Month: April 2021

Russian, Armenian army chiefs discuss cooperation issues

Hagop Kamalian
Aysor, Armenia
April 1 2021

Chief of General Staff of Russian Armed Forces, Commander of the Army Valery Gerasimov had a phone talk with the Chief of General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces Artak Davtyan, Russian MOD told the reporters.

“During the conversation the interlocutors discussed ensuring security in the region, implementation of peacekeeping mission as well as the situation and prospects of military and military-technical cooperation between Russia and Armenia,” the Russian MOD reported.

Earlier today Artak Davtyan met with the commander of Russian peacekeeping troops deployed in Nagorno Karabakh Rustam Muradov.

The two discussed the issue of return of POWs and search of missing.

Armenian Parliament Approves Changes To Electoral System

Emil Lazarian
Big News Network
April 1 2021

The Armenian parliament has adopted changes to the country's Electoral Code that the opposition says are aimed at helping Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian win snap elections expected in June.

The amendments, announced on March 24 by Pashinian, whose My Step faction dominates the National Assembly, will switch the Caucasus country's electoral system to a fully proportional one.

Armenians have until now voted for parties and alliances as well as individual candidates. In the last two general elections, parliament seats were equally distributed among candidates picked through national party lists and individual races.

The amendments adopted on April 1 mean that the next election will be held only on a proportional, party-list basis. Only by pro-government lawmakers voted for the changes.

No one from the opposition faction Bright Armenia participated in the vote, while lawmakers from the opposition Prosperous Armenia faction boycotted the parliamentary meeting.

Following talks with the opposition, Pashinian on March 18 agreed to hold early general elections on June 20 in an effort to defuse a political crisis sparked by a war late last year with Azerbaijan over the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Armenia has been in the grip of political upheaval since November, when Pashinian signed a Moscow-brokered cease-fire agreement with Azerbaijan that ended six weeks of fighting in and around Nagorno-Karabakh.

Under the deal, a chunk of Nagorno-Karabakh and all seven districts around it were placed under Azerbaijani administration after almost 30 years of control by ethnic Armenian forces.

The opposition held demonstrations in a bid to force Pashinian to step down over his handling of the war, during which more than 6,000 people were killed.

But the prime minister, whose My Step faction dominates parliament, has refused to resign, agreeing to early elections instead.

Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc

Sports: European Qualifiers: Armenia stun Romania

Bedik Zaminian
UEFA.com

European Qualifiers: Armenia stun Romania

Wednesday

How did the UEFA EURO 2020 contenders get on in their latest European Qualifiers?

Netherlands and Belgium racked up the goals on Tuesday as they won for the second time in their groups while Portugal had to come from behind in Luxembourg to earn another victory of their own. Armenia, meanwhile, won in dramatic fashion in Wednesday's early game.

Keep track of all the EURO teams' pre-tournament form, including recent results, line-ups and upcoming fixtures.

Group B: Greece vs Georgia, Spain vs Kosovo
Group C: Lithuania vs Italy, Northern Ireland vs Bulgaria
Group D: Bosnia and Herzegovina vs France, Ukraine vs Kazakhstan
Group F: Austria vs Denmark, Moldova vs Israel, Scotland vs Faroe Islands
Group I: Andorra vs Hungary, England vs Poland, San Marino vs Albania
Group J: Armenia 3-2 Romania, Germany vs North Macedonia, Liechtenstein vs Iceland

Group A: Azerbaijan 1-2 Serbia, Luxembourg 1-3 Portugal
Group E: Belgium 8-0 Belarus, Wales 1-0 Czech Republic
Group G: Gibraltar 0-7 Netherlands, Montenegro 0-1 Norway, Turkey 3-3 Latvia
Group H: Croatia 3-0 Malta, Cyprus 1-0 Slovenia, Slovakia 2-1 Russia

Portugal survived a scare to top Group A after Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first goal of this qualifying campaign. Luxembourg took the lead through Gerson Rodrigues' diving header but Diogo Jota had the visitors level moments before the break. Ronaldo converted six minutes into the second half and substitute João Palhinha bagged his first international goal to secure the three points.
Next European Qualifier: Portugal vs Republic of Ireland (01/09)


A much-changed Belgium eased past Belarus to take control of Group E. Fine goals from Michy Batshuayi, Hans Vanaken, Leandro Trossard and Jéremy Doku had the Red Devils 4-0 up at the interval. Dennis Praet and substitute Christian Benteke then made it six before Trossard and Vanaken completed their doubles late on.
Next European Qualifier: Estonia vs Belgium (02/09)

Daniel James' late header from a Gareth Bale cross gave Wales their first points of this Group E campaign after Connor Roberts' red card cancelled out the earlier dismissal of Patrik Schick. Joe Rodon's added-time block on Ondřej Čelůstka was just as crucial for the hosts.
Next European Qualifiers: Belarus vs Wales (05/09), Czech Republic vs Belarus (02/09)

Turkey 3-3 LatviaThe Dutch only broke the deadlock through Steven Berghuis' neat finish shortly before half-time, but pulled away in the second half courtesy of two goals from Memphis Depay and one apiece by Luuk de Jong, Georginio Wijnaldum, Donyell Malen and Donny van de Beek.
Next European Qualifier: Norway vs Netherlands (01/09)

Turkey's perfect start to Group G was ended by a fine Latvia comeback. Kenan Karaman's early strike was supplemented by a Hakan Çalhanoğlu goal before Roberts Savaļnieks pulled one back. And though Burak Yılmaz's penalty made it 3-1, Roberts Uldriķis and Dāvis Ikaunieks earned Latvia their first point of the campaign.
Next European Qualifier: Turkey vs Montenegro (01/09)


Ivan Perišić, Luka Modrić and Josip Brekalo were the saviours for Croatia as the trio all scored from the bench to wrap up the three points against a Maltese side who had held on until the 62nd minute.
Next European Qualifier: Russia vs Croatia (01/09)

Slovakia got their first win of the campaign thanks to Róbert Mak's fine individual effort. Milan Škriniar's thumping header had given the hosts a first-half lead, only for Mário Fernandes to prod home with under 20 minutes remaining. The visitors were level for roughly three minutes, however, until Mak's mazy run and neat finish spoiled Russia's perfect Group H record.
Next European Qualifiers: Slovenia vs Slovakia, Russia vs Croatia (01/09)

Sports: Late show delights fans as Armenia stun Romania to win third World Cup qualifier in a row

Tambiyan Samvel
EuroSport



BY
REUTERS
PUBLISHED 31/03/2021 AT 19:49 GMT
Armenia scored two late goals to beat Romania 3-2 and win their third straight match in European World Cup qualifying Group J.
The game was a throwback to pre-Covid 19 days with a loud crowd of more than 4,000 allowed into the Republican Stadium and they celebrated wildly at the final whistle of a dramatic win for Armenia, who have never qualified for a major tournament.
Armenia, ranked 99th in the world, had beaten Liechtenstein and Iceland before taking on a Romania side viewed as strong candidates to make the play-offs behind group favourites Germany.
Eduard Spertsyan put Armenia ahead in the 56th minute but Romania levelled through Alexandru Cicaldau six minutes later.
Cicaldau then made it 2-1 with a powerful header in the 72nd minute, which looked to have given the Romanians the three points before a dramatic finale to the game.
Romania's George Puscas was sent off in the 78th for a dangerous challenge, his raised foot crashing into his opponent's chest.
  • Armenia, with the home support roaring them on, looked to use their extra-man advantage to get back into the game and they did so, in the 87th minute, levelling through Varazdat Haroyan who volleyed in a Tigran Barseghyan cross.
Television replays suggested the goal was offside but, with no VAR in use, the Romanian appeals were to no avail and their night was to get worse.
In the 89th minute, Alexandru Cretu was ruled to have impeded Spertsyan and amid the noise and excitement Barseghyan calmly converted the winner from the spot.

Sports: You have fought from first minute to the end: Joaquín Caparrós on Armenia win

Garo Vardanian
Public Radio of Armenia
April 1 2021

Armenia head coach Joaquín Caparrós has offered words of praise for the players after the stunning comeback that saw Armenia defeat Romania 3-2 at a home match on Wednesday.

“You have fought from minute 1 to the end. You have given everything for your colleagues and for your country. You deserve the victory more than anyone. We are very happy to be able to bring another victory to our fans,” Caparrós said in a Facebook post.

Armenia leads Group J of the FIFA World Qualification round after three consecutive victories against Lichtenstein, Iceland and Romania.

Armenia took the sole lead with 9 points after Germany were defeated by North Macedonia 1-2.

North Macedonia and Germany have six points each, Romania and Iceland have each scored one victory and sit 4th and 5th in the table with three points. Lichtenstain is yet to earn a point.

Armenia scored two late goals to beat Romania 3-2 and win their third straight match in European World Cup qualifying Group J.

Eduard Spertsyan put Armenia ahead in the 56th minute but Romania levelled through Alexandru Cicaldau six minutes later.

Cicaldau then made it 2-1 with a powerful header in the 72nd minute, which looked to have given the Romanians the three points before a dramatic finale to the game.

Romania’s George Puscas was sent off in the 78th for a dangerous challenge, his raised foot crashing into his opponent’s chest.

Armenia, with the home support roaring them on, looked to use their extra-man advantage to get back into the game and they did so, in the 87th minute, levelling through Varazdat Haroyan who volleyed in a Tigran Barseghyan cross.

In the 89th minute, Alexandru Cretu was ruled to have impeded Spertsyan and amid the noise and excitement Barseghyan calmly converted the winner from the spot.

 

Armenian opposition MP says changes to electoral system put legitimacy of snap elections at risk

Manouk Vasilian
Panorama, Armenia
April 1 2021

Head of the opposition Bright Armenia faction in the Armenian parliament on Thursday deplored changes to the country’s electoral system ahead of the snap parliamentary elections slated for June 20.

The Armenian National Assembly passed in the first reading on Thursday a bill calling for amendments to the Electoral Code of the country. The measure was adopted by 81 votes in favor and no against votes. 23 opposition lawmakers abstained from the vote.

The legislative changes propose switching to the proportional system, removing the current mixed system that allows MPs to be elected via a combination between the proportional and the so-called rating-based system.

MP Edmon Marukyan stated the adoption of proposed changes to the electoral laws without the participation of opposition forces put the legitimacy of the early elections at risk.

He noted that citizens are deprived of the right to elect separate MPs. He mentioned that the problem is not the electoral system, but the practice that existed before.

"There is no consensus on the part of any of the Armenian opposition forces, while a different draft law has been sent to the Venice Commission. I officially announce that the legitimacy of the parliamentary elections is being put at risk,” Marukyan said.

”But you will dig your own political grave with the Electoral Code you have adopted, this will be the end of you, because the political force which has adopted a constitution or electoral legislation for itself, has beheaded itself. So, go ahead with it, but we shall return the right to elect a president, a mayor and an MP to the people,” he added. 

Tigran Abrahamyan: Turkey, Azerbaijan working hard to diminish Russian factor in the region and promote the Turkish agenda

Vatche Chakhmakhchian
Panorama, Armenia
April 1 2021

The Head of'Henaket' Analytical center Tigran Abrahamyan analyzes on Facebook the current geopolitical reality in the region of the South Caucasus. 

"Russia is completing the intensive construction of its bloc-module cities in Artsakh designated for its peacekeepers. In other words, they are reinforcing their position on the ground.  In parallel with this, Azerbaijan has not ratified  the mandate of the Russian peacekeeping mission yet despite its signature put under the November 10 trilateral statement. The fact is that Russian-Azerbaijani relations are not that smooth with Turkey behind the back of Azerbaijan is now explicit," Abrahamyan wrote, pointing to the recent Azerbaijani provocations in the area under the zone of Russian responsibility, the delay with the return of prisoners, direct and indirect messages coming from Baku about temporary presence of Russians in Artsakh and contradictory developments about Iskander missiles.   

"In general, numerous violations of the provisions set out in the November 10 and January 11 agreements speak about the fact that Turkey and Azerbaijan with the help of third countries are working hard to diminish the Russian factor in the region and promote the Turkish agenda," Abrahamyan added.

Parliament passes bill on making amendments to Electoral Code in the first reading

Emil Lazarian
Panorama, Armenia
April 1 2021

The Armenian National Assembly of Armenia passed in the first reading Thursday the bill on making amendments to the Electoral Code of the Country. 

The legislation was adopted by 81 votes in favor and no against votes. 23 lawmakers didn't participate in the vote. The speaker of the parliament Ararat Mirzoyan informed that the bill will be debated in the second reading in 5-6 hours. The legislative changes propose switching to the proportional system, removing the current mixed system that allowed lawmakers to be elected via a combination between the proportional and the so-called rating-based system.

The initiative comes just three months before the snap parliamentary elections scheduled for June. 

Russian peacekeepers received more than 3,500 requests for help at the reception point in Stepanakert –

Talar Tumanian
Panorama, Armenia
April 1 2021

Russian Defense Ministry reports that a reception center for citizens continues to operate at the Humanitarian Response Center of the Russian Peacekeeping Contingent (RPC) in Stepanakert. It also operates a hotline to collect information for the search of missing servicemen, to provide humanitarian assistance, assistance in employment and other problematic topics.

In total, more than 3.5 thousand people turned to the reception center for help. In particular, more than 800 requests were received by the phone hotline, according to the source. 

The officers on duty, who receive requests by phone or in person, must clarify the nature of the problem, find out from relatives information about the alleged area of the missing soldier, record their contact details. In the future, the search for missing persons will be carried out by the RPC military personnel in cooperation with representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides. All requests are recorded, entered in the database and sent to the joint search groups.

In addition to handling appeals from residents of Nagorno-Karabakh, the RPC Humanitarian Response Center has started delivering targeted humanitarian aid.

On the eve of the day, the military personnel of the peacekeeping contingent handed over more than 650 kilograms of humanitarian aid provided by the non-profit organization Russian Humanitarian Mission and the charitable foundations Doctor Lisa and Hurry to the Good to large families and internally displaced persons living in Stepanakert.

Slovakia’s National Council adopts resolution on Artsakh

Alex Jidarian
Panorama, Armenia
April 1 2021

During its 25th plenary session on Thursday, the National Council of Slovakia unanimously passed a resolution on Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) submitted by Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee Marián Kéry, (SMER-SD/Social Democrats). The document was adopted with 120 votes in favor, the Armenian Embassy to Austria reported.

The resolution strongly condemns the killings of civilians, the destruction of civilian infrastructure, monuments and cultural and religious sites, expresses concerns over the military involvement of third countries in the conflict and their destabilizing role and emphasizes that the process of achieving a lasting peace and determining the future status of Nagorno-Karabakh should be carried out under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs. The document also expresses deep concerns that prisoners of war (POWs) and other detainees, including civilians, have not been released in accordance with the provisions of international humanitarian law, particularly the 1949 Geneva Convention.

The resolution urges the government of Slovakia, the European Union and international organizations to ensure a proper investigation of all allegations of war crimes, including the use of cluster munitions, the immediate release of all POWs and civilians, as well as the unrestricted entry of international humanitarian organizations into Artsakh.

This is the second resolution on the recent 44-day war unleashed by Azerbaijan against Nagorno-Karabakh which has been adopted by the Slovak National Council. The first resolution on Artsakh was adopted by the National Council on October 22, 2020.