Category: 2023

Haigazian University holds 63rd Commencement

Jirair Kafian
 Guest Contributor Diaspora 0

By Mira Yardemian, Public Relations Director

BEIRUT, Lebanon—Some 132 students from the various faculties of Business Administration & Economics, Humanities, Sciences, and Social and Behavioral Sciences at Haigazian University received their undergraduate and graduate degrees last Friday, June 9, 2023, thus bidding farewell to the four most challenging years of their lives.

The courtyard of the First Armenian Evangelical Church, next to the University campus, was full with a capacity audience of officials, family and friends gathered to applaud the graduating students amidst an atmosphere of cheer, sometimes mixed with moments of high emotion.

Haigazian University graduation ceremony 2023

This year, Haigazian University was honored by the presence of the Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA) leadership who came from the US to hold their annual meetings in Beirut. The delegation was headed by president Dr. Nazareth Darakjian and CEO Zaven Khanjian, as well as members of the Board of Trustees, headed by chair Dr. Hasmig Baran. The audience also included political, diplomatic, religious and corporate representation.

The auspicious ceremony began with the formal processional march on the notes of the traditional “Pomp and Circumstance” by Sir Edward Elgar, whereby faculty, led by Chief Marshall Dr. Najoie Nasr proceeded in their traditional academic regalia of caps, gown and hoods, followed by graduates. After the Lebanese national anthem, the prayer of invocation was offered by campus minister Rev. Wilbert Van Saane.

In his welcoming address, University president Rev. Dr. Paul Haidostian expressed his pride in the graduating class and acknowledged the unwavering efforts and dedication of the administrative and teaching body, the students and their parents during these last couple of challenging years the country was facing, asking the audience to give them a hearty applause.

In his remarks, Haidostian tackled the contraction between the timely notions of “unlimited access to knowledge” and “human limitation,” considering the “limitless access to so much is often highlighted and celebrated, whereas accepting our limitations is usually disregarded.”

For this, he shared a word of advice with the graduates, telling them, “your limitations are not your end. They are your chance for a disciplined journey. They are your beginning. Awareness of limitations will give you the humility to be open for new learning. It will give you the right heart to turn inhibition into gratitude and growth.”

“Allow me to qualify you as Class of Heroes, because heroes are not only those who die on the battlefield; they are also ordinary individuals who find the strength to endure overwhelming challenges and emerge victorious,” said Dr. Baran in her inspiring keynote speech to the class of 2023.

Dr. Baran focused on three key perspectives, “success,” “attitude” and “resilience” to respond to topic she raised: How do you move forward amidst overwhelming challenges?

Since “success” is a relative term in general, Dr. Baran asked the graduates to first “define success.” “The feeling of success comes only when you achieve what is most important to you. True success is a personal feeling, not a manifestation that others perceive,” Dr. Baran noted.

As “attitude” matters in how we deal with challenges, Dr. Baran considered that it’s almost impossible to find satisfaction in negative feelings and behaviors. “We don’t know what tomorrow will bring, but one thing we do know is that we have the choice as to how to respond to life. Let’s embrace a positive attitude and say, ‘I can do it!’ ‘It can be done!’ ‘I will do it!’” concluded Dr. Baran.

On “resilience,” Dr. Baran considered that emotionally resilient people are keener to deal with crisis situations. “Life doesn’t get easier or more forgiving; we get stronger and more determined through resilience to go on to live a happy and fulfilling life,” she noted.

Dr. Baran concluded her speech by instilling a sense of pride in the graduates. “Consider yourselves fortunate to have had the opportunity to be educated at this unique institution of higher learning that prepared you academically and spiritually… Be a candle and shine a light on those who tumble in darkness. And make countless candles of them for a brighter world and future,” she said.

Next to speak was president of BASCO International LLC (a strategic consulting and business advisory practice), current board member and 1976 graduate Serge Buchakjian, who congratulated the graduates in the name of the university alumni and proudly shared his formative years at Haigazian University.

“I received the foundational knowledge, skills and traits imparted by this exceptional institution that have informed my life: compassion, tolerance, gratitude, true friendship, cultural sensitivity, service to community are a few qualities that come to mind,” Buchakjian said.

Buchakjian concluded his speech by offering a precious piece of advice to the youth: “Be the best that you can be and make a difference, be patient, and last but not least, never forget where you came from.”

With a sense of accomplishment, valedictorian Araz Pamboukian, a recipient of the Future Armenian Leadership Fund (FALF) scholarship, expressed her gratitude to the university for this opportunity and unique experience. Applauding the work ethic, motivation and perseverance of her fellow graduates, Pamboukian said, “The fact that you are standing here today is a testament to your tenacity. In the face of such fluctuating and varied adversities, you adapted, you persevered and you made it through.”

For her part, valedictorian Jana Abdulrahim gratefully acknowledged the determination and strong will of her fellow graduates in overcoming the economic and financial challenges of the country as they embark on a new phase of their lives. In very touching words, Abdulrahim paid homage to late professor Dr. Samih Azar, who passed away earlier this year, by dedicating her honor’s degree to his memory.

Finally, after singing the Alma Mater, and upon the benediction offered by former campus minister Rev. Nishan Bakalian, with waves of resounding cheers graduates threw their caps high into the air!

Haigazian University Class of 2023

Two injured in Azerbaijani attacks on Yeraskh

Karlen Baghdasarian
 Lillian Avedian News 0

Civilian car damaged by Azerbaijani fire (RA Defense Ministry)

Two workers were injured today after Azerbaijani forces fired on an Armenian metallurgical plant under construction near the Nakhichevan border, the latest casualties in two months of severe ceasefire violations along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border. 

Indian nationals Muhammad Asif and Mirhasan Sahajan were injured by Azerbaijani fire on the plant in Yeraskh village, according to Armenia’s Defense Ministry. The ministry said that Azerbaijan falsely accused the Armenian side of firing on Azerbaijani military positions fifteen minutes before launching an attack at 11:45 a.m. local time on June 14. Azerbaijani forces opened fire again two hours later. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said that the Azerbaijani forces were responding to a provocation from the Armenian side. 

The Armenian Defense Ministry has accused the Azerbaijani armed forces of firing on Yeraskh for two days in a row. On the evening of June 13, the Azerbaijani side opened fire on Armenian combat positions near Yeraskh. One hour before the attack, the Azerbaijani side accused Armenia of firing on Azerbaijani military positions. The Armenian Defense Ministry also shared pictures of a civilian car damaged in the attack.  

The attack comes a week after Azerbaijan criticized the construction of a plant so close to the Armenian border with Azerbaijan’s exclave Nakhichevan, warning that it would damage the surrounding environment. The Armenian Foreign Ministry dismissed these concerns as “false,” stating that they are “simply aimed at hindering Armenia’s economic development and foreign investments.”

“We call on the international community to take concrete steps to curb Azerbaijan’s expansionist ambitions and its unacceptable policy of achieving its groundless, illogical and arbitrary demands through the use of force and the threat of force,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement condemning the attack.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry also warned in a separate statement released the same day that Azerbaijan is “preparing the ground for another aggressive action and ethnic cleansing” in Artsakh. 

The Foreign Ministry said that Azerbaijan has been falsely accusing Artsakh of committing ceasefire violations every day. It said Azerbaijan disseminates fake news in advance of new escalations in order to attribute responsibility to the opposite side. The Foreign Ministry noted that the Russian peacekeeping mission in Artsakh has only recorded ceasefire violations by the Azerbaijani side.

“We call on the peacekeeping forces of the Russian Federation to strictly follow the observance of the ceasefire regime and investigate all the incidents voiced by Azerbaijan, publicly presenting the entire situation on the ground,” the Armenian Foreign Ministry said. 

European Union special representative Toivo Klaar tweeted that the EU is “following closely developments in the region.”

“The shooting in all areas needs to stop. It is essential to keep up the positive momentum of successive meetings and achieve results at the negotiating table that will benefit Armenia, Azerbaijan and the entire region,” Klaar said. 

Armenia and Azerbaijan have accused each other of committing ceasefire violations along the border almost every day for the past two months. Several Armenian soldiers have been killed or injured in Azerbaijani attacks on Armenia’s eastern border. 

On May 17, Armenian soldier Edgar Vahan Suleymanyan, born 2003, was fatally wounded after the Azerbaijani armed forces opened fire on Armenian military positions near the Sotk village in the Gegharkunik province. Additionally, a paramedic was wounded after Azerbaijani forces also opened fire at the ambulance carrying Suleymanyan to the hospital.

On May 12, Armenian soldier Narek Norayr Baghdasaryan, born 2003, was killed and two soldiers were wounded after the Azerbaijani armed forces opened fire against Sotk, Kut and Verin Shorzha in Gegharkunik using UAVs. 

On May 11, four Armenian soldiers were wounded by Azerbaijani fire near Sotk. 

Armenian soldiers Arthur Sahaykan (1999), Mkrtich Harutyunyan (1989), Henrik Kocharyan (1997) and Narek Sargsyan (1994) were killed after Azerbaijani forces opened fire near the village Tegh in the Syunik province on April 11. 

The Yeraskh construction site is the second plant to come under Azerbaijani fire in recent months. Operations at the Sotk gold mine, which employs 700 workers, have been partially suspended since mid-April due to periodic gunfire. The Russian-owned GeoProMining company announced that open-pit mining at Sotk has been terminated, and its personnel left without work. Employees have tried resuming work, yet have been hindered by continued shelling.

“Such a state of permanent danger for the company’s employees has been observed for more than a month. As a result, further work at the Sotk open pit became impossible due to circumstances beyond the company’s control,” GeoProMining said in a statement. 

On June 13, the US Embassy in Yerevan released a security alert warning US citizens to “exercise caution near all international borders between Armenia and Azerbaijan and avoid travel near the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone and line of contact.” It specifically warned against travel along Armenia’s eastern border in the Tavush and Gegharkunik regions. It also advised against traveling to Yeraskh, the town Jermuk and the entire Syunik region. 

Sign to enter Yeraskh village (RA Human Rights Defender)

Wednesday’s escalation took place as negotiations on a peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the Artsakh conflict seem to have stalled. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov were scheduled to meet on June 12 in Washington for a new round of negotiations. However, the talks have been postponed without an explanation. The Armenian Foreign Ministry said the talks were delayed at the request of the Azerbaijani side. 

Several high-level meetings have taken place between Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders within the past weeks. No concrete agreements were announced after a meeting between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Moldova’s capital Chisinau June 1, along with European Council President Charles Michel, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, or after an earlier trilateral meeting between Pashinyan, Aliyev and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on May 25. 

After a trilateral meeting hosted by Michel in Brussels on May 14, Pashinyan announced that he is prepared to recognize Artsakh as part of Azerbaijan. Michel said that the leaders “confirmed their unequivocal commitment” to each other’s territorial integrity. He added that he “encouraged Azerbaijan to engage in developing a positive agenda with the aim of guaranteeing the rights and security” of the Armenians living in Artsakh.  

Mirzoyan and Bayramov previously met in Washington for marathon talks from May 1-4. Armenian leaders said that the sides did not make progress on the most fundamental issues under negotiation. Namely, they did not reach agreements on the creation of an international mechanism to oversee talks between Artsakh and Azerbaijan or international guarantees for compliance with a peace treaty and recognition of Armenia’s territorial integrity. Bayramov, however, said that the leaders had taken “one step forward,” despite “quite a lot of differences between the positions of the parties.”

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Lillian Avedian is a staff writer for the Armenian Weekly. Her writing has also been published in the Los Angeles Review of Books, Hetq and the Daily Californian. She is pursuing master’s degrees in journalism and Near Eastern Studies at New York University. A human rights journalist and feminist poet, Lillian's first poetry collection Journey to Tatev was released with Girls on Key Press in spring of 2021.


Connecticut Genocide Commemoration Committee supports FAR with 2023 proceeds

Emil Karabekian
 Guest Contributor Community News, Diaspora 0

The House Chamber in the Connecticut State House during the opening prayer for this year’s commemoration

The Armenian Genocide Commemoration Committee of Connecticut donated all income from this year’s annual program to the Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR) project supporting orphaned children in Artsakh. It was the Committee consensus that, given the current challenges in Artsakh, this year’s speaker, topic and donations should focus on Artsakh.

“We are pleased to donate $6,200 toward this worthy project,” stated committee chair Melanie Kevorkian Brown. “We appreciate the generosity of our Armenian American community donating toward this invaluable effort to care for and nurture the orphaned children in Artsakh. The FAR orphan initiative was timely and fitting.” 

The Connecticut Committee held its annual program commemorating the 108th anniversary of the Genocide on April 22, 2023 at the historic Connecticut House Chamber at the State Capitol in Hartford. The keynote speaker was Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) executive director Aram Hamparian. The mission of the committee, in addition to honoring the memory of the 1.5 million victims of the Armenian Genocide and its survivors, is to support programs and events to inform the public and remember the Genocide. The committee is in the process of establishing a suitable permanent Genocide memorial. It also assists in the legislative mandate to provide Genocide-related curricula in the public schools. Additionally, the committee seeks to present information about developments in the Diaspora and in Armenia.

FAR is dedicated to honoring the past, empowering the present and ensuring the future for people in Armenia, Artsakh and Javakhk. Born from the immediate need to provide emergency assistance in the wake of the devastating 1988 earthquake, FAR provides hope, guidance, opportunity and empowerment to those in need. Its work is focused mainly through five chief program areas: education, child protection, economic development, healthcare and social services. Through critical projects in these areas, FAR implements life-changing support, such as providing refuge and help to children who have suffered abuse and abandonment; empowering youth to excel in school and access higher education; and transforming healthcare professionals into medical ambassadors in their communities. 

According to FAR’s executive director Garnik Nanagoulian, the organization has been providing support to families and children who have lost their fathers in the Artsakh wars since the four-day war in 2016. This support has been made possible through the generosity of communities across the country, including the Knights and Daughters of Vartan and the Connecticut Genocide Commemoration Committee.

“Thanks to the support we receive, FAR has been able to reach out to about 400 children who have experienced the loss of their fathers on the battlefield in Artsakh,” stated Nanagoulian. “Among them are 8-year-old Lina and 12-year-old Sergey from Syunik Marz. Their mother Meri shared, ‘It’s been tough for me to be a single mom, but my kids are my backbone, my motivation to live and move forward. I am grateful for the support we receive, as my only wish is to help my kids have a dignified future.’”

“The impact of the Connecticut Genocide Commemoration Committee’s contribution for these children cannot be overstated. It provides them with an opportunity to grow up in a healthy and nurturing environment, receive an education and eventually be able to compete on equal footing with their peers,” Nanagoulian concluded.




RFE/RL Armenian Report – 06/14/2023

Zhanna Nahapetian 
                                        Wednesday, 


Erdogan Praises Pashinian, Chides Iran


Turkey - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stands with the new cabinet 
members during the inauguration ceremony at the presidential complex in Ankara, 
June 3, 2023.


Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday praised Prime Minister Nikol 
Pashinian for attending his inauguration ceremony in Ankara and criticized Iran 
for strongly opposing a “corridor” that would connect Azerbaijan to its 
Nakhichevan exclave via Armenia.

“Pashinian’s acceptance of our invitation was an important step,” Erdogan was 
reported to tell journalists after wrapping up his latest visit to Baku. “Mr. 
Pashinian attended our ceremony, overcoming many obstacles emanating from his 
country’s opposition.”

Armenian opposition leaders condemned Pashinian’s presence at the inauguration 
ceremony held after Erdogan’s reelection and accused him of humiliating Armenia. 
They argue that Ankara continues to fully support Azerbaijan and make the 
normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations conditional on Yerevan meeting 
Baku’s key demands.

One of those demands is the opening of an exterritorial corridor passing through 
Armenia’s Syunik province, which also borders Iran. Tehran is strongly opposed 
to the corridor, having repeatedly warned against attempts to strip the Islamic 
Republic of the common border and transport links with Armenia.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei emphasized this stance when he met 
with Erdogan in Tehran last July.

“Iran’s approach to this issue disappoints us and Azerbaijan,” Erdogan said on 
Wednesday. “I want us to overcome that problem soon.”

The Turkish leader claimed that unlike Tehran, Yerevan does not object to the 
idea of the “Zangezur corridor” which he discussed with Azerbaijani President 
Ilham Aliyev during his trip to Baku.

Pashinian’s government regularly rejects Azerbaijani demands for such a corridor 
and says it can only agree to conventional transport links between Armenia and 
Azerbaijan. It has specifically made clear that Azerbaijani citizens and cargo 
passing through Syunik cannot be exempt from Armenian border controls.

Pashinian and Aliyev openly argued about the matter during a Eurasian Economic 
Union (EEU) summit in Moscow on May 25. Nevertheless, the deputy prime ministers 
of Armenia, Azerbaijan as well as Russia reportedly made major progress on 
practical modalities of a rail link between Nakhichevan and the rest of 
Azerbaijan during a subsequent meeting held in the Russian capital.

Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk met with Pashinian and his 
Armenian opposite number, Mher Grigorian, in Yerevan on Wednesday for further 
discussions on the thorny issue. An Armenian government statement said they 
concentrated on the “restoration of railway communication” and “border and 
customs controls based on the sovereignty and equal jurisdiction of the 
parties.” It did not elaborate.




Probe Into Former Karabakh Army Chief Suspended

        • Naira Bulghadarian

Nagorno-Karabakh - General Jalal Harutiunian (left) oversees a military exercise.


An Armenian law-enforcement agency has suspended its criminal investigation into 
a former commander of Nagorno-Karabakh’s army prosecuted for serious military 
setbacks suffered during the 2020 war with Azerbaijan.

The Investigative Committee indicted Lieutenant-General Jalal Harutiunian last 
September on two counts of “careless attitude towards military service” One of 
the accusations stems from an Armenian counteroffensive against advancing 
Azerbaijani forces launched on October 7, 2020 ten days after the outbreak of 
large-scale fighting. Its apparent failure facilitated Azerbaijan’s subsequent 
victory in the six-week war.

The Investigative Committee said Harutiunian ordered two army units to launch an 
attack southeast of Karabakh despite lacking intelligence and the fact that they 
were outnumbered by the enemy and had no air cover. It also blamed the general 
for poor coordination between the units which it said also contributed to the 
failure of the operation. In addition, he was charged over the capture by 
Azerbaijani troops of the frontline positions of a Karabakh Armenian artillery 
unit on October 12, 2020.

The 48-year-old general, who was seriously wounded in an Azerbaijani missile 
strike on October 26, 2020, denies the accusations carrying between four and 
eight years in prison. He was not arrested pending investigation, unlike his 
successor Mikael Arzumanian, who is facing separate charges in Armenia stemming 
from the disastrous war.

The Investigative Committee announced on Tuesday that it has “temporarily” 
suspended the probe in order not to exceed a legal time limit set for pre-trial 
investigations. It said it has asked a team of unnamed military experts to pass 
judgment on Harutiunian’s wartime actions. Their findings are thus expected to 
determine whether he will go on trial or be cleared of the accusations.

Harutiunian’s lawyer, Arsen Sardarian, said on Wednesday that the investigators 
made the decision because they have trouble substantiating the charges. He 
claimed that the counteroffensive in question was not necessarily a failure 
because the Karabakh and Armenian forces killed some 300 Azerbaijani soldiers 
and suffered only 20 casualties.

Sardarian also argued that the counteroffensive was authorized by Prime Minister 
Nikol Pashinian and the then chief of the Armenian army’s General Staff, 
Lieutenant-General Onik Gasparian. He said that if his client is indeed guilty 
of mishandling that operation then so are Pashinian and Gasparian as well.

Pashinian has denied Armenian opposition allegations that he is the one who 
ordered the operation in October 2020. He has blamed Armenia’s former leaders 
for the outcome of the 2020 war.

Opposition leaders maintain that Pashinian is primarily to blame for Armenia’s 
defeat in the war which left at least 3,800 Armenian soldiers dead. They claim 
that he ordered the criminal charges against Harutiunian, Arzumanian and other 
senior military officers to try to dodge responsibility.




U.S. Downplays Cancellation Of Armenian-Azeri Talks


U.S. - The State Department building in Washington, January 26, 2017.


The United States has insisted that an Armenian-Azerbaijani peace accord is 
“within reach” while again warning American citizens in Armenia to “avoid travel 
near the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone.”

The U.S. State Department also downplayed the cancellation of a new round of 
negotiations which the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers were due to 
start in Washington on Monday.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry said last week that the talks were postponed “at 
the request of the Azerbaijani side.” Armenian parliament speaker Alen Simonian 
on Tuesday linked the delay to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s latest 
visit to Baku.

The State Department spokesman, Matthew Miller, said, however, that it was “100 
percent due to scheduling issues.” He said Washington hopes to reschedule the 
talks “as soon as we can” but declined to speculate about possible dates.

“We look forward to hosting another round of talks in Washington as the parties 
continue to pursue a peaceful dialogue for the South Caucasus region … We 
believe an agreement is within reach,” Miller told a daily news briefing.

U.S. - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken hosts talks between the Armenian 
and Azerbaijani foreign ministers in Arlington, May 4, 2023.

Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov 
reported major progress towards an Armenian-Azerbaijani peace treaty after 
holding four-day talks outside Washington last month. Armenian Prime Minister 
Nikol Pashinian and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met together with 
European Union chief Charles Michel later in May. They held two more meetings in 
the following weeks and are due to meet again in July.

The two sides say that despite Pashinian’s pledge to recognize Azerbaijani 
sovereignty over Nagorno-Karabakh through the peace treaty, they still disagree 
on other sticking points.

Tensions along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and “the line of contact” around 
Karabakh have steadily increased over the last few weeks, with the sides 
accusing each other of violating the ceasefire on a virtually daily basis. 
Armenian officials and pundits claim that Baku is ratcheting up the tensions in 
a bid to clinch more Armenian concessions.

Armenia - U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Kristina Kvien visits Syunik province, June 
8, 2023.

“U.S. citizens should continue to exercise caution near all international 
borders between Armenia and Azerbaijan and avoid travel near the 
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone and line of contact,” the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan 
said in a “security alert” posted on its website late on Tuesday.

The embassy also said that American diplomats and their families are still 
“prohibited from any non-essential travel” to areas close to the Azerbaijani 
border. It listed Armenia’s entire Syunik province and the resort town of Jermuk 
among those locations.

U.S. Ambassador Kristina Kvien visited Syunik last week. Kvien said she “saw 
first hand the tense situation along the border” and “heard about pervasive 
security concerns from local officials, civil society.”




Another Armenian Plant Hit By Cross-Border Fire

        • Artak Khulian
        • Ruzanna Stepanian

Armenia - A road sign at the entrance to the border village of Yeraskh, July 20, 
2021. (Photo by Armenia's Office of the Human Rights Defender)


Two workers building a new metallurgical plant in an Armenian border village 
were seriously wounded on Wednesday in what the Armenian military described as 
cross-border fire from nearby Azerbaijani army positions.

The workers, identified by the Defense Ministry in Yerevan as Indian nationals 
Muhammad Asif and Mirhasan Sahajan, were reportedly hospitalized as a result.

The ministry accused Azerbaijani forces of firing at its border posts as well as 
the construction site in the village of Yeraskh for the second consecutive day. 
It released a photograph of a civilian vehicle in the village bordering 
Azerbaijan’s Nakhichevan exclave riddled with bullet holes.

The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry claimed that its troops returned fire after 
being targeted by the Armenian side.

Several Yeraskh residents interviewed by RFE/RL’s Armenian Service confirmed 
that the under-construction plant repeatedly came under fire. RFE/RL reporters 
were not allowed to approach the site for security reasons.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry issued a statement following the first truce 
violation reported from Yeraskh late on Tuesday. It said Baku is demonstrating 
“overt disregard for Armenia’s internationally recognized borders” and 
underlining its desire to “impose solutions on Armenia through the illegal use 
of force.”

“Either we negotiate in good faith to find mutually acceptable solutions, or, if 
there is a use of force, then such a policy is unacceptable to us and, we hope, 
the international community as well,” Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan told the 
Armenian parliament on Wednesday.

For his part, Defense Minister Suren Papikian said Armenia is not planning any 
“aggressive actions” against Azerbaijan and will continue to advance its “peace 
agenda” despite the Azerbaijani attacks. Papikian also assured lawmakers that 
the Armenian armed forces will defend “our country’s sovereign territory.”

The truce violations came one week after the Azerbaijani government protested 
against the construction of the Yeraskh plant located just 800 meters from the 
Nakhichevan border. It claimed that building the industrial facility without 
Baku’s permission is a violation of international environmental norms.

Yerevan brushed aside that claim. The Armenian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday 
that Baku’s “false concerns” are a smokescreen for impeding economic growth and 
foreign investment in Armenia.

Armenia’s largest gold mine also located on the border with Azerbaijan was 
likewise targeted by systematic Azerbaijani gunfire this spring. The Russian 
owner of the Sotk gold mine announced last week that it has no choice but to end 
open-pit mining operations there and put many of its 700 workers on unpaid leave.


Reposted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2023 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

If Turkey displays will, Armenia ready for normalization – Speaker

Babken Chilingarian

 13:38,

YEREVAN, JUNE 13, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian authorities are ready to normalize relations with Turkey if there is will to do so from the Turkish side, Speaker of Parliament Alen Simonyan said on Tuesday.

“The Turkish side can always bring reasons if it wants. If not the Nemesis statue then something else. I personally think it was a mistake to erect the Nemesis statue, because it is not, and cannot be, a state policy line, but I say again, that was simply an excuse for Turkey. I said earlier that I could have found a million reasons to not travel to Turkey. If there is will from Turkey, and I have an impression that there is, then we are ready for it, we are even ready to go through big criticism but bring lasting peace to the Armenian people,” Simonyan said.

He added that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s visit to Turkey for President Erdogan’s inauguration passed very well. The Armenian Premier was in the focus of attention, he said.

“We can say the visit was one of the main events,” Speaker Simonyan said.

Disagreements with Azerbaijan over unblocking are technical issues, says Speaker of Parliament

Emil Lazarian

 13:19,

YEREVAN, JUNE 13, ARMENPRESS. The contradictions between Armenia and Azerbaijan over unblocking are technical, Speaker of Parliament Alen Simonyan has said.

“There is a common understanding over this issue, but there are technical disagreements. The main red line in Azerbaijan’s position is that they argue that their citizens, while traveling from Baku to Nakhijevan, are not moving from Azerbaijan to a third country and in their perception this implies a facilitated option. Our stance is that we are in favor of unblocking of all roads, and if we talk about peace we shouldn’t put forward strong preconditions and cause tension, or create a war situation, because in such situation that road would be meaningless. It would be good if the Azerbaijani side understood this all,” Simonyan told reporters.

Simonyan also commented on clause 9 of the 9 November 2020 trilateral statement which says that Russian border guards shall exercise control over transport connection from Azerbaijan to Nakhijevan. He said that Armenia has its sovereign territory where laws of Armenia are enforced.

“If at some point Armenia were to consider outsourcing any of its functions to the bodies of another country, then that would be its own internal issue, but at this moment there is no decision or discussion on that issue,” Simonyan said.

He added that Armenia displayed its will and emphasized that it will not grant any extraterritorial corridor through its territory.

“It seems that this has been understood, that no such thing was planned or talked about. Although some tried to manipulate and claim that Prime Minister Pashinyan had promised something. It is obvious that there is no such thing, because even the President of Russia spoke about this, and it’s clear that this wording is no longer present in the Azerbaijani rhetoric,” the Speaker said.

The Speaker of Parliament also denied the Azerbaijani Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev’s claim that Russia will control the roads to Nakhijevan in Armenian territory. Simonyan said there is no such decision and that the negotiations are ongoing as the parties try to bring their positions closer.

“If Azerbaijan wants the Russian side to control the entry, then Armenia could also want some representation of a third country to control the entry to Azerbaijan, because border unblocking is a mutual process. If the Azerbaijanis should travel to Nakhijevan through Armenian territory, it means that the citizens of Armenia shall also be able to travel to Russia or any other country through Azerbaijani territory. The conditions must be the same, and our position over this issue is unequivocal,” Simonyan said.

Speaker Simonyan ruled out anything being imposed upon Armenia because Armenia’s authorities are legitimately elected. “If the authorities of Armenia were not elected authorities, then perhaps there could be coercion. Armenia is having big successes in its democracy levels, and from now on the world is viewing this all as an attack on democracy. Yes, we have our mistakes, and not everything is perfect, but the progress is obvious, the government’s will to resolve and correct the existing problems is obvious. This all can’t go without a response,” he said.

Problematic Schengen visa appointment process risks jeopardizing outbound tourism, direct flights -travel agencies warn

Talar Tumanian

 14:47,

YEREVAN, JUNE 13, ARMENPRESS. As more and more direct flights are being launched to Yerevan from various European cities, Armenian tourists are facing the problematic Schengen visa procedure. The problem seems to be so grave that travel agencies and tour operators are calling on authorities to step in and offer support because the issue risks jeopardizing the newly launched flights.

Travel agencies say that it is impossible to book an appointment for visa application in European embassies.

Amistad travel agency is the official representative of AirBaltic in Armenia.In May 2023, direct flights from Riga to Yerevan were restored after 13 years.

Amistad founding director Armine Adamyan said that travelers who want to visit Baltic states are unable to book an appointment for visa.

“We are getting calls from travel agencies saying that they have customers who want to travel to Baltic countries but it is impossible to book an appointment in the embassies. It’s up to the embassy whether or not they’ll get a visa, but today it’s even impossible to book an appointment date for travelers to submit their papers. It turns out that there are direct flights only for those of our citizens who have visas, or those who are traveling from Baltic countries to Armenia. This certainly isn’t enough to maintain direct flights,” Adamyan said.

Meanwhile, Avarayr travel agency director Arkady Sahakyan voiced another related problem.

“Representatives of travel agencies plan to travel to Europe in September to participate in a tourism expo. You can book an appointment in the embassy only in November. Can you imagine, the expo is in September but you get an appointment for November. This bizarre situation is also a blow to the process of representation at international tourism expos,” Sahakyan said.

Armenian Tourism Federation President Mekhak Apresyan highlighted the importance of direct flights in terms of tourism development, but noted that the problems with Schengen visas create difficulties.

“All our efforts are in vain if people can’t book an appointment date at the embassies for applying for a visa. We call on our friendly European country embassies to pay attention to this issue. If there’s demand then it is necessary to take steps, increase the number of employees. After all, our citizens are having their contribution in the tourism of the given country. Otherwise, given the difficulties, our citizens prefer the countries where there’s no issue of getting a visa,” Apresyan said.

The travel agencies also expect government support.

Yerevan lawyer on violence against him: 5-6 police officers were beating my client

Karapet Navasardian
News.am
Armenia –
12:33, 13.06.2023


Lawyer Karen Alaverdyan was not only abused by the police at the central police department of Yerevan, but was also detained. Alaverdyan said this to a press conference Tuesday.

He said that on June 7, he and his client participated in a court session scheduled for a criminal case at the Kentron seat of the Yerevan General Jurisdiction Court, during which a conversation arose between his client and his friend about issues of friendship, which, according to the lawyer, cannot contain elements of a crime.

"The court session was postponed due to the non-appearance of the witnesses. After the session, my client and I were calmly walking on the sidewalk in front of the court when 20-30 policemen and patrolmen from different departments approached us. Showing an unprofessional approach, they could not explain for a long time the purpose of approaching (…). Finally, I understood that the police were inviting my client to the police station. I demanded the factual and legal basis of the actions performed by him and which officer we will deal with; but it was not possible to find out all that. Then my client expressed his desire to go to the police station and requested that I, as a lawyer, follow him in order to show legal support. He sat in the car of patrol officers without coercion. It is noteworthy that the operation was carried out by patrols with video cameras attached to them, and everything should be recorded. After 5 minutes, I appeared before the police station, stated the purpose of my visit, presented the certificate, etc.," Alaverdyan said.

According to the lawyer, artificial obstacles were created before him in the aforesaid police department for 5-10 minutes in every way to get to his client.

"After a long struggle, I managed to climb up to him. From outside, I heard my client's screams and demands not to hit him. First, two police officers tried to prevent me from opening the office door. I overcame their obstacles, opened the door, and found my client lying on the ground, handcuffed from behind, and 5-6 police officers hitting him at the same time. I approached my client, lifted him from the ground, tried to stop, stood with my hands on him. I urged them not to engage in dialogue with my client because the level of their approach and conversation was similar to a street fight. At my request, the police left the room, so that the judicial officer could stay," the lawyer said.

Alaverdyan noted that after a short time the aforementioned violence was repeated.

"I was smoking a cigarette for a moment. Very suddenly the mentioned police officer started shouting at my client, and immediately the door opened again, and the same group entered the office, taking me aside. After I was taken out of the office, they made aggressive demands to leave the police building. I objected in every way, tried to return to my client, unnecessary physical force was suddenly applied to me. I have not committed any illegal act on the basis of which I would be detained. Unnecessary physical force was applied to me without any basis, I was detained, handcuffed, and special measures were applied. I was subjected to all possible violations related to the detention process. There was a lack of reasonable doubt, the fleeing part is mentioned. What kind of escape can we talk about if I was trying to return to my client in every way, the detention protocol was drawn up 50 minutes after I was taken into custody, in the case when there were many employees at the investigative body, and there was no objective reason for the detention protocol to be so long? I was not given a copy of the detention [protocol], the president of the Chamber of Advocates [of Armenia] was not informed about my detention, etc.," the lawyer said.

Alaverdyan noted that the investigator made a decision to release him after the maximum of 6 hours of detention.

https://news.am/eng/news/765106.html

Pashinyan congratulates Lukashenko on Armenia-Belarus 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties

Emil Lazarian

 15:51,

YEREVAN, JUNE 13, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Tuesday congratulated President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Belarus.

“Accept my wholehearted congratulations on this significant day, the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Belarus,” Pashinyan said in a letter to Lukashenko. “During the last three decades, the Armenian-Belarusian interstate relations based on mutual respect and trust, were marked with progressive development of mutually beneficial and efficient cooperation in various sectors. I am sure that mutual willingness to further deepen the Armenian-Belarusian cooperation and the active high and highest-level dialogue will further contribute to strengthening and expanding the bilateral agenda, as well as productive cooperation within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union, for the benefit of the peoples of Armenia and Belarus. On this meaningful day for our nations, I wish you robust health, success and all the best, and best wishes and prosperity to the friendly people of Belarus,” the Armenian PM said.