Category: 2023

Azerbaijan Expresses Optimism on Peace Deal with Armenia

Lara Chatinian
WE News, Pakistan
Dec 19 2023

LONDON: Azerbaijan is optimistic about achieving a lasting peace treaty with Armenia and believes that addressing the question of defining their borders can be resolved separately, according to a senior Azerbaijani official. Hikmet Hajiyev, a top foreign policy adviser to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, emphasized that the decades-long conflict is over, and Azerbaijan’s strategy now focuses on winning peace.

Hajiyev stated, “For Azerbaijan, there are no longer obstacles on the way to a peace agenda,” highlighting the importance of direct bilateral talks, which will continue in the coming year. The neighbours, who fought two wars in the past 30 years over Nagorno-Karabakh, recently engaged in a prisoner exchange and expressed their intention to normalize relations and reach a peace deal.

While international entities like the United States, the European Union, and Russia have traditionally mediated between the two sides, Azerbaijan favors direct bilateral negotiations. The outstanding issue of defining the shared border remains, with each country holding small enclaves within the other’s territory.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan acknowledged the matter as negotiable, and Hajiyev indicated Azerbaijan’s willingness to discuss it. However, he emphasized that “the border delimitation issue should be kept separate from peace treaty discussions.”

Azerbaijan’s recapture of Nagorno-Karabakh has led to increased hostility towards external involvement in the negotiation process. The World Court recently ordered Azerbaijan to allow ethnic Armenians to return and ensure their safety. Hajiyev stated that people’s right to return should be determined on a case-by-case basis, and they would need to become citizens of Azerbaijan.

He emphasized reciprocity, mentioning Azerbaijanis who were forced to flee Armenia or Armenian-controlled territory since 1988, stating, “We cannot afford a legal limbo status anymore.”

Azerbaijan Criticizes France’s Arms Supply to Armenia: Escalation of Tensions in South Caucasus

George Mamian
 bnn 
HongKong – Dec 19 2023

By: Safak Costu

In a recent interview with Colombian TV channel NTN24, Elnur Mammadov, the deputy head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Azerbaijan, expressed serious concerns over France’s supply of both defensive and offensive weaponry to Armenia. Mammadov, echoing the sentiments of Prime Minister Ali Asadov, warned that such actions pose a severe threat to the peace in the South Caucasus region. The Azerbaijani leaders have urged France to refrain from what they perceive as destructive behavior that might spark a new war with Armenia.

Azerbaijan’s criticism of France’s military support to Armenia goes beyond bilateral ties, reflecting a broader geopolitical context. Mammadov’s words underscore the predicament of a region wrestling with security concerns, where the intentions of external players like France are viewed as provocations. The situation is further complicated by the involvement of other nations, notably India, which has also been accused of ‘adding fuel to the fire’ by arming Armenia.

The president of Azerbaijan is not alone in his criticism. Turkey, a staunch ally of Azerbaijan, has also voiced concerns. President Erdogan has accused Paris of provocation, thereby escalating tensions in a region already on edge. The potential for renewed conflict emerges as a focal point of this diplomatic dispute, raising questions about the role of external actors in regional stability.

Israeli expert Dr. Mordechai Kedar has criticized the West for its double standards in dealing with Azerbaijan and Armenia. Despite Azerbaijan’s commitment to establishing peace with Armenia, the US Senate has urged President Biden to extend security support to Yerevan. Furthermore, the Senate passed a resolution calling on the United States to halt military aid to Azerbaijan. Dr. Kedar emphasizes the urgent need for the United States to engage in peace initiatives in both nations rather than favoring one over the other.

As the diplomatic dispute continues to evolve, world powers, including Russia and the United States, are calling for an immediate ceasefire in Nagorno Karabakh. The region has seen intense fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces, with both sides reporting hundreds of deaths. Amidst these developments, Azerbaijan has demanded Armenia’s withdrawal from Nagorno Karabakh and surrounding territories, a demand that Armenia has rejected. The international community is anxiously observing, wary of the violence escalating into a full-blown war with potential involvement of regional powers Russia and Turkey.

https://bnnbreaking.com/world/france/azerbaijan-criticizes-frances-arms-supply-to-armenia-escalation-of-tensions-in-south-caucasus/

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE OF BISHOP MESROP PARSAMYAN

Emil Lazarian

PRESS OFFICE

Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)

630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016

Contact: Chris Zakian

Tel: (212) 686-0710

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.armenianchurch.us

 

December 20, 2023

___________________

 

ATTN. EDITOR: An Armenian text of the Primate’s message follows below. Also attached is a PDF file containing both English and Armenian versions, and a photo of Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan.

 

 

HEADLINE:

 

Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America

 

 

Prince of Peace

 

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and authority will rest upon his shoulders.  And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”  (ISAIAH 9:6)

 

Peace is one of the great themes of Christmas: the beautiful idea that flows through the story of Christ’s Nativity, and warms our hearts at this time of year.  It was the message that the angels announced over the fields outside of Bethlehem, more than two thousand years ago: “Glory to God in the highest Heaven; and on Earth, Peace to those on whom His favor rests” (Lk 2:14).

 

Peace, of course, is something we all long for.  We pray for peace among nations—for an end to hatred and conflict, and to the human waste of war.  Likewise, we pray for inner peace: for the tranquil spirit that will allow us to meet the trials of life with calm and grace.

 

But my friends, the Peace of the Gospel—the Peace of Christ’s birth—goes even deeper than this.  Because it means, first and foremost, being at peace with God.  It means devoting your soul to the Lord, and loving Him with your entire heart.  It means having trust in God’s plans for you—even when you cannot understand them.  It means being obedient to God’s call: to say with complete sincerity, “Thy will be done, O Lord.”

 

The angels sang, and God rejoiced, in the establishment of that deep and wonderful Peace, through the birth of our Savior, the Son of God: Jesus Christ.

 

And what about those other kinds of Peace?  What about peace between nations?  The inner peace of the spirit?  These, too, are treasures that our Heavenly Father truly wants us to have.  But we cannot have them without firstentering into peace with God.

 

To do that, we must admit, and accept, that as broken human beings we need His salvation.  And we must recognize, and rejoice, that God’s love for us is so great, that He took upon Himself our human limitations, our pain and sorrow—the He submitted to Death itself—in order to draw us closer, and grant us Eternal Life.

 

God’s incarnation as Jesus Christ—His birth as that fragile child in Bethlehem—is our one and only pathway to this great gift.  Christ came into the world to establish peace.  But we cannot have peace unless we first embrace Him as our Lord and Savior.

 

So I implore you, my friends: Make this Christmas a time to renew your relationship with Jesus Christ.  Throughout the Advent season, read the Scriptures; meditate in prayer; join the church in its holy practices of fasting and worship.  Spend the precious holiday time with your loved ones—and reach out to those in need.

 

And on the great day of Christmas, uniquely celebrated by our church on January 6, join your fellow faithful in worship to proclaim the Good News of Christ’s birth, and receive the sacrament of Holy Communion.  In these unsettling times for so many people, let us open our hearts to the Prince of Peace.

 

Christ is born and revealed—blessed is His revelation.

Krisdos dzunav yev haydnetsav.  Ohrnyal eh haydnoutiunun Krisdosi.

 

Prayerfully,

 

Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan

Primate

 

January 2024

 

* * *

 

ARMENIAN VERSION:

 

Հայց. Եկեղեցւոյ Ամերիկայի Արեւելեան Թեմի Առաջնորդ

Տ. ՄԵՍՐՈՊ ԵՊԻՍԿՈՊՈՍ ՊԱՐՍԱՄԵԱՆԻ Ս. ԾՆՆԴԵԱՆ ՊԱՏԳԱՄԸ

 

 

Խաղաղութեան Իշխան

 

Վասնզի մեզի մանուկ մը ծնաւ, մեզի որդի մը տրուեցաւ, եւ իշխանութիւնը անոր ուսին վրայ պիտի ըլլայ։Ան պիտի կոչուի Սքանչելի Խորհրդակից, Հզօր Աստուած, Յաւիտենականութեան Հայր, ԽաղաղութեանԻշխան։ (ԵՍԱՅԻ Թ. 6)

 

Խաղաղութիւնը կարեւոր թեմաներէն մին է Ս. Ծննդեան տօնին։ Գեղեցիկ գաղափարը որ կը հոսիՔրիստոսի Ծննդեան պատմութեան ընդմէջէն, կը ջերմացնէ մեր սրտերը տարուան այս շրջանին։Պատգամը հրեշտակներէն էր, որ յայտարարուեցաւ Բեթլեհէմի դաշտերէն դուրս, աւելի քան երկուհազար տարիներ առաջ. «Փառք Աստուծոյն՝ բարձունքներու մէջ, եւ խաղաղութիւն երկրի վրայ մարդոցմէջ զոր ան սիրեց» (Ղուկ. Բ:14)։

 

Խաղաղութիւնը անշուշտ, բան մըն է, որուն բոլորս կը ձգտինք։ Մենք կ՛աղօթենք ազգերու միջեւխաղաղութեան համար եւ ատելութեանց ու հակամարտութեանց կասեցման եւ պատերազմներումարդկային կորուստներուն։ Նոյնպէս մենք կ՛աղօթենք մարդոց ներքին խաղաղութեան համար եւհոգիներու հանդարտութեան, որոնք պիտի առաջնորդեն մեզ դիմադրելու կեանքի փորձութիւններունխաղաղօրէն եւ շնորհալիօրէն։

 

Բայց սիրելի բարեկամներս, Աւետարանի Խաղաղութիւնը՝ Քրիստոսի Ծննդեան Խաղաղութիւնը, աւելիխորունկ է քան այս։ Այդ, նախ եւ առաջ, խաղաղութիւն ունենալ է Աստուծոյ հետ։ Այդ կը նշանակէ, որ քուհոգիդ կը նուիրես Տիրոջ, սիրելով զինքը քու բոլոր սրտովդ։ Այդ կը նշանակէ վստահութիւն ունենալԱստուծոյ ծրագրին, որ պատրաստած է քեզ համար, նոյնիսկ երբ դուն չես կրնար հասկնալ այդ բոլորը։Այդ կը նշանակէ հնազանդիլ Աստուծոյ հրաւէրին եւ ամբողջ անկեղծութեամբ ըսել. «Քու կամքդ թողըլլայ, ով Տէր»։

 

Հրեշտակները երգեցին եւ Աստուած հրճուեցաւ հաստատուող այդ խոր եւ սքանչելի Խաղաղութեան, մերՓրկչի ծնունդի միջոցաւ, Աստուծոյ Որդիին՝ Յիսուս Քրիստոսի։

 

Եւ ի՞նչ ըսել տարբեր տեսակի խաղաղութեանց մասին։ Ի՞նչ ըսել ազգամիջեան խաղաղութեանց մասին։Հոգիի ներքին խաղաղութեան մասին։ Անոնք եւս գանձեր են, որոնք մեր Երկնաւոր հայրը ճշմարտապէսկ՛ուզէ որ մենք ունենանք։ Բայց մենք չենք կրնար ունենալ անոնք, առանց նախ խաղաղութեան մէջմտնելու Աստուծոյ հետ։

 

Այդ ընելու համար, մենք պէտք է ընդունինք, որ որպէս մարդկային տկար արարածներ, պէտքը ունինքԻր փրկութեան։ Եւ մենք պէտք է գիտակցինք եւ ցնծանք, որ Աստուծոյ սէրը  մեր հանդէպ այնքան շատ է,որ Ան Իր վրայ առաւ մեր մարդկային սահմանափակումները, մեր ցաւն ու վիշտը եւ Ինքըենթարկուեցաւ Մահուան, որպէսզի մեզի աելի մօտենայ եւ շնորհէ Յաւիտենական Կեանք։

 

Աստուծոյ մարդեղութիւնը որպէս Յիսուս Քրիստոս՝ Իր այդ ծնունդը որպէս խոնարհ մանուկը Բեթլեհէմիմէջ, մեր միակ եւ յատուկ ճանապարհն է այդ մեծ նուէրին։ Քրիստոս այս աշխարհը եկաւ, որպէսզիխաղաղութիւն հաստատէ։ Բայց մենք չենք կրնար խաղաղութիւն ունենալ, եթէ նախ չ՛ողջագուրուինք Իրհետ, որպէս մեր Տէրն ու Փրկիչը։

 

Ահա այս մտածումներով սիրելի բարեկամներս, կ՛աղաչեմ ձեզ, այս Ծնունդը առիթ մը թող ըլլայ, ՅիսուսՔրիստոսի հետ ձեր յարաբերութեան վերանորոգման։ Յիսնակի ողջ ժամանակաշրջանին կարդացէ՛քՍուրբ Գրական ընթերցումներ, խորհրդածեցէ՛ք աղօթքով, միացէ՛ք եկեղեցւոյ սուրբ ծոմապահութեան եւպաշտամունքի սովորութեանց։ Այս Ծննդեան տօնին ձեր թանկագին ժամանակը անցուցէք ձերսիրելիներուն հետ եւ մի՛ մոռնաք անոնց, որոնք ձեր օգնութեան կարիքը ունին։

 

Ծննդեան այն մեծ օրը, երբ մեր եկեղեցին անզուգականօրէն  Յունուարի 6-ին կը տօնէ, միացէ՛ք Ս.Պատարագին, ձեր հաւատակիցներուն հետ յայտարարելու՝ Աւետիսը Քրիստոսի Ծննդեան եւԱստուածայայտնութեան ու ստանալու Սուրբ Հաղորդութիւն։

 

Շատերուն համար այս անկայուն օրերուն, եկէ՛ք բանանք մեր սրտերը Խաղաղութեան Իշխանին։

 

Քրիստոս Ծնաւ եւ Յայտնեցաւ։

Օրհնեալ է Յայտնութիւնն Քրիստոսի։

 

Աղօթիւք եւ օրհնութեամբ՝

 

Մեսրոպ Եպիսկոպոս Պարսամեան

Առաջնորդ

 

Յունուար 2024

 

# # #

—

Christopher H. Zakian

Communications Director

Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)

630 Second Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10016

212.686.0710, ext. 125

[email protected]

www.armenianchurch.us



Armenpress: JN.1 Covid variant: WHO charts its rapid global spread

Sonya Jalatian

 10:35, 21 December 2023

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. A sub-variant of the Omicron strain of coronavirus has been classified as a "variant of interest" by the World Health Organization, because of "its rapidly increasing spread,” the BBC reports.

JN.1 has been found in many countries around the world, including India, China, UK and the United States.

The risk to the public is currently low and current vaccines continue to offer protection, the WHO says.

But it warns Covid and other infections could rise this winter.

Respiratory viruses such as flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and childhood pneumonia are also on the rise in the northern hemisphere.

The virus which causes Covid is constantly changing over time and sometimes this leads to new variants developing.

Omicron has been the globally dominant variant for some time.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is currently tracking a number of variants of interest linked to Omicron - including JN.1 – although none of them are deemed to be concerning.

But JN.1 is spreading quickly in many corners of the world.

It is currently the fastest-growing variant in the United States, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, accounting for 15-29% of infections.

The UK Health Security Agency says JN.1 currently makes up around 7% of positive Covid tests analyzed in a lab. It said it would continue to monitor all available data on this and other variants.

JN.1 is spreading fast in all regions, probably because it has an additional mutation in the spike protein compared to the BA.2.86 variant from which it's descended.

"It is anticipated that this variant may cause an increase in Sars-Cov-2 [coronavirus] cases amid a surge of infections of other viral and bacterial infections, especially in countries entering the winter season," the WHO's risk assessment says.

There is still limited evidence on how capable JN.1 is of getting round the immunity offered by vaccines, the WHO says.

There are no reports of people becoming more ill with this variant than previous ones.

Government announces new round of training musters for reservists

Emil Karabekian

 11:11, 21 December 2023

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. The government has announced a new round of training musters for military reservists for the period of 2024 January 23 until April 12.

A total of 2,838 reservists will be called up for the trainings (2,579 Privates, 98 NCOs and 161 officers) of motor-rifle, communication, reconnaissance, engineering and rocket-artillery professions.

Each citizen will be involved in the trainings for no more than 25 days.

The decision was approved at the December 21 Cabinet meeting.

Iran supports opening of communication routes in Caucasus based on sovereignty, territorial integrity of all countries

Ani Tigranian

 11:19, 21 December 2023

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. President of Iran Ebrahim Raisi, during the December 20 phone call with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, expressed support to "any type of action and platform to open communication routes and infrastructures with the Caucasus region, while respecting the principle of respect for the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries", the Iranian presidential office said in a readout.

According to the Iranian readout, President Raisi extended greetings on upcoming Christmas holidays and “expressed satisfaction with the process of developing relations and implementing agreements between the two countries.”

“In response to the Armenian government's plan to develop road and rail communication routes between the two countries as well as the countries of the region, the President said, “The Islamic Republic of Iran supports any type of action and platform to open communication routes and infrastructures with the Caucasus region, while respecting the principle of respect for the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, and evaluates it as an effective step in the direction of consolidating peace and securing the interests of its neighbours.
Dr Raisi described the Caucasus as an important region in need of peace and added, “The foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran towards the Caucasus is fixed and care must be taken that the Caucasus region does not become a field of competition for extra-regional countries and that its issues are handled by the countries of the region and without the interference of outsiders.
The President described and clarified the successful holding of the 3+3 meeting in Tehran as a constructive step to strengthen regional relations and cooperation and normalise the relations of the countries of the region with each other, adding, “Developing neighbourly relations and strengthening relations in order to ensure mutual benefits and the interests of the countries of the region are the fundamental policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the Iranian presidential press service said in the readout.

It added that the Armenian Prime Minister, “while reviewing the latest economic cooperation between the two countries and the latest developments in the region, as well as the actions of the officials of the two countries in line with the implementation of agreements and the promotion of joint cooperation, described the continuation and increase of relations between the high-ranking officials of Iran and Armenia witness to the will of the two countries to comprehensively develop bilateral relations.”

Government to compensate tuition of students from NK

Ara Felekian

 13:27, 21 December 2023

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian government has adopted a decision to compensate the tuition of forcibly displaced students of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The decision adopted at the December 21 Cabinet meeting covers 935 students.

264 million drams will be allocated for the first semester tuition. 

The money will be transferred to the universities.

Over 1800 forcibly displaced students of Nagorno-Karabakh are now enrolled in Armenian universities, and over 1100 in colleges.

Russia says it’s working to achieve peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan

Vardan Badalian

 15:07, 21 December 2023

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. Russia is actively working in the direction of unblocking of connection routes in South Caucasus and the signing of a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Russian top general Valery Gerasimov has said.

Gerasimov, the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, said that the situation in the South Caucasus remains tense but has a tendency to stabilize.

“Russia is carrying out active work through political channels in the direction of unblocking of transport connections in Transcaucasia, the signing of a peace treaty between Baku and Yerevan, as well as resolving the most pressing Armenian-Azeri disputes,” the general said at a meeting with foreign military attachés.

Gerasimov claimed that during the Azeri attack in Nagorno-Karabakh in September the Russian peacekeepers accommodated over 10,000 civilians in their deployment bases and then ensured the safe passage of civilians into Armenia. He said that the ceasefire was achieved within 24 hours as a result of the mediation by Russian peacekeepers.

“At the same time, our servicemen continue to fulfil objectives, as guarantors of building peaceful life and return of residents of the region,” he added.




ANIF surprise Christmas gift for Artsakh children

Maral Chavushian

 14:05, 21 December 2023

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. Armenian National Interests fund (ANIF) as part of its commitment to social responsibility, organized a visit to Yerevan for children from Artsakh living in the affected communities of the "Aig-1", a solar plant project implemented jointly with Masdar UAE.

Fifty children from Artsakh aged 11-17 who settled in the surrounding communities of the "Aig-1" project, in particular, in the Talin enlarged community, visited the capital Yerevan on December 20.

Then the children were hosted in the "Hard Rock Cafe" restaurant, jointly owned by the ANIF "Entrepreneur + State" investment fund and the "Dom Arena" company, enjoyed the cafe's brand food, and participated in the New Year's program organized for them.

At the end of the day, the children received gift bags of strawberries produced in the company's greenhouses from the Berrymount company, another joint project of ANIF's "Entrepreneur + State" fund and other gifts.

Another ANIF project, Armenia national airline Fly Arna, provided brand stationery as a gift.

We would like to thank all our partner organizations for joining efforts to organize the event for children from Artsakh.