Rally of the Resistance Movement is held in France Square in Yerevan.
Earlier Ishkhan Saghatelyan, the coordinator of the Resistance Movement, vice-speaker of the Armenian Parliament from the opposition, representative of the Supreme Body of ARF Dashnaktsutyun announced that during today’s rally they will present their vision of Armenia’s future.
The main goal of the Resistance Movement is to build a strong Armenia, Ishkhan Saghatelyan, vice-speaker of the Armenian parliament, one of the leaders of the opposition said, at a rally in Yerevan.
He believes that Nikol Pashinyan’s governance is a major obstacle to achieving this goal, and his removal is a priority task at this stage.
At the same time, the politician noted that the mission of the movement will not end with Pashinyan’s departure.
“After Nikol Pashinyan’s departure, the ideas and goals voiced by our movement will become the main functions of the state. The next power should be able to resist and overcome the challenges facing the state. I am sure we will be able to do it together,” he said.
Saghatelyan said that the opposition movement is in the process of transformation. Special commissions and structures have been set up. The main task for the nearest period will be joint discussion of the ways and mechanisms to achieve the goals.
Concluding his speech, Saghatelyan proposed to go to the traditional procession through the city center, after which to return to the square and present plans for the near future.
Our actions will continue next week, and the next rally will take place on 24 June at 7:30 p.m. on France Square,” Ishkhan Saghanyan, coordinator of the resistance movement, said after the march.
He said that every Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. on France Square the leaders of the movement will meet with citizens to hear their opinions and suggestions.
“We will also soon publish information to which committee you can apply, meet, and submit your proposals,” Saghatelyan said.
The delegation led by US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Karen Donfried visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial on June 18 accompanied by RA Deputy Foreign Minister Paruyr Hovhannisyan and U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Lynne Tracy.
The guests were welcomed by the Deputy Scientific Director of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Edita Gzoyan, who presented the story of the 3 khachkars placed in Tsitsernakaberd Park and dedicated to the memory of the Armenians who perished during the ethnic cleansing of the Armenian population within Azerbaijan at the end of the last century. Edita Gzoyan also touched upon the historical and legal aspects of the Artsakh issue, and presented Azerbaijan’s anti-Armenian actions and propaganda.
Edita Gzoyan also introduced to the guests the history of the creation of the Armenian Genocide Memorial.
Karen Donfried laid a wreath at the Genocide Monument, and then the members of the US delegation laid flowers at the Eternal Fire and observed a minute of silence in memory of the innocent martyrs of the Armenian Genocide.
13:47,
YEREVAN, JUNE 17, ARMENPRESS. Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan met with Secretary of the Security Council of Russia Nikolai Patrushev, who is in Yerevan for participation in the session of the CSTO Committee of Secretaries of Security Councils, the Office of the Security Council Secretary of Armenia said in a news release.
During the meeting Armen Grigoryan expressed confidence that all necessary opportunities and prerequisites exist for expanding the framework of cooperation between the Offices of the Security Councils of Armenia and Russia.
The sides discussed a broad range of issues relating to security. Nikolai Patrushev stated that Armenia is Russia’s key strategic partner and Moscow is supporting Armenia in the processes of ensuring regional security.
Armen Grigoryan introduced his Russian counterpart on the current regional security situation, the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, the activities of the commissions on delimitation and border security, as well as the Armenia-Turkey normalization process.
13:54,
YEREVAN, JUNE 17, ARMENPRESS. Secretary General of the Council of Europe Marija Pejčinović Burić, who is in Armenia on an official visit, arrived at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia on June 17, the Armenian Foreign Ministry reported.
The CoE Secretary General was greeted by Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan.
Following their meeting, Marija Pejčinović Burić and Ararat Mirzoyan will hold a joint press conference.
14:04,
YEREVAN, JUNE 17, ARMENPRESS. Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan chaired today the session of the Committee of Secretaries of Security Councils of the CSTO member states in Yerevan, his Office said.
During the narrow and extended-format sessions the participants discussed the measures to neutralize the security challenges and threats of the CSTO states, as well as issues relating to the joint anti-terrorism actions in the CSTO region.
In this context Armen Grigoryan touched upon the security environment in South Caucasus. He said that the region is still full of challenges, which is connected with the unsettled Armenian-Azerbaijani relations and the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Grigoryan presented Armenia’s views and approaches on stabilizing the security situation in the region and neutralizing the existing challenges.
He considered the ceasefire violations by Azerbaijan unacceptable, recalling the May 28 ceasefire violation case by the Azerbaijani troops as a result of which an Armenian serviceman has been killed.
Coming to the topic of unblocking of regional communications, the Secretary of the Security Council said Azerbaijan is raising from time to time the issue of opening the so-called “transportation corridor” via the territory of Armenia, but he noted that there couldn’t be any transportation route with a corridor logic in the territory of Armenia. He recalled the November 9, January 11 and November 26 trilateral statements of the leaders of Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan where there is no mention of corridors.
Talking about the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Armen Grigoryan said the conflict is not resolved yet and the comprehensive settlement of the conflict should be made within the frames of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship.
14:25,
YEREVAN, JUNE 17, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian National Interests Fund (ANIF) has opened a representation in Abu Dhabi, receiving a commercial certificate from Abu Dhabi Global Market.
“ANIF is pleased to announce that it has opened a representation in Abu Dhabi, and has received a commercial certificate from Abu Dhabi Global Market. As a result of our cooperation with UAE based leading companies, two major investment programs are already being implemented.
We are looking forward to embracing new opportunities for new large-scale programs and enhancing UAE-Armenia business ties even deeper”, ANIF said in a statement.
14:43,
YEREVAN, JUNE 17, ARMENPRESS. Tech Week Gyumri 2022 in Armenia’s second largest city to combine the efforts of ICT companies in promoting the community development.
The event will launch in Gyumri on July 2-4.
The main purpose of the event is the continuous proportionate community development, the creation of new teams in Gyumri, and the discovery of new opportunities and capacities.
“The official opening of the event is expected to take place on July 2. A number of major events will take place during the Tech Week: professional conferences, ggRace, the entire proceeds of which will be directed to community development projects, Koriz competition of ideas, the winners of which will receive grants, Armenia Software Testing Cup and other events”, PR manager of the event Anna Danielyan said.
Last year the first event in such a format was held in Stepanakert, Artsakh.
Reporting by Armenuhi Mkhoyan
15:27,
YEREVAN, JUNE 17, ARMENPRESS. The Council of Europe is among Armenia’s main partners in the implementation of reforms in the fields of human rights, democracy and rule of law, Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan said at a joint press conference with CoE Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić.
“We highly appreciate the support provided by the Council of Europe to Armenia’s democratic development and are confident that we will continue the productive cooperation with the organization. In this respect I also want to express my gratitude for the contribution made by the observer missions of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to the holding of free and competitive elections in Armenia and state that the 2018 and 2021 snap parliamentary elections in Armenia have been recognized by the Council of Europe as meeting the highest democratic standards”, the Armenian FM said.
He said that the CoE’s action plan with Armenia is an important cooperation tool with the organization, adding that this format of cooperation is vital not only for the effective implementation of a number of strategic programs of the Armenian government, but also for the fulfillment of Armenia’s commitments assumed within the CoE.
“Today I and Mrs. Secretary General praised the achievements registered within the ongoing program and I am glad to inform that we both expressed readiness to continue the cooperation in this format, by forming the new 2023-2026 action plan”, Ararat Mirzoyan said.
He said that in 2018 the people of Armenia chose and reaffirmed in 2021 the path of democratic development, strengthening of democratic institutions, protection of human rights, rule of law and the fight against corruption, adding that they will not deviate from it.
“Armenia is determined to move forward with the agenda of reforms and pass through this path by closely cooperating with its international partners, including with the Council of Europe”, the FM said.