Author: Vatche Chakhmakhchian

Armenian historian: We must not allow our destiny to be determined in a completely different place, by various papers

Vatche Chakhmakhchian
Panorama, Armenia
Jan 9 2021
 
 
"I do not accept the concept of defeat of an army, state or people, I accept the concept of the defeat of taking the wrong path and adopting the wrong system of values, poor policies and wrong vision of the future,” former Director of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute, Doctor of History Hayk Demoyan said on Saturday, referring to the recent 44-day war in Artsakh.
 
Speaking at an urgent meeting of intellectuals, the historian said Armenia is going through a national catastrophe, which has deeper roots than people could imagine.
 
“But today, on a global scale, we need to talk about where we are heading to, whether we are going to choose the already existing path to move forward, or we really need to seriously reconsider it. I feel pity for our children who want to believe in a completely different system of values and want to live a completely different life. We cannot impose the old and defeatist psychology on them. We have at least known what it means to be a winner, we know how sweet it is,” he said, adding all efforts should be exerted to this direction.
 
Hayk Demoyan said Armenia has found itself in a deep crisis, stressing the need to find ways out of it.
 
“We must not allow this to happen again, we must not allow our future and destiny to be determined in a completely different place and by various papers. We must show our potential, which is not measured by money, but by our actions,” Hayk Demoyan said.
 

An Armenian Community Staple, Hye Quality Bakery Closes In Fresno After 63 Years

Vatche Chakhmakhchian
Jan 8 2021
By SOREATH HOK


Paula and Sammy Ganimian behind the counter on the last day of business at Hye Quality Bakery

Hye Quality Bakery in downtown Fresno closed at the end of December after 63 years in business. In this audio postcard, Sammy and Paula Ganimian tell FM89’s Soreath Hok about the role this iconic business has played in the Armenian community.


https://www.kvpr.org/post/armenian-community-staple-hye-quality-bakery-closes-fresno-after-63-years#stream/0

Not Just Careless: Australian weapons part turns up on Armenian battlefield

Vatche Chakhmakhchian
Michael West Media, Australia
Jan 4 2021

by Michelle Fahy | Jan 5, 2021 | Government

Image by Alex Anstey

How did an Australian-made transponder, a key part of drone technology, end up in the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan where human rights abuses are prolific? Michelle Fahy investigates the murky trail of the drone bit and the cagey response of the Defence establishment from DFAT to DoD to Minister Marise Payne. 

An Australian-made transponder has been found in a downed Azerbaijani military drone in the most recent eruption of Azerbaijan’s long-running war with Armenia over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The transponder was manufactured by Queensland company Microair Avionics. Microair has refused to disclose the identity of the buyer despite knowing this information via the unique serial code. Furthermore, after Michael West Media began making enquiries, Microair deleted from its website a list of its military industry “partners” for unmanned aerial systems (UASs).

Attacks by both sides of the conflict are likely to have violated the laws of war, with reports in international media and by Human Rights Watch describing civilians targeted by indiscriminate bombing. With its well-publicised use of armed drones, however, Azerbaijan dominated the air war.

The UN arms trade treaty requires Australia to ensure it does not authorise the export of weapons, or components of weapons, to countries where they are likely to be used to commit serious human right violations. The treaty also “encourages” the reassessment of an earlier authorisation if new information becomes available.

Transponders transmit the position and altitude of aircraft and assist in identifying them on air traffic control radar. In drones, transponders provide collision avoidance and situational awareness capabilities, helping the drone maintain a safe distance from other drones or aircraft.

On 1 October, a photo was posted on Twitter (below) indicating two drones present at a single attack – one drone taking footage as another one flew below it. In this situation, a transponder would help ensure the drones did not collide.

Armenia bracing for third wave of coronavirus

Vatche Chakhmakhchian
JAM News
Dec 30 2020

    JAMnews, Yerevan
 

In the second half of January, another uptick in coronavirus infections is expected in Armenia due to active contacts between people during the New Year holidays, Minister of Health Arsen Torosyan announced earlier today.

Now ‘there is a relative stabilization’ following the two previous peaks of infections in the summer and autumn. Moreover, the second aggravation was caused by the second Karabakh war.

For a long time, Armenia was tenth in the world in cases per million population, ahead of neighboring countries. Now the situation has changed. Armenia has dropped to the thirteenth line, while Georgia has rocketed up the list, becoming eighth.

On December 30, 582 new cases of infection were registered in Armenia. In total, 158,878 infected people have been infected in the country. 141,844 have recovered, and 2807 infected have died.

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The third wave, which, according to doctors’ forecasts, is expected in the second half of January, will be “softer” than the second, that is, the incidence rates will not be so high.

Health Minister Torosyan noted that because of the second Karabakh war, it was impossible to comply with sanitary standards, which led to thousands of cases a day. However, he noted, in the post-war period the situation is improving, with many hospitals returning to normal work, but are braced for a third wave:

Employees of the Armenian Ministry of Health, including Arsen Torosyan, were vaccinated with the Russian Sputnik V vaccine

Russia, US uncover criminal network smuggling cocaine from South America to Russia, Europe

Vatche Chakhmakhchian

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 12:45,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS. The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) and the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) under the Justice Department have conducted a special operation to uncover a criminal network that was engaged in trafficking cocaine from South America to Russia and Europe. The FSB said 330 kilograms of cocaine possibly worth 1 billion rubles ($13.56 million) if sold had been seized, reports TASS.

“The Federal Security Service jointly with the Drug Enforcement Administration under the US Department of Justice conducted a multi-stage international special operation to stop illegal activities of a transnational criminal group specializing on trafficking cocaine from South America to Russia and other European states”, the FSB reported.

According to the special service, at least 330 kg were confiscated, criminal cases were launched against the criminal network members, they were placed in custody.

“The drug traffickers could have made 1 billion rubles by selling the seized drug”, the FSB clarified.

UNESCO is awaiting Azerbaijan’s Response regarding Nagorno-Karabakh mission

Vatche Chakhmakhchian
India Education Diary
Dec 21 2020
By

India Education Diary Bureau Admin

–

December 21, 2020

In its press release of 20 November, UNESCO reiterated countries’ obligation to protect cultural heritage in terms of the 1954 Convention for the Protection of cultural property in the event of armed conflict to which both Armenia and Azerbaijan are parties. The Organization proposed to carry out an independent mission of experts to draw a preliminary inventory of significant cultural properties as a first step towards the effective safeguarding of the region’s heritage.

The proposal received the full support of the Co-Chairs of the Minsk Group and the agreement in principle of the representatives of both Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Meeting at UNESCO on 10 and 11 December 2020, the members of the intergovernmental Committee of The Hague Convention of 1954 for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and its Second Protocol (1999), welcomed this initiative and confirmed the need for a mission to take stock of the situation regarding cultural properties in and around Nagorno-Karabakh. The Committee requested each of the parties to render the mission possible.

Since 20 November, UNESCO made proposals and led in-depth consultations with a view to organizing the mission which, in the terms of the Convention, requires the agreement of both parties.

Ernesto Ottone, Assistant UNESCO Director-General for Cultural, said: “Only the response of Azerbaijan is still awaited for UNESCO to proceed with the sending of a mission to the field. The authorities of Azerbaijan have been approached several times without success so far. Every passing week makes the assessment of the situation concerning cultural property more difficult, not least due to the weather which is expected to become harsher in the coming weeks. The window of opportunity that was opened by the cease fire must not be closed again. The safeguarding of heritage is an important condition for the establishment of lasting peace. We are therefore expecting Baku to respond without delay so that the constructive discussions held over recent weeks can be turned into action.”



Protests demanding Pashinyan’s resignation being held in Yerevan

Vatche Chakhmakhchian
Panorama, Armenia

Dec 25 2020



Civil disobedience actions demanding the resignation of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan started in Yerevan on Friday evening.

Protesters blocked traffic on Baghramyan Avenue in city center.

"We saw police using force during yesterday’s protest. Guys, don’t do it! I will greet that policeman as I would greet an Azeri: "assalamu alaikum". Don’t dare to treat our citizens in such a rude manner," one of the protesters said, addressing police.

At the same time, clashes erupted between protesters and other passersby. One of the demonstrators Babken Harutyunyan urged the participants of the rally not to give in to provocations.

"Citizens are also responsible for the fact that we still have a traitor prime minister. People who support betrayal are responsible for that," Harutyunyan said.

Police officers used force against protesters and eventually managed to open the road, detaining two demonstrators.

Another group of activists blocked the street leading to Saralanj with trucks. “Today we are fighting for our dignity and self-esteem," one of the young protesters said.

Anti-Pashinyan demonstrators also blocked the intersection of Sayat-Nova and Abovyan Streets, but police forcibly opened the road after a few minutes. 




21 km section of Goris-Kapan highway passes through disputed area – Armenian Defense Ministry

Vatche Chakhmakhchian
Public Radio of Armenia
Dec 19 2020
The 21-kilometer section of the Goris-Kapan highway in the Syunik province passes through disputed areas in some places, the Ministry of Defense reports.

According to the agreement reached, Russian border guards will be stationed on the Goris-David Bek road section to ensure uninterrupted traffic.

The security of the 21km-long section of the Goris-Kapan highway, which passes through the disputed area, will be ensured by the Russian border guards.

On the line of contact the Armenian border troops will be deployed on the Armenian side, and the Azerbaijani border troops on the Azerbaijani side.

A whole complex of measures will be taken to ensure the safety of the mentioned road section.

Additional clarifications will be provided in the coming days.

Prisoner exchange process continues between Armenia, Azerbaijan, says Russian diplomat

Vatche Chakhmakhchian
TASS, Russia
Dec 16 2020
On Monday, 12 people returned to the Azerbaijani capital of Baku on a Russian military plane, while Azerbaijan sent 44 people back

MOSCOW, December 16. /TASS/. The prisoner exchange process continues between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a briefing on Wednesday.


"The prisoner exchange process continues," she said in response to a question.

On Monday, 12 people returned to the Azerbaijani capital of Baku on a Russian military plane, while Azerbaijan sent 44 people back. Russian peacekeepers did a lot of preparatory work with both parties to make the exchange happen.

Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27, with intense battles raging in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The conflict over the disputed territory, primarily populated by ethnic Armenians, broke out in February 1988 after the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region announced its withdrawal from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic. In 1992-1994, tensions boiled over and exploded into large-scale military action for control over the enclave and seven adjacent territories after Azerbaijan lost control of them.

On November 9, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint statement on a complete ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh starting from November 10. The Russian leader said that Azerbaijan and Armenia would maintain the positions that they had held and Russian peacekeepers would be deployed to the region. In accordance with the statement, the parties need to carry out an "all-for-all" prisoner exchange.


Artsakh Government’s structure to change – Public Radio of Armenia

Vatche Chakhmakhchian
Public Radio of Armenia
Dec 18 2020
Artsakh Government’s structure to change

President of the Artsakh Republic Arayik Harutyunyan has signed a decree on changing the structure of the Government of the Republic.

According to the decree, the following structure has been defined:

1) State Minister.
2) Ministry of Labor, Social Migration;
3) Ministry of Health
4) Ministry of Justice;
5) Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
6) Ministry of Economy and Agriculture;
7) Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports;
8) Ministry of Defense
9) Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure;
10) Ministry of Urban Development
11) Ministry of Finance

From now on, the powers of the State Minister of the Artsakh Republic will be exercised by the Minister of Finance of the Republic.

And the new structure of other public administration bodies of the Republic of Artsakh is defined as follows:

1) National Security Service.
2) State Emergency Service.
3) Cadastre and State Property Management Committee;
4) Police.
5) State Revenue Committee.

The Government of the Republic of Artsakh has been instructed to make relevant decisions arising from the decree.