NOVEMBER 21, 2020 MMirror-SpeirTHEror-SpeARMENIAN ctator Volume LXXXXI, NO. 19, Issue 4661 $ 2.00 NEWS The First English Language Armenian Weekly in the United States Since 1932 IN BRIEF Foreign Minister Assassination Mnatsakanyan Resigns YEREVAN – Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Attempt on Mnatsakanyan submitted his resignation on November 16, according to Foreign Ministry Pashinyan Spokesperson Anna Naghdalyan. Mnatsakanyan was foreign minister from May 2018. A career diplomat, Thwarted he worked himself up the ranks and previously held YEREVAN (TASS) — Armenian National many important positions in Security Service prevented an attempt to the Armenian Foreign Ministry, including ambassador assassinate Prime Minister Nikol to the United Nations and deputy foreign minister. Pashinyan, the agency said in a statement The turmoil in the Armenian government and soci- on Saturday, November 14. ety continues due to the disastrous Karabakh war. “The National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia has revealed cases of Echmiadzin Decries illegal acquisition and storage of weapons, ammunition and explosives by a group of Desecration of persons with the aim of seizing power in the Republic of Armenia,” the statement by killing the head of government. Special Investigation Service of Armenia Ghazanchetsots says. It is clarified that the attackers, who The statement clarifies the information decided to put ten opposition politicians Cathedral did not agree with the domestic and foreign that the weapons were transported to under preliminary arrest, including policy of the state, intended to seize power Armenia from Karabakh, where military Vanetsyan, the leader of the Prosperous ECHMIADZIN — The Mother See of Holy operations have been going on since Armenia party Gagik Tsarukyan and the rep- Echmiadzin (Armenian Church) issued a statement September 27. Due to this, on the basis of resentative of the Dashnaktsutyun party on November 14, strongly condemning the vandal- direct suspicions of committing a crime, the Ishkhan Saghatelyan on charges of organiz- ism of Holy Savior Cathedral of Ghazanchetsots in Putin: Status of former head of the National Security Service ing an illegal meeting. On November 13 they Shushi, Artsakh, by Azerbaijanis. of the country, head of the Rodina party were all released from custody. “We learned with sorrow that following the joint Karabakh Is Artur Vanetsyan, former MP Vahram (See related stories inside.) declaration on ceasefire signed between the Baghdasaryan and two other Armenian, Russian and Azerbaijani leaders overnight people were detained. November 10, the Azerbaijanis who entered Not Resolved Earlier on Saturday, Artsakh's Shushi city vandalized Holy Savior Vanetsyan's lawyer Lusine Pashinyan Under Fire Over Cathedral of Ghazanchetsots, leaving their traces on MOSCOW (Combined Sources) — Sahakyan wrote on her the external and internal walls of the Cathedral. The status of Nagorno Karabakh will Facebook page that he had ‘Inflammatory’ Appeal “We strongly condemn the incident, assessing it be determined in the future, Russian been detained. “Today YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Prime Minister Nikol as an overt act of vandalism and intolerance. President Vladimir Putin said on Artur Vanetsyan was invited Pashinyan has provoked a storm of criticism and Azerbaijan should not be allowed to continue its Tuesday, November 17, in an inter- to the Investigative defections from his political alliance with what policy of cultural genocide with Turkish support, view with Russia TV. Department of the National critics see as a call for a violent response to oppo- Putin said he believes that the “end Security Service and sition groups demanding his resignation. of war” agreement on Karabakh detained. The authorities In a Facebook post early in the hours of between Russia, Armenia, and charged him based on false Monday, November 16, Pashinyan praised Azerbaijan provides an opportunity suspicions of usurping Armenian soldiers remaining on the Nagorno- to resolve the situation in the future. power and preparing the Karabakh frontlines and voicing vocal support for “The most important thing that has murder of Nikol see APPEAL, page 3 see PUTIN, page 2 Pashinyan,” she wrote. On November 12, the US Secretary of State which for decades has been carried out in Pompeo Discusses Azerbaijan and Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan. Karabakh with French “At the same time we call on the international FM Le Drian community and the inter-religious and inter-church organizations to voice about that and take appro- ISTANBUL — At a November 16 US priate steps to stop such barbaric acts by State Department press briefing in Azerbaijani authorities in Artsakh against religious- Istanbul, a State Department official cultural monuments and demonstrations of anti- reported on what was discussed concern- Armenian moods,” reads the statement. ing Nagorno Karabakh between French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and US Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo earlier that day in Paris. At the same press INSIDE conference, it was announced that a “scheduling issue” prevented Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan from US Secretary of State Pompeo and his delegation meet with French Foreign Minister Le meeting with Pompeo during the latter’s Helping Our Drian and his officials at the Elysee Palace in Paris (photo from Secretary Pompeo's Twitter) visit to Istanbul, where he did meet with see POMPEO, page 6 Heroes Let Us Prudently Evaluate the Blow to Artsakh and Armenia Page 8 The peace agreement signed on November 10 by in ending the war. Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia places Artsakh and b) Requests an end to the panic and confusion, INDEX Armenia in a critical situation which must be faced because this obstructs the possibility of adopting a Armenia . 2-5 with vigilance and wisdom. prudent policy. Arts and Living . 13 The Supreme Council of the Armenian Democratic (c) Deplores the absence of OSCE Minsk Group co- Community News. 8 Liberal Party: chairs United States and France in the process of for- Editorial . 15 a) Welcomes a temporary ceasefire to avoid further mulating the terms of this ceasefire agreement. We con- International . 6-7 casualties. The Armenian people express their gratitude to sider the involvement of these countries indispensable. Russia for its military assistance during this war and for its role see PRUDENCE, page 5 2 S ATURDAY N OVEMBER 2 1 , 2 0 2 0 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARMENIA News From Armenia President Proposes Snap Elections and Government Of National Accord YEREVAN (PanARMENIAN.Net) — President Armen Sargsyan stated on November 16 that the parliamentary and extra-parliamentary forces, repre- sentatives of the Diaspora, who came to him for con- sultations, want the resignation or termination of the Prime Minister in accordance with the Constitution, and early parliamentary elections . According to him, it is obvious that early elections to the National Assembly will be inevitable in order to keep the country from experiencing detrimental effects. “In this context, I think the only responsible approach may be the government and the ruling political force potential objective assessment and roadmap to represent them within the appropriate initiation timing constitutional processes will be designed, which will allow to carry out snap elections Refugees returning from Yerevan to Stepanakert to the National Assembly, and before “That govern- ment will be handed over to a highly qualified National Accord government,” he said, adding that the decision was in the national interest. Russian Forces in Hundreds More Refugees Karabakh YEREVAN (News.am) — Russian military transport Return to Artsakh planes have conducted 22 flights in one day from Ulyanovsk Vostochny Airport to Armenia, transferring 64 vehicles and special equipment—including armored YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Hundreds tainous district until November 25. “line of contact” in and around personnel carriers, off-road trucks, cistern vehicles, more ethnic Armenian refugees have An RFE/RL correspondent wit- Karabakh. The Russian Defense excavators, and other logistics equipment, reported the returned to Nagorno-Karabakh nearly nessed on Monday numerous cars, Ministry said on Monday that they Russian Defense Ministry's press service. one week after a Russian-brokered buses and trucks moving along the have started clearing the road from After the unloading, respective convoys will be ceasefire agreement stopped the Kelbajar road. They transported landmines and wreckage of military formed to cross into Nagorno-Karabakh [(Artsakh)], Armenian-Azerbaijani war. refugees and their possessions back to hardware destroyed during the fight- and military helicopters will protect—from the air— According to the Russian Defense Karabakh. ing. the route of this convoy, the Ministry added. Ministry, on Sunday, November 15, There were also signs of a return to “The road is being prepared for the alone, 475 of them arrived in normality in Stepanakert and other return of the refugees,” said Colonel Fans bid Final Farewell to Stepanakert from Yerevan in a convoy Karabakh towns and villages severely Alexei Polyukhovich, the deputy com- of 19 buses escorted by Russian peace- damaged by Azerbaijani air strikes and mander of the Russian peacekeeping Actor Armen keeping forces deployed in the shelling. The streets of Stepanakert contingent. Karabakh conflict zone in line with were visibly filled with more people Armenian Prime Minster Nikol Dzhigarkhanyan the agreement. than during