Author: Kanayan Tamar

Armenia: A thread of memory – New documentary by Italian Rai 1 TV reflects on Artsakh War

Kanayan Tamar
Public Radio of Armenia
Nov 20 2021
, 17:30

 1 minute read

Armenia: A thread of Memory – a new documentary by the Italian Rai 1 TV touches upon the 44-day Artsakh War, its causes and consequences, Turkey’s role in that war, the post-war realities in Armenia and Artsakh, and the border situation.

The documentary by famous journalist Stefania Battistini starts with footage from Yerablur military pantheon.

The film also talks about the Christian heritage of Armenia and the Republic of Artsakh. It is noted that as a bearer of ancient Christian civilization, Armenia is a natural bridge between the East and the West.

The author visits the Matenadaran repository of ancient manuscripts, the Armenian Genocide Memorial and the Museum-Institute, Armenian churches, the issues of preservation of the Armenian historical-cultural Christian heritage on the territories currently under the control of Azerbaijan is touched upon.

The film also features interviews with Armenian President Armen Sarkissian, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians and Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan.

President Sarkissian speaks about the causes of the war unleashed by Azerbaijan against Artsakh, Turkey’s involvement, the post-war situation, humanitarian issues, and the Armenian prisoners of war still held in Azerbaijan.

The film emphasizes the importance of cooperation between Armenia and Italy, two friendly countries with ancient Christian values, and touches upon the current interstate relations, and the official state visits of the President of the Republic of Armenia Armen Sarkissian to Italy and his official visit to the Vatican in October.

Opposition MP: Granting corridor to Azerbaijan through Syunik Province will be gravest crime against Armenia

Kanayan Tamar
News.am, Armenia
Nov 19 2021
00:12, 19.11.2021

It's likely that oral promises were made to Azerbaijan, and now it is pursuing them through military escalation. This is what deputy of the opposition “Armenia” faction of the National Assembly of Armenia Artur Ghazinyan said during a conversation with Armenian News-NEWS.am.

“Azerbaijan has received a legitimate right to demand what it was orally promised. I believe the promise was made in the presence of third parties. We need to understand what was promised to Azerbaijan. Judging from the response of the international community or the absence of that response in general, it is safe to assume that the international community was told about Azerbaijan’s demand, otherwise Azerbaijan would never dare to encroach on Armenia’s sovereign territory,” he said.

According to Ghazinyan, Azerbaijan wants to achieve delimitation and demarcation with the version that it wants and to have a road leading to Nakhchivan. Ghazinyan added that granting Azerbaijan a corridor through the territory of Armenia will be inadmissible.

“Granting a corridor to Azerbaijan through Syunik Province, even an attempt to do this will be perhaps the gravest crime against Armenia’s statehood in history. No extraterrestrial territory through the territory of Armenia can be granted to any country. It seems as though Iran and Russia are also resolute in this regard,” he said.

According to him, it will be possible to change the situation, if the main negotiator of Armenia changes.

Armenian Genocide bill to have first UK parliament reading on Nov. 9

Kanayan Tamar
PanArmenian, Armenia
Nov 8 2021
November 8, 2021 – 18:56 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - The first hearing of the Armenian Genocide Bill will take place in the UK House of Commons on November 9. This Private Members Bill will be presented as a Ten-Minute Rule Motion by Conservative MP Tim Loughton, the Armenian National Committee of United Kingdom reports.

The Bill’s aim is to commemorate the Armenian Genocide through official recognition and remembrance. It contains three main provisions. First, that there shall be a formal recognition that the killings of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire and the surrounding regions during 1915-1923 were genocide. Second, that there shall be an annual commemoration of victims of genocides, including the Armenian Genocide. Third, that it will encourage education and public understanding of the facts of the Armenian Genocide and the relevance of the Armenian Genocide to modern-day crimes against humanity and war crimes.

"The recognition of the Armenian Genocide is essential for the UK’s national interests for several reasons. First, the bill’s passage will uphold the UK’s commitment to the Genocide Convention, affirming its core values with regard to the Rule of Law, human rights and justice. Second, by recognising the Armenian Genocide, the UK will be enhancing its commitment to the basic rights to which all humans should be entitled. Leaving a crime of such magnitude unrecognised conveys a dangerous message of impunity: that a crime unpunished is a crime encouraged. Third, it is the UK’s role and duty as a global leader to recognise the Armenian Genocide, advancing genocide studies globally and increasing public understanding of crimes against humanity," ANC UK said.

"Last, there is precedent for genocide recognition by the UK in cases analogous to the Armenian Genocide. In April 2021, the UK Parliament rightfully declared that China is committing a genocide in Xinjiang against Uyghur Muslims, despite that genocide not being recognised by a ‘competent court.’ This invalidates the UK’s stance on the Armenian Genocide, that "any determination of genocide should only be made by competent courts"."

Britain is one of the few leading western countries that does not recognise the Armenian Genocide, indicating a gross failure to uphold the fundamental notions of justice to which it is committed. Tim Loughton’s Bill presents the UK with an opportunity to correct this record of injustice and impunity.

2177 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia – 11/06/2021

Kanayan Tamar

2177 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

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 11:25, 6 November, 2021

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 6, ARMENPRESS. 2177 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in the last 24 hours, bringing the cumulative total number of confirmed cases to 319,016, the Armenian Healthcare Ministry said.

10,469 tests were administered.

The total number of recoveries reached 279,148 (2283 in the last 24 hours).

46 patients died, bringing the death toll to 6628. This number doesn’t include the deaths of 1332 other individuals infected with coronavirus who died from co-morbidities.

As of November 6, the number of active cases stood at 31,908.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

Relatives of missing soldiers achieve meeting with Pashinyan

Kanayan Tamar
Caucasian Knot, EU
Nov 4 2021

Yerevan protesters from among relatives of the dead and missing Armenian soldiers have achieved a meeting with the Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan. They said that at the meeting appointed for October 6, they would demand to reveal the exact number of prisoners of war (POWs), and a report on the progress of the investigation.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on November 3, relatives of the dead servicemen went out to a protest action in Yerevan. They blocked traffic in one of the streets and threatened with more radical protests, if Pashinyan failed to appoint the date for the meeting.

Relatives of the dead and missing soldiers have repeatedly held protests, at which they claimed that authorities were hiding the real number of soldiers who were captured as POWs in Azerbaijan. On September 14, relatives of the dead soldiers called on to cancel the celebrations of the Independence Day of Armenia.

In the evening on November 3, relatives of the killed soldiers stopped their protest after Pashinyan agreed to meet them later this week. "We insist on our demands; we have the right to voice them out, so that the relevant structures have to react," the "Panorama.am" has quoted Garik Mkhitaryan, one of the protesters, as saying.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on November 4, 2021 at 07:55 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

See earlier reports:

Relatives of soldiers missing in action demand a meeting with Pashinyan, Relatives of Armenian POWs demand a meeting with Nikol Pashinyan, Terms for giving out POWs from Azerbaijan spark criticism in Armenia.

Source: CK correspondent

Source: 
© Caucasian Knot

Overchuk to Armenia PM: Roads remain under the jurisdiction of the countries through which they pass

Kanayan Tamar
News.am, Armenia
Nov 5 2021
22:40, 05.11.2021

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Alexei Overchuk.

The Prime Minister welcomed Mr. Overchuk's visit to Armenia, noting that it is a good opportunity to discuss the current agenda. "I would like to note that I highly appreciate the works of the trilateral working commission chaired by the Deputy Prime Ministers of the Russian Federation, the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan. I hope that we will finally be able to reach concrete solutions.

I would like to say the following in this regard. Armenia is committed to the statements of November 9 and January 11, which refer to the unblocking of all transport and economic ties in the region. But I would like to emphasize that the statements made by Azerbaijan regarding the corridors have a negative impact on the efficiency of our work and atmosphere, especially considering that in our trilateral statements there are no remarks about corridors.

My impression is that Azerbaijan is trying to impose its perceptions on the commission, which, of course, is unacceptable for us. I would like to reaffirm that Armenia is interested in opening and unblocking regional transport and economic infrastructure. I have repeatedly stated publicly that we are ready to go to concrete solutions, the essence of which should be the following. Armenia should get road and railway communication routes through Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan should receive railway and road communication routes through Armenia, including one connecting Azerbaijan to the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic.

Our documents are about the unblocking of economic and transport infrastructures, our position is the following. What do we offer? The railways that existed during the Soviet era must be restored; the highways that existed during the Soviet era, including those connecting the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic with Azerbaijan, must also be restored.

We are ready for such solutions. We have concrete proposals, it should be emphasized that according to the January 11 statement, about which we have talked many times, we should also negotiate on customs control, phytosanitary control, border control and other possible types of control. This is what is stated in our statements of November 9, 2020 and January 11, 2021. I want to confirm once again that Armenia is interested, ready, and we hope that in the near future we will be able to reach concrete solutions to these issues. We are constructive," Prime Minister Pashinyan said.

Alexei Overchuk thanked the Prime Minister for the meeting and for highly appreciating the activities of the working group comprised of the Deputy Prime Ministers of Armenia, Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation.

“We are really working within the mandate that you, together with the leaders of the other countries, granted us in the framework of the statements of November 9-10, 2020 and January 11, 2021. I would like to note that we are in constant touch with our partners and deputy prime ministers. We have held 8 meetings, 4 of which were in-person, the other four were held remotely.

At the same time, we talk on the phone almost every day, discussing various options to find more optimal, more acceptable solutions for all parties. You know that road construction experts also worked, who examined the roads. Today we have a very good understanding of what those roads really look like. Based on these data, after the 8th session of the joint working group held on October 22, it seems to us that we will reach concrete solutions. They are based primarily on that the roads remain under the jurisdiction of the countries through which they pass.

You also mentioned and it is enshriend in the statements that all kinds of controls should be carried out. We agreed that such control should be exercised based on the parity priciple, and we also discussed it, including how and from where to start unblocking automotive infrastructure. We want to discuss it with you today and think about how to move forward," Alexei Overchuk said.

Armenia says no talks with Turkey about normalising relations

Kanayan Tamar
Nov 4 2021

  • Nov 04 2021 11:02 Gmt+3
  • Last Updated On: Nov 04 2021 11:08 Gmt+3

Armenia and Turkey are not holding talks to normalise relations, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said.

“In case of Turkey’s readiness to normalise relations and appropriate actions, Armenia is ready to discuss the possibilities of building bilateral relations,” Mirzoyan said, the Public Radio of Armenia reported on Wednesday.

Armenian government’s program stipulates that it is ready to normalise ties with Turkey without preconditions, Mirzoyan said in an interview with Nouvelles d’Armenie, the radio station said.

Over the past few months, Turkey and Armenia have made positive statements about restoring their bilateral relations, which have been frozen for nearly three decades.

At the end of August, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said Yerevan would evaluate Turkey’s diplomatic gestures for the establishment of peace in the region and respond to positive signals. Turkey can work toward gradually normalising ties because Armenia has stated its readiness to do so, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said in response.

Diplomatic relations between Turkey and Armenia have been suspended for 28 years due to Armenia’s extended military standoff with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh in which Ankara sided with Baku. Two bilateral protocols were signed between Turkey and Armenia in Zurich in 2009 aimed at normalising ties. They were never ratified by either of the country’s parliaments.

Armenia has handed back territories in Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijan as part of a Russia-brokered ceasefire signed by the two sides in November following six weeks of clashes. Turkey provided military hardware and know-how to Azerbaijan in the conflict.

“The lack of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey, the closed borders, as well as Turkey’s open involvement in the 44-day war, the recent statements from Turkey about the so-called “Zangezur Corridor” have a negative impact on stability in the region,” Mirzoyan said.

The November ceasefire agreement foresees the re-opening of key historical transportation lines between Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia. Following the deal, Aliyev called on Armenia to open the Zangezur Corridor, which would link Azerbaijan to Nakhchivan, an autonomous western Azeri region separated from the country by Armenian territory.

At the end of last month, Aliyev reiterated his call over the opening of the corridor, during Erdoğan’s latest visit to Nagorno-Karabakh since last year’s war. Azerbaijan and Turkey plan to unite the Turkic world by re-opening the trade corridor, he said, adding that both countries will take necessary steps to that end.

Azerbaijan has blocked shipments of materials to both Armenia and Karabakh since 1989, while Armenia has imposed a blockade on Nakhchivan.

PRESS RELEASE: ICAN, JWW, ANCA-WR Inaugurate the Armenian Jewish Advisory Council

Kanayan Tamar
November 1, 2021
For Immediate Release
Contact: Verginie Touloumian
tel: (818) 720-0085

The Israeli American Civic Action Network (ICAN), Jewish World Watch (JWW), and the Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region (ANCA-WR) today inaugurated the Armenian Jewish Advisory Council – AJAC (pronounced “a-jack”) as means to institutionalize relations between the Armenian and Jewish communities throughout the U.S., united by shared values, historical experiences, and a vision for a more robust intercommunal collaboration.

“The Armenian and Jewish people’s shared history of persecution reflects our will to thrive. One of the essential lessons learned from our scarred histories is the value of allyship in the face of injustice. At a time in history when genocide continues in many nations and distortion and denialism are pervasive, this alliance sends a clear message: Together, we intend to ensure that ‘Never Again’ is a call to action,” shared Serena Oberstein, Executive Director of Jewish World Watch.
AJAC will serve as a platform for regular communications and consultations on a multitude of issues of concern to participant organizations on the local, state, and federal levels.
“Israelis and Armenians in America are friends, neighbors, coworkers, and even family,” said Dillon Hosier, CEO at ICAN. “Our two communities face the same challenges and share the same concerns for our future, so we’re excited about this new alliance and the opportunity to work together and create shared solutions.”
Organizations serving the Jewish and/or Armenian communities that share AJAC’s mission and goals are welcome to apply for membership by filling out an online form. The Council – made up of one appointed representative per member organization – will be admitting new organizations on a rolling basis by consensus.
“The Armenian and Jewish people share many parallels in history, traditions, and values. We’ve been proud to partner with ICAN, JWW, and other community organizations serving the Jewish community in America on a wide range of issues, such as Holocaust and Genocide education, combatting genocide denial, safeguarding our communities against hate speech and hate crimes, and so much more,” remarked the ANCA-WR Executive Director Armen Sahakyan. “AJAC — which has been in the works for months — aims to take this relationship to the next level to better coordinate and expand our community partnership moving forward.”

The Council will serve as the main body and will operate exclusively on the basis of general agreement. For the first year — between November 1, 2021 until October 31, 2022 — the Council will be co-chaired by inaugural members ICAN, JWW, and ANCA-WR. The Council will then devise an internal rotation system of co-chairmanship with one organization representing each community.The Council may also appoint prominent individuals to the Board of Advisors to serve on a renewable one-year basis.

Additionally, the Council may create permanent and/or ad-hoc working groups and committees to work on specific issues and report back to the Council on their findings and recommendations. This may include Holocaust and Genocide education; combatting dangerous speech and hate crimes; organizing delegation visits; fundraising; and more. 

Given AJAC’s advisory nature, the Council’s decisions will not be binding on any of its member organizations.
—
 
The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the largest and most influential Armenian-American grassroots advocacy organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.

Jewish World Watch is an _expression_ of Judaism in action, bringing help and healing to survivors of mass atrocities around the globe and seeking to inspire people of all faiths and cultures to join the ongoing fight against genocide.

The Israeli-American Civic Action Network is dedicated to empowering Israeli immigrants and American allies to create change for a better America, a more secure Israel, and a stronger U.S. – Israel alliance through advocacy education and civic action. Learn more at IsraelUSA.org.



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Turkey’s Erdogan once again sets preconditions for normalization of ties with Armenia

Kanayan Tamar
Public Radio of Armenia
Oct 27 2021


, 23:18

 1 minute read

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has once again set out conditions for normalization of ties with Armenia, AFP reports.

“If Armenia shows sincere goodwill towards Azerbaijan, then there will be no obstacles for the normalization of ties between Turkey and Armenia,” Erdogan said.

“Turkey will reciprocate to Armenia’s steps aimed at building lasting peace in the region,” he told a news conference after attending the opening of a newly-built airport in Artsakh’s Varanda (Fizuli) region captured by Azerbaijan during the six-week war last year.

Turkey and Armenia have no diplomatic relations, and the bitter relationship has deteriorated more recently over Turkey’s support for Azerbaijan, which last year unleashed large-scale aggression against Artsakh.

Armenian officials have stated on many occasions that the relations with Turkey must be normalized without preconditions.

Unblocking of rail communication on the agenda, no talk of roads to be used – Armenian Deputy PM

Kanayan Tamar
Public Radio of Armenia
Oct 27 2021
, 19:09

 1 minute read

While there is general understanding on rail communication, there is no agreement on roads to be used, Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan said during the Q&A session at the National Assembly.

Speaking about the unblocking of regional communications, Mher Grigoryan said the meeting of the trilateral working group co-chaired by the Deputy Prime Ministers of Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan are being organized on the basis of the statement of January 11, 2021, and do not exceed that framework.

He said the issue of restoring railroad communication is on the agenda, but added that no discussions are taking place on the unblocking of road communication.

“There is nothing to restore. There has never been roads,” Grigoryan said.

“We are talking about unblocking in the classical sense, i.e. making it possible for all countries of the region to use the existing infrastructure,” the Deputy PM noted.

He stressed there is so far no consensus on roads.

“There are many proposals, but there is no roadmap on roads,” Grigoryan said, adding that there is no agreement or understanding on which roads are going to be used.