Month: September 2020

Judge: Constitutional Court head’s post not appealing at all

Emil Lazarian
Panorama, Armenia
Sept 24 2020

Judge of Armenia’s Constitutional Court Arman Dilanyan will not stand as a candidate for the top court chairman, he told reported on Thursday, adding no one has been nominated for the post so far.

"At the moment, there are no candidates, we have not yet reached the stage of nomination or self-nomination," the judge said.

To the remark that according to some media reports he will be the new chairman of the Constitutional Court based on the scenario of his fellow judge Vahe Grigoryan, who named Yervand Khundkaryan as his main challenger, Dilanyan urged reporters not to believe such “fabrications” spread by some “sources” of the high court.

"I believe that the office of a Constitutional Court judge is the best position for lawyers to manifest their professional skills. I feel very good in that position and I hope to continue my service here,” he said.

“In my opinion, the position of the Constitutional Court chairman is not appealing at all. I can't say how things will unfold later, but I believe it’s very difficult to combine the professional work of a judge of the Constitutional Court, which implies a great responsibility and is time-consuming, with the position of the Constitutional Court head, which presupposes representative, administrative and organizational functions. It is much more comfortable to serve as a judge of the Constitutional Court," Dilanyan said.

The Constitutional Court held a working meeting on Wednesday, with the election of its new head on the agenda. However, the session did not finish due to the end of the working day. It is set to continue today.

A candidate nominated by judges or by self-nomination, who has received two-thirds of the votes of judges of the Constitutional Court, may be elected chairman, and in the case when one candidate is nominated, s/he shall be elected by a majority of the total number of judges of the Constitutional Court.

If none of the two or more nominated candidates by the results of the vote receives the required number of votes, then a second round of elections shall be held within five days, where two candidates who receive the majority of votes in the first round shall participate. The candidate who receives the majority of votes of judges of the Constitutional Court shall be considered elected after the second round of elections.


Constitutional Court fails to elect its new President for the second day

Emil Lazarian
Panorama, Armenia
Sept 24 2020

The Constitutional Court judges failed to elect the new president for the second day in a row, one of the CC Judges Edgar Shatiryan told reporters outside the Court building.

"No election was held, one candidate has been self-nominated. One of the Judges nominated a candidate who recused himself," Shatiryan noted, adding the election of the CC President and Vice-President didn't take place. The Judges will continue the session tomorrow at 10.30.

According to media reports, the only candidate who self-nominated for the post of the CC President is Yervand Khundkaryan. The latter has been only recently appointed Judge of the Court.

To remind, the Constitutional Court started a working session on Wednesday with the election of its new head on the agenda. However, the session did not finish due to the end of the working day. The session continued today.

According to legislation, a candidate nominated by judges or by self-nomination, who has received two-thirds of the votes of judges of the Constitutional Court, may be elected chairman, and in the case when one candidate is nominated, s/he shall be elected by a majority of the total number of judges of the Constitutional Court.

If none of the two or more nominated candidates by the results of the vote receives the required number of votes, then a second round of elections shall be held within five days, where two candidates who receive the majority of votes in the first round shall participate.



Music: Open-air concert dedicated to the anniversary of Komitas Vardapet to be held in Yerevan

Rose Khoyetsian
Panorama, Armenia
Sept 24 2020

National Centre of Chamber Music is organizing an open-air concert on the birthday anniversary of Armenian cooper and musicologist Komitas.

As the Centre said in a release, the concert will take place on September 26 at 19։30 in the park adjacent to Komitas Chamber Music House. This year marks the 151st anniversary of Komitas birthday. The Centre also reminds that the 150th anniversary celebrations were included in the UNESCO Calendar of anniversaries of eminent personalities and important events for the 2018-2019 cycle. As part of the celebrations, the musicians of the National Centre of Chamber Music performed converts and in Armenia and around the the world, including at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.


Expert: Mnatsakanyan`s Egyptian voyage is part of Armenia`s maneuver to dictate its positions

Mike Maghakian
Arminfo, Armenia
Sept 24 2020

ArmInfo.. The visit of RA Foreign Minister to Egypt, undoubtedly, had a regional significance, first of all, given the importance of Egypt, in the Arab world and as  well as in the Middle East and North Africa. Karen Veranyan an expert  of the ORBELI Analytical- Research Center, expressed a similar  opinion to ArmInfo, commenting on the visit of Armenia's Foreign  Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan to Egypt on September 12 to Sep.15.

"Cairo today plays a very important role in the anti-terrorist  struggle at the regional level and in ensuring regional stability and  security. In particular, Egypt is seriously involved in the process  of containing and countering Turkey's efforts to violate this very  stability," he stressed.

Noting the recent statement of the Egyptian leadership about its  readiness to create an anti-Turkish coalition, Veranyan noted that  Armenia should not remain indifferent to the events in the Middle  East and the regions bordering with it. First of all, taking into  account their impact, including on the security of Armenia.

"The fact is that the successful containment of Turkey in the Middle  East will substantially neutralize possible threats from Ankara and  in the direction of the South Caucasus. In this light, Armenia should  act as the one that dictates its position in the region.And this  applies not only to our foreign policy vector, but also to the defense strategy of Armenia, "the expert is convinced.

In general, Veranyan assesses such a maximalist mission of Armenia as  fully proceeding from the principle of the Armenian foreign policy to  ensure regional stability and security. In this light, the visit of  the Armenian Minister to Cairo looked quite significant. Moreover, it  is a good opportunity to make the process of implementing the agenda  formed between Yerevan and Cairo more effective.

To note, ArmInfo political analysts have observed a noticeable  strengthening of the Middle East vector of Armenian foreign policy in  general over the past 2 years. And this is against the background of  the long- ripening need for a qualitative breakthrough in relations  with Egypt. In this light, the Egyptian voyage of the Armenian  Minister promises to be an important milestone in the further  development of cooperation with one of the key countries of the Arab  world.

Further strengthening of relations with Egypt is an extremely  demanded and urgent idea for Armenia, once again against the  background of the Middle East situation and the situation in the  Eastern Mediterranean.  Egypt today is consistently forming an  anti-Turkish alliance in the Eastern Mediterranean, trying, together  with Greece and Cyprus, to discourage Turkey's appetite for the  territorial maritime belt of its neighbors.  The quite noticeable  Turkish appetites in the Caucasian direction, in particular, Ankara's  desire to increase its own role in the Karabakh settlement, add  urgency and the need for capitalization to the union of Armenia with  Egypt.

Exhibition of unique works of Italian art opened at the residence of the President of Armenia

Meline Chalian
Arminfo, Armenia
Sept 24 2020

ArmInfo. Under the patronage of the Presidents of Armenia and Italy, an exhibition of  unique works of Italian art has opened today at the residence of the  President of the Republic of Armenia.

According to the press service of the RA President, four paintings of  the 18th century brought from the "Paolo and Carolina Zani"  Foundation, depicting St. Mark's Square (San Marco) in Venice, are  works of famous masters Giovanni Antonio Canaletto, Bernardo Belotto,  Francesco Guardi and Michele Marieschi.  Opening the exhibition,  Armenian President Armen Sarkissian noted that it is evidence of deep  historical, close, friendly and warm relations between the peoples of  Armenia and Italy. "We talked about the exhibition about a year ago  with the President of Italy and the Ambassador. The collection is  here under the high patronage of the President of the Italian  Republic, Sergio Matarella. This exhibition is, in fact, bilateral,  because, according to the agreement, we will have our exhibition in  Italy exhibited in the Palace of the President of Italy. The  exhibition is planned to be held during my state visit to Italy. I  plan to take with me up to a dozen works of our greatest masters,  "Sargsyan said.

Touching upon the exhibits of the exhibition, the President of  Armenia called them one of the best works of world painting.

The Armenian leader also highly appreciated the role of the Italian  Embassy in Armenia and personally Ambassador Vincenzo Del Monaco in  organizing the exhibition.

In turn, the ambassador expressed gratitude to the presidents of  Armenia and Italy for organizing such an exhibition. "This initiative  is just the beginning, as the Armenian culture will soon be presented  in Rome.  These four paintings are not the result of random  selection, each of them has a special meaning. The four paintings  represent the 18th century, an exceptional period for the  Armenian-Italian bilateral relations," said ambassador. 



Sports: Europa League: Ararat-Armenia makes it to play-off round

Karapet Navasardian
Public Radio of Armenia
Sept 24 2020
Europa League: Ararat-Armenia makes it to play-off round

Armenian champions Ararat-Armenia made it to the play-off round of Europa League after beating Celje (Slovenia) 1-0 at home in the third qualifying round.

The Armenian side took the initiative in the starting minutes and had an advantage early in the first half.

However, both clubs missed the chances in the first half.

The match moved to an extra time after a goalless draw. It was not until the 111th minute that Ararat Armenia’s Sergei Vakulenko found the net, taking the team to the play-off round.

The Armenian champion is now set to face Crvena Zvezda (Serbia).

Politician: Armenia needs professionals of the future, not from the past

Paul Hambardsumian
Arminfo, Armenia
Sept 24 2020

ArmInfo. There are no reforms in Armenia today with the course of which I would be satisfied. A similar opinion was expressed to ArmInfo by the leader of the  "Enlightened Armenia" party Edmon Marukyan.

"For example, behind the reforms in the justice sector,  unfortunately, the return of torture to penitentiary institutions is  already evident. This was not observed for a long time, however,  today the torture of people in our penitentiary institutions is again  becoming a reality. Any reform has its own period. And, in my  opinion, the period for transitional justice is over. All this had to  be done immediately after the revolution, "he said.

Judicial and legal reform, according to Marukyan, has totally failed.  And Prime Minister Pashinyan initially accepted and supported the  idea of vetting proposed by Enlightened Armenia, but then, for some  reason, refused it. Moreover, judges due to whose fault Armenia pays  compensation according to the decisions of the ECHR today become  members of the Constitutional Court and candidates for presidency of  the Constitutional Court, and do not resign, as the prime minister  demanded.

Based on this state of affairs, the politician characterizes the  authorities as unprincipled and inconsistent in the implementation of  their own plans and decisions. Power is quite consistently destroying  all the hopes of society connected with itself. And according to  Marukyan's estimates, one should not expect from the authorities of  such content, such quality and such a level of professionalism the  resurrection of the judicial and legal reform.

At the same time, according to the politician's assessments, there is  certainly a professional staff in Armenia, and not only in the  judicial and legal, but also in other, very different spheres.  However, their involvement in work for the benefit of a common cause  is hindered by the separation of "blacks" and "whites" proclaimed by  the authorities. Which is quite consistent with her policy of  separation. Meanwhile, the limited resources of Armenia simply  dictate the need for the opposite process – the process of  consolidation.

At the same time, Marukyan in no way considers Robert Kocharian or  Serzh Sargsyan as such professionals, who have already managed to  demonstrate their own abilities in the last two decades.  According  to him, these are people from the past, meanwhile, today Armenia  needs people of the future.  This is what today's reality demands.

"I mean a lot of professionals who have never held government  positions and posts in Armenia. These are people from the private  sector, public organizations, the media sphere, the academic sphere.  These are the people who need to be involved in governing the  country. Meanwhile, Nikol Pashinyan's power continues the work of his  predecessors. What Kocharyan and Sargsyan did not manage to finish.  To make sure that I am right, just look at the Republicans in the "My  Step" bloc or at the notorious cadres of Serzh Sargsyan in the  Pashinyan government, "concluded Marukyan.

Sports: FIFA – Armenia’s long wrestle for success

Antranik Varosian
FIFA.com
Sept 24 2020

24 Sep 2020

-Armenia played their first game in 1992

  • -Club side Ararat Erevan put Armenian football on the map in the 1970s
  • -Henrikh Mkhitaryan is the national team’s all-time leading scorer

With all its dramas and turmoil, the 20th century was not kind on Armenia, where sport and football were far from a priority. The country nevertheless emerged from it all with a resilience and strength that can also be found in its clubs and national team.

The number one sport in Armenia is wrestling, which is not very surprising when you consider that eight of the 16 Olympic medals the nation has won in its history have come in the sport, including its only two gold medals. Weightlifting with seven and boxing with one account for the rest of the country’s medal haul.

But what of football? Nicknamed the Havaqakan ('The Squad'), Armenia’s national team has yet to appear at the FIFA World Cup or UEFA EURO finals, but it has had its moments over the years.

Armenian football had its first taste of success in the 1970s, when the country formed part of the USSR. Flying the flag for Armenia at the time were Ararat Erevan. Founded in 1935, the club from the capital brought an end to the long period of domination enjoyed by the heavyweights of Ukraine and Russia. Between 1936 and 1965, the Moscow quartet of Dynamo, Spartak, CSKA and Torpedo won all but two Soviet league championships, before Dynamo Kiev took over, winning six titles between the mid-1960s and mid-1970s.

Ararat Yerevan muscled their way in to win the league in 1973, a season in which they also lifted the Soviet Cup to complete a remarkable double. Their success came as a complete shock. Not only were Ararat relative outsiders, they also played the game in a different way to their rivals. Unlike the big Kiev and Moscow teams, who were all about tactical discipline and quick passing, the Ararat players were encouraged by their coach Nikita Simonyan to express themselves and dribble with the ball. Working together as a team, they had no true star players.

Ararat also enjoyed success further afield. In the 1974/75 European Cup they knocked out Viking FK of Norway in the first round and Cork Celtic in the second to earn a quarter-final tie against a mighty Bayern Munich side led by Franz Beckenbauer and containing a clutch of World Cup winners from Germany 1974. Though Bayern – the eventual champions – won 2-1 on aggregate, the Armenians nevertheless claimed a memorable 1-0 victory in the second leg.


With the fall of the USSR, Armenia had to rebuild on a political and economic level. It was also a fresh start for the country's football. The Armenian Football Federation was founded in 1992 and joined FIFA straightaway, while the national league was set up that same year. It has since largely been dominated by Pyunik Erevan, who have 14 titles to their name.

The league’s representatives in Europe enjoyed their finest hours in the early 2000s, winning regularly in the UEFA Cup (the predecessor of the Europa League) and even scoring some notable successes in the preliminary rounds of the UEFA Champions League. They have struggled to make an impact since then however. Several clubs have gone out of business and Armenian sides competing in Europe have lost to teams from Andorra and Gibraltar.

In contrast, the national team has never had such a high profile, which it owes in large part to midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan. The 31-year-old starred with Shakhtar Donetsk between 2010 and 2013 before excelling in a three-year stay with Borussia Dortmund and then moving on to Manchester United, Arsenal and current club Roma. In that time, Mkhitaryan has become the star of Armenian football, winning 86 caps for his country – making him the third-most capped player in the history of The Havaqakan – and scoring 29 goals to become their leading scorer.

The national team has had their ups and downs, however. After many years occupying one of the bottom two places in their EURO and World Cup qualifying groups, Armenia embarked on a new era when the Scot Ian Porterfield was appointed coach in 2006. Wins over Kazakhstan and Poland followed, while Portugal were held to a draw. But when Porterfield died from cancer at the age of 61, that little run of success came to an abrupt end.

Armenia would have to wait until the EURO 2012 qualifying competition before punching above their weight again, finishing third in their group, ahead of Slovakia. That fine campaign helped the national team reach their all-time FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking high of 30th in February 2014.

While Armenia have still to appear at a major international competition, they are hopeful that the new infrastructure they have put in place will help them put that record straight soon. The country opened a national training centre in 2010 and a football academy in 2014.

Meanwhile, the Republican Stadium in Yerevan, where they play their home games, has just been renovated. All in all, the future promises to be a brighter one for Armenian football, which can be guaranteed, come what may, to keep on fighting for success.




Paris police barricade Eiffel Tower after bomb threat

Arpi Talalian

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 16:51,

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS. Paris police have blockaded the area around the Eiffel Tower after a phone-in bomb threat, ABC News reports.

Police cars and tape surrounded the streets below the tower and the bridge stretching across the Seine River to Trocadero Plaza. Some tourists were still walking in the area, but it was unclear if any were still inside the tower on Wednesday.

Two police officers at the scene told The Associated Press that the operation was the result of a phone-in bomb threat. Eiffel Tower management did not respond to requests for comment.

Armenia and China eager to boost cooperation: PM meets outgoing ambassador

Alex Jidarian

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 18:37,

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan held a meeting with the outgoing Chinese Ambassador to Armenia Tian Erlong on September 23.

The Prime Minister thanked the ambassador for contributing to the development of the Armenian-Chinese relations with active work and noted that the cooperation between the two states in various directions were close and productive during his tenure, the Prime Minister's Office said in a news release. 

PM Pashinyan underscored that the Armenian Government is interested in expanding and further strengthening partnership with China. The Armenian PM noted that his discussions in 2019 with the Chinese President and Prime Minister in Beijing are good basis for this expansion.

Ambassador Erlong thanked the Prime Minister and the Government for cooperation and added that the Chinese side is also interested in expanding the political, economic and humanitarian ties with Armenia.

The ambassador said that during the past years the trade turnover grew and the humanitarian ties expanded between China and Armenia. Ambassador Erlong expressed certainty that the great potential for bilateral cooperation will be utilized in the coming years – the basis of which is the will of the Armenian and Chinese governments.

Issues related to cooperation in road construction, infrastructure development, tourism, healthcare and education and implementation of new projects were also discussed.

The Prime Minister thanked the Ambassador for China’s donation of 200 ambulances to Armenia.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan