Author: Zhanna Nahapetian

Artsakh has nothing to "lower", it has redlines it will never cross – David Babayan

Zhanna Nahapetian
ARMINFO
Armenia –
Marianna Mkrtchyan

ArmInfo.Artsakh has nothing to "lower". It has the redlines that it will never cross, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Artsakh David Babayan stated at a  Facebook conference held by the Azatutyun Radio in response to a  question about a need to agree to a lower status for  Nagorno-Karabakh. 

In response, he said: "And who is the international community? The  concept of international community is most sophisticated. One of the  members of the international community, Azerbaijan, claims no bars at  all exist nor is there a Nagorno-Karabakh problem. Another member of  the international community, Armenia, is saying: here is Artsakh. The  international has not nor can it have a common opinion on the issue,  especially now that the world has entered the era of barefaced  geopolitics," Mr Babayan said. The concepts of human rights or  democracy are being disregarded, he added. 

Some of the western countries are overtly supporting Azerbaijan,  others are indifferent and still others are supporting the Armenian  side.   

In this context, Mr Babayan highlighted the importance of reasonable  reckoning and balanced actions in defense of Armenian national  interests. 

"You see that we have no room for lowering the bar. Why was the  international community silent for the 44 days when we were being  massacred? We must defend our interests instead of thinking of  getting dividends from some states or others. We have nothing to  lower, we have redlines. There is no turning back," Mr Babayan said. 

He calls for understanding Azerbaijan's nature. Why is Azerbaijan  refusing to recognize Artsakh now? It has much more now that it once  dreamt of, does it not? This conflict has no solution or a balance of  forces is a solution. 

The international community is divided. It is not any longer  controlled by one or two centers, as it is a multipolar world now. 

As to Russia's position, Mr Babayan recalled Russia's explicit  statement – a more explicit that the ones by the United States and  France (the two other OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs). Specifically,  Moscow stated that border delimitation and demarcation between  Armenia and Azerbaijan has nothing in common with Nagorno-Karabakh,  which is right.   

As to the possibility of Artsakh applying for joining Russia, Mr  Babayan said Stepanakert's only agenda is retaining Artsakh's  statehood and having it recognized. 

As to why Artsakh is not joining Armenia, Mr Babayan noted that  joining Armenia remains a top priority.  "But the rules of  geopolitics turn out to be such. Azerbaijan did its best to present  the conflict as a territorial one, but we had not the necessary  potential to make our voice heard." The world is dominated by  geopolitical interests and biased approaches, with "some allowed and  others prohibited." 

Speaking in Parliament this, Armenia's premier said:   "The  international community is telling us straightforwardly now:  being  the world's only country refusing to recognize Turkey's ally  Azerbaijan's territorial integrity is a great threat not only to  Artsakh, but also to Armenia. The international community is telling  us again now: request a lower status for Nagorno-Karabakh, and you  will enjoy international unanimity on Armenia and Artsakh. Otherwise,  we request you not to hope for us not because we are unwilling to  help, but because we are unable to."  

Armenpress: Armenia wants to give strategic nature to relations with Georgia – expert

Zhanna Nahapetian

Armenia wants to give strategic nature to relations with Georgia – expert

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 17:28,

YEREVAN, MAY 14, ARMENPRESS. Armenian and Georgian experts overall highly value the inter-state relations and particularly the political dialogue between the two countries ahead of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.

During a press conference today, convened on this occasion, senior expert at Orbeli analytical-research center Johnny Melikian highlighted the necessity of deepening the Armenian-Georgian relations and raising them to a strategic level.

“We need to make greater efforts for the development of the relations between the two countries, Armenia and Georgia. The two Christian nations must stand by one another and support each other in this big and complex region. I not only mean the South Caucasus, but also the broader region”, he said.

The expert noted that at this new period of the inter-state relations the political dialogue between Armenia and Georgia has always been active and dynamic, but in the past one and a half month the Armenian-Georgian mutual visits have been activated in an unprecedented level. In particular, the delegation led by the Georgian Minister of Internal Affairs Vakhtang Gomelauri arrived in Armenia, the Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan visited Georgia, the Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili arrived in Armenia on an official visit, the conference of the Armenian and Georgian justice ministers was held in Tbilisi.

“This shows that on the one hand we are making friendship, and on the other hand we study each other’s experience, particularly, the reforms carried out in Georgia. The political dialogue between Yerevan and Tbilisi is on a high level, the mutual relations are friendly as it is stated in conceptual documents. But it is very important to note that in the past years the leadership of Armenia announces that the Armenian-Georgian relations have a strategic significance. With this Yerevan hints to its partners of Tbilisi that Armenia wants to give a strategic nature to those relations”, he said.

Georgian political scientist Vasily Papava said that in fact the relations between the Armenian and Georgian nations have a history of 30 centuries, in other words about three thousand years, which, according to him, is a very serious base for the development of the inter-state ties in all areas. The Georgian expert positively assesses the current trends of the high-level political dialogue and the intensification of the mutual partnership in commercial, transportation sectors.

“The mutual visits of the high-ranking officials are the vivid proof of the trust between the leaderships of the two countries, the establishment of closer relations in different areas and the readiness to implement new projects”, Vasily Papava said.

The diplomatic relations between Armenia and Georgia were established on July 17, 1992.

 

Reporting by Aram Sargsyan




His Holiness Aram I receives Armenian and Russian Ambassadors to Lebanon

Zhanna Nahapetian
Public Radio of Armenia
, 22:01

 

On Friday, May 13th, 2022, His Holiness Aram I received the Russian Ambassador to Lebanon, Alexander Rudakov, and the Armenian Ambassador to Lebanon, Vahagn Atabekyan respectively, in Antelias.

Armenia and the war in Ukraine were the focus of the hour-long discussion with the Russian Ambassador. His Holiness presented his ideas and concerns.

Ambassador Rudakov, in turn, clarified Russia’s position on the Ukraine issue and Russia’s effort to seek mutually understandable solutions between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

It should be noted that a few days ago His Holiness had received a personal letter from the head of the Russian Church, Patriarch Kirill, with whom Catholicos Aram I has been friends for many years.

In the afternoon, the Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to Lebanon, Vahagn Atabekian, also visited the Patriarch. The meeting was an occasion to make a general reference to the issues concerning Armenia.

Karabakh, the Armenian historical province of Artsakh

Zhanna Nahapetian
Argentina – May 6 2022
May 6, 2022

 

in World

Of course, it may seem strange that the ambassador of another country, in this case Azerbaijan, refers to my reply letter to the Turkish ambassador.

It would be if these two countries had not publicly declared that they are “one nation, two states”, if they had not pursued the same Armenophobic, nationalist and denial policy, if since the independence of Armenia in 1991 they had not kept the border with Armenia closed for three decades and they would not have tried to impose a total blockade, if they did not teach their school children that all Armenians are their enemies…

The conditionals are many. But there are also numerous “how to’s”. The title of the article was: “Azerbaijan is ready to normalize relations with Armenia”. The question immediately arises: how, killing indigenous Armenian civilians in Artsakh, bombing the world’s first Christian temples and committing cultural genocide?

Bringing in hired terrorists from the Middle East and using banned weapons? Deliberately distorting history? Holding Armenian prisoners of war and civilians hostage two years after the war despite the exhortations of all international human rights organizations?


armenian cathedral

Blowing up Artsakh’s only gas pipeline in the dead of winter? Claiming Zangezur and Yerevan in addition to Artsakh? (Photos 1-7) Let me remind you that the capital of Armenia, Yerevan, my hometown, celebrates this year the 2804th anniversary of its foundation, and Azerbaijan, for its part, celebrates 104 years of existence.

However, these data do not prevent the president of Azerbaijan from declaring that Yerevan is a “historic city of Azerbaijan”. As is often said, comments are unnecessary.

But my Azerbaijani colleague is not surprised by his own president’s statements, but by my _expression_ “”. You shouldn’t be surprised, as this is an irrefutable fact, whether you like it or not. Artsakh was already Armenian even though the state of Azerbaijan did not yet exist and the Azerbaijani ethnic group had not yet been formed.

Of course, these facts are also known to our Azerbaijani colleagues, but they are obliged to be “surprised”, according to the philosophy of their country.

However, unlike Azerbaijan, Armenia has always respected the territorial integrity of all countries and is in favor of the implementation of this international principle, especially today, when Azerbaijan itself violates the territorial integrity of Armenia.

The Artsakh issue has nothing to do with the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, as Artsakh has never been a part of independent Azerbaijan. It was annexed to Soviet Azerbaijan during Soviet rule.

I don’t want to overload on data, today it is very easy to check all that, it is enough with a smartphone with an internet connection. But what happened next? The Armenian people simply did not allow a second genocide in the same century, this time in Artsakh.

Yes, the Artsakh conflict is a matter of physical existence and protection of human rights, a matter of the right to life and of being able to live in safety and dignity in one’s hometown, of being able to exercise the right to decide one’s own destiny. .

We have before us some “successful” examples of Azerbaijani coexistence, such as that of Nakhchivan, another historical Armenian province, where not only today there are no Armenians left, but all the monuments that testified to the Armenian presence have been destroyed, and even where the name of the place is misrepresented. The letter also speaks of Armenia’s poverty and economic decline.

All this is far from reality, as much as Azerbaijan wants and tries to do so. Despite the three-decade blockade by Azerbaijan and its older brother, Turkey, Armenia has been successful in many areas. Today it is a dynamically developing country, which is reflected in the indicators of all sectors of the economy.

Of course, we do not have Azerbaijan’s oil and gas, but we have more important wealth, human potential and its components, knowledge, professionalism, values, democracy. And Azerbaijan, unfortunately, is really poor, poor in terms of human rights, freedom of _expression_, historical memory, democracy.

Just open a report on Azerbaijan from any international human rights organization or any state, and it will remind you of a textbook on violations of democracy and human rights, or a “do not do” guide.

An incontrovertible fact is that, since 1969, in the middle of the Soviet era, that country has been governed by the same family, with small interruptions, transferring power by inheritance, with all the consequences that this entails. If the fundamental rights and freedoms of its own citizens are not respected in Azerbaijan, how should the rights of Artsakh Armenians be respected, even though they constitute its original population…?

Armenia aspires to normal relations with all countries without exception, but not at the expense of its national interests. The future must be modeled not only with words, but with concrete actions and steps.

The future is not built with primitive propaganda, fake news and exporting corruption to appear civilized and save face. You can’t hit with one hand while shaking the other.

Letter from the Armenian ambassador to Argentina, Hovhannés Virabyan

Armenian PM’s office denies resignation rumors

Zhanna Nahapetian
PanArmenian
Armenia – May 6 2022
May 6, 2022 – 19:05 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Deputy Chief of Staff of Prime Minister's office Taron Chakhoyan has said PM Nikol Pashinyan is not going to resign from his post.

In recent days, protesters demanding the resignation of Pashinyan have taken to the streets to block major roads in the capital Yerevan and call on the population to commit acts of civil disobedience. Pashinian has come under fire after he and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev agreed to start drafting a bilateral peace treaty to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and set up a joint commission on demarcating the borders.

Chakhoyan noted that the citizens of Armenia made their choice a year ago when they voted for Pashinyan's Civil Contract party, granting them 54% of all ballots.

The official's remarks came amid rumors that Pashinyan had indeed stepped down. However, he said, the Prime Minister was not planning any such move.

Justice Minister favors keeping parliamentary system, implementing reforms and corrections

Zhanna Nahapetian

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 11:25, 6 May, 2022

YEREVAN, MAY 6, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Justice Karen Andreasyan says he favors the parliamentary system of government.

Speaking at the first joint session of the Constitutional Reforms Council and Commission, Andreasyan said at some point the members of the council should make a choice on which system of government they favor.

“It is clear that we as experts understand that there could be various types of parliamentary systems, but at some point a choice must be made and we must choose what the basis should be, and then go for the mixed modern models and solutions. On this occasion I am officially announcing on behalf of myself and the ministry that I am in favor of maintaining the parliamentary model and making corrections and reforms to this model,” Andreasyan said, emphasizing that this position is not the official government position yet.

He added that preliminarily, 4 members of the council are in favor with some reservations for the parliamentary system, 1 member favors the presidential system, while 3 others are absent from the discussion and another 3 refused to express an opinion at this moment.

“This summary doesn’t predetermine anything. I simply want us to periodically make some summaries for ourselves so that the public sees how our approaches change after specialized discussions,” Andreasyan said.

Pashinyan comments on rumors on how government became owner of Zangezur Copper and Molybdenum Combine

Zhanna Nahapetian

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 12:17, 5 May, 2022

YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. During today’s Cabinet meeting Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan commented on the rumors about how the government became the owner of the Zangezur Copper and Molybdenum Combine.

“Some consider this a suspicious, corruption deal. This is very surprising. If any ruler or a ruler’s cousin became the owner of that property with offshore, no one would worry, as it always happened, but when the state acquired property seems doubtful, I don’t know why.

What is suspicious? An investor, who acquired share from the old shareholders, decided to make a donation to Armenia, and Armenia gratefully accepted that donation”, the PM said.

Recently in the Parliament the Prime Minister said that “the Republic of Armenia, the people are the owner of the Zangezur Copper and Molybdenum Combine”.

Prelate Leads Blessing of New Ferrahian, Holy Martyrs Church Facility

Zhanna Nahapetian
 by Asbarez Staff

 

 May 4, 2022

 

in Community, Featured Story, Latest, News, Top Stories
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Western Prelate Bishop Torkom Donoyan leads blessing prayers of the expansion of the Ferrahian and Holy Martyrs complex Prelate Donoyan leads the procession

Announces $50,000 Donation for Ferrahian’s Expansion Project

Following the Divine Liturgy at Holy Martyrs Church on Sunday a special procession, led by Western Prelate Bishop Torkom Donoyan, headed to the newly-purchased property adjacent to the Ferrahian School and Holy Martyrs Church complex where the Prelate officiated a blessing ceremony through special prayers.

The newly-purchased site will expand the Ferrahian High School and Holy Martyrs Armenian Church facilities to better serve the community and advance the educational prospects for a new generation of Armenians.

Ferrahian Board Chair Vahe Benlian (right) presents a key to the new property to Prelate Donoyan and Ferrahian Principal Sossi Shanlian

Prelate Donoyan was accompanied by Archbishops Moushegh Mardirossian and Yeprem Tabakian, as well as members of the Religious and Executive councils, delegates, representatives of the Board of Regents, Board of Trustees members, Holy Martyrs Ferrahian School principal, teachers and students, deacons and the church choir, benefactors and parishioners who sang hymns as they approached the premises.

The Prelate with members of the Prelacy Executive Council, Board of Regents and principals of Ferrahian and Cabayan schools

During the event, Holy Martyrs Ferrahian School’s Educational Board chairperson Vahe Benlian presented the Prelate the keys to the newly acquired land, as a symbol of gratitude and respect for the Prelate’s unique role, as well as the Executive councils’ hard work in acquiring this new property. Also, a key was presented to Holy Martyrs Ferrahian School’s principal, Sossi Shanlian.

The Prelate stated that, “In the life of the Western Prelacy, generally and the community of the San Fernando Valley in particular, today is not only historic, but also a triumphant day, because yesterday’s impossibility became a reality today, thanks to the collective resolve of our people, the belief of our benefactors, the hard work of our communities cultural and religious representatives, the unwavering support of the benefactors, and with the guidance of the Western Prelacy, these dreams were realized. Endless respects to the known and anonymous donors and benefactors, who give body and realization to the visions, with the continued wisdom of and leadership of God, for the enjoyment of our Armenian people and our succeeding generations.”

At the conclusion of the event, attendees were able to tour the new property and “live in the joy of the Prelacy’s new leap forward.”

In a social media post on Tuesday, Prelate Donoyan announced a donation of $50,000 toward the Ferrahian School expansion project.

The Prelate called on all organizations and institutions, as well as business owners and professional, especially Ferrahian alumni, to take ownership of this exciting new opportunity and contribute to the “efforts for the Nation and the Armenians of the region to prosper.”

AW: Chris Bohjalian to discuss latest novel with Stephen Kurkjian

Zhanna Nahapetian
April 27, 2022 Armenian Museum of America Literary Corner, Announcements 0

WATERTOWN, Mass.—Twelve years later, New York Times bestselling author of 23 books, Chris Bohjalian, returns to the Armenian Museum of America to talk about his latest novel The Lioness with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Stephen Kurkjian.

Chris Bohjalian

The highly anticipated discussion will take place at the Armenian Museum of America on May 18 at 7 p.m. ET.

Bohjalian’s most recent novel Hour of the Witch was published in May 2021 and was an instant New York Times, Publishers Weekly, USA Today and IndieBound bestseller. It’s a novel of historical suspense set in 1662 Boston, a tale of the first divorce in North America for domestic violence—and a subsequent witch trial. The Washington Post called it “historical fiction at its best.” The New York Times called it “harrowing.” 

His 2018 novel The Flight Attendant debuted as a New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Publishers Weekly and National IndieBound Bestseller. It is now an HBO Max series, starring Kaley Cuoco that has been nominated for numerous Emmy, SAG and Golden Globe awards. It was recently renewed for a second season. Bohjalian’s work has been translated into 35 languages and three times have become movies.

When Bohjalian spoke at the museum in 2012, he discussed the Armenian-themed The Sandcastle Girls, a sweeping historical love story that probes the depths of love, family and secrets during WWI. Now, in contrast, The Lioness tells the story of a luxurious African safari that turns deadly for a Hollywood starlet and her entourage. Set in 1964 in Tanzania, actress Katie Barstow and her new husband have invited a glittering entourage of co-stars, managers and publicists for a safari adventure. Envisioning candlelit dinners and capturing wildlife on film, the group instead faces a team of Russian mercenaries and a botched kidnapping as violence and rebellion rage next door in the eastern Congo.

Stephen Kurkjian

Kurkjian is one of the most acclaimed investigative reporters in the country. A 40-year veteran of the Boston Globe, he is the paper’s former Washington bureau chief and a founding member of its investigative Spotlight Team. Kurkjian has won more than 25 national and regional awards, including the Pulitzer Prize on three occasions. 

“We are delighted to host the two esteemed authors under the auspices of the museum’s Library Committee, since books continue to be an integral part of our mission and our collection,” says executive director Jason Sohigian. “We are proud to share the launching of on-site events since 2019 with Chris Bohjalian and Steve Kurkjian. We hope you will mark your calendars and join us on this very special evening.”

Signed copies of The Lioness will be available for purchase at the event, which is free and open to the public. Registration is required via Eventbrite.

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The Armenian Museum of America is the largest Armenian museum in the Diaspora. It has grown into a major repository for all forms of Armenian material culture that illustrate the creative endeavors of the Armenian people over the centuries. Today, the Museum’s collections hold more than 25,000 artifacts including 5,000 ancient and medieval Armenian coins, 1,000 stamps and maps, 30,000 books, 3,000 textiles and 180 Armenian inscribed rugs, and an extensive collection of Urartian and religious artifacts, ceramics, medieval illuminations and various other objects. The collection includes historically significant objects, including five of the Armenian Bibles printed in Amsterdam in 1666.


Mexican Senator urges Senate and government to recognize Armenian Genocide

Zhanna Nahapetian

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 10:38, 27 April, 2022

YEREVAN, APRIL 27, ARMENPRESS. A commemoration event dedicated to the 107th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide was held on April 26 during the plenary session of the Senate of Mexico, the Armenian Embassy in Mexico reported.

During the session Senator Alejandra León delivered remarks touching upon the massacres of the Armenian population perpetrated in the Ottoman Empire, and urging the Mexican Senate and government to recognize the Armenian Genocide.

At the proposal of the Senate President, the attendees honored the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims with a moment of silence.

During a press conference following the session Ambassador of Armenia to Mexico Armella Shakaryan said the recognition and commemoration of the genocides of the past are vital for preventing the repetition of such crime in any part of the world. The Ambassador said the impunity of the Armenian Genocide today inspires those who are planning new international crimes. She said that the war unleashed by Azerbaijan against Nagorno Karabakh in 2020, which was accompanied by crimes and ethnic cleansing, showed that the impunity of the crimes carried out in the past could have irreversible consequences.