Category: 2021

Catholicos of All Armenians issues a message on Feast of Holy Nativity and Theophany Jesus Christ

Jack Hunanian

Catholicos of All Armenians issues a message on Feast of  Holy Nativity and Theophany Jesus Christ

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 12:09, 6 January, 2021

YEREVAN, JANUARY 6, ARMENPRESS. Catholicos of All Armenians issued a message on the occasion of the Feast of the Holy Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ at Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral of Yerevan.

ARMENPRESS reports His Holiness particularly said,

''In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

''The true light, which enlightens everyone,

was coming into the world."

(John 1: 9).

 

Beloved Sons and Daughters in the homeland and diaspora,

On the feast of the Nativity and Epiphany of our Lord Jesus Christ, with a prayerful spirit, united in our holy churches, we bless the newborn Savior. On this blessed day of Christmas, the true Light emanated from the manger of Bethlehem to enlighten the souls of humanity. “The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world,” says the Evangelist.

Like the Evangelist, the hymnologist compares the Nativity of the Son of God, incarnated for the salvation of the world, to the origin of the sun, and says: "Arose from the Father to enlighten the creatures, the Sun of Righteousness, Lord, glory be to You" (Hymn of the Nativity). The Son of God came to dispel the darkness of sin and death, to lead mankind to its Creator. From the humble cave of the Savior's Nativity radiated the dawn of spiritual renewal, a spiritual power.

From the day Jesus was born, he was persecuted. The Savior and His family became refugees from His birthplace when Herod, wanting His death, organized the massacre of children; believing that He had killed the newborn Son of God and defeated Him. But the real victory was Christ’s, who through the glorious victory of the resurrection crowned the path of suffering by His saving mission. Going through all the hardships, the Lord brought hope to the fallen man and salvation to mankind, immersed in the darkness of iniquity and idolatry. Throughout history, “Herods” have caused disaster, destruction, and misery to mankind; they have wielded opposition and enmity under the influence of evil; alongside progressive achievements there has been poverty, oppression and injustice. Even today, people, burdened with sins, turn away from God, the world is plagued by political intrigues, the materialism that leads to polarisation has taken over societies, and justice with truth have become relative rather than absolute values. In this contradictory and troubled world, Jesus Christ rises as the Sun of Righteousness, the true Light to illuminate humanity’s way through life.

Beloved ones, the miraculous birth of Christ is a source of hope and consolation for our heartbroken people, especially during these grievous days, when we consider that our lives have also not been free from destructive mistakes and sins. Necessary vigilance was not shown in the face of the threats of an unstable peace and war, the interests of the homeland and the people were subordinated to individual aspirations and goals. God-rejecting spirit and alien ideologies and habits permeated our society. Our lives were not far from the lies, insults, intolerance, hatred and enmity that were spreading and continue to spread in various ways, dividing us, drying up the love of Christ in us. And the Gospel testifies: "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand" (Matt. 12:25). The catastrophic consequences of the Artsakh war have overwhelmed the souls of the sons and daughters of our nation with feelings of despair, anxiety and uncertainty. The loss of a large part Artsakh, the martyrdom of our heroic sons, the pain and grief of tens of thousands of displaced brothers and sisters in dire need of shelter and material supplies, of thousands of soldiers wounded, in captivity and missing, have plunged our national life in the homeland and diaspora into the grip of a gloomy night. It is in this darkness, in this nightmarish reality, that the Sun of Justice shines brightly today, to illuminate our national life and homeland, to provide healing to the wounded soul of my nation with its warming power.

Dear faithful, relying on the endless love and the grace of salvation of the incarnate Son of God, we have overcome the sufferings of wars, disasters, despair, and had victories in our lives over the centuries. These days our faith is alive with the same confidence. We are able to strengthen and enrich our homeland once again and turn a new awakening of our life into reality by uniting the potential and efforts of Armenians around the world, with a joint and harmonious society of Armenia and Artsakh, a developed economy, science, and education, and a highly efficient army equipped at its best. As in the alarming days of the war, our hearts must beat with the love of the homeland, our thoughts and cherished feelings must be tied to the sacred soil of the homeland. Every commitment and every sacrifice is needed to keep the stability of the national life, to not lead the country into dangers, to overcome the existing crises, and to stop the catastrophe of emigration. Let us stand strong in the face of the lethal test for our nation and people with hope and faith; girded with the life-giving power of the Lord; let us gain strength to rise from disasters, to dispel this heavy darkness that is forced upon us with heavenly support, and to illumine the new horizons of our lives.

On this soul-renewing day of the Nativity and Epiphany, let us ask so that that we may go towards the realization of our aspirations, relying on the grace of God's salvation and the crowning of the victory of our just rights. Let us pray that the vault of our national life will be illuminated with the heralding light of Christmas, that the Armenian church will eternally be enhanced through the dedicated and fruitful ministry of our clergy and the committed life of our faithful people, so that Armenia may be filled with the love and hope of the incarnate Savior. May the Lord grant peace to the entire world, to the souls of the people, and keep in peace and safety our country – Armenia and Artsakh, and to grant a prosperous life to the Armenian people all over the world, today, always, forever. Amen.

 

Christ is born and revealed,

Great news for you and for us!''




On Armenian Christmas Day I remember Armenians of Artsakh, the victims of 2nd genocide- Valérie Boyer

Aram Torosian

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 15:46, 6 January, 2021

YEREVAN, JANUARY 6, ARMENPRESS. Member of the French National Assembly Valérie Boyer made a note on her Facebook page on the occasion of the Feast of Holy Nativity (Christmas celebrated in Armenia), noting that on this day she recalls the Armenians of Artsakh who fell victim to the new genocide.

''On this day of the Armenian Christmas I recall the Armenians of Artsakh, the victims of the new genocide. I am pondering about Father Hovhannes Hovhannisyan and Dadivank. I am thinking about that heritage. I am thinking about the massacres of Christians. Let's not forget it, condemn and struggle'', she wrote.

FP: Armenia Buries Its Dead but Can’t Put to Rest the Horrors of Recent War

Varazdat Torgomian
Foreign Policy Magazine
Jan 6 2021


YEREVAN, Armenia—Beneath overcast skies on a desolate hillside, mourners passed each other shovels and took turns heaping earth onto the coffin of the dead soldier.

Leaving behind a wife and daughter, Avetis Avetisyan was 34 when he was killed by an artillery strike in the recent six-week war between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. Here in the Yerablur Military Memorial Cemetery late this past November, empty pits lay alongside his grave, awaiting more fallen from the battlefield. Atop the hill were older, more elaborate gravestones, etched with the faces of soldiers killed during the first Nagorno-Karabakh war of the 1990s. Now, a whole new hillside of graves stretched out.


“Work has never been busier,” said one gravedigger in his late 50s, heaping earth around a new memorial. “Every day more bodies arrive. Every day we dig more graves. The hill is filling up.”

A gravedigger shovels earth around a new memorial at Yerablur Military Memorial Cemetery on Nov. 30, 2020.JACK LOSH FOR FOREIGN POLICY

New graves for Armenian soldiers killed in the recent war over Nagorno-Karabakh cover the hillside at Yerablur Military Memorial Cemetery on Nov. 30, 2020. JACK LOSH FOR FOREIGN POLICY

The scene points to a devastating loss of life that, coupled with the humiliation of Armenia’s defeat, will reverberate for years. The impact of just 44 days of warfare has the potential to span generations, deepening a venomous hatred between rival states, propelling the region further down its spiral of militarization and fueling yet more conflict in the future.

For though war has ended, peace has not begun. The root causes of the conflict remain unresolved, while sporadic skirmishes, outrage over war crimes, and fears for those still missing prevent raw wounds from healing. As Armenia’s beleaguered prime minister, Nikol Pashinyan, said ahead of a recent memorial march to the Yerablur cemetery: “The entire nation has been through—and is going through—a nightmare. Sometimes it seems that all of our dreams have been dashed and our optimism destroyed.”


A Moscow-brokered cease-fire between the two former Soviet republics ended the war in November 2020, authorizing the deployment of Russian peacekeepers to Nagorno-Karabakh and handing back to Azerbaijan most of the territory it had lost to Armenian forces in the first war. As 1994’s cease-fire did with Azerbaijan, the new peace deal leaves Armenia feeling deeply aggrieved and replaces active hostilities with precarious ambiguity.

During its punishing offensive on the disputed territory, Azerbaijan withheld casualty numbers, concealing the true scale of losses. After it began publishing figures last month, the total death toll is now known to stand at more than 5,000 soldiers, roughly distributed among Armenians and Azerbaijanis, as well as several hundred wounded and killed civilians.

The death toll is likely to rise in the coming weeks as the fate of the missing is revealed and remains are gradually retrieved from treacherous terrain littered with mines and unexploded munitions. As winter grips this mountainous region, heavy snow, dense fog, and freezing temperatures are impeding the work of recovery teams, while rain and mud can dislodge mines, making the operations fraught with danger. As of last week, the bodies of around 320 Azerbaijani and over 1,100 Armenian service members have reportedly been collected. 

An ethnic Armenian soldier looks at a body of a soldier killed fighting on behalf of Azerbaijan on the highway connecting Stepanakert and Shushi in Nagorno-Karabakh on Nov. 13, 2020. JACK LOSH FOR FOREIGN POLICY

Despite the grief, families mourning the fallen like Avetisyan at least have the possibility of closure. Those whose relatives remain missing are plunged into a harrowing limbo. 

“They long to know what has happened to their loved ones or to bury the dead with dignity,” said Jason Straziuso of the International Committee of the Red Cross, which, along with Russian peacekeepers, is facilitating the recovery of bodies and the transfer of prisoners of war. 

Unidentified corpses lie in morgues awaiting a DNA match before they can be handed over for burial. “Many families are enduring an agonizing wait,” Straziuso said. 

That wait has been exacerbated by the emergence of horrific videos depicting war crimes and the widespread mistreatment of prisoners.

That wait has been exacerbated by the emergence of horrific videos depicting war crimes and the widespread mistreatment of prisoners. Circulating on the Telegram messaging app, most videos appear to show atrocities being committed by Azerbaijani soldiers who have tortured and executed Armenian prisoners. A smaller number of videos show Armenian forces committing war crimes, from mutilating war dead to murdering an Azerbaijani border guard by cutting his throat.

One video shows a struggling, shirtless male civilian held down by a group of Azerbaijani soldiers before being decapitated with a knife as onlookers clap and cheer. The victim’s head is placed on the nearby carcass of a pig as a soldier says in Azerbaijani: “This is how we take revenge for the blood of our martyrs.”

In another incident, two Azerbaijani soldiers pin down an older man in civilian clothes who begs for his life before his throat is cut. Separately, a captive Armenian serviceman is forced to say “Karabakh is Azerbaijan,” before his dead body is seen impaled on a wooden stick.

Desperate relatives of missing soldiers last month marched on Armenia’s defense ministry to demand information. As they gathered outside, one father said he had not heard from his wounded son since the start of October 2020, less than a week into the war.

“We don’t know his location, his status—we don’t know anything,” he said. “We’ve asked everywhere. … They’re not telling us anything.”

As cold fog enveloped the rally, one woman shouted: “Why don’t they just come out and tell us what we have to do to get our kids back? We’ll spend our own money to bring them home.” 

Armenia and Azerbaijan’s agreement to an “all for all” POW exchange has prompted some hope. By the end of last month, 56 Armenian and 16 Azerbaijani captives had returned home, ending the nightmare endured by their families. Yet an unknown number of POWs are still behind bars. Armenian officials say Azerbaijan is holding more than 100 Armenian military personnel and civilians, reportedly far more than the number of Azerbaijani prisoners in Armenian custody. Hundreds more remain missing.

The International Committee of the Red Cross, which acts as a neutral intermediary and monitors the treatment of prisoners, said that it had visited dozens of POWs and logged hundreds of tracing requests for both civilians and soldiers, but it declined to disclose precisely how many detainees it had registered. 

As war-crime videos have continued to surface, Azerbaijan last month arrested two of its soldiers accused of mutilations and called on Armenia to take similar steps—though the integrity of its investigations are doubtful. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s coterie maintain a firm grip on the country’s criminal justice system, in which torture and impunity for the perpetrators of such abuse are endemic. But justice will be a bedrock for any sustainable peace, said Arman Tatoyan, Armenia’s human rights ombudsman.

“Impunity leads to more torture,” said Tatoyan, whose office has prepared several reports documenting torture and inhumane treatment of Armenian POWs. “Impunity is a very dangerous thing.”

Others see forgetting as the foundation of any future peace. Ahmad Shahidov, who runs the Azerbaijan Institute for Democracy and Human Rights in Baku, caused outrage last month with a provocative tweet that implied Armenian people were “a disease”—a post later deleted by Twitter for violating its rules against “hateful conduct.” He also praised the use of a “military solution” to the dispute and called for “a new war” to create a buffer zone.

Shahidov now says he was wrong to use such vitriolic language, but he has since repeated it and held it up as a consequence of what he deemed “Armenian terrorism.” Peace in the region, he argued, could only be achieved through a process of collective amnesia, rather than accountability. 

“If we start talking about justice, Azerbaijan has a lot to talk to Armenia about,” said Shahidov, citing 1992’s brutal massacre of hundreds of Azerbaijani civilians in the town of Khojaly. “If we want to live together in the future, we must forget these negative cases. If we think and talk about these negative cases that happened on both sides, we will never get peace. Let’s start everything from zero—it’s a better solution.”

Starting from zero might be hard amid the flood of disturbing videos of torture and atrocities. 

“Social media is full of violent scenes,” Tatoyan said. “Even among our children it has already taken effect. All of the time they’re talking about violence, killing, torture. Torture generates hatred. It is very dangerous in terms of living together in this region as two nations.”

Almost two months after the cease-fire, distrust and hostility remain high. Several skirmishes have broken out in recent weeks, causing casualties and straining Moscow’s peace deal. Aliyev’s comment on the recent capture of over 60 Armenian soldiers—“They cannot be considered prisoners of war; they are terrorists”—risks stalling POW swaps. 


Mourners gather at Yerablur Military Memorial Cemetery on Nov. 30, 2020, for the funeral of Avetis Avetisyan, an Armenian soldier who was killed by an artillery attack in Nagorno-Karabakh. JACK LOSH FOR FOREIGN POLICY

For now, there are bodies to count and bodies to bury. Back in the Yerablur military cemetery, the men finished laying Avetisyan to rest. “We miss him terribly,” said Arman, one of the mourners, who asked not to give his last name. “He was a close friend. Everyone here has been touched by the war. My son’s friend is still missing in action. We don’t know if he’s alive or dead.” 

Flowers were placed, and the men turned to depart. Across the hillside of headstones, more bereaved families were already arriving.

Jack Losh is a journalist, photographer and filmmaker covering conservation, humanitarian issues and traditional cultures, often in areas of conflict and crisis. Twitter: @jacklosh

https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/01/06/armenia-loss-nagorno-karabakh-azerbaijan-horrors-of-war/?fbclid=IwAR3JUyZNOc08F45VloX3BC1otDRC1mlQSwsAzxfzPd_WOmzx_B_mpgmUtHo

Tehran says Armenia’s market a new opportunity for Iranian producers

Jane Topchian
Tehran Times, Iran
Jan 5 2021
  1. Economy
January 5, 2021 – 12:16

TEHRAN – During Armenia’s 44-day conflict with Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, Turkey had heavily backed Azerbaijan, further deepening the historical conflict between the two neighbors.

In retaliation, the Armenian government announced on October 20, 2020, a decision for banning the imports of Turkish goods as of December 31, 2020.

Following the mentioned decision, Armenia has now reached out to the Islamic Republic to replace Turkish commodities with Iranian products in its markets. This has presented a new opportunity for Iranian producers to have a strong presence in this market and turn the (probably) temporary opportunity into a permanent trade bond between the two countries.

 Turkey-Armenia trade

Although the border between Turkey and Armenia has been closed since 1993, the trade between the two countries has never ceased. The trade transactions between the two neighbors have been historically carried out through third countries like Georgia.

According to the Armenian Statistics Institute, Turkey’s annual exports to Armenia amounted to over $2 billion over the past 10 years. However, in reality, the total imports of Turkish goods by Armenian people considering the so-called ‘luggage trade’ is much more than the mentioned figure.

In fact, Turkey has been dominating the Armenian market for a very long time.

Iran-Armenia trade

Despite having shared borders, and close cultural and historical relations, the trade between Iran and Armenia has not been at a favorable level over the past few decades.

However, Iran’s preferential trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) has changed the prospect of the country’s trade relations with Armenia, paving the way for a boost in the economic relations between the two sides.

Back in January 2020, the Head of Iran-Armenia Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry Hervik Yarijanian said the preferential trade agreement between Iran and EAEU has had a significant impact on the country’s trade relations with Armenia.

According to the official, the volume of trade between the two countries has witnessed an outstanding rise since the agreement became effective in October 2019.

Iran mainly imports red meat from Armenia, while Armenia imports polymer raw materials, machinery, industrial gases, manufactured artifacts, leather and leather goods from Iran, he said.

The new opportunity

With the Turkish products being wiped out of the Armenian market, Iranian producers are presented with a great opportunity to showcase the high quality of their products and benefit from the huge capacities of the mentioned market.

Last week, the Director-General of the Asia-Pacific Department of Iran’s Trade Promotion Organization (TPO) said that Armenia is willing to replace Turkish commodities with Iranian products.

According to Mojtaba Mousavian, the Republic of Armenia plans to replace 2,250 Turkish commodity items with Iran-made products.

Later on Tuesday, a board member of the Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA) told ILNA that Iran now has the advantage of exporting goods such as sweets and chocolates, ceramic tiles, detergents, shoes, flooring and carpets and textile and clothing to Armenia, in addition to the previously traded items.

“We may not have been able to make good use of regional agreements in the past, but this is an opportunity for us to enter the Armenian market with full force,” Ali Shariati said.

Final thoughts

Establishing strong economic relations with other countries requires a united front by the government, which means it requires close coordination between various government bodies to set the scene for the private sector and traders to play their role.

In this particular case, the situation begs the immediate attention from a triangle consisting of the Trade Promotion Organization, the Iran-Armenia Joint Chamber of Commerce, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

By mobilizing the facilities in the mentioned bodies, exporters will be able to fully showcase their capacities and capabilities and take advantage of this probably short-term opportunity.

EF/MA


https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/456631/Armenia-s-market-a-new-opportunity-for-Iranian-producers

Twin Falls, Idaho, recognizes the independence of Artsakh

Mike Maghakian
Public Radio of Armenia
Jan 5 2021

Twin Falls, Idaho has recognized the independence of Artsakh, reports the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

ANCA thanks ANC Idaho Chair Liyah Babayan, a survivor of Azerbaijani pogroms, and the Idaho Armenian community for leading the effort in support of self-determination and freedom for the people of Artsakh.

Below is the proclamation signed by Mayor Suzanne Hawkins.



Studio CaberlonCaroppi’s prestigious Armenian DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Yerevan City Centre

Tania Jagharian
World Architecture News
Jan 5 2021
Georgina Johnston
11 hours ago

The Italian spirit was both a prerequisite and a strength, which made the difference in this project. Fabrics referencing the typical colours of the area (in particular red and blue) were used to reiterate the constant dialogue between the outside and the inside. 

Starting from the curved contours which characterise the property, the designers opted for the incorporation of large, keel-like shapes into the design, playing with spatial awareness from the outside and creating an architectural structure unique in its kind. 

In a capital like Yerevan, a city with a strong presence of large hotels characterised by a unified, homogeneous design style, it was important to to draw upon the distinctive mark of Italian design, the designers said.

The most original feature of the structure is the Grand Hall, an eight metre high great room which houses the fireplace, the bar and other spaces typical of an international hotel. A part of the restaurant directly faces the grand hall, creating a close relationship between the ground and second floor.

The spa includes a panoramic view of the city, a gym, and a relaxation area on the upper floors which offers a fascinating view of both the urban skyline and the surrounding mountains.

The custom built furnishings of the common areas were conceived by Fabbri Group, which perfectly interpreted the spirit of the project. 

The welcoming sofas are illuminated by large lighting fixtures designed by M&M Chandeliers, emphasising height and distributing light according to a meticulously composed design concept. 


Russia raises stakes in Azerbaijani helicopter shoot-down case

Markos Nalchajian
EurasiaNet.org
Jan 4 2021
Joshua Kucera Jan 5, 2021

When Azerbaijan shot down a Russian military helicopter in the last hours of the war with Armenia, Moscow appeared to initially accept Baku’s explanation and apology that it was a tragic accident.

But now, nearly two months later, Russian military prosecutors have said they intend to pursue more serious charges and formally reclassify the case as one of “murder,” Russian media have reported.

The more serious charges suggest an intention by Moscow to play hardball with Baku, amid under-the-surface tensions that have developed as a result of Russia’s new military presence on Azerbaijani territory.

Azerbaijani forces shot down the Russian Mi-24 on the evening of November 9 on the border between Armenia and the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhchivan. The helicopter was apparently servicing a small Russian outpost in the Armenian town of Yeraskh. Two members of the crew were killed and one injured.

Azerbaijan immediately apologized and explained that the shoot-down was an accident, even offering to pay compensation to the families of those killed. A few hours later the war ended with a Russia-brokered ceasefire deal.

Azerbaijan opened a criminal case into the incident and continued to try to assuage Russian anger about it. When Azerbaijan’s ambassador to Moscow seemed to downplay the incident, saying that “in war things like this happen,” Baku rushed to patch things up. Hikmet Hajiyev, the senior foreign policy adviser to President Ilham Aliyev, publicly rebuked the ambassador, saying that his statement “contradicted the official position of the country and the policies carried out by” Aliyev.

After that, the helicopter incident disappeared from the news. Kremlin spokesman Dmitriy Peskov was asked about the course of the investigation on December 21 and he replied vaguely: “Moscow and Baku are in regular, close, and constructive dialogue on all questions.”

Now, though, Russia is signaling that doesn’t intend to sweep the affair under the rug. Prosecutors there have reclassified the case from a statute on “violating flight rules resulting in accidental death” to “murder of two or more people,” Interfax reported on January 4, citing an “informed source.” The new charges, the source pointed out, carry a life sentence.

The next day Interfax carried another report, also citing an anonymous source, saying that Russia has asked Azerbaijan for information including the identity of those responsible for shooting down the helicopter. It also suggested that Russia was expecting Baku to prosecute the suspects. “Inasmuch as the case involves foreign citizens who cannot be extradited, most likely the Russian side will send investigation materials to Baku to prosecute,” the source said.

Azerbaijan has yet to respond to the reports and Azerbaijani media haven’t covered them. But they come as there has been widespread dissatisfaction amid the Azerbaijani public, opposition political groups and civil society organizations about Russia’s role in enforcing the ceasefire.

Nearly 2,000 Russian peacekeepers are now in the former combat zone. Azerbaijanis have objected to what they see as Russian sympathy for Armenians, in particular to the Russian soldiers’ close cooperation with the de facto authorities of Nagorno-Karabakh. The topic has been a regular issue on Azerbaijani social media.

Ali Kerimli, the head of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan, has accused Russian peacekeepers of cooperating with “Armenian saboteurs.” Gubad Ibadoglu, an Azerbaijani economist now at Rutgers University in the United States, organized a petition demanding the Azerbaijani government kick the Russian peacekeepers out.

Publicly the Azerbaijani government has tried to make nice with Moscow, but there is no reason to believe that behind the scenes they are any happier about how the Russian peacekeeping mission is unfolding. Stepping up this prosecution would be a means for Moscow to push back that is consistent with past Russian practice.

Aliyev, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan are all planning to meet in Moscow, possibly on January 11, Interfax reported citing a “diplomatic source.”

 

Joshua Kucera is the Turkey/Caucasus editor at Eurasianet, and author of The Bug Pit.


Youri Djorkaeff to spend Christmas with children of Artsakh

Eduard Nalbandian
Public Radio of Armenia
Jan 5 2021

Former France international, Goodwill Ambassador Youri Djorkaeff will spend Christmas with children of Artsakh.

The children will spend an interesting time with the legendary football player and will receive tabs as a gift.

“The French government has been providing humanitarian aid to Armenians for about two months. President Macron personally assists with logistics. I was in Armenia in December, and decided to return for Christmas,” Djorkaeff told Public TV as he arrived at Zvartnots Airport in Yerevan.

“It is very important for me to be close to the Armenian children, to support them. France and Armenia have always had good relations. We have prepared a surprise for the children of Artsakh. My visit is also aimed at the development of education,” said the legendary footballer.



Armenian economic, trade delegation to visit Iran next month

Kevo Kalantarian
MEHR News Agency, Iran
Jan 5 2021

TEHRAN, Jan. 05 (MNA) – A high-level delegation from the public and private sectors, headed by the Armenian Minister of Economy, will travel to Tehran early next month to advance trade and economic goals, announced an Iranian official at TPO.

Mojtaba Mousavian, an official at Trade Promotion Organization of Iran (TPO), made the announcement, saying that negotiations on the further development of goods in the Eurasian Economic Memorandum, banking and transit agreements, and coordination for holding a special exhibition of Iran in Yerevan are among the goals of this trip.

He added that the Armenian trade delegation will also visit several production and industrial centers and review the joint production and export of products to other countries.

Yerevan government suspended the import of Turkish–made goods to Armenia for six months in response to Turkish military support for the Republic of Azerbaijan.

This ban was adopted on October 20, 2020, and came into force on January 1, 2021.

An official from the Iranian Trade Promotion Organization announced that Armenia has announced that it is to replace 2,250 Turkish products with Iranian goods.

"Due to Turkish sanctions, Armenia intends to replace Iranian goods with 2,250 items imported from Turkey," the Iranian official said.

ZZ/IRN84174303


Armenian president stuck in London with coronavirus

Talar Tumanian
RTE, Ireland
Jan 5 2021

Armenian President Armen Sarkisian has tested positive for Covid-19 and is self-isolating in London where he had been spending the New Year with his family, his office said today.

The 67-year-old president "had symptoms of the novel coronavirus. A test gave a positive result," the presidency said in a statement. 

Mr Sarkisian had been in London to "spend the New Year with his family and grandchildren", as well as to have an operation on his leg, the statement added.

"The president is in self-isolation and will continue temporarily to carry out his role at a distance," it said.

The role of president in Armenia is largely ceremonial and executive power rests primarily with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who himself caught the virus in June alongside his family.

The small Caucasus country, home to around three million people, has badly struggled to contain the effects of the pandemic, counting 160,000 cases and 2,878 deaths so far, according to the latest official figures available today.

Armenian authorities have been criticised for their handling of the outbreak, with experts complaining that the decision to close the borders came too late and that citizens were confused by contradictory messages from officials.

The situation was aggravated by six weeks of deadly fighting between Azerbaijan and separatists backed by Armenia for control of the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.

In early November, a peace deal mediated by Russia ended the conflict, which left more than 6,000 people dead.