2018 – Page 113 – Armenian Directory & News

Verelq: Պաշտոնակռիվ ՀԱՊԿ-ում. Փաշինյանը պարզաբանումներ է պահանջելու Լուկաշենկոյից ու Նազարբաեւից

November 19, 2018November 19, 2018 Yeghisabet Vorskanian

17.11.2018

Հայաստան

283

Վարչապետի պաշտոնակատար Նիկոլ Փաշինյանին զարմացրել է այն հանգամանքը, որ Բելառուսի նախագահ Ալեքսանդր Լուկաշենկոն ՀԱՊԿ հավաքական անվտանգության խորհրդի դռնփակ նիստից հետո Բելառուսում Ադրբեջանի դեսպանին պատմել է դռնփակ ֆորմատում տեղի ունեցած նիստի մասին:

«Արմենպրեսի» փոխանցմամբ, Հայրենիքի պաշտպանի վերականգնողական կենտրոնում լրագրողների հետ զրույցում վարչապետի պաշտոնակատարը հարցին՝ ինչպե՞ս է կմեկնաբանի այն հանգամանքը, որ Ալեքսանդր Լուկաշենկոն ՀԱՊԿ-ում ստեղծված իրավիճակը ներկայացրել է Ադրբեջանի դեսպանին, պատասխանել է. – «Մեր արտաքին գործերի նախարարությունն արդեն արձագանքել է: Հիմա պատկերացրեք նույն իրավիճակը կլինի, եթե ես Հավաքական անվտանգության պայմանագրի կազմակերպության անդամ չհանդիսացող որևէ օտարերկրյա դեսպանի հրավիրեմ և պատմեմ դռնփակ ֆորմատում տեղի ունեցած նիստի մասին: Դա ռազմաքաղաքական դաշինքի դռնփակ ֆորմատում տեղի ունեցած նիստ է, որտեղ անդամ երկրների ղեկավարները քննարկում են ունենում: Եթե նիստը փակ է, նշանակում է, որ դա փակ խոսակցություն է դաշնակիցների միջև: Եվ ես զարմացած եմ, որ 30 տարի կամ չգիտեմ քանի տարի պետության ղեկավարի կարգավիճակում եղած մարդը կարող է իրեն այդպիսի քայլ թույլ տալ: Ես, իհարկե, պետք է պարզաբանումներ պահանջեմ Բելառուսի նախագահից և ոչ միայն Բելառուսի նախագահից»։

Ըստ Փաշինյանի՝ պայմանավորվածություններին հակասող հայտարարություն է արել նաև Ղազախստանի նախագահ Նուրսուլթան Նազարբաևը՝ ՀԱՊԿ գագաթնաժողովի դռնփակ նիստից հետո հայտարարելով, որ ՀԱՊԿ գլխավոր քարտուղարի պաշտոնում նշանակվելու է Բելառուսի ներկայացուցիչը:

«Որևէ մեկը նման հայտարարություն անելու իրավունք չուներ, որովհետև ՀԱՊԿ-ում որոշումները կայացվում են կոնսենսուսով, իսկ մենք մեր դիրքորոշումը հստակ արտահայտել ենք. քանի դեռ մենք գործընկերային միջավայրում այլ որոշում չենք կայացրել, որևէ մեկը նման հայտարարություն անելու իրավունք չունի: Մեր արտաքին գործերի նախարարն էլ այսօր մեր դիրքորոշումը հստակ ձևակերպել է, և ես ուզում եմ ասել, որ մենք կարծում ենք, որ կարևոր է, որպեսզի ՀԱՊԿ շրջանակներում մենք շատ հստակ խոսակցություն ունենանք մեր դաշնակիցների հետ, և կողմերից յուրաքանչյուրի համար պարզ լինի, թե ինքը ինչ պարտավորություն ունի մյուսների նկատմամբ և մյուսները ինչ պարտավորություն ունեն իր նկատմամբ», – ընդգծել է Փաշինյանը:

Վարչապետի պաշտոնակատարը նաև հայտնել է, որ այսօր Ռուսաստանի նախագահի հետ ունեցած հեռախոսազրույցի ժամանակ նաև այդ հարցն է քննարկել. – «Մենք շարունակում ենք մեր երկխոսությունը մեր գործընկերների հետ՝ Ռուսաստանի հետ, կշարունակենք Բելառուսի հետ, Ղազախստանի հետ, Ղրղըզստանի և Տաջիկստանի հետ, որպեսզի ի վերջո հասնենք փոխըմբռնման»:

Հարցին՝ որևէ պարագայում հնարավո՞ր է Բելառուսի թեկնածուի հարցում հայկական կողմը կոնսենսուսի գա, Նիկոլ Փաշինյանը պատասխանել է. – «Մենք գործընկերային մթնոլորտում և միջավայրում ենք աշխատում, մենք կոռեկտությունը և հարգանքը մեր գործընկերների նկատմամբ պահպանում ենք և հույս ունենք և պահանջում ենք, որ նույն կերպ վարվեն նաև նրանք»:

ՀԱՊԿ գլխավոր քարտուղարի պաշտոնը թափուր է նոյեմբերի 2-ից։ Մինչ այդ այն զբաղեցնում էր Հայաստանի Զինված ուժերի գլխավոր շտաբի նախկին պետ Յուրի Խաչատուրովը, որին Երևանը վաղաժամ ետ կանչեց «Մարտի 1»-ի գործով մեղադրանք ներկայացնելուց հետո։ Նոյեմբերի 8-ին Աստանայում կայացած գագաթնաժողովում կազմակերպության անդամ երկրները այդպես էլ նոր գլխավոր քարտուղարի հարցում ընդհանուր հայտարարի չեկան և որոշեցին քննարկումները շարունակել դեկտեմբերի 6-ին Սանկտ Պետերբուգում կայանալիք հանդիպման ընթացքում։

168: Movsisyan praises “great team victory” in Gibraltar demolition

November 19, 2018November 19, 2018 Garnik Tadevosian

| 10:47 | November 17 2018

168: President of Artsakh arrives in U.S. on working visit

November 19, 2018November 19, 2018 Emil Lazarian

| 13:08 | November 17 2018

168: Several military commanders fired, sanctioned over fatal crash

November 19, 2018November 19, 2018 Paul Hambardsumian

| 18:01 | November 17 2018

Film: ‘Yeva’ wins Best Film at Armenia’s Rolan Fimlfest.

November 19, 2018November 19, 2018 Vanyan Gary

Mehr News Agency, Iran

Nov 18 2018

TEHRAN, Nov. 18 (MNA) – Iranian feature ‘Yeva’ by Anahid Abad has won the Best Film award at the 14th Rolan – International Film Festival for Children and Youth in Armenia.

‘Yeva’ managed to snatch the Best Film award at the 14th Rolan – International Film Festival for Children and Youth, held on 6-10 November 2018 in Yerevan, Armenia.

Written and directed by Iranian-Armenian Anahid Abad, ‘Yeva’ is the story of a young woman who is forced to flee Yerevan with her daughter Nareh. She would have to stand trial there because she allegedly killed her husband. Uncle Ruben and the remote village in Nagorno-Karabakh are her last chance to go into hiding. But the villagers recognize her from the days of war when she had cared for the wounded as a doctor at the front.

‘Yeva’ has recently received three nominations (best feature, best script and best director award) at the 21st Arpa International Film Festival (AIFF) in the United States. The festival will announce winners after it wraps up on November 21.

MS/4461263

Film: ‘Broken Dinners, Postponed Kisses’ tells heart-wrenching story of Syria’s lost artists

November 19, 2018November 19, 2018 Antranik Varosian

Arab News, Saudi Arabia

November 15, 2018 Thursday

'Broken Dinners, Postponed Kisses' tells heart-wrenching story of Syria's lost artists

by Tracy Abou Jaoude

The 93-minute film follows six Syrian artists as they narrate their stories. (Image supplied)

BEIRUT: Filmmaker Nigol Bezjian premiered his latest movie "Broken Dinners, Postponed Kisses" with an intimate screening in Beirut on Wednesday night.

The 93-minute film — which features dialogue in Arabic, Armenian, German and English with English-language subtitles — follows six Syrian artists as they narrate their stories of displacement.

Bezjian, an Armenian born in Aleppo, Syria, spoke to Arab News about the experience of making the powerful film and said it was inspired by one of his previous works, "Thank You, Ladies and Gentlemen."

"The movie is about Syrian refugees in the camps of Lebanon and it stayed with me," he said about his previous film. "But I wanted to make a film about people in our region who had to depart their homeland, from the time of the end of World War I until today."

That sparked the idea for his latest venture.

Bezjian chose six characters and honed in on their past experiences in what turned out to be an insightful peek through the keyhole into the lives of those who have been affected by the strife in Syria.

"The characters in the film are artists who work in different disciplines of art," he explained.

"The film is something of a documentary, as the characters' stories are all real, yet the concept that ties them all together was created by me," the filmmaker continued.

Making an appearance are filmmaker Vartan Meguerditchian, actor Ayham Majid Agha, musician Abo Gabi, dancer Yara Al-Hasbani, painter Diala Brisly and photographer Ammar Abd Rabbo.

The film explores the inner feelings and reflections of people who had to leave their homes and be transported to a new environment, facing many challenges along the way.

Despite the sometimes heart-wrenching subject matter, Bezjian noted that the main challenges he faced while producing the film were budget and timeframe.

"The movie took two-and-a-half years (to make), so the main challenge was not to give up and keep the same spirit and momentum throughout this time," he said.

At the screening, an eager crowd listened as the filmmaker gave his introductory speech.

"There are a lot of faces I don't recognize, and that's a good thing," Nigol said.

The movie is filled with tense moments, artistic shots and captivating characters, that succeeded to show the reality of artists' lives in environments marked by conflict and refuge.

Azerbaijani Press: Norway leaves to stay

November 19, 2018November 19, 2018 Ani Tigranian

Turan , Azerbaijani Opposition Press

Nov 10 2018

Norway leaves to stay

[Armenian News note: the below is translated from the Russian Edition of Turan]

An Azerbaijani news agency has offered several theories as to why Norway has decided to shut down its embassy in Baku. She said that Norway sought to support Georgia's integration with Europe, to have more "freedom of action" to promote reform in Armenia and that it may have concluded that it is "unproductive" to continue to seek democratic reform in Azerbaijan. The following is text of report by independent Turan news agency on 10 November headlined "Norway leaves to stay"; subheadings inserted editorially:

10 November: The Norwegian Foreign Ministry announced on 9 November that it would close down its embassy in Azerbaijan in 2019. The embassy has been the kingdom's only diplomatic mission in the South Caucasus since July 1998 when the kingdom opened the diplomatic mission in Baku. The Norwegian diplomatic centre in the region will relocate to Georgia. Norwegian-Azerbaijani relations are [to be] transferred to the jurisdiction of the Norwegian embassy in Ankara.

Public surprised, but not government

In Azerbaijan, this news came as a surprise for the public, but not for the government. There were no prior statements about this. Even the actual announcement of the shutdown of the diplomatic mission was made in passing in the context of a more detailed statement by the Norwegian Foreign Ministry about the opening of an embassy in Tbilisi.

"Georgia is one of our main partners in the Eurasia region. For many years it has followed the path of reform which has drawn it closer to European and Euro-Atlantic organisations. Based on an overall assessment of Norwegian interests and our ties with the South Caucasus countries, Norway has decided to open an embassy in Georgia. Owing to a permanent representation in Tbilisi, it will be convenient for us to follow developments in the entire region," Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Soereide said.

And then: "At the same time, the embassy in Baku will be shut down. Then, the embassy in Ankara will be responsible for Norway's relations with Azerbaijan. However, Norway plans to set up an honorary consulate-general in Baku. These changes to Norway's representation in the South Caucasus will be implemented in 2019."

The Azerbaijani government, in the shape of the acting chief of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry's press service, Leyla Abdullayeva, expressed regret about the decision of the Norwegian government.

'Cautious' conclusion

So, the brief but comprehensive statement by Ine Eriksen Soereide still does allow one to draw a cautious conclusion – which, however, is a necessary one amid an information vacuum – about Norway's motives and goals in the region that made it take the decision.

1. Norway decided to relocate the embassy to Georgia which has made a transaction into the system of European values and Euro-Atlantic cooperation which the latest presidential election in the country showed, too. Support for Georgia's Europeanisation is becoming a main and important factor that plays the role of a driving force for the advancement of the South Caucasus into the Euro-Atlantic space.

2. The assessment by the Norwegians of their interests and ties with the South Caucasus countries is a second ground for the decision, and it has to do with two factors: 1) the Georgian scenario for the reforming of Armenia which started in spring 2018 will require a more active involvement on part of Oslo in Armenian reforms, 2) which would have been less effective while the embassy was based in Baku and which to a certain extent constrained the freedom of action for Norwegian diplomats.

3. The form of the Norwegian Foreign Ministry statement, which pays special attention to the pro-European Georgia and drily notes the shutdown of the diplomatic mission in Azerbaijan, may indicate that Norway thinks it unproductive and prospectless to conduct further dialogue with Baku regarding democratic reform. This aspect of the matter has always been a stumbling block in the Norwegian-Azerbaijani relationship.

Numerous attempts by the Norwegians to build relations with the Azerbaijanis within the system of European norms and values via energy, cultural, public and educational projects have not produced anything. And one can say that the current decision had been brewing for many years within the context of a disproportionate development of the political vectors of Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan is sliding increasingly further toward the establishment of absolute authoritarianism.

Energy cooperation vs democracy

In December 2013, the striking power of Norwegian policy – Statoil company, a participant in the Azerbaijani ACG [Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli] base oil agreement, refused to participate in the project to build the Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline (TANAP) which is planned to deliver gas from Azerbaijan to Europe, and announced the sale of its 10-per-cent share in the Shah Deniz gas project. In May 2014, shareholders in the company decided to pull out of oil and gas projects in Azerbaijan. In April 2015, Statoil sold its 15.5-per-cent share in the Azerbaijani gas field Shah Deniz, including in the Azerbaijani gas supply company (12.4 per cent) and the South Caucasus Pipeline Company (15.5 per cent) to the Malaysian oil and gas company Petronas.

These oil and gas decisions were taken in a period when the government of Azerbaijan stepped up pressure on civil society and efforts to restrict democracy. At the same time, talks were under way on democracy-related problems both at a high official level and at the level of Baku with Norwegian democracy foundations which, as the latest developments show, proved to be ineffective and prospectless. These may have been coincidences, if we take into account the fact that on 30 May 2018 the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) and Statoil Azerbaijan, which is part of the Norwegian group Equinor, signed, within the framework of the oil and gas exhibition, a risk service agreement (RSA) on the Karabakh field in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea and a production-sharing agreement (PSA) regarding the Ashrafi-Dan Ulduzu-Aypara [field] which is in also in the Caspian.

Norway draws a line between energy interests, political interests

However, this may also be evidence of the fact that Norway has decided to draw a line between its energy and political interests in the South Caucasus, promoting the former through its projects in Azerbaijan, and [promoting] the latter by expanding its operations in Georgia. Considering the fact that due to the Karabakh conflict, Georgia has since the early 1990s always been a venue for discussing South Caucasus projects involving Azerbaijan and Armenia, it is not hard to continue the line of expansion of informal public contacts among the three countries in which the West, including Norway, is interested.

Speaking in favour of this is the fact that the embassy in Ankara, not the one in Georgia, will be responsible for [Norway's] relations with Azerbaijan. In effect, the Norwegian mission in Tbilisi will not be in contact with the Azerbaijani government. That mission will be partly assumed by the honorary consul-general, possibly in the shape of Equinor in Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijani Press: Russia is not going to fight against Azerbaijan for Armenia

November 19, 2018November 19, 2018 Manouk Vasilian

Turan Information Agency, Azerbaijani Opposition Press:

November 16, 2018 Friday

Russia is not going to fight against Azerbaijan for Armenia

by Turan IA

Commenting on the statements of the Acting Defense Minister of Armenia David Tonoyan about the role of Russia in ensuring the security of Armenia, Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Defense and Security of the State Duma of Russia, Yury Shvytkin, said that Russia is ready to ensure the security of Armenia in the event of military aggression. A military columnist for the Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper, Viktor Baranets, said that Russia will protect Armenia from the attack of another country. He also named Azerbaijan among the possible attackers.

"As you know, no one is going to attack Armenia, the Azerbaijani public could not react to these statements," political scientist Ilgar Velizade believes. If desired, this provocative sensation could be inflated so that Russia is going to render Assistance to Armenia in the event of a resumption of the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. However, this is not the case. In April 2016, Russia limited itself to calling on the parties to cease hostilities, Russia"s unilateral actions in support of Armenia did not Moscow made it clear that it was not going to intervene and in the event of an acute phase of the Karabakh conflict get up on one side or the other.

On the other hand, it is clear that if Armenia will provoke Azerbaijan into military actions on its territory, and such provocations are possible, then it is not excluded that the Armenian side will actively appeal for help from the allies. But we hope that the allies of Armenia, as it was more than once, will make it clear to them that they do not intend to spoil relations with Azerbaijan and risk long-term geopolitical interests in favor of the interests of one side, provoking them to conflict with Azerbaijan. To put it frankly, there are no fools today, and if some deputies and individual political figures express their thoughts, this does not mean that they should be implemented and unconditionally in the form they want in Yerevan," the political scientist believes.

The Azeri blogger of the Caucasian Knot portal (Russian Federation) recalls that Russia did not start a war against Turkey and Israel, whose armed forces shot down a Russian military aircraft and provoked its destruction by Syrian air defenses. Russia is silently observing how the air forces of the NATO coalition are bombing targets in Syria, which the Kremlin has repeatedly declared to be its defended ally. These facts cast doubt on the possibility of Russia's military participation on the side of Armenia in the war against Azerbaijan. Pro-Armenian statements in Russia are explained by the desire of the Russians to return Armenia, which the acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is leading to the West, to his geopolitical camp, the blogger wrote.

The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) will not provide military support to the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic in the event of an armed conflict involving this state, stated the head of the joint headquarters of the CSTO, Colonel-General Anatoly Sidorov, reports "Sputnik Armenia". Sidorov said that the organization has obligations to Armenia, therefore in case of aggression against Yerevan, other CSTO members will provide it with military support. These obligations are not applied to the Nagorno Karabakh, he said.

Azerbaijani Press: Azerbaijan to present note of protest to US for issuing visa to Saakyan

November 19, 2018November 19, 2018 Hagop Kamalian

AzerNews, Azerbaijan

Nov 18 2018

10:21 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

Azerbaijan will present a note of protest to the US for issuing a visa to Bako Saakyan, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"According to the mass media reports Bako Saakyan, the so-called “leader” of the separatist regime created in the Azerbaijani territories occupied by Armenia traveled to the United States of America. Entering of the “representative” of illegal regime to the USA and allowing the promotion of the separatist regime in the US contradicts the commitments of this state as the co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, as well as the numerously stated official position of the United States on non-recognition of the separatist regime. This step also damages the negotiation process over the settlement of the conflict," the statement reads.

The ministry said that providing of visa by the United States to the representatives of the separatist regime raises serious questions about the visa procedures of the USA.

“It is very strange that the liberalization of the US government’s approach to visa issuance is applied only to the “leadership” of the separatist regime created in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan and not other illegal entities of the former Soviet Union."

"Individual sanctions should be applied with regard to such war criminals, persons involved in the occupation of the Azerbaijani territories and ethnic cleansing of the hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis," the ministry said.

"Such steps serving to promotion of the illegal separatist regime raise questions on sincerity of the USA in its relations with Azerbaijan. Strong protest of Azerbaijan will be presented to the US through diplomatic channels," the statement reads.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.

Azerbaijani Press: Bryza says French MPs’ meeting Sahakyan would contradict Paris’s MG co-chair status

November 19, 2018November 19, 2018 Boris Nahapetian

Azer News, Azerbaijan

Nov 17 2018

12:17 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

If French MPs meet with Bako Sahakyan, “head” of the separatist regime, created in occupied Azerbaijani territories, that could be contrary to France's status as OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing country, Matthew Bryza, former US ambassador to Azerbaijan and former co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, told Trend Nov.16.

He was commenting on the visit of Sahakyan to France.

“Sahakyan has also visited the United States and Russia, which had no discernible impact on either the Minsk Group co-chairs' mediation efforts or on the bilateral relations of Azerbaijan with the co-chair countries,” noted Bryza.

He pointed out that Azerbaijan is an important partner and friend of all three countries, and its importance is growing.

“Of course, if the French government and/or parliament treated Sahakyan as anything other than a private person, that could cause serious tension in Azerbaijan's relations with France. I don't expect that to occur. That said, individual French parliamentarians may decide to meet with Sahakyan on an individual basis, which I would view as inappropriate and contrary to France's status as a Minsk Group co-chair,” Bryza concluded.

Earlier, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that France’s constant double standards approach makes Azerbaijan reconsider its ties with that country.

Bako Sahakyan's visit to France, presenting himself as the “head” of the separatist regime established in the occupied Azerbaijani territories, is another unsuccessful attempt to encourage that puppet entity at the international level, the Foreign Ministry said.

“France, which created conditions for that visit and accepted "representatives" of the illegal regime, by this step not only violates the spirit of bilateral relations and the signed agreements, but also demonstrates disregard for supremacy of norms and principles of international law and the undertaken obligations,” reads the statement.