Author: Varazdat Torgomian

URGENT: Azerbaijani troops breach line of contact in Artsakh, women and children evacuated in Khramort village

Varazdat Torgomian

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 17:32,

YEREVAN, MARCH 24, ARMENPRESS. The Azerbaijani armed forces violated the line of contact in the direction of the village of Parukh in Artsakh’s Askeran region, the Artsakh authorities said.

The government of Artsakh said representatives of the Artsakh Defense Army and the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Artsakh are attempting to prevent through negotiations the further advance of the Azerbaijani troops and return them to their original positions.

As a safety precaution, women and children in the village of Khramort in Askeran region have been evacuated.

“We call on the population to remain calm, the situation is stable in all other parts of the line of contact,” the Artsakh authorities said.

Armenpress: The movement of the Azerbaijani army is suspended at the moment, but the adversary has not returned to initial positions

Varazdat Torgomian

The movement of the Azerbaijani army is suspended at the moment, but the adversary has not returned to initial positions

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 21:26,

YEREVAN, 24 MARCH, ARMENPRESS. The movement of the Azerbaijani armed forces is currently suspended in the territory of Artsakh, but the adversary has not yet returned to its initial positions ARMENPRESS reports the Artsakh Information Headquarters informs that the situation in the direction of Parukh-Khramort settlements of Askeran region is under the control of the Russian peacekeeping troops stationed in the Artsakh Republic.

"As a result of the talks and additional security measures, the movement of the Azerbaijani armed forces is currently suspended in our territory, but the adversary has not yet returned to its initial position," the statement said.

The Azerbaijani armed forces violated the line of contact in the direction of the village of Parukh in Artsakh’s Askeran region.The government of Artsakh said representatives of the Artsakh Defense Army and the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Artsakh are attempting to prevent through negotiations the further advance of the Azerbaijani troops and return them to their original positions.

As a safety precaution, women and children in the village of Khramort in Askeran region have been evacuated.




Ruben Rubinyan presents the regional security situation to a group of Ambassadors accredited in Armenia

Varazdat Torgomian

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 19:25,

YEREVAN, 14 MARCH, ARMENPRESS. Vice President of the National Assembly of Armenia Ruben Rubinyan on March 14 received Ambassadors of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Norway and Sweden.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the National Assembly of Armenia, Ruben Rubinyan presented the regional security situation. The Vice President of the National Assembly talked about the  provocative actions by Azerbaijani armed forces being carried out in Nagorno-Karabakh and the facts of creating artificial obstacles for the restoration of vital infrastructure and highlighted the proper assessment of the international community in that issue.

Ruben Rubinyan emphasized the necessity of comprehensive and lasting resolution under the mandate of the OSCE Minsk Group.

The sides also exchanged thoughts about the process of normalization of Armenia-Turkey relations.

The Izmirlian Foundation Continuous Supporting YSU Sarkis and Marie Izmirlian Library

Varazdat Torgomian 
The Izmirlian Foundation Continuous Supporting YSU Sarkis and Marie Izmirlian 
Library

Recognizing the role and impact of academic institutions in supporting 
development agendas of countries in transition as well as the paramount 
importance of public access to information, communication and research 
infrastructure, the Izmirlian Foundation in cooperation with Yerevan State 
University (YSU) is scaling up the project on “Transforming YSU Sarkis and Marie 
Izmirlian Library Infrastructure” aiming to upgrade Sarkis and Marie Izmirlian 
Library facilities serving a large community of students and researchers, in 
line with international standards. 

Among the first large-scale initiatives implemented by the Izmirlian Foundation 
in Armenia was the support to the Yerevan State University Library in its 
technical and content enhancement. In 1996 the Foundation played a crucial role 
in the reconstruction and technical upgrade of the library building, which was 
later named in memory of Sarkis and Marie Izmirlian. In 2018, Izmirlian 
Foundation supported the reconstruction of the main lobby of Sarkis and Marie 
Izmirlian Library. In 2019, the Izmirlian Foundation in cooperation with Yerevan 
State University supported the capital renovation of the Philology reading hall 
of the library transforming it into a quality-learning environment as per 
international standards and making it accessible for people with disabilities. 
The library has around 16,000 readers and the renovation of the reading hall has 
significantly increased the flow of students currently hosting from 300 to 400 
people on a daily basis.

With this latest initiative, the Izmirlian Foundation in cooperation with 
Yerevan State University aims at fostering an enabling environment for improved 
information literacy, learning and social cohesion by rehabilitating and 
furnishing Sarkis and Marie Izmirlian Library reading hall of Exact Sciences. 

Project direct beneficiaries include students, professors, researchers of YSU 
faculty of Exact Sciences, and YSU other students as well as students from other 
universities/institutes.

The Izmirlian Foundation has been implementing numerous charitable and 
development projects in education, healthcare, social, innovation and tourism 
sectors in Armenia and Artsakh since 1990 with the aim of supporting the 
socio-economic development of Armenia and Artsakh. The Izmirlian Foundation 
remains committed to continuing to implement varied philanthropic projects 
moving forward in line with Armenia’s ongoing challenges and developments.

Armenian opposition boycotts parliamentary debates on election of new president

Varazdat Torgomian
panorama.am
Armenia – March 2 2022


The two opposition factions in the Armenian parliament on Wednesday boycotted the debates on the election of the country’s new president at a special sitting on Wednesday.

The caretaker parliament speaker, Hakob Arshakyan, said that 65 MPs had nominated High-Tech Minister Vahagn Khachaturyan for president.

After the announcement, MPs from the opposition Hayastan (Armenia) and With Honor factions left the sessions hall.

Earlier, the parliamentary opposition factions said they would not field any presidential candidates.

Addressing the parliament, Khachaturyan thanked the ruling Civil Contract faction MPs for their trust.

“I am confident that we will definitely realize all our visions for Armenia's future, because that is what we are called to do," the candidate said.

"We need wisdom, stability, unity and trust," he added.

Khachaturyan needs 81 votes in the first round, but the Civil Contract faction holds 71 seats in the parliament. In the second round, however, 65 votes in favor are enough to elect a new president.

Armen Sarkissian stepped down as Armenian president on January 23.

Asbarez: California Elected Officials Mark the 34th Anniversary of the Sumgait Pogroms

Varazdat Torgomian
by Contributor

 

 March 1, 2022

 

in Armenia, Artsakh, Featured Main, Latest, News, Top Stories

A house belonging to an Armenian family pillaged by Azeris in Sumgait in 1988

Elected Officials in California marked the 34th anniversary of the Sumgait Massacres by Azerbaijan and urged the Biden Administration to end U.S. military assistance to Azerbaijan, in a series of statements and posts on their social media pages, reported the Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region.

 “On this solemn day of remembrance, we reflect on what the state-sponsored incitement of racist violence can lead to when left unchecked – and deplore the Azerbaijani government’s ongoing institutionalized dehumanization of the Armenian people,” said Nora Hovsepian, Esq, ANCA-WR Chair. “We join with friends of Armenia and advocates of human rights in thanking our elected officials for marking the 34th anniversary of the pogroms and call on the U.S. Government to stop providing military aid to the tyrannical regime in Baku and materially empowering them to continue invading and occupying Artsakh and Armenia,” she continued. 

Congressional Armenian Caucus Vice-Chair Adam Schiff (D-CA) released a statement, where he honored the victims of the pogroms by stating “These are the horrific consequences when aggression and hatred grow unchecked – and it is why, whether these crimes against humanity occurred one year, thirty years, or a hundred years ago, we can never allow them to go unrecognized.” “More than that, it is why the United States must fully step into its role as a defender of democracy and peace around the world. We must not relent in our calls for the safe and unconditional release of the remaining Armenian prisoners of war and captured civilians, for the end of U.S. assistance to the Aliyev regime, and for stronger efforts to support democracy in Armenia and a free, independent Artsakh. So let us pause to remember those who suffered in the atrocities of the Sumgait and Baku pogroms. But let us also recommit ourselves and our nation to doing everything we can, today, to bring liberation to our Armenian brothers and sisters abroad, once and for all,” he continued. 

Fellow member of Congress and Caucus member, Brad Sherman, also issued a statement, honoring the memories of the victims of the Sumgait Pogroms by stating “This stark reminder remains evident today as the government of Azerbaijan continues its state-sponsored policy of aggression against Armenia and Artsakh. The world witnessed the consequences of Azerbaijan’s unchecked hatred against Armenians during the invasion of Artsakh in 2020 as Azeri forces committed horrendous war crimes against Armenian civilians, including women and the elderly, and illegally imprisoned Armenian POWs after the cessation of hostilities. Many POWs are still held by Azerbaijan.” 

“Today marks the 34th anniversary of the Sumgait Pogroms when innocent Armenian civilians were tortured and massacred,” stated CA Congressmember Tony Cárdenas and member of the CA Congressional Armenian Caucus. “As we honor their memory, we continue to call for the safe and unconditional release of all Armenian POWs illegally detained by the Aliyev regime in Azerbaijan,” he continued.

California State Senator Anthony Portantino who became the first elected official from the U.S. to visit  Artsakh since the end of the 44-day war, in November of 2021, shared a photo from his trip in a destroyed residential home and stated “Today we commemorate the tragic pogroms against Armenians in Sumgait/Baku & call attention to decades-long persecution that continues. Unprovoked invasion/aggression against Artsakh by Azerbaijan is state-sponsored hostility against Armenians. It is critical we condemn/speak out.” 

Fellow Senator Melissa Melendez, tweeted “Today marks the 34th anniversary of the first of several government-encouraged massacres to eradicate the Armenian population and cultural influence from Azerbaijan. Injustice should concern everyone. As human hatred destroys life, human charity has the power to preserve it”

Assemblymember Chris Holden, who authored ACR-105 and led the effort to connect California and the Syunik Province as sister states, stated “On February 27, 1988, and for three days to follow, Azerbaijani mobs assaulted and killed Armenians living in Azerbaijan. The pogroms shattered and devastated the Armenian community. This was an eruption of the the years of racist anti-Armenian propaganda by Azerbaijani government, dehumanizing the Armenian residents of Azerbaijan and creating an explosion of mass violence. In 2020, the Azerbaijani authorities incited violence and trauma once again for Armenians living in Armenia and their diaspora. This is why ACR-105 Sister State with Syunik is so important to me. We set precedent for the future with our action or inaction and today, we are creating long-lasting ties to thread forward a better tomorrow. There is power in our solidarity and there is even more so, when we acknowledge the wrongs committed and human rights violations and urge for justice today. I ask the Biden Administration to Zero-out U.S. military assistance to Azerbaijan and strengthen Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act restrictions on U.S. military assistance to Azerbaijan until their ongoing aggression ends.”

LA City Councilmember Kevin De Leon and ANCA-WR endorsed candidate for the 2022 Los Angeles Mayor honored the victims by stating “February 27 marks the somber anniversary of the pogroms committed against Armenians in Sumgait, Baku, Kirovabad, and Maragha by Azerbaijan. I wish to extend my voice to honor the victims of these pogroms. Acts of Armenophobia, however, have continued over the past two decades, including the invasion against the Republic of Artsakh in late 2020, threatening to destroy the very culture of Armenians. I urge the Biden Administration to take swift and decisive action to end ongoing aggressions by Azerbaijan against the Republic of Artsakh, especially in the face of security threats by Russia that aim to destabilize the region.”

Fellow LA City Councilmember, Mitch O’Farrell who represents the Little Armenia neighborhood, stated “Today we pause to remember the gruesome anti-Armenian pogroms that were carried out with unspeakable cruelty in Soviet Azerbaijan. Over several days in 1988, ethnic Armenians in Soviet Azerbaijan were chased down, brutally attacked and killed by violent mobs in the industrial city of Sumgait. People were killed in public places and even in their own homes. These events were the first in a series of additional violent pogroms and clashes that resulted in a mass exodus of Armenians from Soviet Azerbaijan, and eventually a full-scale war in the region. While these events took place in the waning years of the Soviet Union, they reverberate to this day and were matched in cruelty during the recent violent and unprovoked invasion against the Republic of Artsakh. I am deeply proud to represent Little Armenia and so many in the Armenian community. Today, I join the Armenian-American community in calling on the Biden Administration to end U.S. military assistance to Azerbaijan and strengthen Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act restrictions on U.S. military assistance to that country.”

The Armenian community, which had been instrumental to the social, economic, and cultural fabric of the society, was subjected to the most violent massacres deportation, leaving behind their ancestral homes and property from 1988-1992. The anti-Armenian pogroms were the culmination of decades-long discrimination, harassment, and persecution. The first anti-Armenian massacre was carried out in the industrial city of Sumgait, not far from the capital city of Baku. Although the official Soviet tally listed 26 victims, according to unofficial sources and eyewitness accounts, the death toll was significantly higher and exceeded several hundreds. During the course of three days, from February 26-29, 1988, Azerbaijani mobs, assisted and encouraged by the country’s authorities, massacred, burned, raped, mutilated and harassed ethnic Armenians whose personal information were provided beforehand.

Armenian homes were looted and destroyed, while the large-scale killing of Armenians were carried out indiscriminately, without regard to age or gender. Following the Sumgait tragedy, the pogroms in Kirovabad (Gandzak), Shamakhi, Shamkhor and other cities resumed in November of 1988, culminating with the heinous pogrom against Armenians in Baku in January 1990, leaving a more than 500 Armenians dead. The Baku Pogrom marked the final exodus of Armenians in Azerbaijan.

The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region is the largest and most influential nonpartisan Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues in pursuit of the Armenian Cause.

Armenia’s ruling party won’t join bill condemning Shushi Declaration

Varazdat Torgomian
Feb 21 2022
February 21, 2022 – 11:46 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Lawmakers from the ruling Civil Contract party will not endorse a bill drafted by the opposition Armenia bloc, condemning the Shushi Declaration signed by Turkey and Azerbaijan in Shushi, the Nagorno-Karabakh city that went under Azerbaijan's control during the war in fall 2020, Pastinfo reports.

The parliament's Standing Committee on Foreign Relations on Monday, February 21 discussed the draft, with opposition MP Andranik Tevanyan maintaining that the Shushi Declaraion is evidence of the "ambitious goals of the Turkish-Azerbaijani tandem" which "is a threat to the existence of Armenia and Artsakh."

Gurgen Arsenyan from Civil Contract said, however, that his party will not join the initiative, arguing that the government has already unveiled its position. According to him, the Foreign Ministry and the National Assembly "pursue a common foreign policy."

"A key point in the Armenian Government's program is the establishment of a lasting peace in the region, in order to achieve this goal, as well as in order not to hinder the process, the Armenian authorities pursue a foreign policy that takes into account all risks and opportunities," Arsenyan said.

Azerbaijani MPs in Yerevan – Euronest meeting amid protests

Varazdat Torgomian
Feb 23 2022

  • JAMnews
  • Yerevan

Azerbaijani MPs visited Armenia

Meetings of bureaus and commissions of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly were held in Armenia. They were attended by deputies of the European Parliament, as well as Ukraine, Georgia, and Azerbaijan. In parallel, protests were held in Yerevan amid the arrival of Azerbaijani deputies. They were held by participants of the 2020 44-day war in Karabakh and relatives of those who died during the hostilities and opposition activists.

Meanwhile, Azerbaijani MPs Tahir Mirkishili and Sultan Mammadov at the beginning of the Euronest meetings thanked Armenia for the warm welcome and said that they had brought with them positive signals from Baku.

The Euronest Assembly is a parliamentary platform established in 2003 to promote the political and economic integration of the European Union and the countries of the Eastern Partnership. The EU Eastern Partnership project includes Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. Meetings of the Parliamentary Assembly are hosted based on the principle of rotation. Now it is Armenia’s turn.

Prior to that, Euronest met in Yerevan in 2015, when the Azerbaijani delegation refused to participate in the meetings.

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During the meetings, Azerbaijani deputies made statements that caused additional tension in the Armenian society. In particular, Sultan Mammadov claimed that all Armenian prisoners of war were returned to their homeland:

“Now there is a discussion, within the framework of the international law, about those who got arrested after the war had ended”.

The Armenian side categorically disagrees with this. Both the authorities and human rights activists argue that, according to international conventions, there is no distinction between those taken prisoner during the war and after it. In addition, they emphasize that the document on the cessation of hostilities signed in November 2020 provides for the return of all prisoners without exception.

Mammadov also repeated the thesis of the President of Azerbaijan that the Karabakh conflict was settled. Neither the authorities nor the society in Armenia agree with this either.

At the same time, the Azerbaijani MP spoke about the importance of the Armenian-Azerbaijani dialogue. He stressed that in order to establish peace between the two countries, cooperation within the framework of the Eastern Partnership is also necessary. And Azerbaijan, according to him, is ready to start discussing issues on the demarcation of borders with Armenia:

“Azerbaijan has unfrozen all relations between our countries, which will bring peace and security, prosperity and economic development”.

Azerbaijani deputies.

Another Azerbaijani MP, Tair Mirkishili, spoke about respect for the territorial integrity of neighboring countries and the rights of peoples. He stated that he visited his home in Nagorno-Karabakh last year:

“If you saw what happened there, what condition my house was in, you would understand how sad it all is. This is Hiroshima in the Caucasus. You should have seen what your soldiers did to my country”.

According to Mirkishili, steps need to be taken to avoid conflicts in the future, as they result in loss of life:

“We do not have racist aspirations, we do not want the use of force in the future. All this is already in the past, now we need to talk about the future. A peace agreement, for example, would be a good chance to build that relationship”.

He announced that he sees opportunities for Armenian-Azerbaijani cooperation both within the framework of the European Union and the 3 + 3 format created at the initiative of Turkey at the end of last year.

Protests began even before the arrival of Azerbaijani deputies. On February 21, a group of war veterans blocked the road near the Zvartnots airport. They demanded not to let the Azerbaijani delegation into the country:

“When hundreds of thousands of Armenians have the opportunity to return to their homes in Baku, then we will discuss the possibility of their [Azerbaijanis] participation in the events in Yerevan”.

“We have gathered here because we are not going to be friends with the Turks [Azerbaijanis]. The soldiers stand in combat positions to prevent them from advancing, but here they are allowed to come and drink coffee”, said one of the participants in the action.

The police managed to reopen the road after several unsuccessful attempts.

Then a protest was organized in the center of Yerevan, near the Armenia Marriott Hotel, where Azerbaijani deputies stayed. The protesters said that instead of ensuring the safety of Azerbaijanis, the authorities should have refused to hold Euronest in Yerevan.

Protest in front of the building where the meeting was held

On February 22, dozens of protesters gathered in front of the sports and concert complex where the meetings were being held. Former member of the Armenian parliament Naira Zohrabyan also joined the activists.

She stated that the Azerbaijani deputies are lying about “not having any Armenian prisoners of war in Azerbaijan”. According to Naira Zohrabyan, she herself was sent footage of how prisoners are being tortured in an Azerbaijani prison:

“There are still dozens of prisoners of war in the prisons of Azerbaijan, and Azerbaijanis claim that there are no more prisoners of war left in prisons, they are criminals”.

According to the former MP, the Armenian side should have included the following issues on the agenda of Euronest:

  • return of prisoners of war
  • crimes committed by Azerbaijan during the 44-day war,
  • protection of the Armenian cultural heritage in the territories controlled by Azerbaijan.

It would be difficult, Zohrabyan believes, since the agenda had already been approved. However, in her opinion, it was necessary to try, but there were no such efforts from the Armenian side.

Another protest took place late in the evening, after the end of the work of the parliamentary assembly, once again near the hotel where the Azerbaijani deputies stayed. The police tried to disperse the participants of the action, organized by the youth wing of the Dashnaktsutyun party. More than a dozen people were detained.

The head of the Armenian delegation to Euronest, deputy from the ruling Civil Contract faction Maria Karapetyan, assured journalists that all the problems that concern society regarding Armenian-Azerbaijani relations are also important for the authorities.

Maria Karapetyan

She listed issues that are considered paramount for the ruling party. First of all, according to her, regional communications should be unblocked:

“The second important issue is the demarcation and delimitation of the borders of Armenia and Azerbaijan. We believe that the armed forces of Azerbaijan should withdraw from the territory of the Republic of Armenia, after which the ice will break on this issue. As for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, it has not been settled yet”.

Among other priorities, Maria Karapetyan also mentioned the return of prisoners and the protection of cultural monuments that remained in these territories and came under the control of Azerbaijan.

The US State Department advises its citizens to leave Belarus immediately

Varazdat Torgomian

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 16:29,

YEREVAN, 26 FEBRUARY, ARMENPRESS. , ARMENPRESS reports the US Embassy in Minsk said in a statement.

"The State Department advises US citizens not to travel to Belarus and urges US citizens in Belarus to leave the country immediately," the embassy said.

It is noted that the country can be departed from the Minsk airport in certain international destinations, the land borders with Lithuania, Latvia, Poland are open, they work as usual.

Russian military enters Kyiv Oblast

Varazdat Torgomian

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 15:56,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 24, ARMENPRESS. The Russian military entered the Kyiv Oblast, according to the Ukrainian border guards.

The Ukrainian border guards issued a statement saying the Russian military equipment crossed through the Vilcha checkpoint, where the Ukrainian armed forces engaged in battle.

“In addition, artillery bombardment using Grad was carried out from the deployment location of Mlachovka department of the border guards of Zhitomir detachment,” it said, adding that border guards of Ukraine are being deployed in reserve positions depending on the situation and are operating in partnership with the Ukrainian Armed Forces and National Guards.