,” she says.

“Don't worry, nothing will happen to them. Have you spoken to your son?”

“Yes, he called…”

“What did he say? And husband?”

“Everything is bad… I am so afraid of the consequences of this war… Bad premonition…”

I could not understand, if she talked to them, then what is the problem? They are alive!

The phone rang. She took the phone, was silent. My heart sank. Sits, does not move. A tear slowly slides down her cheek, her eyebrows move, she does not utter a sound…

“What? What happened?” I ask, afraid to hear the answer.

Continues to be silent …

After a while it became clear, he called and said: “I think we are in an ambush. I'm not sure if I can call again… Look after the children, I love you…"

There is still no news from him. We are sitting, waiting for his call…