Author: Maral Takmazian

 17:24, 9 December, 2020

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS. Armenia and Azerbaijan will hold Russia-mediated negotiations on fixing the border between them, Deputy PM of Armenia Tigran Avinyan told lawmakers in parliament when asked on the demarcation process in the Syunik province after the Artsakh war.

Avinyan assured that the Republic of Armenia has not ceded territory.

He said the government is now preparing legal documents regarding the entire length of the border for upcoming negotiations with Azerbaijan that will likely take place this year under Russian mediation.

“As of this moment I can say that the legal border, as such, between the Republic of Armenia and Azerbaijan isn’t finally recorded. And we have brought to light all legal documents and maps which will be the basis for these negotiations, and negotiations with this agenda will take place within the next weeks,” Avinyan said.

Regarding the deployment of the military, Avinyan said as of this moment the Armenian military is deployed near the Tegh village in different positions, and he noted that the final deployments will happen after agreements and negotiations.

 “I want to assure that from this side of the border of Armenia, in our side nothing was ceded and nothing can be ceded. Nevertheless, I’d like to clarify that the legal border, as such, should be adopted by both sides in the form of a final document as result of negotiations,” he said.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 19:00, 1 December, 2020

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. Moscow doesn’t see deliberate delay in the exchange process of the bodies of those killed in Karabakh and the prisoners of war, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at the online session of the CSTO Council of Foreign Ministers, RIA Novosti reports.

“It’s difficult to say that a deliberate action is taken to prolong that process. We do not see it, but it’s a fact that there are objective difficulties, but I hope they will be solved quickly”, the Russian FM said.

He added that the geography of the territory and how the hostilities have developed make it difficult to quickly solve the issue, especially when there are no concrete lists of missing persons.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 16:53,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 30, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan held a consultation with top law enforcement officials and representatives of the judiciary, his office said in a news release.

The consultation was attended by National Security Service (NSS) Director Armen Abazyan, Police Chief Vahe Ghazaryan, Minister of Justice Rustam Badasyan, Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on State-Legal Affairs Vladimir Vardanyan, Prosecutor General Artur Davtyan, Special Investigations Service Director Sasun Khachatryan, Committee of Investigations Director Hayk Grigoryan, members of the Supreme Judicial Council, candidate for president of the Court of Cassation Lilit Tadevosyan, President of the Administrative Court of Appeals Hovsep Badevyan, President of the Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction Artur Mkrtchyan and other officials.

The Prime Minister said that in the current situation the growing public demand is for the government bodies and institutions to work clearly. “I am speaking in this case especially about the law enforcement system and the protection of law and order. During today’s discussion I’d like us to exchange views and share assessments as to what extent do institutions aimed at protecting law and order function duly today and what is our assessment, including from the perspective of ensuring partnership and lawfulness. I’d like to speak about a specific example. As you know, overnight November 10 events took place, and, essentially an attack happened against the Speaker of Parliament. Under these cases criminal charges are now pressed against 50 people, of which motions for arrest warrants have been filed to courts for 42 of them. 20 of the motions were rejected, 18 were granted, two people were jailed in the case of the attack on the Speaker of Parliament, and the jailing of another person was rejected. If I correctly voiced this, this statistics and the main question is the following: what is our assessment, to what extent is this situation a proper response to what has happened, if we find it to be proper, let’s take note of it, if we don’t – then let’s understand what the problem is and why we have this situation,” Pashinyan said.

Prosecutor General Artur Davtyan and the NSS Department of Investigations Director Artur Poghosyan briefed on the legal procedures regarding the November 10 overnight events and the studies and investigations results.

“In this context, a substantive discussion took place on the process of the opened criminal cases, the discovering of people involved in actions constituting crimes and organizing them and the activity of the judiciary. Various observations and opinions were presented. Summing up the consultation, Prime Minister Pashinyan underscored that as a result of the law enforcement system’s activities every citizen in Armenia, regardless of their position, ought to feel themselves fully protected, while the law enforcement system’s activity must be maximally aimed at solving this issue. In this context, the Prime Minister highlighted ensuring the effective and close cooperation of the law enforcement system bodies,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a news release.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 16:48,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expects that UNESCO will be more active in preserving the cultural monuments in and around Nagorno Karabakh, than it was in Syria’s Aleppo and Palmyra.

“Yesterday I had a thorough talk with the UNESCO Director General, proposing to more actively deal with the preservation of cultural, civilizational religious heritage in and around Nagorno Karabakh, which would be an important investment for the reconciliation of the nations and the establishment of peace in that region. We expect that the UNESCO will show more activeness there than it had in Syria, firstly in preserving the cultural sites in Aleppo and Palmyra”, Lavrov told reporters in Yerevan.

The Russian FM stated that in order to implement the agreements signed by the leaders of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, it is necessary to unite the support of the international community and organizations.

“The International Committee of Red Cross is already working actively here. We are interested that the UN agencies will also come up with a respective initiative. We have received the appeal of the UN Secretary-General on this. There is also an appeal by the High Commissioner for Refugees”, Lavrov said.

The Russian governmental delegation led by FM Lavrov arrived in Armenia on November 21.

Reporting by Norayr Shoghikyan; Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 14:05,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS. The Hayastan All-Armenian Fund has issued a statement over the fundraising campaign "We Are Our Borders".

Armenpress presents the statement:

“The Hayastan All-Armenian Fund's "We Are Our Borders" fundraising campaign was initiated within hours of the start of the war on September 27. Calls to action were made by the President of the Republic of Armenia and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Fund, Armen Sarkissian, members of the Board of Trustees including the President of the Republic of Artsakh, Catholicos of All Armenians and Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia. The campaign quickly became a global initiative involving hundreds of thousands of our compatriots both in the Diaspora and Armenia. The role of the many organizations involved in the fundraising efforts has been invaluable, in the Diaspora these included various political parties, non-governmental organizations as well as the Hayastan All Armenian Fund’s local affiliates in various countries around the world. Our sincere gratitude must go to our Global Armenian Family for their unity, commitment, contribution and trust.

Since day one, the Hayastan All Armenian Fund along with its international network, has worked closely with the Government of the Republic of Artsakh, the Artsakh Representation in the Republic of Armenia, the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Armenia and other entities to supply continued large scale humanitarian aid to Artsakh. Namely large scale diesel generators, ambulances, medical supplies and equipment, first aid kids, basic household necessities, electric and wood heaters, portable gas stoves, portable charging stations, beds and a significant amount of other humanitarian assistance. As well as over 100 tons of humanitarian aid delivered to Armenia thanks to the Fund’s international network of partner organizations.

As a result of the critical situation since September 27th the need to consolidate the resources available to the Republic of Armenia to allow a rapid response to the every changing urgent needs became necessary. These needs included the restoration of the damage caused by the hostilities to allow smoother supply lines, centralized implementation of urgently needed purchases including those for the healthcare systems, a significant and growing list of social issues related to the displaced population of Artsakh as well as the growing pandemic. In order to ensure the implementation and organization of these activities as quickly as possible, consolidation of both financial and human resources was essential.

In this context, the Board of Trustees of the Hayastan All Armenian Fund voted to provide a portion of the funds received through the "We Are Our Borders" fundraising initiative as direct assistance to the State Budget of the Republic of Armenia in order to combine the implementation of similar expenditures (social support, healthcare support, infrastructure, etc.). The decision of the Board of Trustees, on the basis of which the assistance was provided, includes all relevant and substantiating documentation and agreements.

These funds were directed to resolving the most urgent issues of tens of thousands of displaced compatriots from Artsakh as well as financing programs in the healthcare and other essential sectors.
As per the charter of the Hayastan All Armenian Fund, the Executive Committee of the Fund will prepare a detailed report on its activities and expenses to be reviewed by the Oversight Committee and submitted to the Board of Trustees for approval. The Fund's detailed financial statements will be published following an audit carried out by an independent international auditor.

Staying true to the Fund’s mission to use funds sparingly, efficiently and purposefully, the available funds will be used for the most urgent needs of the families displaced from Artsakh, those killed or wounded as well as those returning to their homes in Artsakh (utility payments, restoration activities, partial compensation of damaged or lost houses, subsidies etc.). Detailed projects are already being developed in cooperation with partners.

The Fund, a charitable, none political organization with the mission to support social, economic, scientific, educational, cultural and healthcare initiative, continues to work for the people and benefit of Armenia, Artsakh and the Diaspora. The current needs are huge, the work ahead colossal and our unity and global mobilization is now more important than ever. It is through your generosity that we can continue to help those most in need. Thank you each and every one of the hundreds of thousands of donors from around the world who have stood with us and continue to support the Homeland and the people of Artsakh”.

 12:11,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. Armenia’s cultural, art and science figures have addressed a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin, US President-elect Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, UN Secretary-General António Guterres and UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay.

The message states that in the current situation in Artsakh and nearby territories caused by the recent military operations, especially when some of the territories of the Republic of Artsakh are under Azerbaijani control, the representatives of culture, art and science of Armenia are expressing their deep belief that numerous Armenian historical-cultural monuments of Artsakh are under serious danger.

“During these 45 days of war the Azerbaijani armed forces have deliberately targeted the Armenian historical-cultural monuments. Shushi’s Ghazanchechots Cathedral has been deliberately bombarded with UAVs, a unique church representing a great value for the Armenian people. The archaeological site in the town of Tigranakert has also been bombarded. Meanwhile, the Armenian side has not only preserved, but also renovated the Islamic people’s historical-cultural monuments both through state, individual and public efforts. At the same time, the concern is also linked with the crimes committed by Azerbaijan in the past against the Armenian cultural heritage”, the message says.

The message states that for decades Azerbaijan has committed a cultural genocide in a coordinated manner, destroying Armenian cultural sites which have been under its control.

Perhaps, the vivid demonstration of cultural genocide was the destruction of tens of thousands of cross-stones and tombstones in the mediaeval Armenian cemetery in Old Julfa located in Nakhijevan, which were razed to the ground by Azerbaijan in 1998-2006. A total of 89 medieval churches, 5840 cross-stones and 22 historical tombstones have been destroyed in Nakhijevan. There are numerous factual evidence on this crime, including photos and videos. In its resolution adopted in October 2008 the 16th General Assembly of ICOMOS expressed its deep concern over the vandalism on the Armenian cultural heritage, expressing regret that “this heritage, which had its unique place in the world heritage treasuries on time, today cannot be transferred to the future generations anymore”.

“It’s a fact that for years Azerbaijan’s academic circles are trying to delete the identity of Armenian monuments with all possible frauds, sometimes attributing the author’s belonging to other people. By not losing time, the Azerbaijani leadership, immediately after signing the ceasefire deal, started its policy of misappropriation and falsification of the Armenian history, which once again proves that the Armenian cultural monuments are facing a real danger. We apply to you with a deep confidence that you with your reputation and efforts, will support so that Azerbaijan will assume responsibility to preserve the Armenian monuments without any damage, in accordance with the principles set in the international conventions”, the message said, adding: “It’s an extreme necessity for the respective international structures, in cooperation with the state agencies of Armenia and Azerbaijan, to carry out a recording of the current situation of the historical-cultural monuments and ensure further monitoring, with the publication of results. We expect Azerbaijan to ensure with a full responsibility security and all necessary measures so that the citizens of Armenia and Artsakh, as well as Armenians living abroad can freely visit Armenian historical sites which appeared in the Azerbaijani territory and which are undeniable and inseparable part of the global cultural heritage”.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan