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MOSCOW: Russia on Tuesday reported 8,277 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, including 1,291 in Moscow, taking the national tally to 4,536,820.
The country also reported another 409 deaths, raising the official toll to 98,442.
President Joe Biden has announced that 90% of all adults in the US will be eligible for coronavirus shots next month, but warned that “the war against COVID-19 is far from won.”
President Joe Biden has announced an expansion of the United States’ coronavirus vaccination campaign, saying 90% of all adults would be eligible for the jab by April 19.
Biden also warned that the “war against Covid-19 is far from won,” lambasting “reckless behavior we’ve seen on television over the past few weeks” that left the country on the brink of a new surge.
The Biden administration’s overall goal is to ensure 90% of adults have a vaccination site within 5 miles (8 kilometers) of where they live.
The new measures include ramping up the number of pharmacies — from 17,000 to nearly 40,000 — taking part in a federal immunization program. The government is also looking to create a dozen additional mass vaccination sites over the next three weeks.
The plan also includes $100 million (€85 million) in funding to help get the shot to vulnerable and at-risk older adults and people with disabilities.
Biden also called on several states to reverse orders allowing for looser mask mandates and restrictions on businesses.
“Please, this is not politics. Reinstate the mandate if you let it down,” he said, adding that wearing a mask was every American’s “patriotic duty.”
While six US states have already lifted mask mandates, several more intend to do so in the coming month. The US has borne the brunt of the coronavirus pandemic, with close to 550,000 deaths and over 30 million confirmed cases.
see/nm (Reuters, AFP)
The EU home affairs commissioner said Turkey should stick to a 2016 deal that would see Ankara take back failed asylum seekers from Greek islands. EU officials are set to travel to Turkey for talks next week.
EU officials told the Turkish government on Monday that it must “urgently” resume accepting migrants from Greece, where thousands are being held in camps
The bloc struck a deal with Ankara in 2016 that it would take back asylum seekers from Greek islands who had their applications rejected.
But tensions have flared between EU members Greece and Cyprus over a decades-old maritime dispute with Turkey.
“I call on Turkey to urgently resume the return of migrants from Greece,” said EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson during a visit to the island of Lesbos, which hosts more than 8,000 asylum seekers.
Her comments come as diplomats announced that top EU politicians Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel would hold talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan next week over migration and other regional issues.
The European Commission president and European Council head held a video call with Erdogan earlier this month.
But Turkey, an EU candidate country, has not held formal summit with the two EU chiefs since March 2020, when Erdogan met Michel and von der Leyen in Ankara.
The Turkish government last week said it had pulled out of a convention protecting women from violence, sparking furious criticism from human rights activists.
The European Commission, the EU executive, on Monday pledged 276 million euros ($326 million) of EU money for new camps on the islands of Lesbos, Chios, Samos, Kos and Leros.
NGOs estimate there are nearly 14,000 migrants being hosted there.
Greece’s Migration Minister Notis Mitarachi echoed Johansson’s call, urging Ankara to accept 1,450 migrants whose asylum applications had been rejected.
He has said new migrant camps are being built to host migrant populations, with one in Samos to completed by June and others in Kos and Leros by September.
The Greek government, led by conservative Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis since 2019, has moved to toughen up its migration policy over the past two years.
Some 300 local people demonstrated against the planned Lesbos camp, in a protest called by Governor Costas Moutzouris.
Azerbaijani troops have stolen 13 cows belonging to Armenian villager Gavrush Hakobyan, in the southern community of Shurnukh, Syunik province, lawmaker Naira Zohrabyan said in a Facebook post on Tuesday, March 30.
Hakobyan’s cow shed lies 500 meters from the border, under the constant surveillance of Azeri troops deployed in close proximity to Armenian settlements.
When the Azeris looted the cattle and took them to the village of Seytaz, the farmer’s son, accompanied by Russian peacekeepers stationed in the area, followed them to demand the livestock back, Zohrabyan said. He was promised that the cows would be returned, but that has not happened yet, the lawmaker added.
According to her, the governor of Syunik is aware of the incident. Zohrabyan said she has also notified Lieutenant General Rustam Muradov, the commander of the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Nagorno-Karabakh
When an Armenian shepherd was grazing his flock of 185 sheep near the border with Azerbaijan on in mid-February, a group of Azeri troops approached him and seized 173 of his sheep. According to the municipality of the village of Khdzoresk, Armenian border guards and shepherds from nearby villages, as well as mayor Yervand Malunts and the command of the 1st Army Corps quickly arrived at the scene. It was only after negotiations that the Azerbaijani soldiers returned all but one of the sheep they had taken, the municipality added.
GLENDALE – Consul General of Armenia in Los Angeles Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Armen Baibourtian held a virtual meeting with the California State Assemblymember Blanca E. Rubio. Ambassador Baibourtian expressed gratitude to Assemblymember Rubio for holding membership in the California Armenian Legislative Caucus and for contribution to the work of the Caucus for three consecutive years.
Blanca E. Rubio noted that although her electoral constituency does not include the California cities that have heavy-Armenian populated communities, however, warm and close cooperation with the Armenian community exists throughout the multicultural California. Assemblymember Rubio expressed her delight for the warm cooperation that was developed through the California Armenian Legislative Caucus at the California Capitol, thanks to which close relations with the community are also being carried on.
The interlocutors discussed the areas of cooperation between Armenia and California. The Consul General noted that the Framework Agreement on Cooperation signed in 2019 between Armenia and California constitutes a strong foundation and conducive environment for deepening bilateral relations between the State of California and Armenia.
Ambassador Baibourtian briefed Assemblymember Blanca E. Rubio on the consequences of the Azerbaijani aggression with the support of Turkey against Artsakh and the humanitarian crisis created in the post-war period. The interlocutors stressed the importance of the issue of the immediate release of the Armenian prisoners of war (POWs) and civilians held in Azerbaijan that is in violation of provisions of the November 9, 2020 trilateral statement.
Assemblymember Bianca E. Rubio represents California’s 48th Assembly District since her election in 2016. She is a member of the Assembly’s Standing Committees on Aging and Long-Term Care, Budget, Elections, Governmental Organization, Rules, and Water, Parks, & Wildlife, as well as chairs the Select Committee on Domestic Violence.
ԼՈՍ ԱՆՋԵԼԵՍՈՒՄ ՀՀ ԳԼԽԱՎՈՐ ՀՅՈՒՊԱՏՈՍ, ԴԵՍՊԱՆ ԱՐՄԵՆ ԲԱՅԲՈՒՐԴՅԱՆԸ ՀԱՆԴԻՊԵՑ ԿԱԼԻՖՈՐՆԻԱՅԻ ՆԱՀԱՆԳԱՅԻՆ ԱՍԱՄԲԼԵԱՅԻ ԱՆԴԱՄ ԲԼԱՆԿԱ ՌՈՒԲԻՈՅԻ ՀԵՏ
ԳԼԵՆԴԵՅԼ- Լոս Անջելեսում ՀՀ գլխավոր հյուպատոս, արտակարգ և լիազոր դեսպան Արմեն Բայբուրդյանը հեռավար հանդիպում ունեցավ Կալիֆորնիայի Նահանգային Ասամբլեայի անդամ Բլանկա Ռուբիոյի հետ։ Դեսպան Բայբուրդյանը երախտագիտություն հայտնեց Բլանկա Ռուբիոյին Կալիֆորնիայի հայկական օրենդրական խմբակցությանն անդամակցելու և երեք տարի շարունակ խմբակցության հայանպաստ աշխատանքներին մասնակից լինելու համար։Բլանկա Ռուբիոն նշեց, որ թեև իր ընտրատարածքում ընդգրկված չեն հայահոծ համայնք ունեցող կալիֆորնիական քաղաքները, սակայն հայ համայնքի հետ սերտ համագործակցություն առկա է բազմամշակութային Կալիֆորնիայի ամբողջ տարածքում։ Ասամբլեայի անդամ Ռուբիոն ուրախություն հայտնեց, որ ջերմ համագործակցության դաշտ է ստեղծվել Կալիֆորնիայի նահանգային խորհրդարանի հայկական օրենդրական խմբակցության միջոցով, ինչի շնորհիվ համայնքային շփումներն ու սերտ հարաբերությունները փոխադրվում են նաև օրենսդրական հարթություն։Զրուցակիցները քննարկեցին Հայաստանի և Կալիֆորնիայի համագործակցության ուղղությունները։ Գլխավոր հյուպատոսը նշեց, որ 2019թ․ Հայաստանի և Կալիֆորնիայի միջև ստորագրված Շրջանակային համաձայնագիրը նպաստավոր հիմք է հանդիսանում երկկողմ հարաբերությունների խորացման համար։Դեսպան Բայբուրդյանը Բլանկա Ռուբիոյին ներկայացրեց Թուրքիայի աջակցությամբ Արցախի դեմ իրականացված ադրբեջանական ագրեսիայի հետևանքները և պատերազմից հետո ստեղծված մարդասիրական ճգնաժամից բխող խնդիրները։ Զրուցակիցները կարևորեցին Ադրբեջանի կողմից հայ ռազմագերիների և պատանդի կարգավիճակում գտնվող քաղաքացիական անձանց անհապաղ ազատ արձակման հարցը։ Նրանք պահվում են Ադրբեջանում ի խախտումն 2020 թվականի նոյեմբերի 9-ի եռակողմ հայտարարության դրույթների։Բլանկա Ռուբիոն ներկայացնում է Կալիֆորնիայի Ասամբլեայի 48-րդ ընտրաշրջանը՝ 2016 թվականից։ Նա անդամակցում է Ասամբլեայի Տարեցության և երկարաժամկետ հոգածության հարցերով, Բյուջետային, Ընտրությունների, Կառավարական կազմակերպության, Կանոնակարգի, Ջրի, այգիների և կենդանական աշխարհի մշտական հանձնաժողովներին, ինչպես նաև նախագահում է Ընտանեկան բռնության հարցերով հատուկ հանձնաժողովը։
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Influential Kurdish writer, intellectual, and radio personality Kereme Seyad, who played an important role in preserving Kurdish culture for decades, succumbed to illness on Saturday at the age of 83 in the Armenian capital of Yerevan.
He was born in 1938 in the Kurdish Yezidi village of Hako in Armenia’s Tallinn region and went on to complete his education at the University of Yerevan. He later became well-known as a writer for the Riya Teze newspaper and for his enthusiastic presence as the director of the Kurdish section of Radio Yerevan for almost forty years, starting in 1960.
Under his leadership, Radio Yerevan played an important role in keeping the Kurdish language and culture alive in Armenia, just as neighboring Turkish authorities to the west were implementing programs to suppress them.
As a result, untold numbers of Kurds tuned in to the popular radio station to listen to Kurdish music at the radio station that soon became a home for Kurdish singers exiled from Turkey.
One example was prominent Armenian Kurdish artist Egide Cimo, who also played an important cultural role in the region through Radio Yerevan.
Read More: ‘Master of Kurdish music’ Egide Cimo dies at 87
When the Armenian government wanted to end the Kurdish broadcasting due to a financial crisis, Seyad and his children walked 12 kilometers every day in protest to prevent the closure.
“When I came to the radio on foot, I was thinking that (since) our Peshmerga (fighters) were walking to deserts, wars, and their homes, then I am going to walk to the radio,” he previously told Kurdistan 24 in an interview, adding that he was working toward “the unity and freedom of the Kurdish people.”
Although twelve other employees resigned from the radio station, Seyad continued to work there until just a few years ago.
Due to his sickness, however, Seyad handed over his work and legacy to his children and stopped showing up at the station he’d helped to define. Both his son Tital and his daughter Leyla have followed in his footsteps to work at Radio Yerevan.
“We were working with my father until 2014 when his health deteriorated, Tital Kereme told Kurdistan 24. “Since then, he has not been working and was at home.”
Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Masoud Barzani said in a condolence statement released on Sunday that Seyad “worked tirelessly for many years to develop the Kurdish language and literature and in the management of the (Kurdish service of) Yerevan radio.”
“He has played an influential role in disseminating Kurdish dictionaries and language in Armenia and the former Soviet Union,” he continued. “The work and struggle of Kereme Seyad is an example for every patriotic Kurd.”
The pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) in Turkey also offered condolences on his passing on social media.
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Saturday offered his own condolences to the families of both Sayed and a Kurdish academic and former HDP deputy, who recently died at a hospital in Turkey’s southeastern Kurdish-majority city of Diyarbakir (Amed).
Kereme Seyad will be buried in his native village of Hako on Tuesday.
Editing by John J. Catherine
Source: https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/24179-Prominent-Kurdish-Armenian-intellectual-dies-at-83
By Harut Sassounian,
For three decades, the government of Israel and Jewish-American leaders have been showering Azerbaijan with excessive and undeserved praise for its alleged tolerance for its Jewish community and friendship with Israel. There have been several visits by Israeli leaders and prominent Jewish-Americans to Baku, glorifying the government of Azerbaijan and flaunting the special affinity between them.
This is hypocrisy of the highest form. The truth is that relations between Azerbaijan and Israel have nothing to do with the treatment of Jews in Baku. The two countries are basically engaged in mutual exploitation, ignoring all humanitarian and ethical concerns. Azerbaijan has purchased billions of dollars of advanced lethal weapons from Israel in exchange for the sale of Azeri oil to Israel, which imports 40% of its oil from Azerbaijan. It is disgraceful that descendants of the Holocaust are arming Azerbaijan to kill survivors of the Armenian Genocide for a fistful of dollars!
Israel has two other reasons for maintaining good relations with Azerbaijan. The first is Israel’s interest in gathering intelligence on Iran and having access to Azerbaijan’s airfields in case of an Israeli attack on Iran’s nuclear stockpile. This is probably what Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev meant when he compared his country’s relations with Israel to an iceberg: “Nine-tenths of it is below the surface.” Israel’s second reason is to cultivate good relations with a Muslim country, given the Arab-Israeli conflict and its isolation from the Muslim world. However, in light of the recent rapprochement between Israel and several Arab nations, the value of Azerbaijan to Israel in this regard is diminishing.
On the other hand, Azerbaijan expects to maximize its political interests in the United States by benefiting from the influence of Israel and Jewish-Americans in Washington, to counter the Armenian-American lobby.
Nevertheless, Azerbaijan and Israel are concealing some of the irritants in their relationship. First of all, Israel has opened its Embassy in Baku in 1993, whereas Azerbaijan has refused to open its Embassy or even a Consulate in Israel, out of concern for its relations with Arab and Muslim nations, particularly Iran. This fact alone belies the supposed friendly relations between the two countries.
Another contradiction is Azerbaijan’s anti-Israel votes and speeches at the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. Azerbaijan’s most recent critical action of Israel occurred at the United Nations Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva, Switzerland on March 18, 2021.
The Simon Wiesenthal Center, a frequent apologist for Azerbaijan, quickly condemned the Azeri Representative’s remarks at the UN by harshly accusing Azerbaijan of committing “a virtual ‘blood-libel’ against the Jewish state.”
Speaking on item 7 of the Council’s agenda, “human rights situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories,” Kamran Seyfullayev, Third Secretary at the Permanent Mission of Azerbaijan to the UN in Geneva, gave a three-minute speech on March 18, in which he severely criticized the treatment of Palestinians by the State of Israel. Here is what he said:
“I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) [Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev is the Chairman of the movement which is composed of 120 countries].
“For many years, the Non-Aligned Movement has maintained a firm position of solidarity with the Palestinian people and their just cause, and the condemnation of massive, flagrant and systematic violations of human rights and of international humanitarian law committed by Israel.
“The NAM also underscores the need to continue providing political, economic and humanitarian support to assist the Palestinian people and to bolster their resilience and efforts aimed at achieving their legitimate national aspirations, including their inalienable right to self-determination and freedom in their independent State of Palestine.
“We recognize and commend the efforts of the United Nations and its agencies and particularly the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees in the Near East and the Committee of Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian people. The Movement encourages continuation of their support. The NAM takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary General presented to the 43rd Session of the Human Rights Council on the Israeli settlements in the occupied Syrian Golan.
“The NAM expresses its grave concern at the continuing Israeli settlement policy and related activities, including the expansion of settlements, the expropriation of land, the demolition of houses, and the confiscation and destruction of property, which has changed the physical character and demographic composition of the occupied territories and the occupied Syrian Golan.
“The General Assembly, the Security Council and the Human Rights Council have all confirmed that the construction and expansion of Israeli settlements and other related activities in the occupied Palestinian Territory and the occupied Syrian Golan are illegal under international law. The NAM is also deeply concerned over numerous UN official reports, particularly by the recent report of the Secretary General, which have reaffirmed the continued human rights violations of the Palestinian people by Israeli force, throughout the occupied State of Palestine.
“In this regard, the NAM urges the international community to exert its pressure in order to cease immediately the continuation of this illegal trend by Israel which is a blatant violation of international law.
“Furthermore, the NAM strongly believes that Israel, as the occupying power, has to be held accountable for its continued grave and systematic violations of both international human rights law and international humanitarian law in all occupied Arab territories, including Syrian Golan.
“The NAM emphasizes that Israel, as the occupying power, should immediately release all Palestinian prisoners, particularly children and women. It should also cease serious violations of international law and fully lift the blockade of Gaza to remedy the ongoing punitive measures against the civilian population and release Palestinian children in detention in accordance with international standards, in particular the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
“In conclusion, the NAM extends its full support to the Government of the State of Palestine in its ongoing efforts to put an end to the occupation of the land of the State of Palestine and realize the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.”
It is ironic that the Simon Wiesenthal Center officials, after years of kowtowing to Azerbaijan, repeatedly visiting that country, and praising it as a close friend of Israel, are now complaining about Baku’s harsh criticism of Israel. I hope Jewish and Israeli leaders realize that they have been fooled by Azerbaijan all these years and learn the valuable lesson that a wolf in sheep’s clothing cannot be trusted. They should also realize that, as the saying goes, when you go to bed with dogs, you wake up with fleas. Israeli and Jewish officials do not seem to have learned anything from their experience of being deceived by Turkey. After decades of backing Turkey, even going as far shamefully blocking the congressional recognition of the Armenian Genocide, Israeli and Jewish officials are now accusing Turkey of anti-Semitism and hostility to Israel. Armenians kept warning them for years, to no avail, not to trust Turkey and that they will be stabbed in the back when they least suspect it. In this vulgar game of mutual exploitation, Israelis and Jewish Americans got the short end of the stick. The same thing is happening now in their relations with Azerbaijan. It will only get worse, unless they quickly come to their senses.
Not everything should be measured by oil, weapons and money. There is something much more valuable like humanity, justice and truthfulness than financial gain and self-interest. But in this selfish world, it is too much to expect such decent behavior!
The Biden administration reportedly will recognize the Armenian Genocide in a historic and long-overdue decision by the United States.In a morally inexcusable shortcoming, Israel and many other nations have failed or even refused to recognize the Armenian Genocide committed by the Ottoman Turks in 1915 against Armenian Christians.
Only in 2019 did the United States pass a resolution recognizing the massacre; yet, as of now, a US president has yet to do so. Are the tides finally turning?The genocide is seen by many historians as a precursor to the Holocaust, and its lack of recognition has often been cited as evidence for why remembering the Holocaust is crucial to prevent genocides in the future. Despite overwhelming evidence and eyewitness testimonies, there has been controversy over recognition, due to Turkey’s adamant refusal to accept responsibility for the massacre.
In the case of Israel, the government has refused to recognize the Armenian Genocide, due to the volatile yet strategic political relationship with Turkey.For decades, Turkey has blackmailed and threatened nations if they even considered recognizing the Armenian Genocide.Initially, this wasn’t something Israel could politically afford. Israel relied heavily on Turkey as one of the only Muslim states with which it had cooperation and diplomatic relations. Yet through the decades, Turkey has become increasingly hostile to Israel with the dictatorial and Islamist President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Not only that, Turkey is increasingly aligned geopolitically with Iran.
Today, Israel is less dependent than ever on Turkey, especially with emerging relations with Arab states. Yet instead of recognizing the Armenian Genocide and unequivocally standing on the right side of history, the Israeli government has sold out the Armenian people even today, by selling weapons to Azerbaijan while it bombs Armenian cities.In the case of the United States, Armenian Genocide recognition has come up numerous times over the decades, yet there was only formal recognition in 2019. Forty years ago, US president Ronald Reagan used the word “genocide” to refer to the event, in a major step forward toward recognition; yet after a Turkish uproar, the US Congress failed repeatedly to recognize it, due to political interests. Similarly, US presidents from the Left and Right have avoided using the term “genocide” so as not to antagonize Turkey.In 2019, the US House of Representatives passed Resolution 401-11 recognizing the Armenian Genocide, followed by a unanimous decision in the US Senate. However, despite the fact that many US presidents have pledged to recognize the Armenian Genocide, none have followed through on their promise until now.This month, White House sources stated that the Biden administration will recognize the Armenian Genocide in a move that rights a historic wrong.It’s important to note that the Armenian Genocide was not simply a horrific event that occurred. It was arguably the most horrific orchestrated genocide the world had ever seen (at the time), and not in the context of a war, but because the Armenians were Christian.Persecution of Christians under the Ottomans occurred for years leading up to the Armenian Genocide, but escalated with the Tehcir Law, under which Armenians were robbed of their property and belongings and deported en masse, and sent on death marches into the Syrian desert in inhumane conditions.The Ottomans rounded up and murdered Armenian academics and intellectuals, they raped and enslaved Armenian women and girls, and those who survived were sent to concentration camps, executed, or left to die. Between 1914 and 1918, 1-1.5 million Armenians were murdered by Ottoman Turks, the direct predecessors of modern Turkey.It absolutely unconscionable that the community of nations has continued to allow Turkey to use its geopolitical position to bully other nations into denying or refusing to recognize the Armenian Genocide. For decades, Turkey has actively censored those who recognize the genocide in Turkey itself, and has even destroyed evidence. Previously, it even imprisoned academics who dared to call the Armenian Genocide a genocide.Whereas in Germany, the world demanded accountability and, even today, Holocaust denial is illegal, Turkey made it illegal not to deny the Armenian Genocide, and the entire world is complicit in allowing it to do so.If even a few of the world’s superpowers had recognized the Armenian Genocide from day one, we would be living in a different reality today, where smaller nations wouldn’t be afraid to acknowledge the obvious historical fact to the detriment of a people that was almost eliminated.The Biden administration recognizing the Armenian Genocide would not only send a morally necessary message to the people of Armenia on behalf of the United States, it also would send a message to the world. The time for recognition is now.The writer is the CEO of Social Lite Creative and a research fellow at the Tel Aviv Institute.
The Lebanese-Armenians are the most organized community of the classical Diaspora, which ․․․․ He is very sensitive to the rumors about correcting the statements or approaches made to Turkey today.
Our interlocutor is political analyst, editor-in-chief of “Azdak” newspaper published in Beirut Shahan Kantaharian
The situation in Lebanon remains tense. What steps are being taken to resolve the political and economic crisis?
Yes, unfortunately you are right ․ The situation in Lebanon continues to be tense, it is an accumulation of very uncertain, crisis circumstances. The spread of the epidemic is rapid, the financial collapse is due to the fact that the Lebanese currency has fallen sharply, ostensibly as a result of the two, many social problems, from hospital overcrowding to large-scale expansion of the needy poor. To this must be added the failure to reach an agreement necessary to form a government. Therefore, there are no operative actions to overcome the obstacles.
Is there an emigration mood in the Armenian community?
First of all, it must be said that the lack of prospects and the acute financial and economic crisis will naturally lead to a mass exodus of outflows. This is a general theory – it applies to any country in the world in such situations, including Lebanon. Lebanese society is developing moods to leave, the number of those who make such programs is growing. However, the problem reveals difficult circumstances in the current conditions. The banking system is frozen, people can no longer use their accounts. There is no monetary movement, which characterized the Lebanese economy as a flexible banking system. The sale and purchase of real estate has frozen, and the outflow from the country implies funds that are lacking for the citizens.
How solvable is the crisis in Lebanon, is the community participating in the protests?
Lebanon is under economic blockade as a means of suppressing political preconditions. There are three main points that have been raised as a precondition. The first is the disarmament or neutralization of Hezbollah from state life, the second is the start of the process of demarcation with Israel for the use of offshore energy; This means that the problems are related to external forces; if they do not comply, economic sanctions apply, in this case an economic blockade of a financial nature. The rest, in the composition of the government, the elimination of corruption, the undertaking of reforms, are derivative problems for external forces or the main regional players. Civic outbursts are understandable ․ People want to restore civil rights, see improvements փոխարին replace the community system with the formation of a civil state. The Armenian community does not officially take part in such protests, but of course, there are individual Lebanese Armenian citizens who have taken to the streets to protest against such a difficult situation.
To what extent do the internal political developments in Armenia affect the mood of the community?
Lebanese-Armenians have always not only followed the events in Armenia, but also actively participated in various patriotic activities. The connections are multi-sectoral. Recently, before the war, the number of those who received RA citizenship had sharply increased. Many Lebanese-Armenians had bought apartments in Armenia, had bank accounts, and the interest of young people in getting higher education in Armenia had begun to grow. Lebanese Airlines currently operates regular flights to Yerevan. It is natural that the aftermath of the Artsakh war – the loss of land, thousands of victims, the signing of a unilateral concession declaration – had a negative impact on Lebanese-Armenians who are already in a difficult situation in terms of Lebanon. The Lebanese-Armenians are the most organized community of the classical Diaspora, which is at the forefront of the struggle against Turkey. Therefore, he is very sensitive to the rumors about correcting the statements or approaches made to Turkey today.
Nikol Pashinyan, Armenia’s embattled prime minister, has pledged to resign next month and prompt an election, amid pressure in the wake of the disastrous defeat to Azerbaijan in last year’s war over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh.
However, the Armenian leader said he has no intention to relinquish power. Instead he plans to remain as acting prime minister during the campaign before the general election, which he plans to contest. Pashinyan, who has been perceived as pro-Western, had earlier promised to hold the ballot on June 20.
Under the Armenian constitution, parliament must be dissolved before an early election is conducted. This in turn requires the prime minister to resign and MPs must not appoint a replacement within two weeks.
Support for the populist leader, who came to power on the back of mass protests in 2018, tanked in the wake of last year’s armed conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. The predominantly Armenian region of neighboring Azerbaijan won de facto independence in the 1990s, with Yerevan’s military and political support.
However, the balance of power shifted over the following decades, and in 2020, Azerbaijan, backed by close ally Turkey, recaptured many of the territories lost at the end of the previous century. The defeat was humiliating for Pashinyan, who came under pressure from political opponents and military commanders to resign.
The snap election is meant to renew his mandate to govern Armenia, but, of course, could also prove that the Armenian people no longer want him at the helm. Pashinyan’s opponents accused the prime minister of stalling instead of taking responsibility for his failures, with some even suggesting that his promise to hold the election may not be fulfilled at all.