Author: nina hovnanian

ANCA Leads Pro-Karabagh Campaign on Capitol Hill

By Contributor on February 16, 2015 in Headline,

Baku-Armenians Share Eyewitness Accounts of Azerbaijani Aggression;
Support Artsakh’s Security and Press for Increased US Aid

WASHINGTON’A diverse delegation of Armenian American activists, many
with roots in Baku, took part in a capacity-crowd Capitol Hill
briefing and two-day series of congressional meetings, sharing with
members of Congress, for the first time, their harrowing family
accounts of Azerbajiani aggression against the Armenian populations of
Baku, Sumgait, and Kirovabad. The delegation also advocated for robust
U.S. political support and direct assistance to ensure a brighter
future for the free citizens of the Nagorno Karabagh Republic,
reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

Congressional Armenian Caucus CoChair Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) with
Vitaliy Dadalyan, Anna Astvatsaturian Turcotte, Dr. Alina Dorian,
Julia Papiyan, and Marat Khoudabakhshiev at the ANCA Capitol Hill
briefing marking the 25th anniversary of the Baku pogroms and urging
robust U.S. aid to the Nagorno Karabagh Republic.

The ANCA sponsored Capitol Hill program titled, `Nagorno-Karabagh, a
Generation after Anti-Armenian Pogroms: The Challenge of Promoting
Peace and Developing Democracy,’ featured powerful remarks by Anna
Astvatsaturian Turcotte, a lawyer, lecturer, and author of Nowhere, a
Story of Exile, and Dr. Alina Dorian, an internationally respected
public health expert and advocate who has worked for decades to
strengthen and expand public health programs in Karabagh.
Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone Jr. opened the
program by offering warm words of welcome, and ardent support for an
independent Artsakh. Both the Armenian Embassy and the Nagorno
Karabagh Republic Office in Washington were well represented at the
briefing by Deputy Chief of Mission Hrachia Tashchian and
Nagorno-Karabagh Representative Robert Avetisyan.

Joining Dorian and Turcotte as devoted spokespeople for
Nagorno-Karabagh’s independence were Vitaliy Dadalyan, Marat
Khoudabakhshiev, and Julia Papiyan, who traveled from Utah, California
and Michigan, respectively, to share their family stories of
persecution in Baku during the late 1980’s. In some 40 meetings with
key Senate and House leaders, members of Congress were moved by their
accounts of courage and survival, and inspired by the Nagorno Karabagh
Republic’s commitment to democracy and economic development. ANCA
Western Region (ANCA-WR) Advisory Board Member Garo Madenlian, Esq.,
ANCA-WR Legislative Affairs Director Tereza Yerimyan, and the ANCA
Eastern Region’s (ANCA-ER) Armen Sahakyan joined the ANCA Washington,
D.C., team in facilitating congressional outreach efforts and sharing
the broad range of Armenian American community priorities.

`The ANCA was proud to help the Baku Armenian community raise its
voice here in Washington’with purpose, power, and passion,’ stated
ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. `These remarkable young men
and women delivered compelling messages of both remembrance and
resolve across Capitol Hill, educating dozens of members of Congress
about the atrocities committed against their families a generation
ago, and’just as importantly’demanding that American leaders stand up
for Artsakh’s, freedom; stand strong against Azerbaijani aggression;
and stand firmly with all those seeking a fair and enduring regional
peace.’

Images from the ANCA’s Capitol Hill briefing and meetings is available
on its Facebook page.

Turcotte: `They knew our addresses’

In her remarks on the Capitol Hill briefing, Turcotte described a
`happy and sunny childhood’ until 1988, when the `facades of tolerance
began to fade.’

`Life as we knew it for myself, my family, and hundreds of our friends
ceased to exist as the violent gangs organized by the Azerbaijani
government stormed our streets and attacked us for simply being
Armenian,’ explained Turcotte, who was just 11-years-old at the time.
`They knew our addresses.’

Turcotte went on to explain that families like hers `spent months
hiding in the dark, with curtains closed tightly or, equally terrified
and surrounded by Russian tanks who were there to assert the Soviet
dominance, not to protect us.’

The effects of that ordeal, their escape and the struggle for survival
affect her to this day, explained Turcotte. `This fear is still
engrained in me at 36 years old, and I detest it. I fight against it
by speaking about it out loud, just as I am doing right now.’

Turcotte praised the Nagorno Karabagh Republic for its commitment to
democracy and development, despite ongoing Azerbaijani attacks.
`Nagorno-Karabagh is flourishing with its limited resources, with all
its security concerns, road by road, building by building, family by
family,’ She said.

She continued, sharing this poignant message of hope addressed to the
Artsakh people:

`Baku Armenian communities around the world and especially in the
United States stand with you, Nagorno-Karabagh. May your children
never have to be subjected to the Azerbaijani government again. May
you never hide in the dark like we did fearing for our lives in Baku.
May you proudly display your Armenian names and culture within the
borders of your democratic country, just like I proudly do in my
adoptive country, the United States of America.’

Watch Turcotte’s remarks here.

Dorian: `Direct U.S. aid to Nagorno-Karabagh has represented a
powerful investment in peace’

A public health expert and disaster assistance specialist, Dorian
offered a strong indictment of the scarcity of international
humanitarian aid efforts to Nagorno-Karabagh to date, and laid out a
compelling case for expanded U.S. assistance to the fledgling
democracy, based on both the critical needs and the merits.

Explaining that most international response to humanitarian crises is
spearheaded by the United Nations and its relevant agencies,
International Red Cross, non-government organizations and governments,
Dorian noted that `that didn’t happen in Nagorno-Karabagh,’ with the
United Nations absent from the region to this day.

Turning to U.S. assistance, Dorian explained, `As much as I am proud
of what our government, what we have done in Nagorno-Karabagh to date,
it cannot be forgotten that we didn’t provide any assistance until
four years post-ceasefire. Can you imagine waiting four years before
responding to Haiti? Or, waiting four years before responding to
Kosovo?’ asked Dorian.

Offering a brief public health snapshot of Nagorno-Karabagh to
attendees, and thanking USAID for the rounds of assistance efforts in
1998 and 2003, in which she participated, Dorian stressed that the
need is still great. `The war and its aftermath have disrupted the
lives of individuals, their families and communities’depriving them of
the means of growth and development.’

Dorian then outlined the merits of expanded U.S. assistance to
Artsakh, citing its commitment to democracy and self-reliance. `Since
1991, Nagorno Karabagh has successfully conducted five parliamentary
and five presidential elections¦ this post-war generation is growing
up in a government of their choosing.’ She stressed Nagorno-Karabagh’s
commitment to peace, citing its willingness, unlike Azerbaijan, `to
support the OSCE’s calls to pull back snipers and increase OSCE
observers.’ Dorian highlighted the effectiveness of U.S. assistance in
the region. `We have shown outcomes; we have shown impact; we have
shown that our government’s investment, although small, has been a
wise one, by reaching for stated goals and objectives.’

Dorian then shared recommendations for expanded U.S. assistance to
Artsakh, including a thorough public health assessment in the region.
She cited the importance of maintaining Section 907 restrictions on
U.S. assistance to Azerbaijan, sending a strong signal to the
dictatorial Aliyev regime, which has steadily increased its aggression
against Nagorno-Karabagh. She urged Nagorno-Karabagh’s direct
participation in the OSCE peace process.

`The fact is that the population in Nagorno-Karabagh is struggling
daily for survival and it is not being afforded the necessary
assistance and support of the international community. Within this
triangle of conflict, the most vulnerable party’Nagorno-Karabagh’is
still marginalized and disenfranchised. Twenty years later, it is time
for us to change the tide,’ concluded Dorian.

The video of Dorian’s remarks is available online.

Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.), with Baku survivor Marat
Khoudabakhshiev, ANCA Western Region Advisory Board member Garo
Madenlian, Esq., and ANCA Western Region Legislative Affairs Director
Tereza Yerimyan

Baku Armenians share their stories of survival; vision for peace

Twenty-five years after the Azerbaijani government incited racially
motivated attacks that left hundreds dead, scores injured, and forced
over 300,000 to flee their family homes in Baku, Sumgait, Kirovabad,
Maragha, and other cities throughout Azerbaijan, a small but
determined group of Baku-Armenian survivors travelled to the nation’s
capitol to share their stories of courage with legislators, offering
thanks for the safe-haven provided by communities across the U.S. In
meeting after meeting’some 40 Senate and House meetings with
congressional leaders and staff’the eyewitness accounts of Azerbaijani
aggression in the late 1980’s and the continued attacks on Armenia and
Nagorno-Karabagh today underscored the need for increased U.S.
assistance and support for an independent Artsakh.

Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) with Vitaliy Dadalyan, a Baku Armenian whose
family sought refuge in Utah following Azerbaijani aggression in the
late 1980’s

Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-N.J.)
explained, `Even though we talk about the Armenian Genocide
centennial, we have to remember that this was not just something 100
years ago. It was pogroms 150 years ago and it was pogroms 25 years
ago and we have to remember that.’ Citing his support for U.S.
recognition of an independent Artsakh, Congressman Pallone urged for
`whatever we [U.S.] could do’economic development that would lead to
recognition¦ [and] a settlement’so that Karabagh could remain an
independent country, or part of Armenia.’

Inspired by the impact of Turcotte’s moving diary of survival,Nowhere,
A Story of Exile, the ANCA issued a call earlier this year to Baku
Armenians across the U.S. to share their stories with elected
officials and the American public, beginning with a poignant account
relayed by 2014 ANCA Leo Sarkisian internInna Mirzoyan.

Since then, others have come forward, including Julia Papiyan, who
shared her family’s story, both in the pages of Asbarez and this week
on Capitol Hill. Family stories can be shared with the ANCA by
emailing them to [email protected].

Noted Armenian journalist Marianna Grigoryan and H1 Television’s
Washington correspondent Haykaram Nahapetyan travelled throughout the
U.S. videotaping and collecting Baku pogrom survivor accounts for a
powerful documentary which premiered on the 25th anniversary of the
Baku pogroms in January of this year, the fifth installment in the
`Ordinary Genocide’ Project.

That documentary will be shared with Congressional offices and is
available online.

Orange County area Congresswoman Mimi Walters (R-Calif.) discusses
U.S. ` Karabagh relations with (L-R) ANCA Legislative Affairs Director
Raffi Karakashian, Esq., constituent and ANCA Western Region Advisory
Board member Garo Madenlian, Esq., ANCA-WR Legislative Affairs
Director Tereza Yerimyan, and Francesco Urti.

Expanding the Armenian American issues profile on Capitol Hill

This month’s Capitol Hill briefing on Nagorno-Karabagh is part of a
broader ANCA sponsored initiative to spotlight key Armenian American
community concerns through interactive programs and expanded community
advocacy opportunities.

Last month, the efforts of Near East Relief, the unprecedented
American campaign of international humanitarian assistance which saved
and sustained hundreds of thousands of Armenian Genocide survivors
from 1915-1930, was spotlighted at the first Capitol Hill briefing of
the year. Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone
(D-N.J.), Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Rep. Jim Costa were joined
by public policy leaders and a bipartisan group of Senate and House
congressional staff for the unique presentation by Maurice Kelechian,
a member of the ANCA Western Region’s `America We Thank You: An
Armenian Tribute to Near East Relief,” who has spent decades
researching archives around the world to document this unprecedented
American humanitarian aid effort.

Both programs were made possible by a generous grant by the Aramian
family, in memory of the late Martha Aramian’a respected community
leader and devoted daughter of the Armenian nation.

SHAHRIYAR’S POETRY NIGHT WAS HELD IN ARMENIA

Iran Book News Agency
Feb 16 2015

Publish Date : Monday 16 February 2015 – 18:54

IBNA- The literature meeting ‘Shahriyar’s poetry night’ was held
at Iran’s Cultural Center in Armenia attended by a group of poets,
literary figures, professors, scholars and students of Persian language
and literature to review the literature of the Islamic Revolution.

According to IBNA correspondent, quoting from the office of the
Public Relations and Islamic Communications that the ceremony aimed
to introducing the literature of the Islamic Revolution and the works
of Shahriyar in particular to the guests by showing a film of him
reciting a poem in the presence of the Supreme Leader. Majid Meshki,
the Iranian Cultural Attache, delivered a speech on comparing the
history of Persian poetry and literature at Pahlavi era with that
of the Islamic Revolution and pointed to the changes in Shahriyar’s
poems before and after the Islamic Revolution.

Iran’s Cultural Attache in Armenia stated in his speech that most
poets and literary figures as well as thinkers were either in jail
or exiled in Pahlavi era due to Reza Shah’s dictatorship, and this
happened at the time when many great poets of the country like Farrokhi
Yazdi and Mirzadeh Eshqi lost their lives to the regime.

AN ATMOSPHERE OF IMPUNITY IS THE RESULT OF THE MONOPOLY OF THE RULING PARTY OF ARMENIA

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Feb 16 2015

16 February 2015 – 3:54pm

Susanna Petrosyan, Yerevan. Exclusively for Vestnik Kavkaza

During the last week relations between the authorities and the
opposition have become tense in Armenia. One reason for the new wave
of tension is the beating up of an activist of the movement Kasetsum
(Suspension), Artak Khachatryan. Members of the movement held protests
a month ago, demanding that the government suspend launching the new
law on turnover tax.

Due to well-organized mass protests of representatives of small
and medium-sized business and due to the active support of the
parliamentary opposition, the government postponed operation of the
law to June 1st. It seemed the problem had been solved in time.

However, on February 7th a member of the Prosperous Armenia Party,
Artak Khachatryan, was kidnapped and taken to an undisclosed location.

According to preliminary data of the Investigative Committee,
Khachatryan was kidnapped in Yerevan by three armed masked men.

Khachatryan was beaten for several hours. Later he was taken to a
lonely street and abandoned there. Later that evening the activist
was taken to hospital.

The parliamentary opposition trio (PA, the Armenian National Congress
and Heritage) organized protests near the government building and
the police headquarters, demanding an instant investigation into the
incident and punishment of those guilty. Participants in the protest
gave the police a few days to investigate the crime. According to
the secretary of the PA parliamentary faction, Naira Zograbyan,
if those who beat Khachatryan up are not arrested and punished in a
short period, PA will raise the question of numerous resignations.

The political council of PA demanded an investigation into this
and other cases of attacking political and social activists: “We
believe that the top authorities of the country should be blamed for
the current bandit atmosphere and outrage in the country, and are
responsible for the incidents. Instead of solving the accumulating
problems, the government is kidnapping and beating its opponents.”

Officials criticized violence, but prime minister Ovik Abramyan
characterized the statement of PA as a snap and emotional judgment;
the press secretary of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia,
vice-speaker Edward Sharmazanov, found the accusations against the
authorities unacceptable: “If PA has evidence, it should show it. I
recommend they await the results of the investigation, rather than
making emotional statements.”

It is true that PA has no facts or evidence that the authorities
stand behind the scandalous incident. However, the party has put the
officials in a difficult situation: if those who are guilty are not
found and punished, it will turn out that the government supervises
violence.

The politicization of the case is interesting. The kidnapping and
beating of a member of PA and one of the leaders of the Kasetsum
Movement, who have economic demands, have political grounds, as he
is not a representative of the criminal world.

Cases of violence against political and social activists have become
frequent. In December 2014 a group of 8-9 people attacked members of
the board of the Union of Veterans, an organization which cooperates
with the opposition – Ramzik Petrosyan and Manvel Yegiazaryan. The
next day, several unknown men in masks beat up another representative
of the Union of Veterans, Suren Sargsyan. The criminals haven’t been
found yet. Another victim was the secretary of the parliamentary
faction of the ANC, the vice chairman of the ANC, Aram Manukyan,
who was beaten up near his house. As a result of an investigation,
the suspect in the attack on the MP, Arshak Svazyan, was released
under an undertaking not to leave the city.

These and other cases of violence, which have a political background,
are the results of the internal political situation which has
formed, when the ruling RPA has a political and economic monopoly,
and it enables the authorities to ignore their opponents, as well as
encourage an atmosphere of impunity in society.

SPEAKER TO REQUEST CEC TO STRIP TSARUKYAN OF HIS MANDATE

Roza Hovhannisyan, Reporter
Country – 16 February 2015, 16:30

The staff of the National Assembly is studying the attendance records
of Gagik Tsarukyan, head of Prosperous Armenia Party, and the reasons
of his absenteeism.

Armtimes.com informed that the speaker of the National Assembly
is likely to request the Central Electoral Commission to strip
Tsarukyan of his mandate. The head of the NA Public Relations and
Media Department Arsen Babayan did not dismiss news on applying to the
CEC in an interview with Lragir.am. “Once the process is completed,
everything will be clear,” he said, noting that there is no clear
decision on the day.

In answer to the question why the National Assembly applies to the CEC
instead of putting the issue of stripping Tsarukyan of his mandate
to vote in the National Assembly, Babayan said: “For the beginning,
I can say that there is a decision of the Constitutional Court revoking
the provision on putting this issue to vote.”

Babayan also added that the process will be completed as soon as
possible.

The secretary of the CEC Press Secretary Hermineh Harutiunyan told
Lragir.am that the commission has not received any letters or protocols
from the National Assembly.

In answer to the question on how long it takes to make a decision after
receiving one, the secretary said they will refrain from comments as
long as no such a letter has been received.

Note that Gagik Tsarukyan missed 133 meetings of parliament during the
past session, which means 100% absenteeism. Most absences, however,
were then considered valid by the speaker.

AZERBAIJANI-TURKISH TIES IN FOCUS

AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Feb 16 2015

16 February 2015, 12:04 (GMT+04:00)

Ali Hasanov, Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan, chairman of the
National Commission on International Humanitarian Aid has met Alper
Coskun, Turkish Ambassador Ismail, AzerTag state news agency reported.

The sides exchanged views on the state of refugees and IDPs in
Azerbaijan, and future prospects for cooperation.

He noted that relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey are based on
mutual respect and cooperation. “Today there are no two other countries
in the world that have such close relations as Azerbaijan and Turkey,”
Hasanov said.

“Our peoples are bound together by ties of history and fraternity. Our
countries stand next to each others, which plays an important role,”
he added.

Touching upon the Armenian-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
Hasanov hailed Turkey’s supporting his country.

Ambassador Coskun said there was huge potential for the development of
Azerbaijani-Turkish ties in all areas, particularly humanitarian one.

Azerbaijan-Turkey relations have always been strong due to a common
culture and history and the mutual intelligibility of Turkish and
Azerbaijani languages.

Turkey was the first country in the world to recognize Azerbaijan’s
independence in 1991 and has been a staunch supporter of Azerbaijan in
its efforts to consolidate its independence, preserve its territorial
integrity, and realize its economic potential that arise from the
rich natural resources of the Caspian Sea.

Turkey also cut diplomatic ties and closed its border with Armenia
after the country invaded Azerbaijan’s territories.

Turkey set Armenia’s withdrawal from Nagorno-Karabakh and seven
surrounding regions of Azerbaijan as a precondition for establishing
diplomatic relations with the country.

ROUBLE RECOVERS AS REST OF CIS CURRENCIES SLIDE

16/2/15

Perhaps the Commonwealth of Independent States should be rebranded
Currencies In Stress.

The Russian rouble has staged an impressive comeback in recent days,
helped by recovering oil prices and another tentative cease-fire
between Ukraine and Moscow-supported separatists. But its neighbouring
currencies remain under heavy pressure.

Russia’s rouble has clambered another 2 per cent higher to trade at a
two month high versus the dollar, but the aftershocks of last year’s
crisis continue to reverberate across the Commonwealth of Independent
States (CIS), a club of former Soviet republics.

The Belarussian rouble is steadying after tumbling by almost 29 per
cent against the dollar this year, but Moldova’s leu has slumped 5.3
per cent today, the most in the world. The Ukrainian hryvnia has fallen
another 1.1 per cent and the Georgian lari by 0.6 per cent. All three
are at or near record lows.

Over the past six months only the Azerbaijani manat has managed to
hold steady versus the dollar, while the Kyrkyz som, Armenian dram,
Georgian lari and Turkmen manta have all slid more than 15 per cent.

The Belarussian rouble, Moldovan leu, Russian rouble and Ukrainian
hryvnia have all lost between a third and half of their value over
the past six months.

TIGRAN KARAPETYAN: HHK WILL NOT BENEFIT FROM CONFLICT WITH BHK (VIDEO)

12:42 | February 16,2015 | Politics

The Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) will not benefit from the
conflict with Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) leader Gagik Tsarukyan,
says Chairman of the People’s Party (ZhK) Tigran Karapetyan.

On Sunday, Mr Karapetyan watched an interview of Education Minister
Armen Ashotyan and was greatly disappointed. “Ashotyan was criticizing
Tsarukyan’s way of speaking but does he speak correctly himself? Both
Ashotyan and [Eduard] Sharmazanov were once guests at the ALM studio
and I saw how they sought for words to express their thoughts,”
he said.

Instead of speaking about Tsarukyan’s level of speech, they had better
care about our children serving in Karabakh, speed camera and the
businesses owned by the Republicans, advises Tigran Karapetyan.

Speaking about Serzh Sargsyan’s speech in which he said Tsarukyan must
be ousted from politics and ordered tax inspections of his numerous
businesses, the ZhK leader says the speech was not characteristic of
a country’s leader. “They say Tsarukyan does not pay taxes. Was it
something new for them? Do Republicans pay taxes?”

Mr Karapetyan accounts the Republicans’ actions for the fact that
they felt a threat from the BHK: people like Gagik Tsarukyan and his
Prosperous Armenia Party.

“Tsarukyan has been engaged in philanthropy. But what have the
authorities done for our people?” he says.

Speaking about [second President] Robert Kocharyan’s return to
politics, Tigran Karapetyan said he did not think people will let
Kocharyan’s comeback.

In conclusion, the ZhK leader said he was going to attend the
nationwide rally to be held by the BHK, Armenian National Congress
and Heritage in Liberty Square this Friday. He also said if the BHK
came to power and offered him office he would refuse to accept it. “I
do not want any office. I shall turn 70 this year and I have seen
everything in my life. I do not need anything,” he said.

BHK MEMBERS MAY START HUNGER STRIKE – ARMTIMES.COM

16:50 | February 16,2015 | Politics

Should Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) leader Gagik Tsarukyan be
stripped of his deputy mandate, the party members will take to the
street and start a hunger strike and sit-in, BHK lawmaker Vahan
Babayan told armtimes.com following the sitting of the party’s
political council.

Gagik Tsarukyan did not attend the sitting of the political council.

Vahan Babayan said he could not explain why Gagik Tsarukyan did not
participate in the sitting.

Something Else! Reviews
Feb 14 2015

Aram Bajakian, Music Inspired by ‘The Color of Pomegranates’ (2015): Sneak peek

Aram Bajakian consistently find inspiration for his music from places
few or no one else thinks to look. Kef applied a good ol’ fashioned
American avant-rock twist to Armenian folk songs, while Dálava
restored to life the nearly-lost traditional music of the central
European Moravia region.

Come this spring, the former Lou Reed and Diana Krall guitarist will
again put forth an album of music sourced from an exotic place, but
this time, the ‘place’ isn’t a physical location but rather, a motion
picture.

The great Soviet filmmaker Sergei Parajanov made an innovative
biographical film of the Armenian musician and poet Sayat Nova, The
Color of Pomegranates (1969), which is widely considered his
masterpiece. A richly colorful film that contained no moving cameras
or real dialog, the lush visual tapestry of Pomegranates seems a prime
subject for which to apply a new ‘soundtrack’ of sorts motivated
directly by the footage (the original score, by the way, was by the
Armenian composer Tigran Mansurian).

That’s where Aram Bajakian applies his art. Armed with only a solo
acoustic guitar, he plays this brief piece (of which I don’t have the
name handy) from the upcoming album in an arpeggiated, classical style
that closely matches the accompanying imagery.

Aram Bajakian is quickly gaining a reputation as one of the most
creative and adventurous guitarist/composers around and it is all but
assured that this latest venture will only enhance that reputation.

Emirates News Agency
February 13, 2015 Friday 10:04 PM EST

UAE Ambassador presents credentials to Armenian FM

YEREVAN, 13th February, 2015 (WAM) — The UAE’s Ambassador to Armenia,
Jassim Mohammed Al Qasimi, has presented his credentials to Minister
of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Edward Nalbandian.

During their meeting, Al Qasimi conveyed the greetings of H.H. Sheikh Abdullah

bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, and Dr. Anwar bin Mohammed
Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, to the Armenian
minister.

Also, the envoy affirmed the UAE’s interest to develop the existing bilateral

relations between the two countries and expand the joint interests of
both countries.

The Armenian FM expressed his country’s desire to enhance bilateral
ties with the UAE. Nalbandian also told the UAE diplomat that he will
receive the support of Armenian government departments to assist him
in carrying out his mission.