Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers may meet at state border, says Bayramov

 19:03,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijan's Minister of Foreign Affairs  Jeyhun Bayramov, stated in a press conference on Thursday that a proposal has been made for a meeting between the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan at the state border, as reported by Azerbaijani media.

 “Foreign Ministers of the two countries can meet on the state border. We have made such a proposal. As for holding the meeting in Azerbaijan, or Armenia, why not? Sooner or later it must happen,”  Bayramov said.

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister stated that the negotiation process between Azerbaijan and Armenia should not be held hostage by third countries.

Bayramov also noted that there are still disagreements between Yerevan and Baku regarding the peace treaty, but their number has significantly decreased.

Ambassador of India to Armenia congratulates Armenpress on 105th anniversary

 19:20,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS.  Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of India to the Republic of Armenia Nilakshi Saha Sinha has extended her congratulations to Narine Nazaryan, the director of the "Armenpress" news agency, on the occasion of the 105th anniversary of the agency's foundation.

"I want to commend Armenpress for its excellent work in  covering real-time news and information. I extend my best wishes to Armenpress for the continued success.

Taking this opportunity I wish you, your family, the team of Armenpress a very happy, successful and prosperous New Year. May 2024 be filled with good health and energy," the message reads.

On December 18, “Armenpress” news agency celebrated the 105th anniversary of its founding.




Azerbaijan provides Ukraine with humanitarian aid worth $34 million

 19:52,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijan continued to provide humanitarian aid to Ukraine in 2023, said the press release of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, according to the Azerbaijani media.

According to the source, the humanitarian aid, as well as the aid for restoration and reconstruction purposes provided to Ukraine by the Republic of Azerbaijan amounted to the total of 57 million Manats (about 34 million US dollars), half of which has been provided in the current year.

Armenian Prime Minister’s spouse visits Hematology Center named after Prof. R.H. Yeolyan

 19:24,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's  spouse Anna Hakobyan on December 28 visited Hematology Center named after Prof. R. H. Yeolyan.

Accompanied by Minister of Health Anahit Avanesyan and deputy director of the center, Hayk Grigoryan, Anna Hakobyan  had a meeting with the children receiving treatment, Hakobyan’s Office said.

“Deputy director Hayk Grigoryan  noted that 22 patients are receiving inpatient treatment at the center. About 90 new patients have been diagnosed this year. The center's management emphasized the acquisition of new diagnostic devices and the introduction of the latest technologies for more detailed research. Patients under the age of 25 are treated free of charge at the hematology center,” reads the statement.

According to the source, the  deputy director Hayk Grigoryan noted that the number of people traveling abroad for treatment has decreased, as many of them prefer receiving treatment in Armenia.

The deputy director said that last year, cases were also recorded where foreigners had chosen Armenia and the Hematology Center as their place of treatment.

Anna Hakobyan visited all the children, distributed New Year's gifts and talked with them. The Prime Minister's wife asked family members and doctors about the children's health condition and the dynamics of treatment.

Anna Hakobyan encouraged both the children and parents to stay strong wishing them health and patience.

Armenian quarter of Jerusalem attacked: there are wounded

 18:29,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS. A massive and coordinated physical attack was launched on bishops, priests, deacons, seminarians and other Armenian community members in Jerusalem, Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem said in a statament.

"Several priests, students of the Armenian Theological Academy and indigenous Armenians were seriously injured in the attack.

Over 30 armed provocateurs in ski-masks with lethal and less-than-lethal weaponry including powerful nerve-agents that have incapacitated dozens of our clergy broke into the grounds of the Cow’s Garden and began their vicious assault. We stress again, several priests, deacons and students of the Armenian Theological Academy along with indigenous Armenians are seriously injured. Armenian clerics in Jerusalem are fighting for their lives against impune provocateurs," the Patriarchate said.

“This is the criminal response we have received for the submission of a lawsuit to the District Court of Jerusalem for the Cow’s Garden, which was officially received by the Court less than 24 hours ago. This is how the Australian-Israeli businessman Danny Rothman (Rubenstein) and George Warwar (Hadad) react to legal procedures.

The Armenian Patriarchate’s existential threat is now a physical reality. Bishops, Priests, Deacons, Seminarians, and indigenous Armenians are fighting for their very lives on the ground. We are calling on authorities around the world and the International Media to help us save the Armenian Quarter from a violent demise that is being locally supported by unnamed entities,” the statement reads.

The Patriarchate calls on the Israeli Government and Police to start an investigation against Danny Rothman (Rubenstein) and George Warwar (Hadad) for organizing their continuous criminal attacks on the Armenian Patriarchate and Community, attacks which seem to have no end in sight.

“Israel is a State of law and order and such criminal behavior cannot be tolerated and go unpunished,” the Patriarchate noted.

Armenpress: Two young Armenians arrested after the attack on the Armenian quarter in Jerusalem

 20:42,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS. After an attack by armed men on the territory of the “Cow Garden” in the Armenian quarter of Jerusalem, two young Armenians have been arrested, the Movement for the Protection and Preservation of the Armenian Quarter of Jerusalem said.

"Tomorrow they  will be brought to the court. The lawyers hired by the Movement for the Protection and Preservation of the Armenian Quarter of Jerusalem will represent them during the court proceedings,” the statement reads.

The movement urges the Armenian Patriarchate to use all possible means through its connections with the police, the municipality and the government to secure the immediate release of the boys.

NATO representative: Armenia “decided take distance from Moscow”

Armenia – Dec 25 2023

“It is something that we have encouraged. The Armenians are free to take their own decisions. In my opinion, Armenia has already started to get closer to us, to ask for more cooperation, more political dialogue with NATO. We encourage whatever is decided by our partners that we believe is good for the stability of the region,” Colomina said in an interview with Georgia’s First TV Channel.

 

The representative of the North Atlantic Alliance also expressed support to the process of normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which, in his words, is of fundamental importance for maintaining stability in the Caucasus.

Armenian POWs: Open Letter to the IC of the Red Cross On behalf of Vicken Euljeckjian’s Family

Dec 24 2023

By Luciana Minassian and Uzay Bulut

To Zara Amatuni,

ICRC Yerevan, Armenia

Dear Madam Amatuni,

We are writing on behalf of the family of the Armenian citizen, Vicken Euljeckjian, who live in Beirut, Lebanon. Over three weeks ago, Vicken’s family was informed about the possibility that he would be among the 32 POWs (prisoners of war) to be freed by Azerbaijan government in exchange for two Azerbaijani citizens detained in Armenia. 

Vicken Euljeckjian is from Lebanon with dual Armenian and Lebanese citizenship. He was illegally kidnapped from Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) by Azeri soldiers and has been jailed in Azerbaijan since his capture in November 2020. He is stated as a civilian in the Armenian registers — along with the first two other civilians captured by Azerbaijan at the same period: humanitarian aid workers Gevorg Sujyan and Davit Davtyan. All three were subjected to sham, illegal trials in Baku.  

Vicken was captured in Sushi (Artsakh/Nagorno-Karabakh), together with Maral Najarian (who was later released) the day after the 2020 ceasefire agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia. They were both charged as “illegal mercenaries” from Lebanon. 

Vicken was tried before the Baku Military Court: The presiding judge was Elbay Allahverdiyev – under articles 114.3, 214.2.1, 214.2.3, 228.2.1,279.1 and 381.2 of the Azerbaijani Criminal Code. Vicken was sentenced to 20 years in a Baku detention facility.

The Euljeckjian family prepared for Vicken’s arrival with great joy and expectations ever since his name appeared on a list of candidates scheduled to be released which was shared on social media. The family was devastated when on December 13, 32 prisoners were released, including 26 from the Shirak region, but Vicken was swapped at the last minute for another prisoner. 

Observers have determined that the last-minute swap might be due to Vicken’s failing health conditions and grave mental and emotional duress. Not to mention that he has been living under unbearable prison conditions. We are asking for your assistance in finding the necessary means to confirm Vicken’s health and well-being.

We are aware that the official list of Armenian POWs is about 55, including the Armenian political prisoners arrested in October 2023 at the Azerbaijani checkpoint. 

We are also aware that, according to statements by Armenia’s human rights ombudsman, Siranush Sahakian, there might be at least 80 additional POWs currently being illegally held in Baku’s notorious prisons.

Unfortunately, we cannot provide specific names of the additional POWs, which would include combatants and civilians who disappeared during the September 2022 skirmishes with Azerbaijan and during the fuel tank explosion in Artsakh/Nagorno-Karabakh.

We request your kind intervention to urgently obtain information, on behalf of Vicken’s family, about the whereabouts of Vicken Euljeckjian and his health so to bring peace of mind and hope to his family.

With gratitude and warmest wishes,

Vicken Euljeckjian’s family

Lebanon

Signatories to this letter:

The Coalition of 120,000 Reasons

Christian Solidarity International

Global ARM, USA

Anglican Office for Government and International Affairs

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)

In Defense of Christians (IDC)

The Hellenic American Leadership Council (HALC)

The Iraqi Christian Relief Council (ICRC)

Please sign the petition: “Support Linda Euljeckjian’s plea. Her husband, Vicken, has been unjustly detained in Baku.”

https://www.change.org/p/support-linda-euljeckjian-s-plea-her-husband-vicken-has-been-unjustly-detained-in-baku

*About the authors: Luciana Minassian is a human rights lawyer based in Argentina. Uzay Bulut is a Turkish journalist formerly based in Ankara.

https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2023/12/24/armenian-pows-open-letter-to-the-ic-of-the-red-cross-on-behalf-of-vicken-euljeckjians-family/

Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan on two-day visit Russia

Al-Arabiya
UAE – Dec 25 2023
Reuters

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will pay a two-day visit to Russia, the RIA Novosti news agency quoted the Armenian government’s press service as saying on Monday.

Pashinyan will take part in a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council on December 25, and the next day will participate in an informal meeting of CIS heads of state, RIA Novosti reported.

Armenia and Azerbaijan, the Caucasus neighbors have been locked in a decades-long conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which Azerbaijan reclaimed after a lightning offensive against Armenian separatists in September.

Both countries have said a peace agreement could be signed by the end of the year, but peace talks — mediated separately by the European Union, the United States, and Russia — have seen little progress.

https://english.alarabiya.net/News/world/2023/12/25/Armenian-PM-Nikol-Pashinyan-on-two-day-visit-Russia

Armenian PM to attend EAEU, CIS summits in St. Petersburg

Belarus – Dec 25 2023

MINSK, 25 December (BelTA) – Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is headed to the Russian Federation on a two-day working visit, Armenpress reported.

The Prime Minister's Office reported that Nikol Pashinyan will take part in a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in St. Petersburg on 25 December and an informal CIS summit on 26 December.

There was a certain intrigue about the Armenian prime minister's participation in the summits, despite the fact that the country is scheduled to take over the chairmanship of the EAEU in 2024. The Armenian leader did not take part in the recent summits of the CIS in Bishkek and the CSTO in Minsk, and the official information about his trip to St. Petersburg was not confirmed until recently.