Author: Maral Takmazian

Republican Party spokesperson: Armenia authorities decided to smoothen ties with Turkey after defeat in war

Maral Takmazian
News.am, Armenia
Dec 24 2021
17:36, 24.12.2021

The authorities of Armenia have decided to smoothen relations with Turkey after being defeated in the war. They say unblocking of Armenia will be to the country’s benefit. This is what Spokesman of the Republican Party of Armenia, former Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Eduard Sharmazanov told reporters today.

Sharmazanov also stated that after all this, the authorities still allow themselves to mock people who have an understanding of geography.

“They [the authorities] say the Meghri-Horadiz railway will link Armenia to Russia. Take a look at the map once and for all — How many kilometers is Meghri far from Yerevan? How many kilometers is Horadiz far from Meghri and from Baku? After all, there is an Ijevan-Kazakh railway. If you’re thinking about cargo transportation, launch the Ijevan-Kazakh railway. Why are you making Armenian taxpayers pay an additional $200,000,000? Is it to make the Turkish dream come true? They also say this railway will make it possible to travel to Iran. Armenia had communication with Iran. Who asked you [the authorities] to transfer a section of the Goris-Kapan motorway to the Turks?” Sharmazanov complained.


Azerbaijan trying to cover up cases of vandalism: Armenian Embassy in Greece reacts to Baku’s propaganda

Maral Takmazian
Public Radio of Armenia
Dec 22 2021
, 23:50

 1 minute read

The country that deliberately destroys cultural monuments is trying to cover up the numerous cases of vandalism committed, the Armenian Embassy in Greece said in a statement.

“Contrary to the rulings of the International Court of Justice, Azerbaijani officials continue to spread targeted racial hatred because they do not take any steps to stop the destruction of the Armenian cultural heritage,” the Embassy noted.

The comments come after Anastasia Lavrina and the Azerbaijani Embassy in Greece published a propaganda material (translated into Greek) telling about the Armenian side’s alleged “encroachments” on Russian Orthodox religious heritage on the territory of the Artsakh Republic.

The Embassy describes the video as “another provocative, groundless and false misinformation, which aims to spread hatred towards Armenians and try to drive a wedge in the relations between Armenia and its friends.”

“Artsakh has always been proud of the religious and cultural monuments in its territory, considering them a part of its historical and cultural heritage. The people of Artsakh are also concerned about the preservation of Russian religious and cultural heritage,” the Embassy said.

It emphasized that the state budget of the Artsakh Republic envisages expenditures for the preservation and restoration of historical and cultural monuments every year, as the preservation, study and use of historical and cultural monuments is one of the most important and special spheres of the history and culture of the Artsakh Republic.

Requirement for PCR testing for employees remains in force, Armenia’s Health Ministry says

Maral Takmazian
Public Radio of Armenia
Dec 23 2021
, 21:09

 1 minute read

Requirement for PSR testing for employees remains in force, the Ministry of Health says.

The statement comes in the wake of Constitutional Court ruling, which said the requirement for the employees to take PCR tests “at their own expense” is unconstitutional.

“The decision of the Ministry of Health to require PCR testing was considered constitutional, as it is in the public interest,” the Ministry said. It further clarified that only the wording “at their own expense” in all the appendices of the Health Minister’s order was declared unconstitutional.

However, given that the state does not guarantee PCR testing on preferential and free terms, employees should still be tested, the Ministry emphasized.

Thus, it said, all requirements remain in force.

The Constitutional Court today delivered its judgement on the constitutionality of Part 3 of Article 20.1 and Paragraph 3 of Article 22 of RA Law on Ensuring Sanitary and Epidemiological Security of the Population of the Republic of Armenia and the Health Minister’s order of August 20, 2021.

Voice of America: Warlick: Issue of status of Nagorno-Karabakh remains unresolved

Maral Takmazian
News.am, Armenia
Dec 17 2021
00:25, 18.12.2021

In an interview with Voice of America, former U.S. Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, outgoing Ambassador James Warlick said the status of Nagorno-Karabakh is a primary issue, adding that it can’t be considered a subject that was closed after the war and that it will be impossible to talk about strong stability without a settlement.

According to him, the parties are currently taking small steps to try to establish mutual confidence, and the recent return of prisoners of war from Azerbaijan to Armenia and Armenia’s transfer of mine maps to Azerbaijan can be considered in this context.

Warlick added that the international community needs to take as step back in an attempt to settle the issue of the status of Nagorno-Karabakh with the help of the Minsk Group, and nobody should think that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is settled through the war.

American analyst, alumnus of the University of Harvard Daniel Shapiro, who is a Fullbright scholar, also agrees with the former U.S. diplomat. According to him, after the 44-day war, the West was pushed away from the processes unfolding in the South Caucasus, the last of which is the 3+2 format, which leaves Armenia alone with Turkey, Azerbaijan, Russia and Iran, which don’t share Armenia’s interests.

Responding to the Aliyev-Pashinyan meeting in Brussels, Shapiro stated that the United States and the European Union need to play a more active role in the normalization of Armenia-Azerbaijan and Armenia-Turkey relations in order to return to the region.

Commenting on the Pashinyan-Aliyev meetings, Warlick emphasized that the important thing is that the parties meet face-to-face and added that the format is secondary.

Warlick also reminded that the leaders of the two countries had absolutely no contact before the 44-day war.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has welcomed Armenia’s and Turkey’s actions to normalize the relations between the two countries.

While Aliyev and Pashinyan were meeting under the auspices of President of the European Council Charles Michel in Brussels, Turkey’s Foreign Minister declared that Ankara and Yerevan will appoint special envoys to discuss and settle the issues between the two countries.

Yerevan responded positively to this statement. Welcoming Cavusoglu’s statement, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Vahan Hunanyan stated that Armenia is ready to establish relations with Turkey without preconditions.

In his statement, Mevlut Cavusoglu had also stated that direct air communication between Yerevan and Istanbul will be opened in the near future.

Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 16-12-21

Maral Takmazian

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 17:44,

YEREVAN, 16 DECEMBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 16 December, USD exchange rate down by 2.00 drams to 480.02 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 0.23 drams to 543.05 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate stood at 6.53 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 0.97 drams to 637.95 drams.

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

Gold price down by 241.57 drams to 27295.58 drams. Silver price down by 7.06 drams to 336.52 drams. Platinum price down by 58.58 drams to 14059.46 drams.

President of Artsakh convenes Security Council meeting

Maral Takmazian

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 17:37,

STEPANAKERT, DECEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. President of the Republic of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan convened a meeting of the Security Council today, his Office said.

President Harutyunyan told the Security Council members that the crisis problems of this year are mainly overcome, but noted that still a lot needs to be done to resist both the domestic and external challenges.

The President of Artsakh gave same instructions to the responsible officials for solving the existing security problems.

French Senate to set up group for Nagorno-Karabakh

Maral Takmazian
News.am, Armenia
Dec 15 2021
23:59, 15.12.2021

The French Senate will set up a group for the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. This is what French Senator Bruno Retailleau tweeted.

“After adoption of the resolution on recognition of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, the Senate gave consent to the creation of an international group for information about Nagorno-Karabakh which will help strengthen our relations and take action for peace,” he tweeted. 


Armenian American Museum Hosts Donor Receptions

Maral Takmazian
Outlook Newspapers
Dec 9 2021

First published in the Dec. 4 print issue of the Glendale News Press.

The Armenian American Museum hosted a series of donor appreciation receptions to celebrate the construction of the landmark center and honor the generous support of the museum’s benefactors, legacy council, and founder’s circle members.
Executive Chairman Berdj Karapetian welcomed guests to the receptions, held on Nov. 23 and Nov. 17, on behalf of the board of trustees and board of governors, expressing the organization’s gratitude to the valued donors.
“The cultural and educational center dedicated to our history, culture, and heritage was once a mere idea,” Karapetian said in a statement. “Today, we celebrate the construction of the Armenian American Museum that is turning our dreams into reality — a milestone that would not be possible without your generous support.”
Executive Director Shant Sahakian provided a progress report on the development of the museum’s programming for the permanent exhibition, temporary exhibitions, auditorium, learning center, demonstration kitchen and archives center as well as the construction underway at the museum campus in Glendale Central Park.
“We are grateful to have the opportunity to provide an exciting progress report on not only the construction of a building but the creation of a world class institution that is going to serve and enrich the lives of students, families, and community members for generations to come,” Sahakian said.
The receptions were sponsored by Edison International, an early corporate partner of the museum.
“Edison International is honored to continue its support of the Armenian American Museum and its mission to build a center that will showcase the Armenian American experience and create bridges between the many diverse communities in California,” said Zanku Armenian, Edison’s director of public affairs. “Edison is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion and this museum will stand as a testament to those values and the contributions of the Armenian American community.”
To learn more about the museum’s donor programs and opportunities, visit .

https://outlooknewspapers.com/blog/2021/12/09/armenian-american-museum-hosts-donor-receptions/

Identity of the Azerbaijani serviceman who killed a civilian in Karabakh was established

Maral Takmazian

Dec 5 2021


    JAMnewsYerevan

The prosecutor’s office of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic reports that the identity of an Azerbaijani serviceman who killed a 65-year-old civilian Seyran Sargsyan in Nagorno-Karabakh has been discovered. On December 3, it was reported that the man was engaged in animal husbandry, lost his way, and ended up in the territory controlled by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces. He was detained by the servicemen of Azerbaijan, taken to the position where the armed forces were stationed, and killed there.

The Azerbaijani side did not refute this information but stated that the shot was fired by the serviceman after he was attacked while on duty at one of the positions of the Azerbaijani army.

However, on December 4, the Armenian side reported additional details, which became known during the investigation. It has been reported that the killed man did not get lost, but was forcibly abducted from the territory which is considered a neutral zone. Moreover, there are “convincing and irrefutable facts, including the video, proving the commission of premeditated murder”.

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The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry reported that a serviceman who was on duty at one of the positions of the Azerbaijani army in the Khojavend region was attacked by a person of Armenian origin on December 3 at about 13:00:

“[This] person tried to seize a weapon. After shooting in the air,  with the aim of self-defense Azerbaijani serviceman neutralized the provocateur who had attacked him.
The incident was reported to the Command of the Russian peacekeeping forces and the Russian-Turkish Joint Monitoring Center.
The investigation is underway”.

Armenian law enforcement agencies report that there is irrefutable evidence of the murder of a civilian and they will be transferred to the Russian side for a full investigation of the circumstances of the incident.

However, at that moment, in cooperation with the prosecutor’s office of the peacekeeping forces of Russia, it turned out that “the murder of the citizen of Artsakh was committed by the citizen of Azerbaijan, private Rahimzade David Gabil oglu”.

As part of the agreement reached between the Prosecutors General of Russia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan, the prosecutor of the Russian peacekeeping contingent arrived at the scene. He has already had the opportunity to meet witnesses of the incident from the Azerbaijani side and talked with Rakhimzade.

It is also reported that at this moment “the possibility of holding a working meeting with the leadership of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan and Armenia” is being considered with the mediation of the Russian side.

All Armenian publications remind that this is the third case of the murder of a civilian since November 10, 2020, that is, since the establishment of the ceasefire in Karabakh.

The press secretary of the Armenian Foreign Ministry Vahan Hunanyan made a statement in which he condemned the killing of a civilian by the Azerbaijani servicemen:

“It is noteworthy that the attacks and acts of intimidation against the Armenian civilian population of Artsakh have systemic manner, which is due to the baseless justification by the official Baku of similar crimes committed by the Azerbaijani armed forces, leading to repetition of such behavior.

“The recent atrocities committed by the Azerbaijani armed forces against the civilian population of Artsakh are a continuation of the policy of Armenophobia, annihilation and ethnic cleansing of Armenians of Artsakh by the Azerbaijani authorities, which once again proves that guaranteeing the physical security and the right to life of the Armenians of Artsakh is impossible under the Azerbaijani jurisdiction.

“Proper investigation of this and previous attacks on civilian population and bringing the perpetrators to justice can create preconditions for the prevention of such crimes in the future”.

The Foreign Ministry of the unrecognized NKR also condemned the “terrorist policy of Azerbaijan” and called on the international community to adequately assess the actions of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces. The ministry’s statement says that Baku’s policy sent “a treacherous blow to the peacekeeping mission of Russia”.

Co-Chairs regret that it was not possible to hold meeting of Armenian, Azerbaijani FMs in Stockholm

Maral Takmazian
Public Radio of Armenia
Dec 4 2021
December 4, 2021, 20:43

 1 minute read

The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Andrew Schofer of the United States of America, Igor Khovaev of the Russian Federation, and Brice Roquefeuil of France) released the following statement today: 

The Co-Chairs met with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan on 1 December and with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jehun Bayramov on 2 December on the margins of the OSCE Ministerial Council in Stockholm. The Co-Chairs also met incoming OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau. The Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office (PRCiO) Andrzej Kasprzyk participated in the meetings.     

The Co-Chairs regret that it was not possible to hold a joint meeting between the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan under their auspices in Stockholm. They express their readiness to host such a meeting as soon as circumstances allow to continue discussions begun in New York in September and in Paris in November.