Monday, March 6, 2023
Karabakh Leader Warns Of More ‘Azeri Provocations’
• Astghik Bedevian
Nagorno-Karabakh - A Karabakh police vehicle riddled with bullets, March 5, 2023.
Nagorno-Karabakh’s leadership on Monday warned local residents to brace
themselves for more Azerbaijani “provocations” following Sunday’s armed incident
near Stepanakert that left five people dead.
“The vast majority of our people agree that we will not deviate from our right
to self-determination and independence, and that means we are going to deal with
various developments and situations soon,” Arayik Harutiunian, the Karabakh
president, told an emergency meeting with other officials in Stepanakert.
Three of the victims were Karabakh police officers. According to the authorities
in Stepanakert, a car carrying them was ambushed by an Azerbaijani sabotage
group that was then repelled by Karabakh soldiers deployed nearby.
Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry claimed that the shootout broke out after
Azerbaijani troops tried to search the car allegedly smuggling weapons from
Armenia. The Armenian side strongly denied that, releasing a video of the
shooting and its aftermath.
The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed on Monday that the Azerbaijani forces
were the first to open fire at the Karabakh police vehicle and that two of them
were killed in the ensuing firefight which it said was stopped by Russian
peacekeepers stationed in Karabakh.
The Russian Foreign Ministry expressed “serious concern” at the incident but did
not blame either party for it.
“We strongly urge the sides to show restraint and take steps to de-escalate the
situation,” said Maria Zakharova, the ministry spokeswoman.
Nagorno-Karabakh - President Arayik Harutiunian chairs an emergency meeting in
Stepanakert, March 6, 2023.
Echoing a weekend statement by the Armenian Foreign Ministry, Prime Minister
Nikol Pashinian condemned the shootings as an act of “terrorism” which is part
of Baku’s efforts to drive the Karabakh Armenians out of their homeland.
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov accused Armenia of continuing to
resort to “provocations” in the conflict zone despite Azerbaijan’s “peace
efforts.”
Speaking during the Stepanakert meeting, Harutiunian warned that Baku could
provoke more such violence in a bird to force the Karabakh Armenians into
submission.
“We must keep fighting for a long time and there will be such situations during
that struggle,” he said. “We need to be conscious of that and take preventive
steps.”
The Karabakh leader linked Sunday’s bloodshed to the March 1 meeting between
Azerbaijani and Karabakh officials which was mediated by the commander of the
Russian peacekeepers. He said during that meeting his representatives refused to
discuss Karabakh’s “integration” into Azerbaijan.
In his words, the Azerbaijani side warned afterwards that if Stepanakert
persists in opposing the restoration of Azerbaijani rule Baku will not only
continue to block Karabakh’s land link with Armenia but also take “tougher and
more drastic steps.”
It was not clear whether the Russian peacekeepers are planning more talks
between the two sides.
Armenian Agriculture Stagnates Despite Robust GDP Growth
• Robert Zargarian
Armenia - A vineyard in Aragatsotn province, August 12, 2018.
Armenia’s agricultural sector remains in crisis despite double-digit economic
growth recorded by the government last year.
Government data shows that agricultural output stagnated in 2022 in sharp
contrast with other sectors of the Armenian economy that strongly benefited from
soaring trade with and cash flows from Russia.
The government’s Statistical Committee reported a 5.7 percent increase in
aggregate crop production despite significant decreases in the country’s
vegetable and grape output.
Meat and dairy production shrunk by 5 percent. The country’s livestock
population was down by about 10 percent, reflecting a widespread culling of
cattle by struggling farmers.
They include Samvel Matevosian, a once affluent resident of Berkashat, a village
in Armenia’s Armavir province bordering Turkey. Matevosian owns 60 hectares of
pastures and farmland and a large cattle farm that used to have several dozen
cows. Only four adult cows remain there now.
“In 2017, this and the adjacent barns were full [of cattle,]” Matevosian said
grimly. “I’ve culled them because [animal husbandry] is not profitable anymore.”
For the same reason, he stopped cultivating his 8-hectare vineyard last year and
is still no rush to grow other crops there.
Not surprisingly, Armenia’s imports of meat, dairy and even some vegetables rose
in 2022.
Armenia - A cattle farm in Margahovit village, 23Oct2019
“We can say that Armenia further reduced its food self-sufficiency in 2022,”
said Suren Parsian, an economist critical of the government.
Parsian acknowledged that “objective” factors such as fighting along Armenia’s
border with Azerbaijan, which seriously disrupted agricultural activity in
nearby communities, also contributed to this trend.
But he insisted that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s government, which
controversially abolished the Ministry of Agriculture in 2019, is primarily
responsible for it. The official statistics testifies to the failure of limited
loan subsidies and other agricultural support programs promoted by the
authorities in recent years.
The Ministry of Economy, which is in charge of agriculture, declined to comment
on the lack of growth in a sector that generated about one-fifth of Armenia’s
Gross Domestic Product until recently. The sector’s share in GDP fell to below
12 percent last year, according to the Statistical Committee.
Economy Minister Vahan Kerobian has repeatedly stated that rural residents
unable to live off farming or cattle breeding should find other sources of
income instead of clamoring for government support.
But for farmers like Matevosian agriculture is much more than a business. “If
agriculture collapses we’ll all collapse too,” he warned.
Armenian, Indian Militaries Mull Closer Ties
India - Anil Chauhan (left), chief of India's Defense Staff, meets his Armenian
counterpart, Eduard Asrian, New Delhi, March 4, 2023.
India’s and Armenia’s top generals discussed growing military ties between their
countries during talks held in New Delhi over the weekend.
Major-General Eduard Asrian, the chief of the Armenian army’s General Staff, met
with General Anil Chauhan, the chief of the Indian Defense Staff, as he and
other senior Armenian officials visited India to attend an annual conference on
global security.
In a Twitter post, the Indian military headquarters said Asrian and Chauhan
discussed “identifying areas to augment defense cooperation, including
opportunities to leverage indigenous defense manufacturing industry.”
The Armenian Defense Ministry said, for its part, that they looked at the
“possibilities of expanding defense cooperation between India and Armenia.”
The two nations have stepped up that cooperation since the 2020
Armenian-Azerbaijani war in Nagorno-Karabakh during which India’s arch-foe
Pakistan strongly supported Azerbaijan. Last September, the Armenian military
reportedly signed contracts for the purchase of $245 million worth of Indian
multiple-launch rocket systems, anti-tank rockets and ammunition.
Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikian explored more such deals during a
subsequent visit to India. Indian media reported during Papikian’s trip that
Yerevan is interested in acquiring air-defense systems and combat drones
manufactured by Indian companies.
The Armenian Defense Ministry said Asrian presented “security challenges” facing
Armenia during a roundtable discussion on Indian-Armenian relations organized by
India’s National Security Council.
New Delhi has effectively sided Armenia with in its ongoing border disputes with
Azerbaijan. It has also expressed serious concern over the Azerbaijani blockade
of the Lachin corridor.
Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and his Indian counterpart
Subrahmanyam Jaishankar also met on Saturday on the sidelines of the Raisina
Dialogue conference. Mirzoyan briefed Jaishankar on the humanitarian crisis in
Karabakh caused by the blockade as well as recent Armenian-Azerbaijani peace
talks.
According to the Armenian Foreign Ministry, the two ministers also reviewed
growing Indian-Armenian trade and bilateral cooperation on education, culture
and tourism.
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.
Category: 2023
Press Release: EPIC to Launch STRIVE Pre-U for Graduating High School Students
For Immediate Release
YEREVAN, Armenia — In March, the Entrepreneurship and Product Innovation Center (EPIC) of the American University of Armenia (AUA) will launch STRIVE Pre-U, an offshoot of its popular STRIVE program. STRIVE Pre-U is a condensed 8-week program specially designed for graduating 12th-grade high school students preparing to enter university. It will introduce students to the world of entrepreneurship and, more importantly, the entrepreneurial way of thinking, otherwise known as the growth mindset.
YEREVAN, Armenia — In March, the Entrepreneurship and Product Innovation Center (EPIC) of the American University of Armenia (AUA) will launch STRIVE Pre-U, an offshoot of its popular STRIVE program. STRIVE Pre-U is a condensed 8-week program specially designed for graduating 12th-grade high school students preparing to enter university. It will introduce students to the world of entrepreneurship and, more importantly, the entrepreneurial way of thinking, otherwise known as the growth mindset.
Alisa Chalakhyan (BAB ’19), STRIVE program leader, explains, “We have had several graduating high school students participating in the mainstream STRIVE program with much success. So we thought, ‘why not design an offshoot for the most eager and enthusiastic students that are getting ready to enter university?’” The program will likewise focus on mindset to establish open, flexible thinking and resilience in our younger generation: a way of thinking that will allow them to adapt and thrive in a constantly evolving Armenia and the world by developing entrepreneurial attitudes, behaviors, and skills. “It’s all about developing the thinking and skills to solve problems, mobilize resources, be innovative, and contribute to society in a multiplicity of ways, “Chalakhyan elaborates. With a new program focusing solely on high school students, EPIC aims to provide them with first-hand experience in a university setting before starting the next chapter in their lives.
Using an experiential, problem-based methodology, the program will encourage participants to apply what they learn in real-world, resource-constrained settings. STRIVE Pre-U is open to 12th-grade high school students who have no prior experience in entrepreneurship or startups but who are eager to learn and are open to new ideas and approaches. The program aims to help high school students develop valuable skills, build confidence, and create a positive impact.
STRIVE is designed to serve as the first stage in the startup journey of aspiring Armenian entrepreneurs. It is where talented individuals first familiarize themselves with entrepreneurship and begin understanding what it takes to succeed. “Entrepreneurs are trained to think a certain way. When others see a problem, entrepreneurs see an opportunity. Our new program will seek to strengthen participants’ leadership skills, interpersonal traits, and emotional intelligence, thereby planting seeds for growing creativity and critical thinking to identify and solve problems. As we all know, when it comes to entrepreneurship, it is not about what you think but about how you think,” states Sona Martirosyan, who will lead the STRIVE Pre-U program. Sona, a program assistant at STRIVE, is experienced in curriculum development and leading cohorts at the Startup School program organized by Startup Armenia Foundation for middle and high schoolers.
“I took part in the second batch of the STRIVE program as a junior student at AUA. At some point in the program, I caught myself thinking, ‘if only STRIVE were available when I was in high school.’ The more I learned about entrepreneurship, the more confident I became with my thoughts. I’m glad my younger friends will have the opportunity to do so now,” says Azat Harutyunyan, one of the graduates of the STRIVE program. Azat is now participating in EPIC’s Incubation program after forming a startup team during the EPIC Jam ideathon.
Registration for the program is now open. Application deadline is extended to March 10. Graduating high school students in Armenia have a unique opportunity with STRIVE Pre-U.
STRIVE is the first-of-its-kind pre-incubation program in the Armenian startup ecosystem. Designed to engage participants from all walks of life, regardless of prior work experience or the existence (or not) of a startup idea, the program aims to shape aspiring founders’ mindset by helping them define, analyze, and test the most fundamental concepts of entrepreneurship and innovation.
The Entrepreneurship and Product Innovation Center (EPIC) is a platform of the American University of Armenia (AUA) for promoting entrepreneurial education, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and startup venture incubation. EPIC provides an ecosystem for emerging entrepreneurs consisting of first-class facilities and collaborative workspace, programs and events, and a network of mentors, advisors, and investors. EPIC fosters the understanding and application of entrepreneurship in students and faculty at AUA to craft high-impact multidisciplinary ventures.
—
Bella Karapetyan | Communications Manager
Բելլա Կարապետյան | Հաղորդակցության մենեջեր
+374 60 612 514,
bkarapetyan@
__________________________________________
Հայաստանի Ամերիկյան Համալսարան
Հայաստանի Հանրապետություն, 0019, Երևան, Մարշալ Բաղրամյան պող. 40
40 Baghramyan Avenue, Yerevan 0019, Republic of Armenia
STRIVE Junior BANNER .png
PNG image
Fwd: The California Courier Online, March 9, 2023
The California
Courier Online, March 9, 2023
1- Israel’s
Massive Supply of
Sophisticated
Weapons to Azerbaijan
By Harut
Sassounian
Publisher,
The California
Courier
www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com
2- Irvine City
Council unanimously approves
Armenian
Genocide Memorial at Great
Park
3- Family Moves
to Pasadena for Armenian
Academy at Blair High School
4- ‘Princess of
December’: George Kirazian Releases
New Fantasy
Novel for Young Adults
************************************************************************************************************************************************
1- Israel’s
Massive Supply of
Sophisticated
Weapons to Azerbaijan
By Harut
Sassounian
Publisher,
The California
Courier
www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com
The Israeli Haaretz newspaper published on March 5, an astounding
article titled: “92 Flights from Israeli Base Reveal Arms Exports to Azerbaijan.”
The article reported that on March 2, Azerbaijan’s Silk Way Airlines’ cargo plane
landed in Israel’s Ovda
military airport, and two hours later returned to Baku
via Turkey and the Georgian Republic. In the last seven years, this
is the 92nd cargo flight from Baku to Ovda, the
only airfield in Israel
that is allowed to export explosives. These military shipments increased
substantially during Azerbaijan’s
attacks on Armenia/Artsakh in 2016, 2020, 2021 and 2022. Pres. Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan has described Israel’s covert relations with Azerbaijan as
being like an iceberg, nine-tenths of it is below the surface.
Israel
supplies almost 70% of Azerbaijan’s
weapons and in return receives about half of its imported oil. Haaretz quoted
foreign media sources disclosing that: “Azerbaijan has allowed the Mossad
[Israel’s intelligence agency] to set up a forward branch [in Azerbaijan] to
monitor what is happening in Iran, Azerbaijan’s neighbor to the south, and has
even prepared an airfield intended to aid Israel in case it decides to attack
Iranian nuclear sites. Reports from two years ago stated that the Mossad agents
who stole the Iranian nuclear archive smuggled it to Israel
via Azerbaijan.
According to official reports from Azerbaijan,
over the years Israel
has sold it the most advanced weapons systems, including ballistic missiles,
air defense and electronic warfare systems, kamikaze drones and more.”
Haaretz revealed that Azerbaijan’s
Silk Way Airlines “operates three weekly flights between Baku
and [Israel’s] Ben-Gurion International Airport
with Boeing 747 cargo freighters.” In addition, some Eastern European countries
circumvent the ban on the sale of weapons to Azerbaijan
by shipping them via Israel.
The restriction of the sale of weapons by Europe and the United States to Armenia
and Azerbaijan created an
opportunity for Israel to
earn billions of dollars in weapons’ sales to Azerbaijan.
Haaretz reported that “Israel has exported a very wide range
of weapons to the country [Azerbaijan]—starting with Tavor assault rifles all
the way to the most sophisticated systems such as radar, air defense, antitank
missiles, ballistic missiles, ships and a wide range of drones, both for
intelligence and attack purposes. Israeli companies have also supplied advanced
spy tech, such as communications monitoring systems from Verint and the Pegasus
spyware from the NSO Group—tools that were used against journalists, the LGBT
community and human rights activists in Azerbaijan, too.”
The Stockholm International Peace Institute wrote: “Israel’s defense exports to Azerbaijan
began in 2005 with the sale of the Lynx multiple launch rocket systems by
Israel Military Industries (IMI Systems), which has a range of 150 kilometers
(92 miles). IMI, which was acquired by Elbit Systems in 2018, also supplied
LAR-160 light artillery rockets with a range of 45 kilometers, which, according
to a report from Human Rights Watch, were used by Azerbaijan to fire banned
cluster munitions at residential areas in Nagorno-Karabakh,” even though Israel
and 123 other countries have banned the use of cluster bombs.
Haaretz reported that “In 2007, Azerbaijan signed a contract to buy
four intelligence-gathering drones from Aeronautics Defense Systems. It was the
first deal of many. In 2008 it purchased 10 Hermes 450 drones from Elbit
Systems and 100 Spike antitank missiles produced by Rafael Advanced Defense
Systems and in 2010 it bought another 10 intelligence-gathering drones. Soltam
Systems, owned by Elbit, sold it ATMOS self-propelled guns and 120-millimeter
Cardom mortars, and in 2017 Azerbaijan’s
arsenal was supplemented with the more advanced Hanit mortars. According to the
telegram leaked in Wikileaks, a sale of advanced communications equipment from
Tadiran was also signed in 2008.”
According to Haaretz, “Israel
and Azerbaijan
took their relationship up a level in 2011 with a huge $1.6 billion deal that
included a battery of Barak missiles for intercepting aircraft and missiles, as
well as Searcher and Heron drones from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). It
was reported that near the end of the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War in 2020, a
Barak battery shot down an Iskander ballistic missile launched by Armenia.
Aeronautics Defense Systems also began cooperating with the local arms industry
in Azerbaijan, where some of the 100 Orbiter kamikaze (loitering munitions)
drones were produced—drones that Azerbaijan’s defense minister called ‘a
nightmare for the Armenian army.’”
In 2021, “an indictment was filed against [Israel’s]
Aeronautics Defense Systems for violating the law regulating defense exports in
its dealing with one of its most prominent clients. A court-imposed gag order
prevents the publication of further details. A project to modernize the
Azerbaijani army’s tanks began in the early 2010s. Elbit Systems upgraded and
equipped the old Soviet T-72 models with new protective gear to enhance the
tanks’ and their crews’ survivability, as well as fast and precise target acquisition
and fire control systems. The upgraded tanks, known as Aslan (Lion), starred in
the 2013 military parade. Azerbaijan’s navy was reinforced in 2013 with six
patrol ships based on the Israel Navy’s Sa’ar 4.5-class missile boats, produced
by Israel Shipyards and carrying the naval version of the Spike missiles, along
with six Shaldag MK V patrol boats with Rafael’s Typhoon gun mounts and Spike
missile systems. Azerbaijan’s
navy also bought 100 Lahat antitank guided missiles.”
In 2014, “Azerbaijan
ordered the first 100 Harop kamikaze drones from IAI, which were a critical
tool in later rounds of fighting. Azerbaijan also purchased two
advanced radar systems for aerial warning and defense from IAI subsidiary Elta
that same year…. Two years later, Azerbaijan bought another 250
SkyStriker kamikaze drones from Elbit Systems. Many videos from the areas of
fighting showed Israeli drones attacking Armenian forces…. In 2016, during
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Baku, Aliyev revealed that contracts had
already been signed between the two countries for the purchase of some $5
billion in ‘defensive equipment.’ In 2017, Azerbaijan purchased advanced
Hermes 900 drones from Elbit Systems and LORA ballistic missiles from IAI, with
a range 430 kilometers. In 2018, Aliyev inaugurated the base where the LORA
missiles are deployed, at a distance of about 430 kilometers from Yerevan, Armenia’s
capital. During the war in 2020, at least one LORA missile was launched, and
according to reports it hit a bridge that Armenia used to supply arms and
equipment to its forces in Nagorno-Karabakh. More advanced Spike missiles were
sent in 2019 and 2020.”
It is appalling that the descendants of the Holocaust are
supplying such massive lethal weapons to Azerbaijan to kill the descendants
of the Armenian Genocide.
************************************************************************************************************************************************
2- Irvine City Council unanimously
approves
Armenian
Genocide Memorial at Great
Park
YEREVAN (Armenpress)—The
Irvine City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday, February 28 to proceed with
dedicating an Armenian Genocide Memorial at the Great
Park in Irvine
(Orange County, California).
Kev Abazajian, a professor at UC Irvine, gave testimony in
support of the initiative during the City Council meeting, as an Irvine resident and as a
descendant of Genocide survivors.
************************************************************************************************************************************************
3- Family Moves to Pasadena for Armenian
Academy at Blair High School
By Scott Phelps
(ColoradoBoulevard.net)—Sousse
and Mike Hanhan from Fontana
wanted their daughter, Solange, to be immersed in the Armenian culture. They’d
sought an Armenian school for many years, but distance and cost were an
obstacle. One day, Sousse (who is Armenian from Lebanon) saw an ad on Facebook for the Armenian Academy
at Blair High
School, and brought it up to Mike, who is Palestinian from Jordan.
She contacted Maro Yacoubian, Founder of the Armenian Academy and Chair of the AA Advisory
Board, who explained the program in detail. Sousse’s excitement grew and she arranged an
orientation with Yacoubian and teacher Norayr Daduryan.
The Hanhans were granted an interdistrict permit, and
Solange transferred from the Etiwanda
School District to
Pasadena Unified.
For the 2021-2022 school year when Solange was in 7th grade,
Solange would wake up by 5:30 a.m. to make the 2-hour commute from Fontana to Pasadena
with her mother. She would often sleep on the way to school and on the way
home. It was a challenging year, because she was involved in extracurricular
activities such as Armenian dance and choir, and also played on the water polo
team. Despite the long commute, she would study when she got home and earned
straight A’s in her honors classes. Sousse
and Mike admired their daughter’s tenacity.
She excelled especially in math, which has been her favorite
subject. The family credits Mr. Glenn for his patience and ability to make math
enjoyable. Solange made it; she passed her tests and did her projects. Mr.
Glenn’s lessons were also supplemented by the school’s tutoring program called
Paper, which is provided by PUSD.
Solange also enjoyed Armenian language because it was a
challenge for her to read and write it, in addition to mastering conversation.
“When I came to Blair, my mind opened up. The International Baccalaureate School
has given me a high bar to reach, and I appreciate that opportunity,” said
Solange.
Sousse
and Mike wanted to ensure that Solange could remain at Blair throughout high
school, so they sold their home and moved closer to Pasadena. Her counselor asked her what she
wanted to do in the summer. She said she wanted to eventually go into business
like her Dad and real estate like her cousin. So the counselor put her in a PCC
summer class at John Muir, Business 101, and she got an A+.
Sousse
can’t say enough about how her daughter has developed and evolved, in one year.
Right before school started this past August, the Armenian Academy
had a “meet and greet” in the park. The Academy had been a new environment, and
her daughter had been scared, as she didn’t speak much Armenian. But Solange
blossomed and wanted to be in every club or educational opportunity the school
offered.
Solange is now in 8th grade, taking Math, Science, History
Honors, English Honors, Armenian 2 and PE. She is looking forward to taking
another PCC class this coming summer. She may try an art class, too, in
addition to business.
She has solidified her friendships from Armenian dance and
choir. She’s also made friends in the mainstream part of Blair High School,
who she keeps in touch with by phone. “I highly recommend this program to all
my friends, and any student who wants to broaden their cultural experience and
get a great education,” said Solange.
**********************************************************************************************************************************************
4- ‘Princess of December’: George
Kirazian Releases
New Fantasy
Novel for Young Adults
Author, teacher and composer George Kirazian’s new book,
“The Princess of December,” has been released by Laurel Publications and is
available on Amazon.com in print and Kindle formats.
A fantasy adventure for young readers aged 8-13, "The
Princess of December" follows the adventures of the young protagonist
Yvette, who helps Lyanna, the titular protagonist The Princess of December,
against evil forces of The Ice Shadow.
Kirazian completed undergraduate and graduate studies at New York University,
and for over 30 years taught Writing, Literature, and Music Appreciation
courses at Grossmont College and San Diego State
University. In addition
to his novella, “A Time for Fathers,” Kirazian has written and published
extensively in poetry and fiction. He also wrote the children’s books, “The
Sleeping Violet,” “Perry the Peacock,” “Beyond the Koala Kingdom,” “Leo and the
Mulberry Flute,” and “The Princess of December.” He also published “Easy
Writing,” a book on writing improvement for adults.
Kirazian’s work as a composer have been performed by choral
groups in the San Diego area and includes various art songs, hymns, and a new
version of Armenian Apostolic Church Divine Liturgy. His latest composition,
“The Book of Ruth: A Ballet,” is premiering in a production with Mojalet Dance
Collective in San Diego
in April.
***********************************************************************************************************************************************
************************************************************************************************************************************************
California Courier Online provides readers of the Armenian News News Service with a
few of the articles in this week's issue of The California Courier. Letters to
the editor are encouraged through our e-mail address, .
Letters are published with the author’s name and location; authors are required
to disclose their identity to the editorial staff (name, address, and/or
telephone numbers for verification purposes).
California Courier subscribers can change or modify mailing addresses by
emailing .
Wellington council rethink after labelled ‘complicit with genocide denial’
STUFF, New Zealand
March 5 2023
The Wellington City Council, slammed as being "complicit in genocide denial" after granting police arrest powers over Anzac Day protesters, is taking a second look at its decision.
The issue came to light on Anzac Day 2022, when Richard Noble arrived at a service at Pukeahu War Memorial Park holding a "recognise Armenian Genocide" banner. The war memorial is owned by the central government and no action was taken against him.
But when he turned up at the Ataturk Turkish memorial on council land above the south coast, a police officer warned him he would be arrested if he displayed the flag.
The killing of between 664,000 and 1.2 million Armenian people by the Ottoman – now Turkish – government between 1915 and 1916 is recognised as genocide by 32 countries including the United States, Canada, France, Germany and Russia. New Zealand does not officially recognise it as a genocide.
Police had the authority to threaten Noble with arrest. Council chief executive Barbara McKerrow wrote to police days before Anzac Day 2021, giving them permission to trespass people from council land at the cenotaph and Ataturk Memorial Park, but only on Anzac days and with no end date set.
She stressed police must not breach the Human Rights Act and only act reasonably.
However, Noble on Thursday told the council’s Social, Cultural and Economic Committee that the permission made the council "complicit in genocide denial".
“It is your authorisation, it is on your watch,” he said.
Just hours later, an emailed statement from the council said it was liaising with police about whether “any trespass delegation is appropriate and required”.
The council supported people’s rights to public protest as defined under the Bill of Rights.
All councillors were asked if the council should alter the police authorisation.
“I strongly oppose this delegation given by council to police,” said Iona Pannett. Before the council announced its rethink, she registered her displeasure to McKerrow.
“The right to peaceful protest against gross human rights is sacrosanct in our society and so should be rescinded.”
Richard Noble at the Pukeahu Anzac service in 2021 where he was allowed to hold his flag.
The council supported people’s rights to public protest as defined under the Bill of Rights.
All councillors were asked if the council should alter the police authorisation.
“I strongly oppose this delegation given by council to police,” said Iona Pannett. Before the council announced its rethink, she registered her displeasure to McKerrow.
“The right to peaceful protest against gross human rights is sacrosanct in our society and so should be rescinded.”
JERICHO ROCK-ARCHER/STUFF
Noble returned to Pukeahu War Memorial Park on Anzac Day 2022, where police had no issue.
Ray Chung agreed: “I’m a very strong believer in the freedom of speech and as long as no damage is done and they’re not inciting violence by groups opposing what he’s saying, I’m fine with him being allowed continue his protest without impediment.”
Tim Brown, a paid member of the Free Speech Union, cited the famous line: ‘"I [may] disapprove of what you say but will defend to the death your right to say it."
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, in an emailed statement, said it was important “historical injustices” such as the Ottoman treatment of Armenian people were “acknowledged appropriately”. It supported “reconciliation” between Turkey and Armenia.
“For determining whether a particular situation constitutes a genocide, Aotearoa New Zealand places great emphasis on the findings of international courts and tribunals.”
Police have been asked if they planned to trespass peaceful protesters at this year’s Anzac Day.
Genocide is defined by the United Nations as defined acts, including killing, “with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group”.
Armenia, Azerbaijan: Armenian and Azerbaijani security forces clash near Shusha, Azerbaijan, March 5
Crisis 24
March 4 2023
Azerbaijani and Armenian security services engaged in armed clashes on a road near Shusha during the morning of March 5. Azerbaijan's Ministry of Defence claims the clashes erupted after Azerbaijani security forces discovered weapons and ammunition in a vehicle during a stop and search; Armenian officials claim Azeri security forces opened fire on a local police vehicle without provocation. Three Armenian police officers are confirmed to have been killed during the skirmish. The two countries have long-standing tensions over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh; Russian forces are currently deployed to the area as peacekeeping forces.
Authorities are likely to increase security measures in the area following the incident prompting related transport disruptions. Further clashes are possible in the coming days. Protests relating to the incident are also possible in the coming days.
Exercise heightened caution if operating in the border area between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Allow additional time for travel in the affected area. Carry relevant identification documents; heed all instructions from local security personnel. Leave the area at the first sign of a confrontation.
Exchange of fire between Azerbaijan, Armenia leaves casualties
MEHR News Agency
Iran – March 5 2023
TEHRAN, Mar. 05 (MNA) – The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said that the exchange of fire between the Azeri and Armenian sides in the Karabakh region left a number of injuries and casualties.
A statement by the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry claimed it received information about the transportation of military equipment, ammunition, and personnel from Armenia to the Karabakh region through the Khankendi-Khalfali-Turshsu road, where a Russian peacekeeping contingent has been stationed since the aftermath of the fall 2020 conflict in the region and a January 2021 pact with Baku and Yerevan, according to Anadolu Agency.
“On the morning of March 5, in order to check the received information, an attempt was made to stop and check the vehicles carrying illegal military transports by units of the Azerbaijan Army. Shots were fired from the other side and there were casualties and injuries from both sides as a result of the skirmish,” the statement said.
The Armenian media also accused the Azeri side of sabotage attempts, saying that three Azeri soldier was killed and one wounded in the clashes.
RHM/PR/FNA14011214000755
Armenian scientist calls on Senedd to condemn ‘war of terror’ waged against her people
Nation.Cymru
Wales – March 5 2023
An Armenian scientist has called on Senedd members to condemn the “war of terror” being waged against her people.
The call from Bangor-based Anna Cervi, who fears for friends and family caught up in the blockade of the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which has left 120,000 Armenians facing a humanitarian crisis, has been backed by North Wales MS Llyr Gruffydd.
She has spoken out ahead of a Senedd debate tabled by Mr Gruffydd next week(8 March).
The Armenian-majority territory is at the centre of a deadly dispute with Azerbaijan. The United Nations’ highest court, the International Court of Justice, recently called on Azerbaijan to ensure the roadblock in the region’s Lachin corridor is removed. The roadblock has not been removed, despite this ruling.
Anna, a research chemist, who has lived in Wales for 24 years, and is married to a local man, wants the Senedd to back a statement condemning the blockade, which has been put forward by Plaid Cymru MSs Llyr Gruffydd and Heledd Fychan.
Their statement calls on the UK Government to provide aid to avert a humanitarian crisis facing 120,000 Armenian people as a result of the blockade of the Lachin corridor, which has been in place since December 12, 2022. It is the only road connecting the land-locked region to the outside world.
Genocide
The statement also recognises the “horrors of the Armenian genocide” of 1915-23 as well as “the threat of another genocide occurring in 2023”.
Following a six-week war in 2020, Azerbaijan was granted control over large tracts of Nagorno-Karabakh as well as adjacent land occupied by Armenians, in a ceasefire brokered by Russia. Relatives of Anna, including her cousin Rima, were among the thousands of ethnic Armenians who were displaced by the war.
Fighting between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted again last year and in December the roadblock in Lachin corridor was set up by protesters claiming to be environmental activists. Armenia’s lawyers have said the move, which has led to shortages of food, medicine and life-saving medical supplies, is part of an Azerbaijani campaign of “ethnic cleansing.”
Anna said: “I have friends and family that are caught up in what is going on and it’s very hard because when you know people it becomes more personal. My heart hurts for my country, for everybody, but then you have people who you know, and you constantly worry about them. It’s very difficult.
“My cousin Rima and her family now live in Stepanakert, which is in the area under blockade. They used to live in the town of Shusha. Because Azerbaijan took over control of there they had to move from there during the war.
“They ran away from there because there was bombing day and night. When the war ended, they decided to go to Stepanakert. Her son has wounds from this war. He has had one lung removed, a kidney has been damaged, and his spine is damaged too. He has three children.
“My cousin told me ‘ you know Anna, it’s not the shortage of food or electricity or supplied. We lived through the first Nagorno-Karabakh war in those conditions. It’s not that. It’s the fear of not knowing what they’re going to do next.’
“In Wales I would like to see Senedd members sign that statement of opinion that has been tabled. So, few people have signed it. It’s hurtful. We are not asking for too much. They just have to show that they understand our pain. We want acknowledgement, recognition and solidarity.
“I would like to see the First Minister Mark Drakeford and the Welsh Government speak out on this. I am very disappointed they have not.”
Concerning
Llyr Gruffydd MS said: “These reports of new attacks by Azerbaijan on Armenian territory are extremely concerning.
“These unprovoked attacks are not only targeted on the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region but also on provinces within Armenia’s international recognised sovereign boundaries.
“This follows years of attacks on the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, for which the Government of Azerbaijan have never been held to proper account.
“I would like to convey my sympathy to all victims and their families who have been affected.
“I am calling on Senedd members, including the First Minister Mark Drakeford and his ministers in the Welsh Government to back the statement condemning this war of terror being waged against the Armenian people.
“I am also calling on the UK Government to condemn the unjustified actions taken by the Government of Azerbaijan; and to join other nations around the world in demanding an immediate end to this unprovoked aggression.”
Armenpress: Video evidence debunks Azerbaijani “simple and unreasonable” disinformation on March 5 attack
09:30, 6 March 2023
YEREVAN, MARCH 6, ARMENPRESS. The former State Minister of Artsakh Artak Beglaryan issued a statement on the Azerbaijani disinformation regarding the March 5 deadly ambush by Azeri forces against Nagorno Karabakh police officers.
Beglaryan said that the Azerbaijani disinformation is “simple and unreasonable” to such extent that even a child can identify the lies.
Below is the full statement released by Beglaryan.
“The disinformation from Azerbaijani authorities is so simple and unreasonable in its logic that even a kid can identify their lies on the ambush their armed forced carried out on Artsakh policemen today.
- The Artsakh police car was traveling from Stepanakert to their duty checkpoint in the Shushi region, while the Azerbaijani side claims that it was traveling from Armenia to Stepanakert. The car’s direction of travel is fully visible in the video published by the Artsakh Police.
- With the police vehicle traveling from Stepanakert, it is clearly impossible that they were transferring weapons, or anything for that matter, from Armenia to Artsakh because they were traveling in the opposite direction.
- The video also shows the moment Azerbaijani servicemen ambushed the police vehicle, firing then approaching and opening the door then throwing documents, claiming to check for weapons that they didn’t find.
- A photo published by the Police also shows the targeted vehicle, at the location, post-attack, was empty, which means that there was no cargo in it.
- Besides the fact that the officers were traveling from Stepanakert, they were also traveling in a small vehicle barely large enough for the passengers, how could weapons be transported in such a small car?
- The video also shows how the Azerbaijani servicemen were shooting at the car from a distance and then approaching closer and shooting again into the car. Video evidence makes it apparent that only after leaving the location of the attack, Artsakh military positions fired in defense. It refutes Azerbaijani false claims that the Artsakh side shot first.
- If the Artsakh side was the first attacker according to the Azerbaijani side, in that case what about the video evidence and why the targeted car and the losses of both sides were on the road under our control over 1 kilometers far from the contact line?
- Azerbaijani authorities planned this attack, wrongly assuming their ambush and killing of our people would not receive an adequate and defensive response from the Artsakh military position near the incident location. We have full rights to protect our people from Azerbaijani crimes and genocidal actions.
This is nothing less than a continuation of the ethnic cleansing policy of the Aliyev regime against the people of Artsakh in parallel with their 84-days of blockade.
Azerbaijan has not only done nothing to implement the UN International Court of Justice order, published on February 22, to open the Lachin Corridor for unimpeded movement of persons, cars and cargo, but it continues to deteriorate the humanitarian crisis further with such kind of aggressions.
By the way, the UN International Court of Justice rejected the Azerbaijani application on Armenian munitions saying that there are not sufficient evidence on those claims.
The Aliyev dictatorial regime of Azerbaijan must be punished by the international community for this and previous crimes, including the blockade, otherwise they will continue to escalate their aggressions and commit new and more brutal crimes against humanity and the people of Artsakh.”
Nagorno Karabakh’s Artak Beglaryan calls out EU’s Toivo Klaar for reaction to latest Azerbaijani attack
10:26, 6 March 2023
YEREVAN, MARCH 6, ARMENPRESS. The former State Minister of Nagorno Karabakh Artak Beglaryan lambasted the EU’s Special Envoy for South Caucasus Toivo Klaar for the latter’s reaction to the deadly attack by Azerbaijani forces in Nagorno Karabakh.
Three Nagorno Karabakh police officers were gunned down by Azeri forces in what Stepanakert and Yerevan described as a “terror attack”.
Klaar, the EU’s Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia, commented on the incident on Twitter. “Back in Baku. Look forward to substantive meetings with [Azerbaijani] leadership to advance peace process after meetings in Munich,” Klaar tweeted. “The deadly incident today underscores the urgency of pushing forward with negotiations to achieve stability & a fair peace.”
Beglaryan was seemingly angered by Klaar not calling out Azerbaijan for the attack.
“My mistrust/doubts to Toivo Klaar get deeper due to his reactions to Azerbaijani crimes,” Beglaryan tweeted. “He is either: Amateur diplomat, Under Az [Azerbaijani] brainwashing, Corrupt official, With deviated perceptions of European values, interests & human rights. All four options require changes.”