Author: Nyrie Kalashian

Georgian, Armenian Prime Ministers Meet in Yerevan

Nyrie Kalashian
Civil Georgia
Oct 10 2021
10/10/2021 – 14:35

 

Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili met his Armenian counterpart Nikol Pashinyan in Yerevan on October 9, reaffirming “Georgia’s commitment to continuing its active role as a mediator to secure peace and stability” in the region.

The press service of the Georgian Government said the parties discussed the Peaceful Neighborhood Initiative for the South Caucasus proposed by PM Irakli Garibashvili in the UN. The two PMs stressed “the new peace format will foster discussions on the prospects of the peaceful neighborhood initiative that will engage international partners alongside the South Caucasus states,” it added.

The two prime ministers, according to the same report, also discussed matters of the bilateral cooperation agenda, including the issues discussed during Nikol Pashinyan’s recent visit to Tbilisi.

On its part, Armenian PM’s press office said Nikol Pashinyan and Irakli Garibashvili noted the high-level intensive bilateral contacts testify to the dynamic development of the Armenian-Georgian relations and the high level of political dialogue.

The parties, as per the same report, also “exchanged views on the regional situation and developments” and reaffirmed their readiness to further deepen friendly ties and agreed to continue the active dialogue.

The visit comes some ten days after the Georgian Prime Minister met Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Baku on September 29. Some three weeks before that, on September 8-9, PM Pashinyan visited Tbilisi to meet President Salome Zurabishvili and PM Garibashvili.

Earlier in May, PM Garibashvili’s visits to Baku and Yerevan preceded Georgia-U.S. brokered deal between Azerbaijan and Armenia, involving Baku’s release of 15 Armenian prisoners of war in exchange for getting from Yerevan a map of landmines in Agdam district, controlled by Armenian forces until recently.

Discussing the swap deal, Georgian Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani recently told Georgian Public Broadcaster on October 7 that Tbilisi is making efforts the accord to be followed by further “concrete steps.”

FM Zalkaliani said Georgia maintains “active communication” with both South Caucasian neighbors, as well as European and U.S. partners in this regard. Tbilisi should serve as platform for dialogue, including over infrastructure, logistics, transport, and railway issues, the Georgian Foreign Minister noted.

Top Georgian diplomat said time-frame of these steps depends on the readiness of Baku and Yerevan, but expressed hopes for the opportunities in this respect, judging by information he possesses from his Armenian and Azerbaijani colleagues.

Cross-stone commemorating 14 martyrs of 44-day war unveiled at school in Armenia’s Abovyan

Nyrie Kalashian
News.am, Armenia
Oct 10 2021
Cross-stone commemorating 14 martyrs of 44-day war unveiled at school in Armenia's Abovyan
16:19, 10.10.2021

At Victor Hambardzumyan School #10 in the city of Abovyan, which I also graduated from, I attended a ceremony during which a cross-stone dedicated to the memory of our 14 martyred brothers who fell in the 44-day war in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) was unveiled, after which the martyrs were blessed and commemorated. This is what Minister of Environment of Armenia Romanos Petrosyan wrote on his Facebook page.

Petrosyan also expressed his respect to the heroes and their families, adding that they are the ones who gave the people of Armenia the honor to live and create.

Russian MOD issues statement on murder of peaceful Armenian civilian by Azerbaijanis in Karabakh

Nyrie Kalashian
News.am, Armenia
Oct 10 2021
22:16, 10.10.2021

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation has confirmed yesterday’s murder of a peaceful civilian by Azerbaijanis in Martakert.

“On October 9, a peaceful civilian of Mataghis village received a lethal injury after gunshots fired by the Azerbaijani side while he was working on a farm located in Martakert region (near the line of contact). The command of the Russian contingent is exploring the incident with representatives of both sides,” the ministry’s press release reads.

On October 9 at around 1:15 p.m. police of Martakert received a report stating that 55-year-old citizen Aram Tepnants had been murdered following a gunshot fired by an Azerbaijani sniper in a pomegranate garden. A criminal case has been launched.

Together we can implement small but significant projects – President Sarkissian receives OIF Secretary General

Nyrie Kalashian

 

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 19:47, 4 October, 2021

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 4, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian received on October 4 Secretary General of the Organization of La Francophonie Louise Mushikiwabo and the delegation led by her.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the President’s Office, Louise Mushikiwabo noted that following being elected head of the Organization duirng the 17th summit of the Organization of La Francophonie in Yerevan in 2018, she is glad to return to Armenia and to discuss the cooperation directions with the President of the country, as well as listen to his approaches over the development of partnership in the sidelines of the Organization of La Francophonie.

Presenting the main directions and programs of the Organization, the Secretary General emphasized that the Organization pays great attention to young people-oriented programs, trying to create different platforms and opportunities for them, as well as the development of economic cooperation between the member states in different directions and dimensions.

Welcoming Louise Mushikiwabo’s visit to Armenia, President Sarkissian touched upon the directions where it is possible to establish effective cooperation with the member states of the Organization. In particular, he noted that the 6th STARMUS International Science and Art Festival to be held in Armenia next year is a good opportunity to involve young people from the member states, to create connections between them, to promote cooperation in science and art.

According to President Sarkissian, another opportunity for cooperation may be formed around the idea of establishing a club of Little and Smart Countries. “Together we can implement small but significant projects’’, President Sarkissian said.

Taking into account the existence of Armenia's preferential economic regimes with both the Eurasian Economic Union and the European Union, the President said that Armenia can be interesting for business and investments of Francophone countries. The sides also spoke about the cooperation opportunities within the framework of the presidential ATOM initiative aimed at technological and scientific-technical development.

President Sarkissian also invited the representatives of the member states of the Organization to take part in the "Armenian Summit of Thought" to be held in Armenia, the main topics of which will be dedicated to global, regional geopolitics and new technologies.

Louise Mushikiwabo said that the presented directions really have a great potential for the development of cooperation.

Czech FM expresses support for OSCE MG Co-chairs’ efforts in a meeting with PM Pashinyan

Nyrie Kalashian

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 18:58, 1 October, 2021

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 1, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan received the delegation led by Foreign Minister of the Czech Republic Jakub Kulhánek, who are in Armenia on a working visit.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan highlighted the continuous development of relations with the Czech Republic, noting that there is great unexploited potential for expanding cooperation.

Nikol Pashinyan expressed hope that as a result of Mr. Kulhánek’s visit, part of that unexploited potential will be realized. The Prime Minister thanked the Czech executive body for its support to the democratic reforms being implemented in Armenia within the framework of the European Union.

Jakub Kulhánek noted that the Czech Republic attaches great importance to the expansion of multilateral relations with Armenia, including in the trade and economic sphere. The Czech Foreign Minister noted that Czech businessmen are also included in his delegation, which will contribute to the deepening of bilateral business ties and the discussion and implementation of joint investment programs.

Nikol Pashinyan stressed the importance of the € 2.6 billion investment package to be provided to Armenia by the European Union and expressed confidence that the Governments of Armenia and the Czech Republic could closely cooperate in the programs envisaged within its framework.

The interlocutors also discussed the developments in the South Caucasus region. The Prime Minister referred to the trilateral statements signed by the leaders of Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan after the 44-day war and the implementation of their points, noting that the Azerbaijani side has not returned Armenian prisoners of war, hostages or other detainees despite its obligations to do so.  At the same time, Nikol Pashinyan stressed the need to withdraw the Azerbaijani armed forces from the sovereign territory of Armenia, reminding that the Armenian side had made a relevant proposal for a peaceful solution to that issue.

The Prime Minister added that the Armenian side supports the peace process within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs’ format for the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and welcomed the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan in the sidelines of the Minsk Group Co-chairs’ format in New York.

Armenpress: Former Armenian Minister of Defense, arms supplier arrested on charges of embezzlement

Nyrie Kalashian

Former Armenian Minister of Defense, arms supplier arrested on charges of embezzlement

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 10:20,

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 30, ARMENPRESS. Former Minister of Defense Davit Tonoyan and arms dealer Davit Galstyan are under arrest on charges of embezzlement in an ongoing investigation into abuse of power and falsifications committed in the supplies process for the military, the National Security Service (NSS) announced September 30.

Tonoyan and Galstyan are accused in embezzling more than 2,2 billion drams.

“Other former and present high-ranking military officials are also under criminal investigation within the framework of the criminal case,” the NSS said.

Investigators have asked a court to place Tonoyan and Galstyan in pre-trial detention.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

September 27

Nyrie Kalashian
, 2021 Pauline Getzoyan A Word from the Editor 1

, 2020: A scene from Yerevan on the first day of Azerbaijan’s attacks on Artsakh as hundreds from the ARF and the Nikol Aghpalyan Student Association mobilized to volunteer for the front lines. This image was used in the Weekly’s very first daily update from the Artsakh War in the article titled “Azerbaijan launches deadly attack on Artsakh” (Photo: Facebook/@arfhemofficial

, 2020 dawned as that date always has since 1990, with joy for my daughter Dalita’s birthday. Last year marked her 30th. We toasted her health and happiness under pandemic restrictions…with one eye on our phones for news of what was happening to our people in Artsakh. 

, 2020 was the start of a never-ending nightmare for the Armenian people and nation. 

We were being attacked – again – by Azerbaijan, our familiar and hostile neighbor to the east. What we didn’t know that day was that another familiar aggressor to the west – Turkey – and its hired jihadist mercenaries had joined the attacks in the spirit of “one nation, two states.” All at once, our collective intergenerational trauma resurfaced, resulting in actions and emotions both expected and unanticipated. On the one hand, our worldwide community of activists immediately sprang into action. In the midst of a pandemic, we donned our masks and immediately began protesting the unprovoked and violent attacks against our people, led by the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF). The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) redoubled its efforts in the US capital, informing and educating Congress about the events at hand. At the same time, my generation of genocide-survivor grandchildren saw many of our parents (children of survivors) emotionally devastated and deeply concerned that another genocide was happening…or could occur.

The team at the Armenian Weekly decided to mobilize in a way contrary to our regular mode of operation. We provided daily news updates instead of drafting our typical weekly reports. In accordance with the requests of the Armenian government, we exclusively used official sources of information – proper journalistic practice – only to find out after the catastrophic November 9  statement ostensibly ending the war that those sources had been less than truthful. We had lost, and that included more than two-thirds of Artsakh. Later, we found out we had also lost upwards of 5,000 heroes. Still later, we heard about the prisoners of war (POWs) – hundreds of them.

It has been one year since that horrific day. Where are we now? We are still in the midst of a pandemic, with vaccines and treatments available, and hundreds to thousands continuing to die of the pervasive virus daily. Snap elections were held in Armenia and those who voted decided to maintain the status quo. The disastrous leadership of PM Nikol Pashinyan and his government has left us at the mercy of our enemies, with Azerbaijani troops having now encroached on sovereign Armenian land with no apparent repercussions.

And our POWs continue to languish at the hands of the enemy while activists and organizations including the Office of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia, the Yerevan-based International and Comparative Law Center (ICLaw), the Armenian Legal Center for Justice and Human Rights (ALC) in Washington, DC and the ANCA do everything in their power to secure their release. The ANCA has been working tirelessly to end military aid to Azerbaijan, garner Congressional support for pro-Armenian amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and increase US aid to Armenia and Artsakh.

The Armenian Cultural Association of America (ACAA) Artsakh Fund has rebuilt and repaired infrastructure in the strategically important Ariavan village while supporting many families and hundreds of people affected by the 2020 Artsakh War. Additionally, the Verelk entrepreneurship program in Artsakh, initiated by the ARF Bureau Youth Office and AYF of Artsakh, was underwritten by the ACAA Artsakh Fund, demonstrating its commitment to the mission of the program to “accelerate the economic reconstruction at a local scale and ensure increased and sustainable living standards for the youth” following the war. 

The AYF in the US and the homeland supports our people through activism in all its forms and internships that introduce participants to their homeland while providing practical work experience, igniting the desire to continue working in and for Armenia and Artsakh and sometimes plans to repatriate. The ARF Bureau Youth Office, in addition to the Verelk program, launched the “Towards Syunik” program to ensure the security and integrity of the critical province.

The Armenian Relief Society (ARS) continues to support those displaced from their homes in Artsakh with everything from housing to goods to meals to living expenses, all of which began immediately after the start of the attacks. The Society is supporting those who have returned to Artsakh through similar programs and educationally with the surviving ARS “Soseh” kindergartens. In addition, the ARS offers support to our soldiers and their families with medicines, supplies and visits, and with its “Children of Fallen Heroes” program.

Again – where are we now? This is just the tip of the iceberg. The extent of the work being done is beyond the scope of this article. Suffice to say, our entire nation has mobilized. We are rebuilding and continually committing to the safety and security of Armenia and Artsakh while fighting against our enemies, both internal and external. Yes, much has been done, but there is a great deal more that needs to be accomplished. The work is not finished. We have a long way to go.

is our daughter Dalita’s birthday, a day we will always celebrate with gratitude and love. But it is also a day when we will always remember to honor and mourn all those lost in the vicious attacks against our nation. We remain vigilant against the persistent enemies who seek to destroy our people and nation. We continue to fight for the release of our POWs. And we remain committed to work for a free, united and independent Armenia.

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Editor
Pauline Getzoyan is editor of the Armenian Weekly and an active member of the Rhode Island Armenian community. A longtime member of the Providence ARF and ARS, she also is a former member of the ARS Central Executive Board. A longtime advocate for genocide education through her work with the ANC of RI, Pauline is co-chair of the RI branch of The Genocide Education Project. In addition, she has been an adjunct instructor of developmental reading and writing in the English department at the Community College of Rhode Island since 2005.




Freedom House urges Armenian authorities to immediately stop enforcement of ‘unconstitutional’ insult law

Nyrie Kalashian
Panorama, Armenia
Sept 28 2021

Freedom House notes with concern the recent criminal case opened against a Facebook user who insulted Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in a comment.

This comes only two months after the Parliament passed amendments criminalizing “serious insults” against government officials, and signifies a clear degradation of democratic norms in Armenia, including freedom of _expression_, the human rights organization said in a statement on Tuesday.

"We call on the Armenian authorities to immediately cease enforcement of this unconstitutional legislation criminalizing defamation," it said.

Local church consecration to be held Oct. 15-17, new crosses raised in special ceremony

Nyrie Kalashian

Sept 25 2021

The church is nearing completion. The consecration celebration of St. John Garabed 
Armenian Apostolic Church will occur Oct. 15-17. Photo above was taken at the blessing 
and raising of the crosses, held on Sept. 17. (Robert McKenzie)
SEPT. 25, 2021 2:25 PM PT

The Consecration Weekend of the new Armenian Church of San Diego will be held Oct. 15-17, at the church site on 13925 El Camino Real, San Diego, 92130. The blessing and raising of the crosses, held on Sept. 17, was the first event to kick off the church’s grand opening, according to a news release.

According to Parish Priest Very Rev. Fr. Pakrad Dz V Berjekian, “The sacred tradition of blessing and raising the crosses follows the biblical example of what Moses did as was instructed by God, who commanded him to consecrate the tabernacle and all therein. The Cross is consecrated and elevated to the top of the dome of the sanctuary, first because Christ overcame the world (John 16:33). We also believe that cross on the top of the dome is the meeting point between heaven and earth.”

The Semerdjian, Kellejian and Mikaelian families donated the two raised crosses in memory of the Very Rev. Fr. Shahe AK and Yeretzkin Alice Semerdjian.

This event leads up to San Diego’s Consecration Weekend from Oct. 15-17. Ceremonies will be presided by His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, and the Very Rev. Fr. Pakrad Dz V Berjekian, Parish Priest.

Benefactors for the funding of the two crosses are the children and spouses of Rev. Fr. Shahe and Yn Alice Semerdjian, the first visiting priest in San Diego. They are Dr. Gregory and Zari Semerdjian, Steven and Nanette Mikaelian, Mary and Joe Kellejian, Peggy and Dick Semerdjian, pictured with Parish Priest Very Rev. Fr. Dz. V. Berjekian and His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian (Primate Of The Western Diocese Of The Armenian Church Of North America And Mexico)
(Robert McKenzie)

The Opening Ceremony will be Friday, Oct. 15 at 4 p.m., followed by a refreshment reception. The Consecration Ceremony will occur Saturday, Oct. 16 at 1 p,m,, also followed by a light reception. And the first mass (”Badarak”) to be conducted in the church will be Sunday, Oct, 17 at 10 a,m,, followed by an Armenian luncheon at $30/person. Comfortable clothing and shoes are recommended for all weekend attendees.

A Consecration Celebration Banquet & Recognition Ceremony will be held on Saturday night, Oct. 16, starting at 6 p.m. This event is taking place at the San Diego Marriott Del Mar, 11966 El Camino Real, San Diego, 92130. Seating is limited.

Recognition of past and present church leaders, donors, and volunteers will occur at the banquet and at all three ceremonies throughout the weekend, including the unveiling of the new church name, which takes place at Saturday’s Consecration ceremony.

Nora Balikian and Lisa Kradjian, consecration co-chairs, commented on this milestone event. “The new church campus is more than 14 years in the making. We thank everyone who has made it a reality, and we are looking forward to a new chapter for our San Diego Armenian Community with this once-in-a-lifetime weekend.”

Reservations and prepayment for the banquet are required and due Oct. 1. All San Diego County Covid protocols will be observed, and masks are strongly encouraged.

For more information or for RSVPS or sponsorships, contact Consecration Co-Chair Nora Balikian (858) 342-0500, [email protected] or Banquet Co-Chair, Viviane Hagopian (619) 884-8983, [email protected].

To make donations or ticket/table purchases, please mail to Armenian Church of San Diego, P.O. Box 1719, Vista, CA 92085 or visit www.stjohngarabed.com/donateshop.

When completed, the campus will feature a sanctuary designed to resemble St. Hripsime in Etchmiadzin, elegant social hall, youth center and gymnasium, education and cultural building with classrooms, the news release stated.

 

Artur Davtyan participates in session of CIS Coordination Council of Prosecutors General

Nyrie Kalashian

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 13:14,

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS. Prosecutor General of Armenia Artur Davtyan is taking part in the 31st session of the Coordination Council of Prosecutors General of member states of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in Kazakhstan’s capital of Nur-Sultan, e-gov.am reports.

The session will last until September 24.

Artur Davtyan is accompanied by Head of the Department of International-legal cooperation at the Prosecutor’s office Yeghiazar Avagyan and his advisor Artur Baghdasaryan at the session.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan