Artsakh Prosecutor General’s office releases a video revealing the lie of the Azerbaijani side

Panorama, Armenia
Dec 25 2021

On December 3, 2021, Seyran Sargsyan, a resident of Chartar settlement of the Martuni district of Artsakh was killed by Azerbaijani military. As the Prosecutor General's office of the Artsakh Republic reports, the Azerbaijani side earlier issued false claims that Seyran Sargsyan had been neutralized near their positions when allegedly trying to attack the Azerbaijani post. 

"The investigatory and procedural actions conducted within the criminal case prove that Seyran Sargsyan was killed by a long-range shot, after which the Azerbaijani servicemen removed his body from the neutral zone and moved to their military post. This is proved by the examination of the footage recorded by video surveillance systems installed in the area," the Prosecutor General's Office said. 

It is noted that the circumstances for the latest criminal cases reiterate the truth that the Azerbaijani military posts located near the civilian settlements in Artsakh pose an immediate and real danger for the  peaceful life of the locals in their communities as well as their other vital rights.

Constantine Orbelian: I believe difficulties are a thing of the past

Panorama, Armenia
Dec 25 2021

Famous Armenian conductor and pianist Constantine Orbelian has extended New Year greetings.

"Dear friends, at the end of every year we sum up our activities of the past 12 months, the failures and achievements. I hope that in spite of all the difficulties, we still managed to find the most effective solutions to certain issues,” he said in a message on Saturday.

“I am convinced that difficulties are a thing of the past. Most of all I wish Peace to my homeland, unflagging patience to our compatriots and all the prerequisites for work and creation. In loving memory of the heroes who sacrificed their lives for the homeland, I bow down before their mothers.

“Each of us must contribute to the development and strengthening of our homeland through our hard work. Each of us has dreams related to Armenia and the world, which we will definitely realize together. May 2022 be a fruitful year and may the breath of art be everywhere. Happy New Year and Merry Christmas!” reads the message.

The Armenian audience enjoyed the gala concert of "The Three Tenors"

Panorama, Armenia
Dec 25 2021

CULTURE 17:45 25/12/2021 ARMENIA

A unique concert of "The Three Tenors" with the famous and beloved Armenian tenors – Liparit Avetisyan, Arsen Soghomonyan and the rising star, young opera singer Tigran Hakobyan took place on December 24 at Aram Khachaturian Concert Hall. The concert was held under the baton of Eduard Topchjan, the Artistic director and principal conductor of the Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra.

As the National Philharmonic Orchestra reported, the concert featured famous opera arias, songs and opera overtures. Following the concert, the tenors noted it was a great opportunity for them to perform in the homeland in front of their beloved audience. It was also an occasion to encourage and inspire them, cure their feelings. 

Newspaper: No contract signed with any lobbying organization since Makunts’ appointment as ambassador to US

News.am, Armenia
Dec 25 2021

YEREVAN. – Zhoghovurd newspaper of the Republic of Armenia (RA) writes: According to Zhoghovurd daily’s information, the RA embassy has not signed a contract with any US lobbying organization ever since Lilit Makunts was appointed ambassador to the US.

We learned that the contract between our embassy in the [United] States and one of the American lobbying organizations expired in March of this year, after which a new one was not signed.

According to the information we received, the former MP, who was appointed ambassador back in August, started having meetings with various American organizations, departments, and people only a month after her appointment—meeting with the members of the [US] Congress committee on Armenian affairs—whereas for any [Armenian] ambassador accredited to the US, it has always been a priority to work, to meet not only with Congress members dealing with Armenian issues, but also with those Congress members and ambassadors of other countries accredited to Washington who even have neutral or slightly opposite dispositions regarding Azerbaijan and Turkey.

Ever since taking office, however, Makunts has not met with the ambassador of another country (at least, we have not come across such information). During this time she had no meetings also with influential religious organizations and churches, such as the Evangelical and Catholic Churches, for example.

Artsakh Prosecutor’s Office: Chartar village resident killed by long-range shot by Azerbaijan

News.am, Armenia
Dec 25 2021

STEPANAKERT. – Seyran Sargsyan, a resident of Chartar village of the Martuni region of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), was killed on December 3 by the Azerbaijani armed forces in the administrative area of the aforesaid village, the Artsakh Prosecutor's Office reports.

In connection with the incident, the Azerbaijani side had presented an untrue version that Artsakh citizen Seyran Sargsyan had allegedly attacked the Azerbaijani military position, during which he was purportedly neutralized a few meters away from the Azerbaijani military position.

The results of the actions taken in the criminal case on the incident, however, prove that Sargsyan was killed by a long-range shot, after which the Azerbaijani military had moved his body from the neutral zone to their combat position. This is evidenced also by the results of the examination of videos recorded by video surveillance devices located near the scene.

The circumstances revealed in the recent criminal cases reaffirm the fact that the Azerbaijani military bases located in the vicinity of the peaceful settlements of Artsakh pose an immediate and real threat to the life and other vital rights of the community civilian population.

No agreement on meeting with Erdogan, Armenian PM says

Public Radio of Armenia
Dec 24 2021

There has been no idea any any agreement on a meeting with Turkey’s President Regep Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at an online press conference today.

He added, however, that if the discussions between the special representative go ahead successfully and the process matures to that point, meetings on high and highest level will naturally follow.

“It will definitely take place if the process goes successfully,” the Prime Minister said.

He added, however, that the date of the meeting of the special representatives is yet to been agreed. The Prime Minister said it will be a definitely be a lengthy process, not one, two or three meetings, and added that there should not be exaggerated expectations.

As for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, PM Pashinyan said “it has never been a precondition for normalization of relations with Turkey.

“The Armenian side, all authorities without exception have said that they are ready to normalize relations with Turkey without preconditions, which means that the recognition of the Armenian Genocide has not been a precondition for normalization of diplomatic relations and opening of borders,” the Prime Minister said.

He added, however, that the stance on the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide is enshrined in the Government’s program.

Armenia will not provide road to Azerbaijan without customs control – PM

Public Radio of Armenia
Dec 24 2021

The Armenian side will not agree to provide a road to Azerbaijan without customs control and duties, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at an online press conference.

Asked why it was not possible to reach an agreement on road communication and whether Azerbaijan has brought forward new demand unacceptable for the Armenian side, the Pashinyan said: “Before the Brussels meeting, I had already outlined the red lines for the Armenian side on my Facebook page, according to which we do not accept any corridor-related proposal.”

He added that the agreement reached on rail communication in Brussels was actually the summery of the Sochi talks “and what we recorded there is that customs and border control will operate on both sides, which is acceptable for us, acceptable for Azerbaijan and we agreed to launch the construction of the railway.”  

The Prime Minister emphasized that the position of the Armenian side on the roads has remained unchanged. He noted that the issue of roads should be divided into several parts.

“The first is the issue of legal regulations. If we come to an agreement on legal issues, the remaining issues become technical. The trilateral statement says that there should be a road connecting the western regions of Azerbaijan with Nakhijevan, but I want us to change the perspective, because this happens in the logic of opening of regional communications.”

“The difference is that we see this not only as a direct road connecting the western parts of Azerbaijan with Nakhijevan, but also a new, international transit road, which Armenia is also interested in,” Pashinyan said.

“Therefore, when we come to an agreement with Azerbaijan on the issues I mentioned, we must also reconsider our point of view with the logic that we must have a route that will be as attractive as possible for international transit cargo, because it will bring concrete benefits to Armenia,” he added.

“It is in this context that we have not ruled out and do not rule out the construction of a new road, which, in our view, will be a possible route of international communication. Our goal is to expand the North-South project into East-West, as well, i.e. some kind of cross-road, which will significantly increase the importance of that route,” Nikol Pashinyan stated.

Armenian MP: Azerbaijan speaks about so-called ‘corridor’ as established fact

Panorama, Armenia
Dec 24 2021

Azerbaijan speaks about the so-called “corridor” through Armenia as an established fact, according to MP Tigran Abrahamyan from the opposition With Honor faction.

“It’s not about how the Armenian authorities officially react to it; the problem is that even if there are no backstage arrangements on the issue, Azerbaijan and Turkey make statements, which seems very difficult to back down,” he wrote on Facebook on Friday.

“Simply put, Azerbaijan has assured its society that there will be a corridor. Moreover, it is already negotiating with its international partners on regional projects, which further exacerbates the situation with the corridor,” the lawmaker said.

He stated the choice is between “the bad and the worse” in the current situation.

Scandal in Vanadzor: Bright Armenia Party blocks election of new community head

Panorama, Armenia
Dec 24 2021

The Bright Armenia Party, led by former lawmaker Edmon Marukyan, continues “pouring water into the mill of the authorities”, preventing the Vanadzor City Council from electing a new head of the community, Pastinfo reported on Friday.

Bright Armenia challenged the results of the local elections held in Vanadzor enlarged community earlier in December in the Administrative Court of Armenia.

The source recalled that the party filed a separate motion to the Administrative Court to oblige the Vanadzor municipal council not to hold a meeting to install a new Vanadzor mayor before the final ruling on the matter.

The Administrative Court, presided over by judge Hrach Ayvazian, partially grated the motion on Friday, just before a planned meeting of the Vanadzor City Council, Pastinfo said.

An opposition bloc led by former Mayor of Vanadzor Mamikon Aslanyan won the elections with nearly 39 percent of the vote. The ruling Civil Contract party garnered 25% of the vote. The Bright Armenia Party finished a distant sixth in the elections. The outcome of the elections was not significantly changed after a recount of votes.

“The opposition now has a real chance to form a government headed by Mamikon Aslanyan, which, however, is not in the interests of the Civil Contract party, which is trying to prevent the opposition forces from forming an alliance. In the light of all this, the Bright Armenia Party, which was also rejected by the Vanadzor residents, challenged the vote results. As a result, the formation of the local government was postponed for a week, which, in fact, allowed Civil Contract to buy time to continue repressions against members of the City Council.

“Mamikon Aslanyan is under arrest. Today a meeting of the Vanadzor City Council was to be convened for the election of a new mayor, which, however, failed due to Marukyan's efforts," Pastinfo said.

Maestro Hovhannes Chekidjian, National Hero of Armenia, celebrates 93rd birthday anniversary

Panorama, Armenia
Dec 24 2021

Prominent conductor, National Academic Choir Director Hovhannes Chekidjian, holder of Order of Motherland for outstanding personal contribution to culture as well as for exceptional services rendered to the Armenian people, celebrates his 93rd birthday anniversary on December 23. 

Armenia's Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Vahram Dumanyan has congratulated the renowned intellectual on the occasion of his birthday, wishing him robust health and new creative achievements. 

"Maestro Chekidjian's contribution to the development and propagation of the Armenian choir music is invaluable. It is difficult to name a country where Maestro has not performed with his Choir, presenting the achievements of the Armenian Choir music and the masterpieces of Komitas throughout the world," the congratulatory message reads in part.