Author: Lara Antonian

Greek Foreign Ministry: Armenia’s territorial integrity has to be respected

Lara Antonian
Greek City Times
May 20 2021

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by Athens Bureau

The Greek Foreign Ministry has called for Armenia’s territorial integrity to be respected as the Azerbaijani military has been occupying several territories of Armenia since May 14 and refuses to withdraw.

“Tensions along Armenia‘s border are of particular concern,” the Foreign Ministry said in a tweet.

“Armenia’s territorial integrity has to be respected,” the statement said, adding: “It is essential to avoid any unilateral actions that could undermine regional peace and stability.”

Around 500-600 Azerbaijani troops currently occupy areas of Armenia and are refusing to withdraw.

Earlier today Armenian troops had to fire warning shots to halt the advance of Azerbaijani soldiers.

Azerbaijani troops will withdraw from Sev Lake area in Armenia’s Syunik, talks to resume in two days

Lara Antonian
Public Radio of Armenia
   


According to the agreement reached during the talks in Syunik, the Azerbaijani forces will retreat from Syunik border, but will keep two checkpoints near the Armenian positions, Spatrak Minasyan, head of Akner community, told Public Radio of Armenia.

Commander of the Russian pecekeeping contingent in Artsakh, General Rustam Muradov participated in the talks.

Minasyan said he does not possess further information on the areas the movement of the positions will take place.

“They have to go back in some parts. Tents will be set up in our positions. The Azerbaijani side has not set up tents,” he said. The negotiations will continue in two days.

Goris deputy mayor Menua Hovsepyan told Public Radio of Armenia that the Azerbaijani side has put forward some preconditions.

ANCA-WR and UCLA’s Promise Institute to Co-Host Panel Discussion

Lara Antonian



ANCA-WR an UCLA’s Promise Institute will co-host a panel on May 16

The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region and The Promise Institute for Human Rights at UCLA School of Law will co-host a panel discussion on Sunday, May 16 at 5 p.m. (Pacific) titled “The Armenian Genocide: Truth, Recognition and Opportunities.”

Moderated by Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Nicholas Kristof of the New York Times, esteemed panelists include U.S. Congressman David Valdao (R-CA-21); Dr. Eric Esrailian, Philanthropist and Emmy Nominated Filmmaker; Dr. Bedross Der Matossian, Professor of History at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln; and Michelle Gulino, International Legal Associate at the Human Rights Foundation.

The panel will be discussing the long road to U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide, the future of U.S.-Turkey relations, and the implications of the announcement on human rights atrocities all over the world from China to Ethiopia.

Register for the event, please visit: www.ancawr.org/webinar

The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region is the largest and most influential nonpartisan 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 in pursuit of the Armenian Cause.

The Promise Institute for Human Rights at UCLA School of Law is the center of human rights education, research and advocacy at UCLA and around the region.

“Democracies must stand with Armenia” – Canadian senator Leo Housakos on Azeri border breach

Lara Antonian

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 11:07,

YEREVAN, MAY 14, ARMENPRESS. Canadian senator Leo Housakos has labeled the Azeri actions at the border with Armenia as dangerous and aggressive.  In a statement on Twitter, Housakos called on democracies to stand with Armenia.

“The violation of Armenia’s sovereign territory by Azerbaijani troops is a dangerous and illegal act of aggression that underscores the sustained threat that the Armenian people continue to face. Democracies must stand with Armenia”, he tweeted.

On May 12, the Azeri military breached the Armenian state border in the Syunik border and advanced towards the Sev Lake.  Azeri troops breached the border in some parts of the Gegharkunik province as well. Over 250 of the Azeri troops are illegally located in Armenian territory.

Georgian PM paid tribute to Armenian Genocide victims at Tsitsernakaberd complex

Lara Antonian
Panorama, Armenia

Society 20:19 12/05/2021Armenia

Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili accompanied by Yerevan Mayor Hayk Marutyan and acting Deputy PM Tigran Avinyan visited the Memorial complex of the Armenian Genocide and paid tribute to the memory of the Holy Martyrs.

As the Yerevan Mayor's Office reported, Irakli Garibashvili placed wreath at the memorial for the Genocide victims and flowers near the eternal flame. 

To note, Irakli Garibashvili is paying an official visit to Armenia. 

Freedom House Urges Baku to Allow Investigation in Armenian POW Torture Claims

Lara Antonian



Freedom House has ranked Azerbaijan as a “Not Free” country in 2020 and 2021

The fate of nearly 200 Armenians reportedly in Azerbaijani custody remains unclear amid reports of abuse and humiliation, months after their return was mandated in a cease-fire ending the two countries’ armed conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, Freedom House said in a statement on Wednesday.

The statement issued by Freedom House came in response to reports of abuse of Armenian prisoners of war and civilian captives detained by Azerbaijan.

“We are deeply concerned by the reports of dehumanizing treatment and abuse, including torture, of Armenians captured and detained by Azerbaijan after the recent armed conflict,” said Marc Behrendt, director of Europe and Eurasia programs at Freedom House.

“We urge the Azerbaijani authorities to fully cooperate with the efforts of the European Court of Human Rights to investigate the validity of reports of dehumanizing treatment of Armenian detainees regardless of their status and ensure those still in custody are provided with all protections required under international human rights and humanitarian law, including freedom from torture and inhuman treatment, and that details of their repatriation are provided,” added Behrendt.

“As a signatory of the European Convention on Human Rights, Azerbaijan is obligated to fully cooperate with the court and provide all requested information to facilitate a transparent investigation of these serious issues,”  explained Behrendt.

By the end of February 2021, Armenia’s Representative Office at the European Court of Human Rights had asked the court to intervene with Azerbaijan regarding 240 cases of alleged prisoners of war and civilian detainees. In approximately 90 percent of those cases, the office said, they had provided photo and/or video evidence confirming that Azerbaijani forces had taken these people into custody.

Official Baku insists that Armenians that are currently being held captive in Azerbaijan were arrested following the November 9 agreement and are being treated as terrorists.

In its 2021 and 2020 annual reports, Freedom House rated Azerbaijan as “not free” state and this year also categorized Azerbaijan as “Consolidated Authoritarian Regime.”

Martuni stadium shelled by Azerbaijani forces during Artsakh war reopens

Lara Antonian
Panorama,  Armenia

Society 11:59 10/05/2021NKR

Avagyan Arena stadium in the town of Martuni in Artsakh, which was shelled by the Azerbaijani armed forces during last year’s 44-day war, was officially reopened on May 9, Artsakhpress reported.

The reopening of the stadium was marked by a friendly match between football veterans of Martuni and Chartar teams. The match was dedicated to the victories of the Armenian people and the heroes who created those victories.

The head of Martuni regional administration, Edik Avanesyan, informed that the co-founders of the Dream Foundation supported the reconstruction of the Martuni stadium damaged by the war.

NPR: Operation Nemesis

Lara Antonian
NPR – National Public Radio
May 6 2021
May 6, 202112:01 AM ET


The ARF Representative Convention of 1919, when they agreed to carry out Operation Nemesis. This photo includes five known Operation Nemesis participants: Armen Garo, first row, fourth from the left; Zadig Matigian, fourth from the right; Aaron Sachaklian, second row, second from the right; Shahan Natalie, second row, third from the right; and Zaven Nalbandian, top row, seventh from the left.

Courtesy of Marian Mesrobian MacCurdy/Kerning Cultures

An estimated 1.5 million Armenian Christians were killed by the Ottoman government during World War I, in what came to be known as the Armenian Genocide. The perpetrators escaped Constantinople in the middle of the night and began new lives undercover in Europe. So, a small group of Armenian survivors decided to take justice into their own hands. In this episode from Kerning Cultures, the secretive operation to avenge the Armenian Genocide, and how it changed the idea of justice in the modern world.

This story originally aired on Kerning Cultures, a podcast telling stories from across the Middle East and North Africa and the spaces in between.

LISTEN TO THE PROGRAM AT THE LINK BELOW

Latvia officially recognizes Armenian Genocide

Lara Antonian

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 12:30, 6 May, 2021

YEREVAN, MAY 6, ARMENPRESS. Latvia has officially recognized and condemned the 1915 Armenian Genocide, Armenia’s Ambassador to Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia Tigran Mkrtchyan, who is completing his mission, said on Facebook.

“Latvia has finally officially recognized and condemned the Armenian Genocide. 58 out of 100 members of the Saeima voted in favor of the resolution. What was difficult to imagine years before today has become a reality. This is a result of the hard work of the past years, where the intensive political contacts, the parliamentary diplomacy, the cultural diplomacy have played a key role”, the Ambassador said.  

“I bow before all political forces and lawmakers of the Latvian Parliament who have voted in favor of giving a solution to this very important issue for the Armenian people in Latvia. A statement about the Armenian Genocide committed under the era of the Ottoman Empire”, he said.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Pashinyan to hold meeting with Russian FM in Yerevan

Lara Antonian

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 10:53, 5 May, 2021

YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. During an upcoming visit to Armenia, the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will have a meeting with caretaker Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, the Armenian foreign ministry said.

Lavrov will arrive in Yerevan on May 5.

Armenian Foreign Minister Ara Aivazian will hold a meeting with Lavrov on May 6.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan