Author: Tatoyan Vazgen

Zareh Sinanyan will get acquainted with the problems of earthquake affected Armenian communities in Lebanon, Syria

Tatoyan Vazgen

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 21:08,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 28, ARMENPRESS. High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs Zareh Sinanyan and Head of Strategy Development Department of Legislative Initiatives and Strategy Development Department of the Office of High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs Hovhannes Aleksanyan will leave for Lebanon and Syria in March to get acquainted with the problems and needs of Armenian communities and institutions affected by the earthquake, ARMENPRESS was informed from the decision of  Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, published on the e-government website.

Armenpress: Azerbaijani blockade of Artsakh and other criminal activities have resulted in increase in diseases

Tatoyan Vazgen

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 21:30,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. Due to the fact that the only road connecting Artsakh to Armenia has been blocked by Azerbaijan for 78 days, as well as due to the continuous stress caused by uncertainties and threats arising from Azerbaijani criminal activities, the indicators of a number of diseases and complications have increased in Artsakh compared to the same period of last year, ARMENPRESS reports the Ministry of Health of Artsakh informs.

"They include ischemic heart disease – 58%, cerebral palsy – 36%, birth complications – 11.6% and a number of other diseases.

Among adults and especially children, an increase in nervous and psychological problems is recorded, compared to the same period of the previous year, which was manifested by a 46% increase in children's visits to neurologists and psychologists, and a 47% increase in the case of adults.

Compared to the same period of the previous year, the cases of surgical interventions due to intestinal obstruction, which may be caused by a lack of some ingredients in the diet, have increased by 25%.

Azerbaijan is obliged to ensure uninterrupted movement through the Lachin Corridor in both directions. The Hague Court

Tatoyan Vazgen

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 20:06, 22 February 2023

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 22, ARMENPRESS. The International Court of Justice published the decision on Armenia's request to apply provisional measures regarding the unblocking of the Lachin Corridor. Thus, the court concludes that Azerbaijan is obliged, in accordance with its obligations under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, to take all measures at its disposal to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions, ARMENPRESS reports, the decision was published on February 22.

The Court reminded that by the December 7, 2021 decision, the following provisional measures were applied,

The Republic of Azerbaijan shall, in accordance with its obligations under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,

(a) Protect from violence and bodily harm all persons captured in relation to the 2020 Conflict who remain in detention, and ensure their security and equality before the law;

(b) Take all necessary measures to prevent the incitement and promotion of racial hatred and discrimination, including by its officials and public institutions, targeted at persons of Armenian national or ethnic origin;

(c) Take all necessary measures to prevent and punish acts of vandalism and desecration affecting Armenian cultural heritage, including but not limited to churches and other places of worship, monuments, landmarks, cemeteries and artefacts.

The Court further recalls that by a letter dated 16 September 2022, Armenia, referring to Article 76 of the Rules of Court, requested the modification of the Court’s Order of 7 December 2021 (the “second Request”).

By an Order dated 12 October 2022, the Court found that “the circumstances, as they [then] present[ed] themselves to the Court, [were] not such as to require the exercise of its power to modify the measures indicated in the Order of 7 December 2021”. In addition, the Court reaffirmed the provisional measures indicated in its Order of 7 December 2021, in particular the requirement that both Parties refrain from any action which might aggravate or extend the dispute before the Court or make it more difficult to resolve.

Finally, the Court recalls that, on 28 December 2022, Armenia, referring to Article 41 of the Statute and Article 73 of the Rules of Court, filed a new Request for the indication of provisional measures (the “third Request”). In that Request, Armenia states that, on 12 December 2022, Azerbaijan “orchestrated a blockade of the only road connecting the 120,000 ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh with the outside world” and asks the Court to indicate the following two provisional measures: “Azerbaijan shall cease its orchestration and support of the alleged ‘protests’ blocking uninterrupted free movement along the Lachin Corridor in both directions [; and] Azerbaijan shall ensure uninterrupted free movement of all persons, vehicles, and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions.” By a letter dated 26 January 2023, the Agent of Armenia communicated to the Court the text of a further provisional measure sought by his Government, as follows: “Azerbaijan shall immediately fully restore and refrain from disrupting or impeding the provision of natural gas and other public utilities to Nagorno-Karabakh.”

The judge noted that the court notices that since December 12, 2022, the connection between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia through the Lachin Corridor has been disrupted. The Court notes that a number of consequences have arisen as a result of this situation, and that those who bear the consequences continue to suffer these effects to this day. According to the information, the import of vital goods to Nagorno-Karabakh was also hindered, as a result of which there is a shortage of food, medicine and other life-saving supplies. The Court considers that the damage can be considered irreparable when the relevant persons find themselves in life- and health-threatening circumstances.

The Court recalled that at the open session held on January 30, 2023, the representative of Azerbaijan confirmed that his government has committed and remains committed to taking all the steps within its power to guarantee the free movement of people, vehicles and cargo through the Lachin Corridor, including continuously working with the ICRC.

The court takes note of that statement. However, this does not eliminate the imminent risk of irreparable damage due to the disruption of movement through the Lachin Corridor. In light of the above circumstances, the Court concludes that the alleged impairment of the rights recognized by the Court as enforceable may cause irreparable damage to the rights and there is urgency. That is, there is a real or imminent and immediate risk that irreparable harm will occur before the Court makes a final decision on the case. Therefore, the Court concludes that the conditions for applying provisional measures are present and grounded, so it is necessary for the Court to apply some provisional measures before the final decision in order to protect the rights mentioned by the Court requested by Armenia. The Court mentions that it has the right under the statute to apply such measures that are completely or partially different from the requested measures.

“The Court notes that the Statement by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia and President of the Russian Federation of 9 November 2020 provides, inter alia, that the Lachin Corridor, “which will provide a connection between Nagorno Karabakh and Armenia . . . shall remain under the control of the Russian Federation peacemaking forces”. The Statement further states that “Azerbaijan shall guarantee the security of persons, vehicles and cargo moving along the Lachin Corridor in both directions”.

In the present case, having considered the terms of the provisional measures requested by Armenia and the circumstances of the case, the Court finds that the measures to be indicated need not be identical to those requested. The Court concludes that Azerbaijan shall, pending the final decision in the case and in accordance with its obligations under the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, take all measures at its disposal to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions”, reads the decision of the Court.

Krikorian Foundation Offering Scholarships for Students with Armenian Heritage

Tatoyan Vazgen
Feb 16 2023

The following information was provided by the Arisdine Krikorian Family Foundation:

The trustees of The Arisdine Krikorian Family Foundation, a section 501(c)(3) organization, launched its first annual scholarship award program. The Foundation was created by Rose and Sybil Krikorian, who were raised in Watertown and later moved to Belmont where they lived for many years. They were the daughters of Arisdine and Panos Krikorian, who were born and raised in Armenia. The last survivor of the Krikorian family, Rose, died in August 2021 at the age of 96.

The Krikorian family was deeply proud of their Armenian heritage and devoted to many local Armenian organizations. They were keenly interested in the educational advancement of Armenian children. That interest led them to create the Foundation in their name.

The Foundation will provide scholarships of up to $5,000 to high school seniors admitted to college, college and post-graduate students of Armenian descent residing in the Greater Boston area. The program is being administered by Scholarship of America, Inc. The trustees of the Foundation are Thomas F. Maffei, a Boston lawyer, Professor Renee Landers of Suffolk Law School and Professor Beth Hennessey, recently retired from Wellesley College.

For more information and application details visit:
https://learnmore.scholarsapply.org/krikorian.

Deadline to apply is April 1, 2023

“There is no need to duplicate formats”: about Armenia-Azerbaijan negotiations

Tatoyan Vazgen
Sept 30 2022


  • JAMnews
  • Yerevan

Negotiation process between Armenia and Azerbaijan

Despite the ongoing tension after the hostilities of September 13-14, Armenian officials are not refusing negotiations with representatives of Azerbaijan. The next meeting of Foreign Ministers Ararat Mirzoyan and Jeyhun Bayramov is scheduled for October 2 in Geneva.

This information was confirmed by the press secretary of the Armenian Foreign Ministry Vahan Hunanyan: “Despite the provocations from Azerbaijan, Armenia will take part in the meeting. Thus, the statements of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry that Armenia is trying to disrupt the negotiations are groundless. Armenia, as before, is constructive, aimed at achieving a lasting peace in the South Caucasus, and expects the same of Azerbaijan.”

Earlier, on September 27, a meeting was held in the United States between Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan and Advisor to the President of Azerbaijan Hikmet Hajiyev.

Azerbaijanologist Tatevik Hayrapetyan considers this format of meetings unnecessary, since the platform for negotiations between the foreign ministers of the two countries has long been used.

Details of the Grigoryan-Hajiyev meeting, topics of the Armenian-Azerbaijani talks, and xpert opinion on the expediency of their formats.

  • “Our ally isn’t fulfilling its obligation to supply weapons” – Prime Minister of Armenia
  • “The least painful solution” or “the path of struggle”? Choice of former presidents of Armenia
  • “Azerbaijan intends to occupy other territories of Armenia” – Pashinyan from UN rostrum

Armen Grigoryan and Hikmet Hajiyev met at the White House on the initiative of US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.

According to the Armenian Security Council, the parties recognized the importance of eliminating the consequences of hostilities, and discussed

  • the need for peace in the region,
  • the process of a long-term peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem.

Intense hostilities on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border began at midnight on September 13. On the evening of September 14, Armenia announced that, thanks to the intervention of international partners, an agreement had been reached on a ceasefire. The officially announced total number of dead and missing Armenian soldiers is 207 men. At least 20 soldiers were captured.

On the evening of September 28 the Armenian Defense Ministry reported that Azerbaijan had resumed hostilities, as a result of which three more soldiers were killed.

Jake Sullivan described the Grigoryan-Gadzhiev meeting as “direct and constructive.”

“We discussed the importance of preventing further violence and holding timely and focused negotiations. We have also outlined clear steps to achieve a stable and lasting peace,” he wrote on his Twitter page.

Hikmet Hajiyev also commented on the meeting on Twitter. The adviser to the President of Azerbaijan expressed gratitude to America for “discussing and promoting the agenda of lasting peace and stability in the region.”

The Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia and the Advisor to the President of Azerbaijan met three times in 2022. The talks were held in Brussels with the participation of EU Special Representative Toivo Klaar.

The Prime Minister of Armenia and the Secretary of the Security Council are visiting Washington and Paris. What is the agenda?

On September 28 Armen Grigoryan, who is in Washington, gave an interview to the Armenian service of the Voice of America. He called the meeting with Hajiyev productive.

According to Grigoryan, Armenia and Azerbaijan are discussing four interrelated issues: humanitarian problems, unblocking roads, delimitation and demarcation of the border, and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

“We have tried to be clear about how we will move forward in these areas. The peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan is connected with all this,” he said.

Grigoryan recalled that there are other formats for Armenian-Azerbaijani talks: with the participation of foreign ministers, vice-premiers, as well as heads of national security services. According to him, “the meetings of the leaders of the countries are due to the progress made in these formats.”

The Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia emphasized the positive effect of US involvement in regional processes.

As an example, he cited recent hostilities on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. He said it was possible to stop the fighting thanks to the retaliatory actions of the Armenian army and American intervention.

The Office of the Human Rights Defender published an extraordinary report on the consequences of hostilities on the Armenian border. The report presents cases of torture of Armenian prisoners of war, abuse of the bodies of the dead, destruction of civilian infrastructure, and shelling of hospitals, schools and kindergartens.

Azerbaijanologist Tatevik Hayrapetyan says the Grigoryan-Hajiyev format raises questions:

“To be honest the format is incomprehensible to me, because if there is a platform for negotiations between foreign ministers, then why launch duplicate formats. What are these issues that cannot be discussed by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, but are discussed by the Secretary of the Security Council and Advisor to the President of Azerbaijan?”

She considers direct communication between the heads of security services and defense ministers more understandable. Hayrapetyan believes that the problem is that Armen Grigoryan is not meeting with his Azerbaijani counterpart, but with Aliyev’s adviser.

The Azerbaijanologist considers this format not only problematic, but even dangerous, “just like Grigoryan’s statements”:

“It should not be forgotten that his response to Aliyev about the illegitimacy of Azerbaijan’s demand to use another route connecting Artsakh with Armenia instead of the Lachin corridor was used by Azerbaijan to unleash aggression in the Berdzor [Lachin] region on August 3. After that the route connecting Armenia with Nagorno-Karabakh was quickly changed. I’m not talking about that anymore. Before the attack on September 12, Grigoryan and Hajiyev met in Brussels in August.”

Tatevik Hayrapetyan also believes that the Brussels format of the Armenian-Azerbaijani talks has exhausted itself, and mediation should go to the United States and France:

“In the Brussels format there is not even a mention of Nagorno-Karabakh, there have never been any normal formulations arising from the interests of Armenia. This format has already proven its worthlessness. The mediation of the United States and France is more useful for us, including from the point of view of containing Azerbaijan.”

https://jam-news.net/there-is-no-need-to-duplicate-formats-about-armenia-azerbaijan-negotiations/





EBRD raises growth forecast for Armenia’s economy for 2022

Tatoyan Vazgen

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 14:14,

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has revised its growth forecast for the economy of Armenia. The Bank is now forecasting 8% economic growth for Armenia in 2022.

In its latest Regional Economic Prospects (REP), the EBRD said that the economies of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia are enjoying some of their highest growth rates in years.

The EBRD said Armenia and Georgia are benefiting from an inflow of Russian businesses and information and communication technology (ICT) professionals, boosting the service sectors of these small economies.

However, the robust growth recorded for the region in 2022 will taper off in 2023, highlighting concerns about its medium-term sustainability. The report warns that current growth in the Caucasus is mainly driven by temporary factors that could easily be reversed.

“In Armenia, the solid recovery seen in 2021 carried strong growth momentum into 2022, with economic growth reaching 13.1 per cent in the period from January to July. As in Georgia, the arrival of many people and firms from Russia led to an increase of 113 per cent in foreign inflows and boosted demand for services.

This has helped Armenia to finance its widening trade deficit. Foreign reserves have also increased by 20 per cent and the exchange rate by 18 per cent. The report forecasts robust growth of 8 per cent in 2022, up from a previous estimate of 4.5 per cent. The slowdown is expected to be less gentle, with a drop to 4 per cent likely in 2023. However, the latest growth estimate for 2023 remains above the earlier projection of 2.5 per cent”, the Bank said.

Armenia says three soldiers killed by Azeri shelling -Tass

Tatoyan Vazgen
Reuters
Sept 28 2022
Reuters

LONDON, Sept 28 (Reuters) – Armenia said three soldiers were killed by shelling from Azerbaijan on Wednesday, Tass agency reported, as the two neighbours accused each other of violating a ceasefire that ended two days of warfare.

Tass cited an Armenian defence ministry statement but did not give details. Last Friday, both sides accused each other of breaching the truce by firing across the border.

After border clashes two weeks ago that killed almost 200 soldiers, the worst bout of fighting since a six-week war between the two ex-Soviet countries in late 2020, the two sides agreed to a ceasefire deal brokered by Russia.

The fighting is linked to decades-old hostilities over control of the mountainous Nagorno-Karabakh region, internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan but until 2020 largely controlled by the majority ethnic Armenian population.

Azerbaijan's defence ministry said that at about 6 p.m. (1400 GMT), Armenian units had started firing at Azerbaijani positions in the Kalbajar region, wounding one serviceman, and that Azerbaijani forces had taken "retaliatory measures".

The Armenian defence ministry gave an opposite account, tweeting that Azerbaijani forces had fired towards Armenian positions near the common border using mortars and large-calibre weapons, and that the Armenian side had retaliated.

Armenia said then that Azerbaijan had attacked its territory and seized settlements inside its borders; Azerbaijan said it was responding to "provocations" from the Armenian side.

More than 10 Armenian servicemen taken captive by Azerbaijan

Tatoyan Vazgen
Public Radio of Armenia
Sept 17 2022
, 13:02

 Less than a minute

More than 10 Armenian servicemen were taken captive by Azerbaijan during the September 13-14 Azerbaijani attack. spokesperson for the Armenian representation to the ECHR Hasmik Samvelyan told Armenpress.

She said the numbers could still change and declined to provide more information on the captives already identified.

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) earlier requested Azerbaijan to provide information by September 22 about the 1 identified (as of September 13) Armenian captive and the remaining unidentified captives seen in footages.

At least 135 Armenian servicemen have been killed in the large-scale attack unleashed by Azerbaijan shortly after midnight on September 13.

The ceasefire has been holding since 8 pm, September 14.

Chair of Armenian Studies to be opened at Tabriz State University

Tatoyan Vazgen
ARMINFO
Armenia – Sept 3 2022
Alina Hovhannisyan

ArmInfo. Yerevan State University and Tabriz State University came to a preliminary  agreement to open a chair of Armenian Studies at the Iranian  University.  YSU Rector Hovhannes Hovhannisyan said summarizing the  results of his meeting with Chancellor of Tabriz State University  Safar Nasrollahzadeh.

In turn, Yerevan State University expressed its readiness to  establish the Atropatene Research Center (a historical region and an  ancient state in the north-west of modern Iran) at the Department of  Iranian Studies of Yerevan State University, which will become an  important platform for regional studies.  "We attach importance to  the development of relations with Iranian universities, not only in  the educational and scientific fields, but also in the context of  deepening and strengthening bilateral relations," Hovhannisyan said.

At the same time, he said that following the meeting with the head of  the State University of Tabriz, an agreement was also reached on the  implementation of student and specialist exchange programs, the  implementation of joint research projects, and various academic and  cultural initiatives. 

IC added new articles to Mikael Arzumanyan`s accusation for ordering to retreat from height liberated during Artsakh war

Tatoyan Vazgen
ARMINFO
Armenia – Sept 2 2022
Naira Badalian

ArmInfo.Former commander of the Defense Army, chief adviser to the President of Artsakh Mikayel Arzumanyan has been charged for the "retreat" order given to the  military staff that liberated the Arega height and adjacent combat  positions during the 2020 war in Artsakh, the press service of the  Investigative Committee of Armenia reports.

According to the source, as a result of large-scale investigative and  procedural actions carried out within the framework of the criminal  proceedings being investigated in the Department of Investigation of  Particularly Important Cases of the Main Military Investigation  Department of the RA Investigative Committee, it was established that  M.A. (Mikael Arzumanyan), who held a military leadership position, in  order to emphasize his authority and priority position and other  personal interests, during the aggressive war unleashed in 2020 by  the military-political leadership of the Republic of Azerbaijan, in  the conditions of the declared martial law, exceeded the limit of his  official powers, which led to through negligence, serious material  consequences.

As noted, the investigation found out that on September 28, 2020, the  Arega height, located on the defensive site of the N military unit of  the Defense Army, which is of great strategic importance in the area  in the north-eastern direction of Artsakh, as well as the combat  positions adjacent to it came under the control of the Azerbaijani  Armed Forces. A counterattack launched on the same day to liberate  the lost positions failed.

On September 29, 2020, the Armenian units launched a new  counterattack operation to liberate the Arega height and adjacent  combat positions, which was crowned with success. On the same day, at  about 9:50am, the Armenian units managed to take control of the Arega  height, the adjacent combat positions and the enemy's rear support  route, causing great losses to the enemy. In particular, about 10  units of enemy armored vehicles were destroyed, the main part of the  enemy's manpower located at the indicated height – several dozen  military personnel, two armored personnel carriers were taken as  trophies.

On September 29, 2020, around 4:00pm, Major General M.A. approached  his units that had liberated the height, and, having familiarized  himself with the situation, namely, that the Arega height and  adjacent combat positions, the enemy's rear support road was under  the control of his units, that as a result of the counterattack, it  was possible to destroy the enemy's main manpower, armored vehicles,  ordered the military staff to leave the liberated height <Arega> and  retreat, not having such an authority to give orders to the military  staff of the units participating in the counterattack, not being  their immediate superior, not having the authority and such an order  from the higher command to visit this place and carry out any combat  mission, while  explaining his this action by the fact that the  implementation of another operation is already planned at this place.

The units refused to comply with the "retreat" order given by  Major-General M.A.,, the general, upset by such a circumstance,  ordered to contact the commander of the military unit, after which  the latter also ordered by radio to instruct the subordinate units to  leave the Arega height and retreat.

In response to the order of M.A. the commander of the military unit  objected, arguing that it was inappropriate to retreat from the  liberated height, since then the enemy would take a dominant position  and there would be a danger of Armenian units falling into an  encirclement. Meanwhile, M.A., using the fact that in the past he was  the immediate head of the commander of the military unit, his  military authority, insisted and demanded to immediately fulfill his  order, adding that he knows better the depths of the defense, better  control of the situation, as a result of which the commander of the  military parts, trusting M.A. and being in another place in the area  of active hostilities at that time, ordered the military personnel to  carry out the order.

As a result of the actions of Major General M.A. the units retreated  to their initial positions, the enemy moved forward unhindered and on  the same day, as of 1:00pm, took control of the Arega height, the  adjacent combat heights, strengthened its forces and resources, from  where it had the opportunity to observe the depth of the defense of  the units and, having developed its success and having a dominant  position, carried out attacks in the direction of other combat posts  of the defensive line, fired at adjacent combat positions. The  counterattacks of our units, carried out on October 3 and October 5,  2020 to liberate the Arega height, failed, during which the units  suffered losses with killed and wounded.

On September 1, 2022, M.A. charged under Part 4 of Article 375 of the  RA Criminal Code, adopted on April 18, 2003 (corresponds to Part 3 of  Article 549 of the current Criminal Code) (excess or abuse of power -  ed. note).  The Investigative Committee recalled that within the  framework of another criminal proceeding for official negligence  shown in organizing the defense of the city of Shushi and adjacent  areas, on August 30, M.A.  was charged under part 3 of Article 376 of  the Criminal Code of Armenia adopted on April 18, 2003 (corresponds  to part 3 of Article 550 of the current Criminal Code of Armenia -  military negligence), a petition was submitted to the court for  election against him arrest as a preventive measure.  On September 1,  2022, the Yerevan Court of First Instance of General Jurisdiction  granted the petition and M.A. was arrested for two months.  

The investigation continues.