Author: Shushan Frangulian

CivilNet: Illegal Deforestation Rises in Armenia

Shushan Frangulian
CIVILNET.AM

07:05

Illegal deforestation continues to increase in Armenia every year. The issue of illegal logging in the forests of Jiliza, an area located in the northern Lori Province, was one of the most severe in the country in 2021. The HayAntar governmental organization is responsible for the maintenance and protection of forest lands. It is an affiliate of the Ministry of Agriculture. Romanos Petrosyan, Armenia’s Minister of Environment, explains to CivilNet the reason why there is an increase in severe cases of deforestation.

Turkish press: Azerbaijani soldier injured by Armenian firing in Nakhchivan

Shushan Frangulian
Ruslan Rehimov   |28.05.2021

BAKU, Azerbaijan 

An Azerbaijani soldier was wounded when the Armenian military opened fire on Azerbaijani positions in Nakhchivan, the country’s Defense Ministry on Friday.

The soldier suffered a bullet wound to the shoulder and was admitted to a hospital, where his life is out of danger, the ministry said in a statement.

Blaming Yerevan for the tensions along the border in the Nakhchivan region, the ministry called on Armenia to act responsibly and avoid provocations and other steps that could worsen the situation.

Relations between the two former Soviet republics have been tense since 1991, when the Armenian military occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, also known as Upper Karabakh, a territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, and seven adjacent regions.

Conflict between the two flared up last year and six weeks of fighting ended with a Russian-brokered truce on Nov. 10.

During that time, Azerbaijan liberated several strategic cities and nearly 300 of its settlements and villages that had been under Armenian occupation for some three decades.

The Nov. 10 cease-fire is seen as a victory for Azerbaijan and a defeat for Armenia, whose forces withdrew from the region in line with the agreement.

A joint Turkish-Russian center was established to monitor the cease-fire, with Russian peacekeeping troops also deployed in the region.

* Writing by Seda Sevencan

Two foreign murder suspects apprehended in Yerevan

Shushan Frangulian

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 15:54,

YEREVAN, MAY 24, ARMENPRESS. Two foreign nationals were apprehended by Armenian law enforcement agencies pursuant to arrest warrants issued by Georgian authorities in 2019.

The two fugitives, men aged 29 and 31, were apprehended on Garegin Nzhdeh Street in Yerevan and booked at the Shengavit police precinct and later placed under arrest. The fugitives are wanted by Georgia on charges of aggravated murder and illegal possession of firearms.

The Georgian authorities were notified on the arrest, the Armenian police said.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

Armenia’s territorial integrity has to be respected – Greek Foreign Ministry

Shushan Frangulian
Panorama, Armenia
May 20 2021

The territorial integrity of Armenia has to be respected, the Greek Foreign Ministry said in a tweet on Thursday, commenting on the Azerbaijani incursion into Armenian territory.

“Tensions along Armenia's border are of particular concern. Armenia’s territorial integrity has to be respected. It is essential to avoid any unilateral actions that could undermine regional peace and stability,” the ministry said.

On May 12, the Azerbaijani military crossed the state border of Armenia close to Sev Lich (Black Lake) in Syunik Province and advanced as far as 3.5 kilometers in an effort to surround the lake.

The Defense Ministry said the situation after the provocative actions of the Azerbaijani troops in some border areas of Syunik and Gegharkunik Provinces of Armenia remains unchanged. 

Virtual show to spotlight Armenian monastic ensembles of Iran

Shushan Frangulian
Public Radio of Armenia

The Iranian National Commission for UNESCO will be hosting a virtual photo exhibit of the three photogenic ancient churches that constitute the Armenian Monastic Ensembles of Iran, Tehran Times reports.

A selection of 70 pictures captured by Iranian photographer Ebrahim Khadembayat will go on show during the exhibit, which officially sopens on May 25, according to organizers.

To the untrained eye, Iran’s earliest churches may seem modest structures to some but they bear testimony to a vast panorama of architectural and decorative scenes associated with Armenian culture blended with other regional cultures: Byzantine, Orthodox, Assyrian, Persian, and Muslim.

St. Thaddeus, St. Stepanos, and the Chapel of Dzordzor are three photogenic ancient churches that constitute the Armenian Monastic Ensembles of Iran, which were collectively inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage in 2008. They are dotted in fresh and green lands of northwest Iran and are important pilgrimage sites for Armenian-Iranians and others from across the globe.

Also known as the Qareh Klise (“the Black Church”), St. Thaddeus, as one of the oldest surviving Christian monuments in the country, is situated in Chaldoran county some 20 kilometers from Maku, adjacent to the borders of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey. The ancient Church shows off elaborate bas-reliefs of flowers, animals, and human figures on its façade and exterior walls. It bears verses of Old and New Testament in Armenian calligraphy as well.

The Chapel of Dzordzor stands tall on the outskirts of Maku. The name narratively originates from a famous painter Hovans Yerz, known as Dzordzortzi, who supervised the chapel’s restoration for a while. What is present now is a remnant of the large monastery that once existed there, as the entire chapel has been shifted to a new location 600 meters away due to submergence resulting from a dam that was built on the river.

St. Thaddeus Monastery plays hosts an annual religious ritual every summer. Last July, it hosted over 3,000 Christian worshippers coming together from Iran, Armenia, Syria, Lebanon, the Netherlands, France, Austria, Germany, Canada, and some other countries.

Situation in Syunik explosive: Armenia to apply to CSTO

Shushan Frangulian 
Public Radio of Armenia








The situation in the area of Sev Lich (Black Lake) in Syunik has been
explosive for two days, Armenia’s acting Prime Minister Nikol
Pashinyan said at the meeting of the Security Council today.

“The reason is that groups of Azerbaijani armed forces have crossed
the border of the Republic of Armenia and have taken steps to surround
the lake. The Armenian Armed Forces have taken strategic
counteractions. Azerbaijanis deployed in nearby areas have retreated
as a result of countersyeps,” the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister stressed that no firearms or other weapons have
been used either by the Armenian, or the Azerbaijani side.
Nevertheless, he added, about 250 representatives of the Armed Forces
of Azerbaijan still remain inside the state borders of Armenia in some
sections of Syunik and Gegharkunik provinces.

“The deep and comprehensive analysis of the situation makes it
apparent that the actions of the Azerbaijani side are provocation that
can pursue wider military-political goals. I mean the Azerbaijani
forces have crossed the border to provoke military clashes rather than
than solve local issues,” the acting PM said.

Nikol Pashinyan stressed that the situation fully corresponds to the
Article 2, paragraph 2 of the Collectives Security Treaty, which “In
case of menace to safety, stability, territorial integrity and
sovereignty of one or several Member States or menace to international
peace and safety of the Member States shall immediately launch the
mechanism of joint consultations for the purpose of coordination of
their positions, develop and take measures for assistance to such
Member States for the purpose of elimination of the arisen menace.”

Based on the above, Pashinyan instructed acting Foreign Minister Ara
Aivazian and acting Defense Minister Vagharshak Harutyunyan and
Secretary of the Security Council Armen Grigoryan to take measures to
start consultations in line with Article 2, Paragraph 2 of the
Collectives Security Treaty.

He stressed that while no exchange of fire has been reported so far,
taking measures envisaged by the Collective Security Treaty will help
avoid further escalation and protect the territorial integrity,
stability and sovereignty of the Republic of Armenia.

Armenia’s acting FM, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State discusses issues of regional security

Shushan Frangulian 
Public Radio of Armenia



Armenia’s acting FM, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State discusses
issues of regional security



Armenia’s acting Foreign Minister Ara Aivazian had a telephone
conversation with US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European
and Eurasian Affairs Philip Reeker.

The conversation focused on regional security and stability. Acting
Minister Aivazian briefed Mr. Rreeker on the provocative actions
carried out by the Azerbaijani armed units in the sovereign territory
of Armenia and the ensuing situation.

Ara Aivazian stressed the inadmissibility of provocative actions of
Azerbaijan against the territorial integrity of Armenia.

The Armenian Foreign Minister noted that the tolerance of such
encroachments on Armenia’s sovereignty by the international community
is fraught with the threat of destabilization of the region.

Deposits grow in Artsakh banks

Shushan Frangulian

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 15:20,

STEPANAKERT, MAY 11, ARMENPRESS. Deposits by companies and individuals in Artsakh’s banks and branches stood at 133 billion 536,4 million drams as of May 1 against the 128 billion 987 million drams of 2020’s May 1 (recording a 3,5% growth against last year, and 4,3% growth against last month, and 10,3% growth against February and March), according to the Artsakh National Statistical Service.

According to the data, the time deposit indicators in commercial banks (branches) grew 6,5% against February, 5,7% against March and 0,1% against April. Demand deposits also grew, with 37,5% growth recorded against last year, 31,2% growth against March of the current year, 34,3% and 24,6% against February and April.

As of May 1, credit investments stood at 121 billion 331,3 million drams against the previous year’s same period of 204 billion 122,7 million drams. The loan overdue indicator in the reporting period stood at 2 billion 284,5 million drams against the 547,6 million drams of 2020’s same period, and the 170,8 million drams of the previous month.

The volume of extended loans comprised 9 billion 686,7 million drams as of May 1, against April’s 12 billion 476,8 million drams and the 413,6 million drams recorded in May 1 of 2020.

The total volume of loans comprised 132 billion 637,2 drams as of May 1 against the 205 billion 83,9 million drams of 2020’s same period.

Editing by Stepan Kocharyan

Armenpress: Pashinyan sends condolence letter to Putin over Kazan school shooting

Shushan Frangulian

Pashinyan sends condolence letter to Putin over Kazan school shooting

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 17:20,

YEREVAN, MAY 11, ARMENPRESS. Caretaker Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan sent a letter of condolences to Russian President Vladimir Putin over the fatal shooting incident in one of the schools in Kazan, Pashinyan’s Office told Armenpress.

The letter reads:

“Dear Mr. President,

I am deeply shocked by the news about the tragedy that took place in N175 school in Kazan on May 11. It’s in particular painful that most of the victims are children.

Please convey my sincere condolences and support to the families, relatives of the victims and wish a speedy recovery to all those injured”.

Nine people have died, including eight children and a teacher, in a school shooting in Kazan, in Russia’s Tatarstan Region. At least 32 people were injured. The first signal from a panic button at the school came in at 09:25, and the shooting began at 09:20. At the time, there were 714 children and about 70 employees at the school, including 52 teachers, TASS reported.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Saeima [Larvian Parliament] notes Ottoman genocide against Armenians

Shushan Frangulian
LSM Latvian Television
May 6 2021
Today, 16:23
Saeima
Authors: eng.lsm.lv (Latvian Public Broadcasting)
On Thursday, May 6, the Latvian Saeima adopted a declaration on the Armenian genocide carried out during the time of the Ottoman Empire, honoring the memory of all the victims of the Armenian genocide and paying tribute to the survivors. 

The Saeima emphasizes that Latvia condemns all crimes against humanity and is aware of its obligation to recognize and commemorate these crimes in order to prevent their recurrence. 

"The version of the declaration, promoted and supported by the Foreign Affairs Committee, is the result of hearings, discussions, studies and reflections by all stakeholders, diplomats, historians and researchers. However, the Armenian genocide will never be a de jure opinion – it can no longer be tried under the Vienna Convention. To acknowledge it or not is a political decision. And this is not a simple matter… It is not a question of barter, mutual benefit or small, insignificant "political points," said Rihards Kols (National Alliance) , Chairman of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee. 

The Saeima is aware that as a result of the activities of the Ottoman authorities, a large number of Armenians were forcibly deported to other regions of the empire, resulting in the loss of many lives due to famine, physical violence and murder. 

In the declaration, members of parliament note the importance of commemorating the loss of life of those killed in the Armenian genocide, massacres and forced relocations organized by the Ottoman authorities, which began on 24 April 1915 with the arrest of Armenian intellectuals and activists in what was then Constantinople. 

The Saeima takes note of the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and the European Parliament resolution of 18 June 1987 recognizing that these events constitute genocide in accordance with the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

The vote on the declaration was carried by 64 votes to 4. Those voting against the declaration were Aleksandrs Kiršteins, Romāns Naudiņš and Edvīns Šnore of the National Alliance and Armands Krauze of the Greens and Farmers Union. Three of that number are noted supporters of Azerbaijan, which is engaged in a long-running territorial dispute with Armenia.