Month: February 2019

The anniversary of Armenian massacres in Sumgait and Baku commemorated in Yerevan

Kajoyan Gevork
Panorama, Armenia
Feb 26 2019

A demonstration on the occasion of the 31st anniversary of Sumgait and Baku pogroms was held at Liberty square in Yerevan. As Panorama.am reports, the participants chanted “No territories to give away”. The commemorative event started at Tstsernakaberd memorial complex, where the participants laid flowers at the monument of the innocent victims of the massacres. Then, the participants marched to the Liberty Square.

One of the organizers of the protest action, the head of “Armenian National Guard” NGO Arshak Zakaryan told reporters. “We are speaking on behalf of the Armenian nation and say the no power in Armenia is authorized to compromise on territories. Our message is addressed to the current Prime Minister and all future authorities. Whenever they go for talks, they should consider the Armenian nation will never reconcile with an idea of giving away territories,” Zakaruyan said.

To remind, from 1988 to 1990, the Armenian population in Soviet Azerbaijan was the target of racially motivated pogroms in the cities of Sumgait (February 27-29, 1988), Kirovabad (November 21-27, 1988, Baku (January 13-19, 1990) and Maragha (April 10, 1992).

Armenian armed forces will go into the offensive if hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh resume, defense minister says

Hagop Kamalian
ARKA, Armenia
Feb 26 2019

YEREVAN, February 26. /ARKA/. Armenian armed forces will go into the offensive if hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh resume, defense minister David Tonoyan said in a televised interview.

“Psychology is changing; approaches are changing; defending armies are always defeated. We are not going to remain in defensive positions,” the minister said yesterday in an interview with the Public Television of Armenia.

He said if there is a threat that hostiles will resume, Armenian armed forces will not linger. When asked if that means that the Armenian army will also go on the offensive, Tonoyan replied, “Why not?”

The minister agreed that Armenia has no opportunity to compete with Azerbaijan in terms of demography and economy; therefore, qualitative changes in the armed forces are necessary. He said the $100 million loan provided by Russia for purchase of arms allows Armenian armed forces to solve the problems without getting involved in a quantitative arms race.

Asked to comment on Tonoyan’s statement, Taron Hovhannisyan, an expert on Azerbaijan, said Tonoyan in all likelihood had in mind preventive offensive actions, given the aggressive and unconstructive policy pursued by Azerbaijan that gives the Armenian side the right to take preventive actions. 

According to the expert, preventive offensive actions do not always mean conducting hostilities in the enemy’s territory. “This also means suppression of the enemy’s main firing points with the help of long-range artillery systems,” said Hovhannisyan.

He agreed that Armenia cannot compete with Azerbaijan in demographic and economic aspects; therefore, without a preemptive strike it will be more difficult to defend oneself in case of an attack.-0-

Switalski: If transitional justice works in Balkans, it doesn’t mean it will work in Armenia

Chakrian Hovsep
News.am, Armenia
Feb 26 2019
Switalski: If transitional justice works in Balkans, it doesn’t mean it will work in Armenia Switalski: If transitional justice works in Balkans, it doesn’t mean it will work in Armenia

13:45, 26.02.2019
                  

The development of the justice system is of great importance for Armenia, the EU ambassador to Armenia Piotr Switalski told reporters on Tuesday.

The EU is in constant contact with the Justice Ministry, Switalski said adding that this is a priority for the Armenian government and some positive changes have already taken place.

According to him, new Armenia began with a low level of trust.

EU believe that Armenia is part of the European family, and any citizen can appeal the decision to the ECHR, he added.

There are several important decisions taken by the ECHR concerning political rights and freedoms, the envoy said adding that we must trust the judicial system of Armenia, and the courts must follow both domestic and European standards.

Meanwhile, the envoy noted that if transitional justice works in Balkans, it doesn’t mean it will work in Armenia.

Burkina Faso ambassador presents credentials to Armenia President

Kalashian Nyrie
News.am, Armenia
Feb 26 2019
Burkina Faso ambassador presents credentials to Armenia President Burkina Faso ambassador presents credentials to Armenia President

14:29, 26.02.2019
                  

The newly appointed Ambassador of Burkina Faso Antoine Somdah handed his credentials to Armenian President Armen Sarkissian.

According to President, Armenia attaches great importance to the development of relations with the countries of the African continent and the activation of the steps in that direction.

The sides spoke about the possibilities of developing cooperation, highlighting the formation of the respective legal framework.

House of retired General Manvel Grigoryan’s son robbed

Liana Toganian
Panorama, Armenia
Feb 26 2019

The house of the son of Manvel Grigoryan, a retired general of the Armenian Armed Forces and a former Republican lawmaker held in pre-trial custody, was reportedly robbed on Sunday, 23 February, Panorama.am has learned from police.

The wife of Karen Grigoryan, the former mayor of the town of Echmiadzin, reported a burglary to the police on the next day of the incident.

Unidentified perpetrators broke into the mansion located in the village of Arshaluys through a first-floor window to steal various items, police said.

No other details were immediately available.

An investigation is underway. 

MOD on US position on Armenia sending mission to Syria: Everything will be settled

Babken Chilingarian
News.am, Armenia
Feb 26 2019
MOD on US position on Armenia sending mission to Syria: Everything will be settled MOD on US position on Armenia sending mission to Syria: Everything will be settled

12:47, 26.02.2019
                  

YEREVAN. – Sending a mission to Syria is a humanitarian action, and it’s legitimate, Minister of Defense Davit Tonoyan said on the air of Public Television of Armenia.

“I would not like to repeat those arguments that we have given; they were relating to the legitimacy, the right time to do such action within international relations,” Tonoyan stated. “One country reacts [to such action] positively, another country—not positively, or states that it doesn’t support our actions.

“Of course, it’s a matter of time, everything will be settled; our action [in Syria] is solely humanitarian.”

As reported earlier, the US embassy in Armenia had provided the US Department of State’s position on Armenia sending a team of specialists to Syria.

“We recognize the desire of other nations to respond to the humanitarian situation in Syria, and we share the concerns about protecting religious minorities in the Middle East,” the State Department had noted, in particular. “However, we do not support any engagement with Syrian military forces, whether that engagement is to provide assistance to civilians or is military in nature.”

An 83-member team—comprising deminers, doctors, and their security professionals—traveled from Armenia to Aleppo, Syria on February 8, to provide humanitarian and professional assistance to the Syrian people.

Switalski: EU ready to contribute to rehabilitation of Karabakh conflict region when peace comes

Jane Topchian
News.am, Armenia
Feb 26 2019
Switalski: EU ready to contribute to rehabilitation of Karabakh conflict region when peace comes Switalski: EU ready to contribute to rehabilitation of Karabakh conflict region when peace comes

13:24, 26.02.2019
                  

The European Union fully supports the activities of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the EU ambassador to Armenia Piotr Switalski told reporters on Tuesday.

The diplomat recalled that last week the mediators visited the region.

According to him, there are several positive elements in different directions as they have seen “an unprecedented low level of casualties.”

“We have seen very low level of hostilities,” the envoy noted adding there is also a positive response from the parties following the meetings at the level of leaders and foreign ministers.

“This is important for progress. But the process itself is extremely difficult and fragile. All we can do as external partners is to put our trust in the efforts of the Minsk Group co-chairs and their activities and this is what we are doing as EU,” he added.

Switalski noted that EU will be ready to contribute to the rehabilitation of the region when the peace comes.

Armenian National Assembly to hold hearings on Karabakh conflict settlement soon

Toneyan Mark
ARKA, Armenia
Feb 26 2019

YEREVAN, February 26. /ARKA/. The Armenian National Assembly’s defense and security committee will hold hearings on Karabakh conflict settlement soon, Zhoghovurd reports. 

According to the newspaper, ways to involve Artsakh into the talks will be discussed. 

Andranik Kocharyan, an MP from My Step faction, refrained from commenting on the matter. He only told the newspaper correspondent that the matter is being discussed “in our country’s interest and for enhancing and strengthening its defense ability – everything is being done for that”. 

Karabakh conflict broke out in 1988 when Karabakh, mainly populated by Armenians, declared its independence from Azerbaijan.

On December 10, 1991, a few days after the collapse of the Soviet Union, a referendum took place in Nagorno-Karabakh, and the majority of the population (99.89%) voted for secession from Azerbaijan. 
Afterwards, large-scale military operations began. As a result, Azerbaijan lost control over Nagorno-Karabakh and the seven regions adjacent to it.

Some 30,000 people were killed in this war and about one million people fled their homes.  
On May 12, 1994, the Bishkek cease-fire agreement put an end to the military operations.

Тalks brokered by OSCE Minsk Group are being held over peaceful settlement of the conflict. The group is co-chaired by USA, Russia and France. -0–

Armenia, Artsakh FMs reflect on origins of the Karabakh movement

Garnik Tadevosian
Public Radio of Armenia
Feb 26 2019


Armenia, Artsakh FMs reflect on origins of the Karabakh movement

2019-02-26 09:52:07

Armenian Foreign Minister met with Artsakh’s Foreign Minister Masis Mayilyan on Monday.

The interlocutors hailed the regular bilateral meetings and reiterated their willingness to promote consultations between the foreign Ministries of the two countries. 

In light of the 31st anniversary of the Karabakh Movement, the top diplomats of the two countries reflected on  its origins, highlighting that it was aimed at protecting the fundamental freedoms and imperative right of Artsakh people to live in their homeland. 

Newspaper: Options for returning Karabakh to negotiating table to be discussed in Armenia

Chalian Meline
News.am, Armenia
Feb 26 2019
Newspaper: Options for returning Karabakh to negotiating table to be discussed in Armenia Newspaper: Options for returning Karabakh to negotiating table to be discussed in Armenia

10:42, 26.02.2019
                   

YEREVAN. – The National Assembly (NA) of Armenia Standing Committee on Defense and Security will organize hearings in near future regarding the process to settle the Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) conflict, according to Zhoghovurd (People) newspaper.

“And as our sources claim, the main topic to be discussed will relate to the options for returning Artsakh to the negotiating table.

“And the hearings will take place in [Armenia’s capital city of] Yerevan, but there will also be invitees from Artsakh, from the parliament there.

“[But] in response to Zhoghovurd daily’s query, the chairman of this NA committee, MP of the ‘My Step’ Alliance Andranik Kocharyan, solely stated, ‘No comment.’

“We asked, ‘Do you deny that such a thing [the hearings] will happen?’ In response, Kocharyan said, ‘Everything is thought of proceeding from the interests of our country and to increase, strengthen the defense capacity of our country; everything is done in that direction,’” Zhoghovurd wrote.