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Author: Vicken Chmshkian

Culture: Lusik Qoshyan’s archive solemnly handed over to the Museum of Literature and Art

Vicken Chmshkian
Panorama, Armenia
Sept 3 2021

The solemn ceremony of handing over the archive of People's Artist of the Armenian SSR Lusik Qoshyan took place on Friday at the Museum of Literature and Art. The ceremony was followed by an exhibition and concert dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Qoshyan, featuring works by the famous singer. 

People's Artist of Armenia and the Armenian SSR Lusik Qoshyan was born in 1921 in Baku. She was been the leading soloist of the Armenian National Song and Dance Ensemble in 1938-1961 and the soloist of Hay Philarmony in 1961-1984. 

Qoshyan has been awarded with Medal of Honour and  title of People's Artist of the Armenian SSR in 1961. The famous singer died in Yerevan in 1984.

MP: The impression is that Armenia’s defense minister lives in ‘completely different reality’

Vicken Chmshkian
Panorama, Armenia
Aug 30 2021

MP Tigran Abrahamyan from the opposition I’m Honored (Pativ Unem) bloc deplored the conduct of Armenia’s Defense Minister Arshak Karapetyan, saying he lives in a “completely different reality”.

“The impression is that the Armenian defense minister lives in a completely different reality. I do not know whether he took up such a role on his own or by other people’s advice, but it is obvious that restoring the army's combat readiness or image should not begin with creating an exaggerated image of a minister. It doesn't lead to anywhere,” he wrote on Facebook on Sunday.

The lawmaker recalled that before and during last year’s war in Artsakh, Harutyunyan served as the prime minister's adviser on military affairs, he was the first deputy chief of the General Staff during the May 12 Azerbaijani invasion and the incumbent minister during the crisis on the Goris-Kapan interstate road.

“Moreover, on the same day the Defense Ministry reports an intense shootout in Sotk and the wounding of an Armenian serviceman in Artsakh's Taghavard, whereas the minister, acting as a "strong guy", releases a video of how he fires from different types of weapons.

“The conduct of the defense minister makes me remind him that "the muscles should be shown" at the border when restraining the enemy and delivering the necessary blows, restoring the army's combat effectiveness and establishing the necessary defense system. In all other cases, such a behavior is unacceptable and does not lead to anywhere,” Abrahamyan said.

Armenian Ombudsman in Gegharkunik province on fact-finding mission

Vicken Chmshkian

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 14:53, 29 July, 2021

YEREVAN, JULY 29, ARMENPRESS. Ombudsman of Armenia Arman Tatoyan has visited Gegharkunik province for conducting fact-finding activities, his Office told Armenpress.

Accompanied by Vardenis Mayor Aram Melkonyan and the representative of the Governor’s Office, the Ombudsman is meeting with the locals, listens to their issues of concern.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Forbes lists Armenia among seven impressive destinations to visit

Vicken Chmshkian
Public Radio of Armenia

Forbes has included Armenia among seven impressive destinations that can be visited despite Covid-19. The publication advises to taste the oldest cognac in the world.

“History says that this wine brandy was already distilled in those lands in the time of the Babylonians. Ararat Cognac – which is named after the mountain located on the border between Armenia and Turkey – gives off an aroma of nuts, spices, dark chocolate and vanilla. The secret lies in its production, through local grape varieties with unique properties, thanks to the microclimate of the Ararat Valley, and an ancient method of double distillation and aging in Armenian oak barrels,” author Eva Pla writes.

“The cognac tasting experience is linked to stories and legends such as the one that says that during the Yalta conference, Stalin offered Winston Churchill a glass of Ararat to accompany his cigar and the English president loved it. From then on, Churchil received a shipment of Dvin brandy every month. On one occasion the prime minister noticed that the quality of his cognac delivery had deteriorated and informed Stalin. The coupage master, Margar Sedrakyan, was found to have been exiled to Siberia, and his absence was noticeable in the quality of the production. Stalin ordered the tmaster to return to his work and provided him with all the necessary conditions to return to his normal life,” the article continues.

At this time, Armenia can be reached with a negative PCR performed up to 72 hours before the trip.

The Forbes offers to rest in a 12th century villa in Gozo (Malta), feeling Darwin” in the Galapagos Islands (Ecuador), visit the Namib Desert (Namibia), climb the oldest mountains in Ireland, stroll through the troglodyte city of Vardzia (Georgia), see sunrise and sunset in the Salar de Uyuni (Bolivia),

 

Ethnic Armenian athlete in Georgia’s team for 2020 Tokyo Olympics

Vicken Chmshkian

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 12:26,

YEREVAN, JULY 19, ARMENPRESS. Ethnic Armenian shot putter Benik Abrahamyan will participate in the 2020 Olympic Games representing Georgia.

He participated in the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Benik Abrahamyan is a multiple champion and record holder of Georgia.

Georgia will be represented by 35 athletes at Tokyo Olympics.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Armenia, Iran discuss construction process of 3rd power transmission line

Vicken Chmshkian

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 14:18,

YEREVAN, JULY 10, ARMENPRESS. General Director of the High Voltage Electric Networks CJSC of Armenia Hayk Harutyan and director of Sunir, Mansur Saeidi, held a video talk on July 7 discussing the construction process of the Armenia-Iran 3rd high voltage power transmission line, the Armenian Embassy in Iran reported.

The sides agreed to regularly exchange information and organize mutual visits.

The Embassy of Armenia in Iran also participated in the online discussion.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

“Armenia-Canada cooperation has great potential for furtherance” – Nikol Pashinyan congratulates Justin Trudeau

Vicken Chmshkian

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 10:46, 1 July, 2021

YEREVAN, JULY 1, ARMENPRESS. Caretaker Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan sent a congratulatory message to Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau on the country’s national holiday, Pashinyan’s Office told Armenpress.

The message reads:

“Dear Mr. Prime Minister,

I warmly congratulate you and the friendly Canadian people on your national holiday – Canada Day.

The friendly relations between our two countries have always been based on shared values and mutual respect. The vibrant Armenian community in Canada and our historical affinities add special relish to these ties.

I am confident that the Armenia-Canada cooperation has great potential for furtherance, and through joint efforts we will be able to outline and implement programs of mutual interest in many spheres.

The entire world faced difficulties and challenges last year. The Armenian people experienced the horrors of war in 2020. I would like to thank the Government of Canada for its valuable efforts aimed at reinstating peace and providing assistance to those affected by the conflict.

I am hopeful that as an advocate of international law and global order, Canada will continue its constructive policy in an effort to settle the unresolved issues and the security threats available in the region.

Taking this opportunity, I wish you robust health and every success, as well as prosperity and sustained progress – to the friendly people of Canada.

Please accept, Mr. Prime Minister, the assurances of my highest consideration.”

Federal parliamentary friends call on Australian government to publicly condemn Azerbaijani invasion of Armenia

Vicken Chmshkian
Panorama, Armenia

The co-convenors of the Federal Australia-Armenia Inter-Parliamentary Union (Friendship Group), Trent Zimmerman MP and Joel Fitzgibbon MP have appealed to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon. Marise Payne to release a statement regarding Azerbaijan’s ongoing invasion of the Republic of Armenia, reported the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU).

Member for North Sydney, Zimmerman – who Chairs the Australian Parliament's House of Representatives Committee on Health, Ageing & Sport – and Member for Hunter, Fitzgibbon – Australia's former Defence Minister – wrote to Minister Payne voicing concern over the incursion and provocations perpetrated by Azerbaijan's military.

The letter co-signed by Zimmerman and Fitzgibbon, who are also members of the Australian Friends of Artsakh network, read: "We write to express our concern over the incursion of Azerbaijani forces into Armenian sovereign territory."

"We appeal to the Australian government to similarly express its concern and to take every available opportunity to call for a withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops." "We further ask the Australian government to work with the international community to secure an end to Azerbaijani aggression towards the people of Armenia," the statement added.

It is reported that Azerbaijan's invasion has so far killed one Armenian serviceman defending his country's sovereign borders and led to the illegal capture of several others. Despite international calls, these hostages have not yet been released by Baku, in addition to some 200 POWs who were captured during the 2020 Artsakh War and are yet to be returned under the terms of November's ceasefire agreement.

The letter calls on Foreign Minister Payne to condemn the provocative actions of Azerbaijan and calls for the withdrawal of Azerbaijani military personnel and cessation of all aggression towards the people of Armenia, which are sentiments shared by several prominent international leaders, including the President of France Emmanuel Macron, U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez, China’s Deputy Foreign Minister Le Yucheng, the Canadian Foreign Ministry, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs and the European Union.

"Australia must join many in the international community who have publicly condemned the ongoing hostility of the Azerbaijani regime, which has consistently proven since beginning their September 2020 offensive against Artsakh, that it has no intentions to bring peace in the South Caucasus," said ANC-AU Executive Director, Haig Kayserian.

"Azerbaijan has not returned Armenian prisoners of war like they signed they would in November 2020, they have not stopped their advance like that famous agreement stipulates, and instead, they have entered the internationally recognised borders of the Republic of Armenia, capitalising on the impunity offered by the international community."

Mock lawsuits against Armenian POWs in Azerbaijan initiated in gross violation of international humanitarian law

Vicken Chmshkian
Public Radio of Armenia
Mock lawsuits against Armenian POWs in Azerbaijan initiated in gross violation of international humanitarian law

Armenia has drawn the attention of the UN Human Rights Council to the mock lawsuits against Armenian Prisoners of War in Azerbaijan. 

Addressing the 46th session of the Council, Armenia’s Permanent Representative Andranik Hovhannisyan said ” European Court of Human Rights adopted 201 interim measures with regard to the combatants and civilians of Armenian origin detained by Azerbaijan, but the latter refused to acknowledge the detention of most of them, failed to meaningfully cooperate with the said Court and launched proceedings against 58 detainees, even though the internati9nal humanitarisn law (IHL) specifically requires to set PoWs free after hostilities.”

“Should any charges be pushed, IHL prescribes fair trails based on presumption of innocence and right to be tried by an independent and impartial court,” the Ambassador noted.

“Azerbaijan violates all these norms. It failed to provide prior notification about judicial proceedings, to specify the charges, as well as to extend appropriate legal assistance to the detainees. None of them is represented by a lawyer of their choice in a country where independence of courts is basically non-existent. The judge, who presides over the trials, is notorious for the politically-motivated sentences imposed upon several Azerbaijani HRDs,” the Ambassador noted.

IHe stressed that it is beyond reasonable doubt that this mistreatment is a flagrant denial of justice and hostage taking in gross violation of IHL.

Armenia bloc to continue struggling for power, is not coming just for mandates – Kocharyan

Vicken Chmshkian
Aysor, Armenia
June 22 2021

Read Aysor.am inTelegram

The issue of taking the power and becoming the prime minister will continue being on our agenda, leader of “Armenia” bloc Robert Kocharyan said at a news conference today.

“What else for are we entering the parliament? Do you think for mandates?” Kocharyan noted.

The second president said the issue may drop form their agenda if the incumbent authorities resign and they see that national authorities have come to power.