Author: Ophelia Vardapetian

Opposition MP calls for formation of fact-finding commission to study recent Artsakh war

Ophelia Vardapetian
Panorama, Armenia
Jan 29 2021

The head of the opposition Bright Armenia Party’s parliamentary faction stressed the need to set up a fact-finding commission at the National Assembly to look into the events of the recent Artsakh war.

Speaking at a discussion on possible solutions to the post-war political and security crisis in Armenia held in the country’s second largest city of Gyumri on Friday, Edmon Marukyan said the move would help rule out contradictory statements on the 44-day war.

He said new films telling about hero Armenian soldiers who took part in the war should be made, as proposed by university students at Thursday’s meeting with him.

Separately, asked whether the parliament can possibly be dissolved if all opposition lawmakers step down, the MP said such a move will not help resolve the problem since next candidates on their electoral lists will replace them in the parliament, adding it is a continuous process.

According to Marukyan, boycotting the work of the National Assembly is not right either, adding it will help those in power to strengthen their rule.

The MP underlined that at present Armenia is facing a social, humanitarian and economic crisis, but added it can be handled through dialogue.

The opposition leader unveiled his party’s plans to visit Armenia’s towns and villages to listen to people’s concerns and discuss possible solutions with them, adding they will talk about their vision during the fresh parliamentary elections.

Meanwhile, Marukyan believes that the political forces participating in the elections will trade insults rather than struggle for their visions, telling the people that they have come to save them.

Armenia merited artist on Robert Kocharyan and him running in possible elections

Ophelia Vardapetian
News.am, Armenia
Jan 28 2021
16:27, 28.01.2021

There can be talks about snap parliamentary elections when the incumbent authorities resign, after which a national salvation committee will be set up and will lead the country to new elections. This is what Merited Artist of Armenia Hrant Tokhatyan told reporters during the rally at Republic Square today.

When told that second President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan has declared that he will run in the possible elections and asked if people will unite around him, Tokhatyan said the following:

“Robert Kocharyan is highly experienced, and the country recorded economic growth during his administration, but later, there were major flaws, and perhaps this is the reason why we have the government we have today.”

Asked if he shares Kocharyan’s view that Armenia has turned into Russia’s protectorate, the actor said if things continue the way they are, it will become Russia’s protectorate.

Reporters also asked how he assesses the statement by the opposition Homeland Salvation Movement’s candidate for Prime Minister Vazgn Manukyan that the opposition movement will rebel if it doesn’t achieve Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s resignation through the Constitution, Tokhatyan says he doesn’t support it, if it means rebelling with arms.

Coronavirus: AstraZeneca doses expected to arrive in Armenia in March, vaccination to be optional

Ophelia Vardapetian

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 12:29,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 21, ARMENPRESS. Armenian health authorities will buy AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine for 3% of the population by March 2021.

The first phase of vaccination will prioritize people aged over 65, health workers and those who have underlying health conditions, the Ministry of Healthcare told ARMENPRESS.

The ministry said that the vaccine is being bought through an agreement with COVAX FACILITY. “They offered it to our country, and because the price is affordable and it will be supplied faster, we agreed,” the ministry said.

Vaccination will not be mandatory. The ministry said there are many speculations over this issue, but reaffirmed that neither the coronavirus vaccine nor any other vaccines are mandatory in Armenia.

“Vaccination is optional, upon the desire of the person. The country cares for its citizens, it wants them to be protected, but I can say that this is in everyone’s interest,” the ministry added.

The COVAX FACILITY initiative continues negotiations over the acquisition of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine as well.

The second phase of vaccination in Armenia will prioritize teachers, emergency first-responders, members of the military and public servants.

Reporting by Lilit Demuryan; Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

Russian Embassy in Yerevan Accuses Armenian Newspaper of Publishing ‘Fabrications’

Ophelia Vardapetian
Sputnik
Jan 21 2021
© Sputnik / Sputnik
World

YEREVAN (Sputnik) – The Russian Embassy in Yerevan on Thursday accused an Armenian newspaper of publishing "slanderous fabrications" about ambassador Sergey Kopyrkin.

The Hraparak daily published an article alleging that members of the Armenian opposition are dissatisfied with Kopyrkin, who was claimed to be in close contact with several of the country's political parties over Russia's alleged attempts to keep Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in office.

In a statement published on Facebook, the Russian Embassy in Yerevan said that it was willing to interact with journalists who are guided by the principles of objectivity and honesty, and called on Hraparak to retract the article.

"In this regard, we would like to address the article published on your website on January 21 under the heading 'The opposition is dissatisfied with the Russian ambassador,' which contains slanderous fabrications in the direction of the Russian ambassador to Armenia. If there is convincing evidence to back these claims, please send it to us. Otherwise, we demand the publication of an official refutation," the statement read.

Pashinyan has faced calls to resign ever since the recent conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh came to a close on November 9, resulting in Azerbaijan making substantial territorial gains.

The prime minister has suggested holding early parliamentary elections in 2021 amid the unrest, although opposition parties have called for Pashinyan to resign before the holding of any vote.

Asbarez: Joseph Bohigian Releases Music on Armenian Experience of Exile

Ophelia Vardapetian

January 18,  2020



Joseph Bohigian. Photo by: Raffi Paul

FRESNO—Armenian-American composer and performer Joseph Bohigian has released a new composition titled “The Water Has Found its Crack” exploring the Armenian experience of exile as expressed through music. For this project, Bohigian moved to Yerevan in October 2019, where he worked as translator and did research at the Komitas Museum-Institute and taught a Laptop Orchestra Workshop at the Yerevan Conservatory.

The title of the piece comes from a Hrant Dink article about a French-Armenian woman who died while visiting the village of her youth in Turkey. When the question of where she should be buried arose, a man from the village responded “Let her be buried here…the water has found its crack.” Through this story of the Armenian longing for reunion with their indigenous land, Bohigian questions his place in the homeland, both musically and spiritually, and the evershifting internal and external identity boundaries in diaspora.

The idea of the water finding its crack is represented in the text of the composition, which comes from fragments of Armenian folk songs gathered by the composer from the works of Komitas. Bohigian weaves these text fragments, which reference water as metaphor for displacement and exile, into a new composite form. Musically, the composer reflects on the centrality of displacement in Armenian culture in a quasi-folk song which references the Armenian migrant song genre. The fluidity of dispersion manifests in lingering quarter tone glissandi which push at the boundaries of the tetrachord structure of Armenian music. Finally, Bohigian seeks a reunion of the Armenian musical experiences of his youth in Fresno, California and those of his time in Armenia through an abstraction of Armenian sacred chant.

The recording includes performances by sopranos Catherine Sandstet, Heidi Schneider, and Alina Tamborini, percussionist Rob Cosgrove, violinist Kate Dreyfuss, violist Sophia Sun, and cellist Tsung-Yu Tsai.

Joseph Bohigian is a composer and performer whose cross-cultural experience as an Armenian-American is a defining message in his music. His work explores the _expression_ of exile, cultural reunification, and identity maintenance in diaspora. Joseph’s works have been heard at the Oregon Bach Festival, June in Buffalo, Walt Disney Concert Hall, New Music on the Point Festival, TENOR Conference (Melbourne), and Aram Khachaturian Museum Hall performed by the Mivos Quartet, Decibel New Music, Great Noise Ensemble, and Argus Quartet. He is also a founding member of Ensemble Decipher, a group dedicated to the performance of live electronic music.

Opposition party leader: Azerbaijan keeping Armenian POWs in prisons and discussing transport communications

Ophelia Vardapetian
News.am, Armenia
Jan 11 2021
23:57, 11.01.2021
 
Leader of the opposition Bright Armenia Party Edmon Marukyan posted the following on his Facebook page:
 
“They are keeping Armenian prisoners of war in the prisons of Azerbaijan and discussing issues related to transport communication.
 
All the embassies of Armenia in all capitals of the world and Armenia’s diplomatic representatives to international organizations must work constantly and speak out about the return of Armenian prisoners of war with the international humanitarian right to exert international pressure (under the Geneva Conventions) on the authorities of Azerbaijan having assumed a commitment under the ceasefire agreement.
 
This is not only behavior that doesn’t correspond to the civilized world of the 21st century, but is also an international crime that must be spoken out about on all platforms.”
 
 

Aliyev arrives in Moscow to hold talks with Pashinyan and Putin

Ophelia Vardapetian

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 13:33,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 11, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has arrived in Moscow for the meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Azerbaijani Ambassador to Russia Polad Bulbuloglu confirmed the arrival of his country’s president to TASS.

“At this moment Aliyev’s convoy is heading to the Kremlin,” the ambassador told the news agency.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had already arrived to Moscow for the trilateral summit.

According to the Pashinyan Administration, the upcoming meeting is of economic nature and relates to the opening of regional communications and the implementation of international cargo shipments.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

Turkish press: Azerbaijan declares city of Shusha ‘cultural capital’

Ophelia Vardapetian
Jeyhun Aliyev   |05.01.2021

ANKARA 

Azerbaijan’s president on Tuesday declared a key city in Nagorno-Karabakh recently liberated from nearly three decades of Armenian military occupation the country’s cultural capital.

"I declare Shusha to be the capital of Azerbaijani culture. The city of Shusha deserves that. I think that it can be considered not only the cultural capital of Azerbaijan, but also of the entire region," Ilham Aliyev said at a video conference with Culture Minister Anar Karimov.

The liberation of Shusha – known as the pearl of Karabakh – last Nov. 8 led to the recognition of defeat by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, as well as the cessation of the hostilities between Baku and Yerevan.

Besides its strategic importance, Shusha – occupied by Armenia on May 8, 1992 – is known as a symbol of Azerbaijani history and culture. Many prominent Azerbaijani musicians and scholars were born in the city.

Aliyev reiterated that work has already begun to restore the city.

"The housing stock and historical sites must be inspected, the damage must be accurately calculated, and we must begin the restoration of Shusha. However, the original appearance and the historical image of Shusha must be restored without wasting time, but at the same time without haste," he added.

Saying that during the occupation Armenian forces destroyed over 60 mosques, Aliyev added: “Pigs and cows were kept in the Aghdam mosque … Insulting inscriptions can be seen on the walls of the Aghdam mosque.”

"We have no problem with the Armenian people, and the Armenians living in Azerbaijan are our citizens. I am sure that Armenians living in the Karabakh region today understand that they can live normally in Azerbaijan," he added.

Aliyev instructed the culture minister to organize music and poetry festivals in Shusha this year.

He highlighted that Azerbaijan will also build an international airport in Fuzuli province this year, adding that at least runways will be ready in 2021.

Aliyev also noted the 880th birthday of the famous 12th-century Azerbaijani poet and philosopher Nizami Ganjavi will be celebrated this year, adding that 2021 has been declared the Year of Nizami.

Last September, clashes erupted between the former Soviet republics of Armenia and Azerbaijan when the Armenian army launched attacks on civilians and Azerbaijani forces and violated several humanitarian cease-fire agreements.

During the 44-day conflict, which ended in a truce on Nov. 10, Azerbaijan liberated several cities and nearly 300 settlements and villages in Karabakh from a nearly three-decade occupation.

Our losses continue – Vazgen Manukyan

Ophelia Vardapetian
Panorama, Armenia
Jan 4 2021

"Our independent state, in the face of its government, army, the leaders of law enforcement bodies, is unable  to protect the security of our country and the people, its territories, the property and the interest of its population,"the candidate for the prime minister from the opposition Homeland Salvation Movement Vazgen Manukyan said in a statement on Monday. 

"Our losses continue. Now it is the turn of Shurnukh," Manukyan said, referring to the village in Armenia's southern Syunik province, part of which will be ceded to Azerbaijan. 

The opposition figure next reminded of tragic pogroms in Sumgait back in 1988, when neither the state nor the the army (then USSR) were able to protect the physical security of the Armenian population, and only self-defense units formed in Armenia under severe USSR restrictions were able to get armed and take up the security of the Armenian population. In Manukyan's words, years after those events, we have occurred in a similar situation today. Authorities are attempting to mislead the population through lies, self-justification  and false explanations for the mere fact of prolonging their rule, according to the statement. 

"When the state is unable to ensure the security of its citizens and the protection of their rights, people's natural right is to take control of that protection," Manukyan said, adding: "We will replace these incapable authorities who are destroying our country. The military power, that has been formed throughout decades will again become the guarantor of our security. Yet it requires time during which we may suffer losses, the borders of our countries are being narrowed, while our citizens and borderline communities remain unprotected," said Manukyan. 

Under the prevailing conditions when the state structures are failing to operate, Manukyan calls on the youth, war veterans and residents of borderline communities to form defense units, negotiate and cooperate with peacekeeping forces on the interpretation and realization of the provisions of the November 9 trilateral statement and protect the borders of the country and the security of the people. 


Russian peacekeepers’ base in Nagorno-Karabakh

Ophelia Vardapetian
Republic World
Dec 21 2020
Written By

Associated Press Television News

The Russian Ministry of Defence aired footage on Monday showing a base where Russian peacekeepers are staying in Nagorno-Karabakh.

The footage showed their canteen, gym and sleeping areas.

Russian peacekeepers entered Nagorno-Karabakh as part of a ceasefire brokered by Moscow, after a new round of fighting broke out in September.

Nagorno-Karabakh lies within Azerbaijan but was under the control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia since a separatist war there ended in 1994.

That war left Nagorno-Karabakh itself and substantial surrounding territory in Armenian hands.

In 44 days of fighting that began in late September and left more than 5,600 people killed on both sides, the Azerbaijani army forged deep into Nagorno-Karabakh, forcing Armenia to accept last month's peace deal.

Russia deployed nearly 2,000 peacekeepers for at least five years to monitor the agreement and facilitate the return of refugees.