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Author: John Hovhannisian

Artsakh ombudsman’s report on Azerbaijani violations disseminated as official document in UN

John Hovhannisian
Panorama
Armenia –

LAW 12:27 27/04/2022 NKR

The report of the Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) of the Artsakh Republic "On the Violations of the Rights of Artsakh People by Azerbaijan in February-March 2022” was disseminated as an official document in the United Nations (UN), Ombudsman Gegham Stepanyan said on Wednesday.

The report highlights that for almost one year and a half after the end of the large-scale hostilities and the establishment of the ceasefire on November 9, 2020, Azerbaijan has violated the rights of the Artsakh Armenians, including the right to life, health, physical and psychological integrity, through various means.

It points to the deliberate disruption of gas supplies to Artsakh by the Azerbaijani military in March.

The full report is available here.

Artur Vanetsyan: Decisive fight is still ahead

John Hovhannisian
Panorama
Armenia –

The protests being held by the Armenian opposition groups to topple Nikol Pashinyan and his cabinet have not yet reached their peak, Artur Vanetsyan, the leader of the opposition Homeland Party and the With Honor parliamentary faction, told reporters on Wednesday.

Vanetsyan, who formerly headed Armenia’s National Security Service, started an open-ended sit-in in Yerevan’s Liberty Square along with a group of opposition activists on April 17.

The opposition announced the start of the “second phase” of its “decentralized” campaign on April 25, holding small-scale protests and marches in Yerevan every day.

"We have not yet reached the decisive stage, everything is still ahead," Vanetsyan said, adding the movement is attracting more public attention with each passing day.

“At first, there was an atmosphere of fear, as people were afraid to be targeted on social media or at work. But people have already made their decision and it remains for us to correctly wrap it up and bring it to an end,” the opposition leader said.

He says that many people coming to Liberty Square call attention to social issues.

“The incumbent authorities have failed in all spheres. They say that Nikol Pashinyan came to power promising a better life for the people. Instead, he handed over Artsakh and undermined the security system of Armenia. People realize that they cannot live well without long-term security guarantees in place,” the opposition politician said.

Greek PM delivers address on occasion of Armenian Genocide 107th anniversary

John Hovhannisian

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis delivered an address on the occasion of the 107th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the Armenian Embassy in Greece reported.

According to the PM, 107 years have passed since the beginning of the Armenian Genocide, as well as the extermination of 1.5 million people.

“We pay tribute to the memory of the victims. Mentioning the dark pages of the past is a guide to preventing such crimes in the future. Our main concern is to ensure a peaceful future and mutual respect for all.

The pogroms of the Armenian population in the Ottoman Empire during World War I are the first genocide of the early 20th century. The Armenian Genocide was committed by the Young Turkish government in various regions of the Ottoman Empire.

The first international reaction to these events was given in 1915. It was a joint statement by France, Russia and Great Britain, in which the violence against the Armenian people was called “a crime against humanity and civilization.”

The parties blamed the Turkish government for the crime. The fact that the Ottoman government committed the Armenian Genocide was substantiated, recognized and confirmed by eyewitness accounts, laws, decrees, decisions of many states and international organizations. It was recognized and condemned by thirty countries of the world,” the Greek PM said in a message.

One for the Records: USC Researchers Document the Armenian Experience in Mobile Truck

John Hovhannisian
NBC Los Angeles

With Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day on Sunday, April 24, LA's Armenian-American community has about a million stories to tell.

And one team of USC researchers wants to record as many of them as possible.

To get the first-hand accounts, they're gone mobile, documenting testimony in a renovated yellow food truck.

"We say, 'Get in the truck and tell your story,'" said Shushan Karapetian, the deputy director of the USC Institute of Armenian Studies.

Their ride, a repurposed yellow taco truck, allows them to reach various local Armenians and record their stories on the go.

"They say, 'My story? I'm not a community leader,'" said Karapetian.

But she says no story — no matter how small — is insignificant.

With Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day on Sunday, April 24, LA's Armenian-American community has about a million stories to tell.

And one team of USC researchers wants to record as many of them as possible.

To get the first-hand accounts, they're gone mobile, documenting testimony in a renovated yellow food truck.

"We say, 'Get in the truck and tell your story,'" said Shushan Karapetian, the deputy director of the USC Institute of Armenian Studies.

Their ride, a repurposed yellow taco truck, allows them to reach various local Armenians and record their stories on the go.

"They say, 'My story? I'm not a community leader,'" said Karapetian.

But she says no story — no matter how small — is insignificant.

Russian minister highlights participation of Komitas Quartet in Days of Armenian Culture in Russia

John Hovhannisian

 

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 11:48,

YEREVAN, APRIL 20, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Vahram Dumanyan met with Russian Minister of Culture Olga Lyubimova in Moscow on April 19, the Armenian ministry said.

The Russian Deputy Minister of Culture Alla Manilova also attended the meeting.

During the meeting minister Dumanyan expressed readiness to develop the cultural dialogue, promote the cultural contacts and implement joint cultural programs between the two countries.

Minister Olga Lyubimova highly appreciated the regular performances of Armenian singers and bands in Russia and highlighted the meeting which is taking place within the framework of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Russia.

The meeting sides also discussed the Cultural Days of Armenia in Russia which is expected to be held this year. The Russian Minister proposed to hold the opening of the event on June 10 in Moscow’s State Academic Philharmonic. She particularly attached importance to the participation of the Komitas State String Quartet to the event and stated that the organizers of the two sides are in constant contact with each other for holding the event at a high level.

The Armenian minister highlighted expanding the cultural cooperation between the two friendly countries and for that purpose the signing of the 2022-2025 cultural cooperation program between the two ministries which clearly determines the key directions of the upcoming years. He expressed the ministry’s readiness to host the Spiritual Cultural Days of Russia in Armenia in 2022.

The Russian minister invited her Armenian counterpart to attend the annual St. Petersburg International Cultural Forum and the concert of talented youth organized by the St. Petersburg Music House.

The aforementioned cultural cooperation program was signed during the meeting.

At the end of the meeting Vahram Dumanyan invited Olga Lyubimova to visit Armenia, expecting that the visit will take place on September 5-10, 2022, within the framework of the “Starmus Festival VI: 50 Years on Mars”.

Greek-Armenian ties are very strong – Gioulekas participates in event dedicated to Armenian Genocide anniversary

John Hovhannisian

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 20:47,

YEREVAN, APRIL 21, ARMENPRESS. Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Hellenic Parliament on National Defense and Foreign Affairs Konstantinos Gioulekas took part in an event dedicated to the 107th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in Thessaloniki, ARMENPRESS reports he laid a wreath at the monument to the unknown soldier.

He made a note about the event on his Facebook page, noting: "The ties between the Greeks and the Armenians are very strong and multidimensional. The two peoples are also linked by the genocides: the Armenian Genocide, followed by the Genocide of the Pontic Greeks of Asia Minor."

Armenpress: Armenian, Azerbaijani FMs exchange views on issues related to the preparation for peace talks

John Hovhannisian

Armenian, Azerbaijani FMs exchange views on issues related to the preparation for peace talks

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 19:38,

YEREVAN, APRIL 11, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan had a telephone conversation with his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov on April 11.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the MFA Armenia, the ministers exchanged views on demarcation and formation of the commission on border security, preparation of peace talks and humanitarian issues.

Embassy of Netherlands to support 5 new programs on women`s empowerment and gender equality in Armenia

John Hovhannisian
ARMINFO
Armenia – April 7 2022
Naira Badalian

ArmInfo.On April 7, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Armenia signed an agreement to support five new programs with five Armenian organizations, including  regional ones.

According to the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in  Armenia, the programs for the protection of women's rights, women's  empowerment and gender equality in Armenia are aimed at protecting  the labor rights of women, the rights of Yezidi women, preventing  violence against women, researching issues of generational change of  values and gender equality.

"Women's rights, gender equality and women's leadership are very  important values for the Netherlands, which we promote and fight for  in our country and around the world. Today we are launching new  programs and partnerships aimed at creating a better environment and  equality for women ", Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in  Armenia Nicholas Schermers said.

The new programs will be implemented by Alvan Tsaghik  social-educational NGO, the author of the Safe YOU mobile  application, created to protect women from violence, the Impact  Institute of Innovations, the Yezidi Center for Human Rights NGO, the  Parents for Equality organization.  It is noted that this year marks  the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations  between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Republic of Armenia.  The Netherlands and Armenia have been developing stable and  effective, mutually beneficial cooperation for 30 years. –

Azerbaijani press: U.S. experts: Aliyev’s calm, clear leadership moving region towards peace… See more

John Hovhannisian
7 April 2022 12:29 (UTC+04:00)
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On April 6, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan held a meeting in Brussels, hosted by President of the European Council Charles Michel.

The meeting was held for a continuation of their discussions on the situation in the South Caucasus region and the development of EU relations with both countries. The leaders assessed the developments since their last meeting in Brussels in December 2021 and their videoconference, together with French President Macron, in February 2022.

During the meeting, it was agreed to instruct the foreign ministers of their respective countries to work on the preparation of a future peace treaty, which would address all necessary issues.

At the same time, it was also agreed to convene a Joint Border Commission by the end of April. The mandate of the Joint Border Commission will be to: delimit the bilateral border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and ensure a stable security situation along, and in the vicinity of, the borderline.

Richard Hoagland, the former co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group from the US, noted that clear leadership from President Ilham Aliyev is moving the region towards peace and a better future.

"Undoing decades of conflict is no easy matter – strong feelings continue to simmer on both sides. However, calm and clear leadership from both President Aliyev and Prime Minister Pashinyan is setting the tone for the two nations to follow toward a safer and, ultimately, more prosperous future. Both sides have a long and difficult road ahead,” he said.

In turn, Former US Ambassador to Azerbaijan Robert Cekuta told Trend that the meeting of the Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders is an important and hopeful step, especially coming so soon after their last meeting with European Council President Michel December 14. This uptick in western European efforts to help Azerbaijanis and Armenians move towards peace is quite encouraging.

“In terms of what was announced coming out of the meeting – the leaders taking stock of developments since their December meeting and also their February meeting with President Macron, their discussion of the recent tensions and unfortunate incidents, the need to abide by the provisions of the November 2020 ceasefire agreement, the importance of both sides working to resolve humanitarian issues, work on de-mining, instructing the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan to work on preparing a peace treaty, and convening a Joint Border Commission by the end of April — all of these are important, needed, positive steps,” Cekuta noted.

Again, he said, overcoming the more than three decades of conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan is not going to be easy.

“It is going to take time, determination, perseverance, and hard work to build the understanding and the level of trust necessary for peace. But it is good, very good to see President Aliyev and Prime Minister Pashinyan undertaking this difficult work,” Cekuta added.

However, he said, it is also important for everyone to recognize this process is likely going to take time, and that there will probably be what seem like setbacks and disappointments.

“This is the nature of any negotiations. Again, this is welcome and I would say overdue development. At the end of the day, no outside party can impose a peace; an effective, lasting peace agreement needs to be developed and entered into force by Azerbaijan and Armenia,” he noted.

Cekuta pointed out that outside actors can help move that process forward and help develop the confidence and conditions essential for progress towards a peace agreement.

International Armenian Literary Alliance Announces 2022 Young Armenian Poets Awards

John Hovhannisian
 by Asbarez Staff

 

 April 8, 2022

 

in Community, Latest, News, Top Stories
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International Armenian Literary Alliance 2022 Young Armenian Poets Awards flyer

The International Armenian Literary Alliance announced the second annual Young Armenian Poets Awards, a contest for emerging Armenian writers between the ages of 14 and 18.

This year’s entrants are asked to consider the following prompt: In “Let’s Build a Bridge,” poet Marine Petrossian writes, “my country is not your country but maybe some of my dreams are your dreams also.” How can poetry serve as a bridge between Armenia and the over five million persons of full or partial Armenian ancestry living outside it today? What kinds of conversations might be necessary between Armenians and the world or across the diaspora itself?

IALA encourages submissions from any young writer who identifies as Armenian, no matter gender identity and _expression_, sexual orientation, disability, creed, national origin, socio-economic class, educational background, personal style/appearance, citizenship and immigration status or political affiliation.

Submissions will be read by IALA board members and judges Gregory Djanikian, Arminé Iknadossian, and Raffi Wartanian. Awards will be granted for the top three poems, which will be published in the online cultural arts magazine h-pem. Deadline for submission is 8:59 p.m. PST on May 31.

“In times of uncertainty, there is nothing more crucial than our poetic lineage to continue with new voices. The future is young,” said IALA board member and poetry chair Arthur Kayzakian.

“Once again, we’re hoping to honor the next generation of Armenian poets with an opportunity to be read and a platform to be recognized for their work,” noted contest director Alan Semerdjian. “Last year’s contest drew submissions from several countries, including the United States and Armenia, and we’d like to see that expand to anywhere and everywhere Armenians live across the globe.”

The winners of our inaugural contest, featured in our IALA Emerging Writers Showcase, can be found here.

The International Armenian Literary Alliance is a nonprofit organization launched in 2021 that supports and celebrates writers by fostering the development and distribution of Armenian literature in the English language. A network of Armenian writers and their champions, IALA gives Armenian writers a voice in the literary world through creative, professional, and scholarly advocacy.

For more information about this year’s contest and submission guidelines, please visit IALA’s website, or contact Alan Semerdjian at [email protected].