Thursday,
Armenia Invited To More NATO Drills In Georgia
• Sargis Harutyunyan
GEORGIA -- U.S. servicemen attend a drill during the multinational military
exercises "Noble Partner 2018" at Vaziani military base outside Tbilisi, August
6, 2018
Georgia’s Defense Minister Levan Izoria expressed hope that Armenia will
continue to participate in NATO-led military exercises held in his country each
year as he visited Yerevan on Thursday.
Izoria met with his Armenian counterpart Davit Tonoyan for talks which he
described as productive.
Both men called for closer military ties between the two neighboring states at
a joint news conference held after the meeting. They also signed a plan of
joint activities by their ministries for this year.
“I agree with Mr. Izoria on the need to expand our cooperation in the area of
defense and to include new elements in it,” said Tonoyan. He cited
“millennia-old friendship between the two peoples” in that context.
Izoria voiced appreciation for the participation of Armenian army officers in
the “Noble Partner 2018” exercise held near Tbilisi in August. “And I hope that
the Armenian side will continue to be actively involved in such exercises held
in Georgia under the NATO aegis,” he said.
Armenia - Armenian Defense Minister Davit Tonoyan (R) and his Georgian
counterpart Levan Izoria meet in Yerevan, .
The “Noble Partner” drills involved 3,000 soldiers from Georgia, the United
States and a dozen other nations, including Azerbaijan and Turkey.
The Armenian military did not participate in another NATO-led exercise,
codenamed “Agile Spirit,” which took place elsewhere in Georgia in September.
Yerevan controversially dropped out of the previous “Agile Spirit” war games
held in 2017. Armenian officials denied that the decision was made under
pressure from Russia, Armenia’s main military ally. Moscow has repeatedly
denounced the annual exercises organized by NATO or the U.S. military in
Georgia.
Yerevan University Head Under Mounting Pressure To Resign
• Marine Khachatrian
• Naira Nalbandian
Armenia - Aram Simonian, the Yerevan State University rector, holds a news
conference in his office, 29 May 2018.
Education Minister Arayik Harutiunian on Thursday called for the resignation of
the long-serving rector of Armenia’s largest university who is facing
corruption allegations denied by him as politically motivated.
Aram Simonian, who has run Yerevan State University since 2006, came under
pressure to resign following last spring’s “velvet revolution” that toppled the
country’s previous government headed by Serzh Sarkisian. A member of
Sarkisian’s Republican Party (HHK) since 1997, Simonian had long been accused
by his detractors of suppressing student activism and placing YSU under a
strong HHK influence.
The pressure on Simonian grew in December after the State Oversight Service
subordinate to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian implicated the YSU administration
in financial irregularities which it said had cost the state at least 800
million drams ($1.65 million). The 63-year-old rector angrily denied the
allegations, linking them to his continuing membership in the former ruling
party.
On Wednesday, the Armenian police claimed that an unnamed “managing official of
the university” has embezzled YSU funds and engaged in other corrupt practices
over the past decade. In particular, a police statement said that in 2015 a
private firm remodeled the official’s apartment and separate house in return
for being granted a 400 million-dram construction contract by the YSU
administration.
The police did not formally charge anyone. Instead, they sent the case to
another law-enforcement body for further investigation.
Speaking to journalists later on Wednesday, Simonian acknowledged that the
police statement most probably referred to him. “I see political motives behind
that,” he said.
Accordingly, Simonian rejected the “ridiculous” allegations, saying that they
are part of the current government’s efforts to force him out of YSU. He said
he will not step down before serving out his current term in office in 2020.
Meanwhile, Harutiunian made a case for Simonian’s resignation after a weekly
cabinet meeting in Yerevan. The education minister said that the YSU head
should go because he is widely “associated with many negative practices that
have existed in YSU and the sphere of higher education in general.”
Harutiunian, who taught at YSU before being appointed to Pashinian’s government
in May, went on to accuse Simonian of trying to “politicize” the corruption
inquiries and “using many deans and scholars as a shield
Armenian Authorities Confirm Hefty Payout From Sarkisian’s Brother
• Astghik Bedevian
Armenia -- President Serzh Sarkisian's brother Aleksandr (L) is seen outside
the parliament building in Yerevan, June 10, 2010.
The National Security Service (NSS) said on Thursday that an indicted brother
of Armenia’s former President Serzh Sarkisian has paid the state $30 million
from a bank account that was frozen last summer.
It emerged earlier this week that the NSS is pressing fraud charges against
Aleksandr “Sashik” Sarkisian. Also, Armenian media reports said that he has
donated $18.5 million from his frozen account to the government.
The NSS director, Artur Vanetsian, confirmed the reports. He said that
Sarkisian has also agreed to settle a back tax debt by transferring the
remaining $11.5 million the state treasury.
“The criminal investigation is continuing and its results will be made public,”
Vanetsian told reporters.
The NSS chief declined to comment on reasons for the hefty donation made by
Sarkisian. He denied striking any deals with the ex-president’s brother.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian publicly demanded in September that Aleksandr
Sarkisian “return the money to the state budget.” Sarkisian rejected
Pashinian’s demand as illegal but later offered to donate a part of the $30
million account if his and his family members’ assets are unblocked.
Armenia - An armed officer of the National Security Service guards an entrance
to the Yerevan house of former President Serzh Sarkisian's brother Aleksandr
searched by investigators, 4 July 2018.
Sarkisian’s lawyer on Tuesday dismissed the fraud charges brought against his
client. He said they stem from over a dozen drawings by the 20th century
Armenian painter Martiros Saryan which were found in Sarkisian’s Yerevan house
in July. The NSS confiscated the drawings, saying that his fugitive son Narek
had fraudulently obtained them from Saryan’s descendants.
The 62-year-old Sarkisian, whose brother was overthrown in last spring’s
“velvet revolution” led by Pashinian, is thought to have made a big fortune in
the past two decades. He held a parliament seat from 2003-2011.
Also facing prosecution are another former Armenian president, Robert
Kocharian, and his elder son Sedrak. The NSS said on Tuesday that it has
charged the latter with evading nearly $2 million in taxes and laundering an
even larger amount of money. Sedrak Kocharian rejected the accusations as
“fabricated,” saying that they are part of the current authorities’ persecution
of his arrested father and broader family.
Vanetsian denied any political motives behind the high-profile case. He noted
in that regard that Robert Kocharian had also accomplished “many positive
things” while in power.
Armenia - President Serzh Sarkisian (L) and his predecessor Robert Kocharian
visit Gyumri, 7 December 2008.
Vanetsian announced in September that his agency is scrutinizing what he
described as hundreds of millions of dollars worth of assets belonging to
Kocharian’s family. A few weeks later, the NSS launched a corruption
investigation into Armen Avetisian, who ran Armenia’s customs service during
Kocharian’s rule. It said that Avetisian is suspected of illegal involvement in
entrepreneurial activity and money laundering.
In particular, it said, he financed the construction of a luxury hotel in
Yerevan through an obscure company registered in Cyprus. It remains unclear
whether Avetisian has been formally charged.
Vanetsian confirmed on Thursday that the former customs chief’s son has offered
to donate another five-star hotel, located in the resort town of Tsaghkadzor,
to the state. “That process is now in progress,” he said.
During Avetisian’s tenure in 2001-2008, the customs service solidified its
reputation as one of Armenia’s most corrupt government agencies.
Press Review
“Haykakan Zhamanak” also comments on a $18.5 million donation to the state
reportedly made by former President Serzh Sarkisian’s controversial brother
Aleksandr. The latter at the same denies fraud accusations brought against him.
“This naturally raises the following question: if he doesn’t admit his guilt
and maintains that he became rich by honest means why did he donate $18.5
million to the state? Does hope to save his fortune by sacrificing a part of
it?”
For his part, Robert Kocharian’s son Sedrak is facing similar charges and
strongly denying them. “Whether or not the law-enforcers will succeed in
proving those accusations in court is a different question,” says “Haykakan
Zhamanak.” The pro-government paper say that through “propaganda manipulations”
Sedrak Kocharian and Aleksandr Sarkisian are trying to make Armenians believe
that they became millionaire businessmen without benefiting from government
corruption.
“Zhoghovurd” reports that the U.S., Russian and French co-chairs of the OSCE
Minsk Group will not visit Stepanakert during their latest tour of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone. A senior Karabakh official, Davit Babayan, is
quoted as playing down this fact, saying that “such exceptions happen
sometimes.” Babayan also argues that the main purpose of the co-chairs’ trip is
to organize another meeting of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. The paper notes that an official press
release on Pashinian’s meeting with the mediators held on Wednesday made no
mention of the next Armenian-Azerbaijani summit.
“Zhamanak” comments on Georgian Defense Minister Levan Izoria’s visit to
Armenia which begins on Thursday. “Armenia and Georgia are on different
security vectors,” writes the paper. Nevertheless, it says that they have
“common interests” and are in a position to jointly contribute to regional
security. “These are vital interests as they involve issues conditioning the
continued existence of the Armenian and Georgian states,” it says.
(Lilit Harutiunian)
Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2019 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
www.rferl.org
Author: Albert Nalbandian
The Aleppo mission: Armenian experts’ first week
MediaMax, Armenia
Feb 21 2019
The Aleppo mission: Armenian experts’ first week
A group of deminers, doctors and the personnel ensuring their safety has traveled from Armenia to Syria to provide humanitarian relief in Aleppo. The group of 83 has worked there since February 8.
How have the Armenian experts settled in Aleppo and what have they managed to do until now? Mediamax has talked about it with Director of Armenian Center for Humanitarian Demining and Expertise Ruben Arakelyan, who paid a four-day visit to Syria and met with representatives of the UN Mine Action Gateway as well as Syrian and Armenian political and public figures.
The general tasks
The expert group has several areas of focus: demining, defusing of explosives, raising awareness of mines in schools and the community, and medical services.
Humanitarian demining means total clearance of the area even of the smallest pieces of metal. It is conducted in the Armenian-populated areas and the territory adjacent to the group’s base.
In general, there are no land mines in Aleppo, but there is ammunition that did not explode at the strike and is now left in the ground and the buildings. It is extremely dangerous, and people (especially children) can easily become victims of an explosion if they approach the ammunition out of curiosity.
Photo: REUTERS
Our main task is to collect the unexploded ammo and submit it for elimination, which is done by the Syrian army’s sappers. We will not blow up the ammo in any case.
The doctors work at the hospitals of Aleppo. It is a multi-field group with a gynecologist, dermatologist, physician, surgeon, etc. The doctors work with local population and provide free-of-charge medical services.
Areas of priority
The priority is the areas of public use and lands adjacent to water sources, etc. Therefore, the Armenian experts will also clear the surrounding territories.
Contrary to the areas of demining in Armenia, for instance, the experts have to deal with self-made explosives in Aleppo. They are more dangerous because the explosive device is activated remotely.
In Aleppo
Photo: REUTERS
Usually, it is the local residents who identify the mined areas because they move there a lot and they notice the ammunition. We cannot plan which areas to clear, so for several days our group examined the place, asked the local people for tips, and singled out concrete spots. It is all done now. The deminers outline tracks, clear them and use them to get to the dangerous zones. In the end they put signs telling the residents of Aleppo that the given zone is clear from mines and unexploded ammo.
The expert group’s base
The Armenian humanitarian mission stays at the base near Aleppo. The building is furnished and renovated, so the group has normal living conditions.
They are paid by different bodies, including our Center and the Armenian Ministry of Defense.
The doctors don’t have concrete working hours, and they provide medical services whenever necessary.
The deminers do have a schedule: their work begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 4 p.m. At that time the Syrian army starts blowing up the mines that the deminers have found.
I believe the group will have to stay in Aleppo for six or seven months.
The security of Armenian mission
The group is not armed. Their security is ensured by Armenia’s military police officers. Although the military police is a part of the Armenian army, it is not a combat unit and it functions as police force.
Armenian deminers (archive photo)
Photo: Armenian Center for Humanitarian Demining and Expertise
They patrol the area to protect the humanitarian mission from possible attacks and provocations and to ensure its security.
Contacts with Syrian army and Russian troops
Contacts and cooperation with the Syrian army and Russian troops is related strictly to security purposes. They will defend the humanitarian mission in case of possible attack along with the Armenian military police.
The only contacts the mission has with the Syrian side are related to the elimination of the explosives they discover.
In Aleppo
Photo: REUTERS
Cooperation with Russian troops is connected with logistics. As you know, Russia helped transport Armenian mission to Aleppo. We have certain exchange of experience with Russian sappers, because they have been in the area longer, so they know the issues better and are more skillful when it comes to defusing the mines there.
Relationship with the community
In a few days the primacy will hold the ceremony of blessing of Armenian national flag and flag of our organization. The relationship with the Armenian community of Aleppo is very good.
Our experts were asked to limit movement in the evening for security purposes, which is why there are no active contacts yet with the Armenian population.
In Aleppo
Photo: Mediamax
I met with Armenian Ambassador to Syria Tigran Gevorgyan in Damascus, who said that our humanitarian mission received very positive feedback. Some people in Armenia claim that this mission jeopardizes Syria’s Armenian community, but that is not true. Local Armenians have a positive view on the mission. As for the claims that the Armenian community is against it, they are simply false. Why should these people view our work negatively? They receive medical services, their roads are cleared from mines, their children are taught how to move safely in a dangerous zone.
I also met with a former government official, public and political figure, Dr. Eng. Yahia Awaidah, who manages a non-governmental organization and makes huge contribution to the relief efforts. He expressed appreciation for our mission and said that the Syrian people thank us, as they know we are helping them even though we [Armenia] have security issues ourselves.
Both sides remember how Syria helped the survivors of the Armenian Genocide. We saw war too, and we understand the consequences and challenges that follow a disaster of that kind. Once, we were waiting for help too.
UN reaction
I also introduced Ahmad Javed, United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) Syria Program Manager, to the purpose of our mission. The UN welcomed the mission’s goals and the program for raising awareness of mines among school students and asked us to cooperate with them and distribute their mine awareness brochures in the communities and schools.
Humanitarian demining has five components: notification of mine risk, assistance to mine victims, mapping, demining itself, and the propaganda of mine elimination. The standards are in development and our UN colleagues asked to involve our experts in the process and hear out their suggestions.
In Aleppo
Photo: REUTERS
We also offered to host 15 Syrian children and their 5 guardians at a summer camp in Armenia, which we organize annually for children who were impacted by mines. There are some financial issues with transportation, so we are trying to settle them with the help of Dr. Yahia Awaidah.
The fact that UNMAS is ready to cooperate with Armenia’s humanitarian mission speaks volumes about the response it met from the international organization.
Marie Tarian
Armenia’s Sarkissian puts Joe Biden on the spot on U.S 2020 presidential race
Armenia's Sarkissian puts Joe Biden on the spot on U.S 2020 presidential race
06:45,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 19, ARMENPRESS. Armenian President Armen Sarkissian had a rather busy schedule at the Munich Security Conference over the past few days, meeting various officials,heads of state and corporate executives in Germany.
Among these meetings was a brief conversation with former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden.
A video posted by Sarkissian's Office online showed the two men bumping into each other in the corridors of the MSC venue, warmly greeting each other and laughing.
"Well, hello Mr. President, I'm sorry I walked right by you, I apologize", Biden told Sarkissian, and the two made a few jokes. And then, the Armenian president asks the question that has made headlines in American press. "Are you going to run"? Sarkissian asks Biden. Unfortunately, what the two men say next can't be heard as they start whispering, apparently taking into account all the hot mics around. After talking briefly, Biden gives Sarkissian his card.
Earlier in 2018, Biden had said he is considering running for the presidency in 2020. However, he hasn't yet nominated his candidacy.
The 2020 United States presidential election is scheduled for November 3, 2020.
The first video below is from Sarkissian's Office, and the second is a segment from CNN's news programme on the meeting – "World Leader Puts Joe Biden on The Spot".
Stepan Kocharyan
[See videos on the page]
Rep. Sherman urges Administration to stop blocking Armenian Genocide legislation
Public Radio of Armenia
Feb 14 2019
Rep. Sherman urges Administration to stop blocking Armenian Genocide legislation
2019-02-14 09:38:24
Congressman BradSherman tell the Trump Administration to stop blocking Congressional legislation on the Armenian Genocide
The Congressman has urged the Administration to stop covering for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the Armenian Genocide, freeing legislators to vote their conscience on US remembrance of Turkey's crime against Armenians and other Christian nations.
"If you just go neutral on this, Congress will be the conscience of this country," he said.
Albania wishes Armenia, Azerbaijan success in Karabakh peace process
PanArmenian, Armenia
Feb 16 2019
– 11:52 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net – Albanian President Ilir Meta has wished Armenia and Azerbaijan success in the process of the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.
He made the comments at a meeting with Armenian leader Armen Sarkissian Friday, February 15 on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.
Speaking about regional conflicts, in particular the Karabakh issue, Sarkissian stressed: “Statements by any country in favor of one of the parties to the conflict cannot in any way help a peaceful resolution of the issue. There is a format in which negotiations are underway.”
Stressing that Albania has good relations with both Armenia and Azerbaijan, Mehta said: “We wish the two countries success in finding solutions to this problem.”
Also, the two cited the large potential in bilateral relations and stressed the importance of consistent work for the development of cooperation.
55th Munich Security Conference expected to become the world’s largest
55th Munich Security Conference expected to become the world’s largest
10:13,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 15, ARMENPRESS. The future of the European security architecture and the situation over the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty will dominate the agenda of the 55th Munich Security Conference to begin on February 15, TASS reports.
The Conference is going to host a record number of participants, including nearly 600 politicians, representatives of business and scientific circles, as well as human rights organizations.
The Conference will launch at 17:00 Yerevan time by German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen and her UK counterpart Gavin Williamson.
During the three-day Conference the participants will discuss a series of topics, including the future of the European defense policy, the relations of the West and Russia, the Ukrainian crisis, the conflicts in the Middle East and Venezuela, the role of China in the world and numerous other topics.
Over 35 heads of states and governments, about 50 foreign ministers and 30 defense ministers are expected to attend the Conference.
Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
Armenian Government confirms opening embassy in Qatar
Armenian Government confirms opening embassy in Qatar
11:34, 6 February, 2019
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 6, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Government has made a decision to establish an Embassy of Armenia to Qatar, stationed in Doha.
According to the government, the decision came taking into account “friendly relations of Armenia with Qatar, the high standard of living and investment opportunities of the country, growing tourism between Armenia and Qatar, as well as growing trade turnover”.
Qatar has also expressed readiness to open its own embassy in Yerevan in case Armenia makes the decision to open its representation in Doha.
In addition, Qatar is ready to provide nearly 110,000 dollars annually for three years, a territory for the embassy building, a residence for the ambassador and two vehicles.
The 110,000 dollars provided by Qatar will cover the maintenance expenses of the embassy, which is a total of 192,584 dollars annually.
Qatar is presently covered by Armenia’s Ambassador to the UAE, however after this decision a new and separate ambassador is expected to be named for Qatar.
Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
Defender: Robert Kocharyan is not the initiator of the film “Case of March 1”
Robert Kocharyan’s Defender Hayk Alumyan said the movie entitled “Case of March 1” was filmed by the initiative of Roman Babayan. According to Alumyan, Babayan has even tried to contact with Kocharyan.
Kocharyan was informed that Nikol Pashinyan and Levon Ter-Petrosyan should also have an interview for the film.
It is possible that Kocharyan will make a speech if possible and if necessary.
Armenia getting a network of EV charging stations
PanArmenian, Armenia
Jan 22 2019
– 10:43 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net – A network of 23 electric vehicle charging stations will be built throughout Armenia in 2019, the government revealed in a Facebook post on Tuesday, January 22.
The move comes after the cabinet of ministers approved VAT exemption for electric motor vehicles and motorcycles (non-hybrid) starting from July 1, 2019.
The decision will be effective until July 1, 2022.
According to the document approved by the government, the bill seeks to promote the use of electric cars in order to help curb air pollution.
Film: ‘Don’t go to Armenia as you might get back with too many stories’: Unique travel film by Tolt
Panorama, Armenia
Jan 11 2019
French travel blogger Benjamin Martinie, aka Tolt, has unveiled a unique video about Armenia he has made during his recent trip to the country.
In the video titled “Don't go to Armenia” that was posted on YouTube on Thursday, the blogger sarcastically tells the viewers to not visit the country as “you might get back with too many stories.”
The video depicts Armenia's colourful landscapes, wonderful nature, historical sites, ancient churches, traditional dishes and entertainment places.
View the video at