Month: July 2022

The reconstruction of the Armenia section of the motorway alternative to the “Lachin Corridor” will start in August, informs the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of Armenia.

“Works on the reconstruction of the M12/-Tegh-Kornidzor motorway will start in August 2022,” the ministry reports in response to media inquiries.

This will be an alternative motorway to the “Lachin Corridor” section.

During the June 27 online press conference, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that the parties have reached a preliminary agreement regarding the change of the route of the “Lachin Corridor” connecting Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) to Armenia; this change shall take place according to the trilateral statement of November 9, 2020—and within three years.

Corruption remains an obstacle to US investment in Armenia, US State Department said on the investment climate in Armenia for 2022.

“Corruption remains an obstacle to U.S. investment in Armenia, particularly as it relates to critical areas such as the justice system and concerns related to the rule of law, enforcement of existing legislation and regulations, and equal treatment. Investors claim that the health, education, military, corrections, and law enforcement sectors lack transparency in procurement and have in the past used selective enforcement to elicit bribes,” the statement said.

“Judges who specialize in civil cases are still widely perceived by the public to be corrupt and under the influence of former authorities. The effectiveness and independence of newly formed anti-corruption institutions remains to be seen.  Some individuals have voiced concerns around whether certain judicial representatives and law enforcement leaders have been selected objectively. The potential for politically motivated, outside influence on these anti-corruption institutions, as well as law enforcement bodies and prosecutorial services, also remains a concern,” the statement added.

Karo Paylan: Armenian youth beaten in Turkey on racist grounds

A group of people attacked an Armenian youth named Arlen in Uskudar. An Armenian member of the Turkish parliament, Karo Paylan noted, calling the reason for the attack ‘racist’.

“The fact that the assailants beat Arlen with intent to kill, and the perpetrators were not prosecuted, raises the suspicion that this was a hate crime. Arlen was beaten for being an Armenian?” the MP .

On Thursday, Catholicos Aram I of the Armenian Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia of the Armenian Apostolic Church received Pakistan’s ambassador to Lebanon, Salman Athar, accompanied by the Pakistani embassy’s political officials, the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia informs Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Aram I conveyed necessary information to the newly appointed ambassador about the problems and concerns related to the internal affairs of Lebanon, the nationwide mission of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia, as well as the rights of the Armenian people of Armenia and Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh).

Responding to the ambassador’s wish, Aram I reflected also on interreligious—especially Christian-Islamic—dialogue and cooperation.

The ambassador of Pakistan, for his part, emphasized the importance of giving a new impetus to the Christian-Islamic dialogue—and based on the principles of mutual respect and trust. He noted that his country is doing special work in this regard, and expressed a wish that the Catholicos of the Armenian Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia visit Pakistan on a suitable occasion and hold meetings and deliver lectures there.

The Karabakh issue is not a territorial issue for us. In that sense, the security and the rights of Karabakh Armenians are of fundamental importance for us, Armen Grigoryan, Secretary of Armenian Security Council, told Armenpress.

Armen Grigoryan particularly referred to the statements of the Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. In particular, in one of his speeches in the National Assembly, Prime Minister Pashinyan proposed to separate the Nagorno-Karabakh issue from Armenian-Azerbaijani relations.

“Now we should actively discuss this option and decide how to proceed,” Grigoryan said.

Estimates have recently been heard from geopolitical centers that there is a serious possibility of normalizing Armenian-Azerbaijani relations and thus establishing long-term peace and stability in the region. Does the Armenian government see such an opportunity?

The fact that the Armenian government has announced a peace agenda as a state strategy and policy is a direct indication that we see such an opportunity. This possibility becomes even more substantive when we consider that the Armenian government, the political majority, takes responsibility for the implementation of the peace agenda, while understanding that it is not an easy path. I think that the commitment of the Armenian government and political majority to the peace agenda is an important factor for the assessments voiced from various international platforms.

What roadmap do you see for the implementation of the peace agenda?

The agenda is well known: the works on the delimitation and security of the border with Azerbaijan, which have already started, and the second meeting of the Commission on Border Delimitation and Security is scheduled for the second half of August in Moscow, the opening of regional communications…

Azerbaijan claims that Armenia is dragging its feet on these issues.

 A meeting of the Commission on Border Delimitation and Security was scheduled for the second half of August at the suggestion of the Azerbaijani side. The Armenian side was ready for the second meeting both in June and July. We have repeatedly expressed our willingness to open regional communications. 

Recently there was a package of proposals that we passed through diplomatic channels in December 2021, and it is still in force today. We have made a number of other proposals and are very interested in opening up regional communications, which is part of the Armenian Crossroads project. Of course, the issue of the specific route of the east-west section of the project can be discussed, we have never insisted on just one option, and we need to find the most efficient route, because the functionality and attractiveness of the Armenian Crossroads project depends on it.

In the trilateral working group on communications, which is co-chaired by the deputy prime ministers of Russia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan, we are noticing some progress and are ready to continue in the same spirit.

Does peace with Azerbaijan consist of these two steps? What will happen to the status of Karabakh?

No, the culmination of the road map and peace agenda you mentioned is, of course, the signing of a peace treaty with Azerbaijan. You know that Azerbaijan presented five points on this, and the Republic of Armenia said that there was nothing unacceptable in them.

Including the recognition of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan? That is, does Armenia recognize the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and has no territorial claims?

 Armenia recognizes the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan at least because it is part of our legislation. We have repeatedly said that Armenia and Azerbaijan recognized each other’s territorial integrity and inviolability of borders by the agreement on the formation of the CIS, signed and subsequently ratified in 1991. And today this document is part of the legislation of both Armenia and Azerbaijan. This needs to be expressed at the bilateral level as well. And as we said, there is nothing unacceptable for us in this perspective, and Armenia, yes, has no territorial claims against Azerbaijan.

And Karabakh, what about the issue and the status of Karabakh?

We have repeatedly said that the Karabakh issue is not a territorial issue for us. In this sense, the security and rights of Karabakh Armenians are of fundamental importance to us. In one of his speeches in the National Assembly, Prime Minister Pashinyan said that there is an idea to separate the Nagorno-Karabakh issue from the Armenian-Azerbaijani relations. Now we have to actively discuss this option and decide how to proceed.

That is, to sign a peace agreement with Azerbaijan without a final solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh issue?

 There is such an idea. But at this point it’s too early to talk about any such formula.

And what security guarantees should there be for the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh?

There is an international guarantee for the security of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh – the presence of peacekeeping forces of the Russian Federation. We need to work to further improve this guarantee, but the demilitarization of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue is an important idea.

By and large, is Armenia ready to sign a peace treaty with Azerbaijan?

By and large I think we are moving in that direction.

And the return of the prisoners, finding out the fate of the missing.

The solution of humanitarian issues is a necessary concomitant element of the peace agenda. This includes the question of preserving cultural heritage. All of these issues need to be resolved, of course. By the way, over the past two years Armenia handed over to Azerbaijan 130 bodies of Azerbaijanis missing in the first Karabakh war. We are ready to actively cooperate in this issue too and expect the same from Azerbaijan. On the Armenian side there are over 770 people missing since the first Karabakh war. The number of our missing in the 44-day war is 203.

The day before, the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure reported that the reconstruction of the M12/-Tegh-Kornidzor road is scheduled to begin in August. Is this a new route of the Lachin corridor? And when will construction be completed?

Yes. The construction will be completed within the timeframe of the November 9, 2020 trilateral statement.

And how do you assess the prospects for Armenian-Turkish relations?

The special representatives of the two countries have reached specific agreements, namely on the opening of the border for the citizens of third countries and on the start of air transportation between the two countries. In their telephone conversation on July 11 the Prime Minister of Armenia and the President of Turkey agreed to implement those agreements and to take further steps. It is unequivocal that we will adhere to these agreements, especially as Russia, the United States, France, Iran, Georgia and the EU support the process of normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations.

NEWS.am presents Ishkhan Saghatelyan, ARFD General Assembly representative and an MP from the Hayastan faction, speaking during a rally in France Square.

“Dear Compatriots,

I have spoken many times about the achievements we have together as a result of this movement. I declare with full responsibility that from the end of April to this day, you, the citizens gathered here, have become the number one security factor of our country. This is a proud yet painful fact. Before this group of traitors came to power, Armenia’s security was ensured by our Army, our intelligence services, and our diplomacy. Today, however, there is no state. All those structures have been seized by the traitor Nikol and have become his henchmen. But instead there are you. Dignified citizens of Armenia who defend the real interests of Armenia, who tell the world that we own our homeland and are ready to fight for it.

And all those who think our struggle is ineffective, let them see how they speak out about the Resistance movement in Turkey and Azerbaijan, let them see how worried the leaders of the enemy state are about the fate of the Armenian government. This fact alone proves the success of the movement.

Dear fellow Armenians, the accomplishments are obvious; however, I know that many of you had higher expectations than what we achieved.

We have set ourselves the task of removing these powers in a short period of time, which we have not yet been able to achieve. Our main problem remains unresolved. Armenia still rules us, creating ontological dangers for all of us. This is why many of our friends who fight with us on the street are sometimes depressed, angry, but never broken.

But if the struggle drags on, we should not become depressed or frustrated, but rather fix the gaps, address the problems, and move forward. Fighting should become a way of life, our daily routine.

If the battle drags on during the war, and during the battle you also have casualties, losses, why not desert, it does not mean that you should lay down your arms and retreat, in this case you should reorganize, mobilize your forces, prepare for a long fight and go for victory. We are guided by this principle and logic.

They said that in September we would go back to parliament and work with these authorities. Moreover, they do this by brazenly twisting my words. I never said anything like that. This is an absolute and immoral lie.

Once again for those who haven’t understood I must say what we have been saying for the last three months: if the opposition enters parliament it will do so only with its own agenda which our people have set.

That agenda is very clear: the elimination of Nikol, the fight against threats to Armenia and Artsakh, and our initiatives to solve vital issues in Armenia and Artsakh.

The majority group in the National Assembly cannot involve us in their anti-patriotic and anti-national conspiracy by blackmailing us into depriving them of their mandates. CC Backpackers will not see us in the same room with their bogus plans.

To put it more simply and solidly, the Armenian people, unfortunately, have no other platform for the _expression_ of their will than the street than this square. All other institutional platforms where, under other conditions, issues concerning the interests of the Armenian people could be discussed are occupied by a traitor who is a Turkish national. Therefore, our street struggle has no alternative at this time.

Dear compatriots, we have reached a very important juncture. I am not just talking about our Movement. I am also talking about the state, the government of the day, and regional developments in general. At this point, everyone is planning their upcoming activities. Thus, the intelligence services of hostile countries openly declare and discuss how to neutralize our Movement. A group of traitors is thinking about how to retain power. Criminal cases are fabricated, persecution continues, political prisoners remain in custody. I repeat: their only support is the power structures.

I would like to tell you that all the tasks we spoke about from this rostrum are being worked on, all the questions you regularly raise, we have recorded and inventoried them all.

Dear Compatriots, the goals and objectives of the Resistance movement are clear. We must prevent the adoption of new surrender agreements that compel us to make vital concessions, which preclude any agreement without the direct participation of the people; I repeat, Nikol Pashinyan has no mandate to negotiate on behalf of the Armenian people.

Through popular disobedience, we will achieve the ouster of Nikol, whether through his resignation or dismissal. The struggle on these two tracks must run in parallel and complement each other. If we take the road of dismissal (impeachment), two legal requirements must be fulfilled: legal and political grounds for dismissal and the nomination of a candidate for prime minister by the people. The legal and political grounds for dismissing Nikol are clear and fully articulated, and the candidate nominated by the people will be decided together in this publication.

To avoid headlines in the press and unnecessary speculation, I emphasize that we will begin the process of dissolution with parliament when there are sufficient grounds for success. That is, any step and action will not be an end in itself.

Simply put, there are two ways to remove Nikol: resignation or dismissal, to achieve either of which requires a practical manifestation of popular public pressure.

It is the qualitative and quantitative level of the movement that will ultimately determine the effectiveness of our struggle.

The only path to success is the manifestation of popular demand and the practical steps that flow from it. Therefore, we must achieve this with purposeful, well-planned steps and actions,” said Saghatelyan.