Author: Maral Chavushian

Azerbaijan rejects Armenian ungrounded accusations

Maral Chavushian
Pakistan – Aug 4 2022
ByMati
August 4, 2022

BAKU, Azerbaijan: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan has strongly rejected the statement of the Armenian Foreign Ministry delivered on August 3 with ungrounded accusations against the Azerbaijani side.

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In a statement, the Press Service Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Republic of Azerbaijan said that aaccusations shared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia against Azerbaijan in violation of the trilateral statement are nothing but mere hypocrisy.

It said that we remind that Azerbaijan has repeatedly reported Armenia’s failure to fulfill the provisions of the statement on November 10, 2020, signed by the leaders of the three countries, in particular, that the Armenian armed units have not yet been withdrawn from the sovereign territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Pursuant to Article 4 of the trilateral statement reads: “the peacekeeping contingent of the Russian Federation shall be deployed in parallel with the withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces.”

In addition to numerous evidence on the Azerbaijani side about the presence of illegal Armenian armed forces on the territory of Azerbaijan, this fact was also acknowledged by Armenian officials.

Thus, the Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces Sahak Sahakyan on June 29, 2022 at a meeting with the parents of the recruits from Armenia stated that: “Armenian conscripts in the Karabakh region will be replaced by servicemen of active military service”, as well as the Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan in an interview dated July 19, 2022 reminded that “the withdrawal of the units of the Armed Forces of Armenia from Karabakh will be completed by September of this year”.

Both statements contradict the obligations assumed by Armenia, and it clearly demonstrates that Armenia still illegally deploys its armed military formations on the territory of a neighboring state.

Pashinyan: Azerbaijanis can head to Nakhichevan through Armenia’s border

Maral Chavushian
MediaMax, Armenia
Aug 4 2022



“Speaking about Armenia’s obligations, Azerbaijan says that Armenia is committed to ensuring the connection between the western regions of Azerbaijan and Nakhichevan. We are ready to ensure that connection every day, it is Azerbaijan that does not take advantage of the opportunities we provide. Even today, we say: come and cross Armenia’s border, go to Nakhichevan in accordance with the procedure established by Armenia’s legislation.

 

Since last year we have set Armenian customs and border guard points and told Azerbaijan that at any time they can cross these points in accordance with the established procedure and connect with Nakhichevan,” Nikol Pashinyan said.

 

Referring to the construction of new roads, the prime minister said that according to the trilateral statement, it should be done with the consent of the parties:

 

“We say that we consider discussing the route of these roads only after the legal procedures are fixed and launched. I officially state that today Azerbaijan can cross Armenia’s border from several check-points and organize traffic to Nakhichevan. Gazakh is the most western region of Azerbaijan, let them come, cross, go to Nakhichevan. We guarantee the safety of this traffic in accordance with the procedure established by Armenia’s legislation. We have customs services not only in the Gazakh-Ijevan section but also in the Gazakh-Berd, Vardenis, Sisian, Yeraskh sections. We have customs service in Goris section for quite a long time, and during this period Azerbaijan has not even tried to use it. It never happened that they wanted to cross it, and we did not allow. But I repeat: this should happen in accordance with the procedure established by Armenia’s legislation.”

 

Referring to the point of the statement, according to which free movement should be ensured, Nikol Pashinyan said:

 

“The Constitution of the Republic of Armenia states that citizens of the Republic of Armenia have the right to free movement, but this does not mean that this free movement should take place by bypassing the legislation. We must record these realities clearly and internationally.”

No violations recorded in the zone of responsibility of Russian peacekeepers – MoD Russia

Maral Chavushian

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 21:32, 5 August 2022

YEREVAN, AUGUST 5, ARMENPRESS. The Russian peacekeeping contingent continues to fulfill its tasks in Nagorno-Karabakh, ARMENPRESS reports the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation said.

During the past day, no violations of the ceasefire regime were recorded in the zone of responsibility of the Russian peacekeeping troops.

In Nagorno-Karabakh, An Azerbaijani Soldier And An Armenian Fighter Killed

Maral Chavushian
Aug 3 2022
EUROPE
By David Sadler

Nagorno-Karabakh has remained an unstable area since the 2020 war, and recent exchanges of fire are a reminder of this. An Azerbaijani soldier and an Armenian fighter were killed on Wednesday (August 3rd) near this Armenian-backed separatist enclave, authorities on both sides said.

Wednesday morning, “intense shooting” targeted Azerbaijani army positions in the Lachin district, a buffer zone between the Armenian border and Nagorno-Karabakh, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry reported. An Azerbaijani conscript was killed in these shots from “illegal Armenian military formations”he specified.

Read also Article reserved for our subscribers“It feels like a state of siege”: a year after the war, the upset lives of the inhabitants of Nagorno-Karabakh

The Armenian separatists of Nagorno-Karabakh reported, for their part, the death of one of their soldiers in an attack carried out by an Azerbaijani drone in the afternoon. Eight Armenian separatist fighters were also injured, the separatist army said.

After a first war that killed more than 30,000 people in the early 1990s, Armenia and Azerbaijan clashed again in the fall of 2020 for control of Nagorno-Karabakh, a mountainous region which, supported by Yerevan had seceded from Azerbaijan.

More than 6,500 people were killed in this new war lost by Armenia. As part of a ceasefire agreement brokered by Moscow, which deployed peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh, Yerevan ceded significant territory.

Despite a timid diplomatic relaxation between Armenia and Azerbaijan, armed incidents remain frequent in the area or along the official border between the two countries.

The World with AFP


https://globeecho.com/news/europe/in-nagorno-karabakh-an-azerbaijani-soldier-and-an-armenian-fighter-killed/

PRESS RELEASE – AUA Hosts Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for Sona Hamalian Conference Room

Maral Chavushian
PRESS RELEASE 
AUA Hosts Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for Sona Hamalian Conference Room

YEREVAN, Armenia — On June 27, the American University of Armenia (AUA) hosted the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Sona Hamalian conference room (413M), named in memory of the first director of the AUA Extension program. 

Since the day AUA opened its doors in 1991, Hamalian served as the administrator and right-hand assistant to Dr. Mihran Agbabian, AUA’s co-founder and first president. In 1992, she became the director of AUA Extension, now called Open Education. Following her untimely death, Hamalian’s twin sister Sossy and her husband Dr. Vicken Aharonian, both AUA Pillars, memorialized her legacy by naming conference room 413M in the AUA Main Building in her honor.

The ceremony was attended by the Aharonians’ and Hamalians’ immediate family members, close friends and relatives, as well as AUA community members who had known and worked with Sona Hamalian in the past.

Following the ribbon-cutting, the guests gathered for a reception in the Faculty Center. In her welcoming speech, AUA President Dr. Karin Markides addressed the guests highlighting the naming of 413M Sona Hamalian conference room in commemoration of her life and in honor of her memory.

“Sona Hamalian was a well-respected and devoted member of the AUA community, whose memory will live on through the widely used Sona Hamalian conference room, which serves as a meeting point for discussions, interviews, and team meetings to collaborate, recruit the best faculty and staff, and work towards the flourishing future of the University. She would have been very proud to see all the accomplishments AUA continues to have,” said Dr. Markides.

AUA’s co-founder and former president Dr. Armen Der Kiureghian reflected on the past, on the University’s inception and Hamalian’s crucial role in its development. 

“Dr. Mihran Agbabian hired Sona around July of 1991. He was familiar with her work ethic and skills. Sona did an impossible job in setting up offices, classrooms, library textbooks, the registrar’s office, housing for faculty members, and more. It was all possible due to her dedication and commitment to the University,” remarked Dr. Der Kiureghian.

Following his speech, Dr. Der Kiureghian shared a short passage from Sona Hamalian’s report on the Extension program. The very last paragraph of the report contained the following message:

When asked “What is your vision for the 90s,” I respond humorously. “I am not a visionary. I am a dreamer and I have fantasies”. We are excited for our next 1000 years (after all, for a nation 4000 years old, this kind of exaggeration is permissible). The technological advancements of recent years are revolutionizing education, and we are looking forward to providing the highest quality of instruction in the formats that best serve Armenia’s educational goals.

Dr. Vicken Aharonian, brother-in-law to Sona Hamalian, shared the thought that had inspired the naming of the conference room in her honor and expressed gratitude to the University staff, faculty, and guests for their support and efforts in developing Armenia.

“We wanted to honor her memory. Nobody will live forever, but it is good to create something that will, and I hope that this conference room will serve AUA, where her name will endure forever,” he said. “We are truly grateful to the University, which we have been supporting for many years. AUA is the future of this country. I wish you the best. Thank you very much.”

For more information on naming opportunities at AUA, visit: https://philanthropy.aua.am/naming-opportunities/

Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, and affiliated with the University of California. AUA provides a global education in Armenia and the region, offering high-quality graduate and undergraduate studies, encouraging civic engagement, and promoting public service and democratic values. For more information about AUA and its donor opportunities, please visit philanthropy.aua.am.

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 Dr. Armen Der Kiureghian addressing guests at t…
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Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 20-07-22

Maral Chavushian

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 17:21,

YEREVAN, 20 JULY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 20 July, USD exchange rate up by 0.25 drams to 415.60 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 2.28 drams to 423.66 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.02 drams to 7.55 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 1.40 drams to 497.85 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price down by 66.35 drams to 22889.52 drams. Silver price up by 0.42 drams to 252.54 drams. Platinum price stood at 16414.1 drams.

Germany interested in strengthening political dialogue with Armenia – PM Pashinyan receives Bundestag Vice President

Maral Chavushian

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 19:25,

YEREVAN, JULY 20, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan received Vice President of the Bundestag of the Federal Republic of Germany Katrin Göring-Eckardt and the delegation led by her, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister.

Nikol Pashinyan emphasized the importance of bilateral relations, which recently have been dynamically developing at the level of Governments, parliaments and local self-governments. According to the Prime Minister, the Armenian-German partnership is based on political, economic and value system interests. "Armenia as a country that shifted to parliamentary system of government in 2018, is interested in exchanging experience with Germany, which has firm traditions of parliamentarianism. The FRG is the largest trade and economic partner of Armenia in the EU. We attach importance to the joint economic programs, as well as the support for Armenia's democratic agenda," Prime Minister Pashinyan said.

The Vice President of the Bundestag thanked the Prime Minister of Armenia for appreciation and congratulated him on receiving the vote of the Armenian citizens for the implementation of democratic reforms. Katrin Göring-Eckardt emphasized that democracy and parliamentarism contribute to security, stability and development, and Germany is interested in strengthening the political dialogue with Armenia, implementing programs in various sectors of the economy: information technology, renewable energy, etc.

The interlocutors exchanged ideas on the situation and security challenges in the South Caucasus region. The Vice President of the Bundestag noted that Germany attaches importance to regional peace and supports Armenia's steps in that direction. The sides highlighted joint efforts aimed at preserving Christian cultural heritage.

Issues of mutual interest were discussed in the context of the Armenia-FRG economic agenda. Projects in the fields of solar energy and technology were considered promising. In this context, the willingness to continue cooperation was reaffirmed.

Nikol Pashinyan and Katrin Göring-Eckardt noted the importance of the Eastern Partnership format in the development of Armenian-German relations.

Lawyer comments on decision to bar Mourad Papazian from entering Armenia

Maral Chavushian
Panorama
Armenia –

Lawyer Gevorg Danielyan, a former justice minister, has reflected on the government’s decision to ban Mourad “Franck” Papazian, a member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Bureau and co-chair of the Coordinating Council of Armenian Organizations in France (CCAF), from entering Armenia.

Papazian, who has been declared a “persona non grata” in Armenia, was detained at Yerevan’s Zvartnots Airport and deported back to Paris early on Thursday.

"The only reason for declaring Mourad Papazian a “persona non grata” could be reliable data on alleged damage to the country's national security,” Danielyan said in a social media post.

“In the case of a person who obviously enjoys a good reputation in France and has been received personally by the president many times, it does not inspire confidence that there is such compromising reliable data. Anyway, it is a state secret and we can only judge from the figure’s public activities,” he added.

Danielyan addressed the claims that Papazian disparaged national symbols.

“Under Article 21 of the Constitution, the state symbols of Armenia are the flag, coat of arms and anthem. As far as I am familiar with Papazian's public activities, I have noticed just the opposite: he is a staunch defender of the symbols,” the lawyer said, calling for release of evidence to substantiate the claims.

Newspaper: European officials decide to punish Armenia authorities

Maral Chavushian
NEWS.am
Armenia –
09:11, 13.07.2022

YEREVAN. – Hraparak daily of the Republic of Armenia (RA) writes: Armenia’s delegation that participated in the PACE session on June 19-25 made 3 proposals behind the scenes to the European colleagues regarding pro-Armenian steps and a declaration, particularly regarding the return of [all Armenian] captives [in Azerbaijan].

However, our [ruling majority] CC [“Civil Contract” Faction in the National Assembly of Armenia] source says that the international colleagues got acquainted with the proposals presented by our MPs, the prepared text, they said that they have no objections, but they will not protect the Armenian interest in any matter as long as Armenia has not decided: Is it with Europe? Or Russia?

In recent times, the European officials see attempts to "deceive" them in the moves by the RA authorities, and [therefore] have decided to punish them. At the very least, push for Armenia to make a final decision as to where it is and cuts ties with Russia completely.

It was not possible to get a comment from the [Armenian] delegates who [had] departed to PACE.