Author: Alex Jidarian

Azerbaijan makes statements that are inconsistent with content of negotiations – Security Council Secretary

Alex Jidarian

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 14:32, 2 June 2022

YEREVAN, JUNE 2, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijan is making statements that are inconsistent with the content of the negotiations with Armenia. The Armenian side publicly announces the issues discussed during the negotiations, Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan said when asked to comment whether the statement of the Azerbaijani President is true that during the meeting in Brussels the sides agreed over creating a corridor through Armenia’s territory.

“What the Armenian side announces publicly is fully in accordance with the process. We are trying to be as much transparent as possible in this matter and inform the public about what we are discussing. We do not inform anything else. Negotiations are taking place also because there are disagreements. We hope that it is possible to overcome these disagreements through negotiations”, he said.

He said that negotiations are taking place in Brussels, and there has been a clarification from Brussels that no discussion with corridor logic has taken place.

“Moreover, our partners of Moscow have also announced this, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk has announced that no issue of a corridor logic is being discussed. Azerbaijan, of course, is making statements inconsistent with the negotiations, we can say clearly that we publicize what we are negotiating. Our partners didn’t deny this, moreover, they have confirmed that what we have published is being discussed”, he added.

The Secretary of the Security Council said that Armenia continues attaching importance to the security and rights of compatriots living in Artsakh, and the situation should derive from this.

“We are convinced that the rights and the security will determine the status, we will continue working on this direction. I am sure that this is the direction around which we will have results by working”, he said.

EAEU to start talks with Indonesia around free trade agreement

Alex Jidarian

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 17:09,

YEREVAN, MAY 27, ARMENPRESS. The Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) is planning to launch talks with Indonesia around a free trade agreement, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan said at today’s online session of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council.

“In the context of international cooperation, establishing contacts with partners of the third countries and building concrete cooperation chains seem relevant. I can confidently state that over the years the Union has significantly expanded the horizons of the international partnership. I consider it important to draw attention once again on Armenia’s interest to the quick signing of the fully free trade agreement between Iran and the EAEU. The experience of a temporary agreement activity with Tehran clearly shows the attractiveness of the Iranian market and the prospects of further deepening the cooperation. Today we are planning to launch talks around a free trade agreement with Indonesia. It is important to continue enriching the international agenda so that both the Union’s member states and our partners see tangible results of the mutually beneficial cooperation”, PM Pashinyan said.

Sports: Mkhitaryan celebrates Conference League triumph with Armenian tricolor

Alex Jidarian
Panorama
Armenia –

SPORT 11:56 26/05/2022 WORLD

Henrikh Mkhitaryan celebrated Roma’s triumph in the Conference League with an Armenian tricolor.

Roma won their first major European trophy after beating Feyenoord 1-0 in the inaugural Europa Conference League final in Tirana on Wednesday.

The Armenia international lasted only 15 minutes for Roma before suffering a relapse of his thigh injury, Football Italia reported.

He had been out of action with a thigh injury since April 28 and tried everything to be ready for the big match against Feyenoord.

Sidney: SBS Armenian Radio interview with Haig Kayserian on Australian Election Week

Alex Jidarian
My 17 2022

SYDNEY: SBS Armenian Radio’s Vahe Kateb has interviewed the Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU), Haig Kayserian to preview this Saturday’s () Federal Election from Armenian-Australian lenses.

The two discuss the current stance of major and minor parties ahead of the polls, as well as the requests for action put forth by the ANC-AU to the candidates in Armenian-populated seats across Australia.

The ANC-AU will be releasing its pre-election report cards, featuring where each key candidate stands in seats where the votes of Armenian-Australians, Assyrian-Australians and Greek-Australians could hold sway.

Listen to the interview by clicking here.


http://www.anc.org.au/news/Media-Releases/LISTEN–SBS-Armenian-Radio-Interview-with-Haig-Kayserian-on-Australian-Election-Week

Azerbaijani press: Hopes remain low as Azerbaijan, Armenia readying for third meeting in Brussels

Alex Jidarian
  16:55 (UTC+04:00)

By Vugar Khalilov

The Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders are slated to meet in Brussels again on May 22 to think over ways of overcoming an impasse and advance the peace agenda, Azernews reports.

This meeting, like the ones in December 2021 and April 2022, is expected to proceed under the mediation of European Council President Charles Michel.

The Apil 6 meeting of the Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders registered progress in their approaches to tackle problems and establish working groups for the border delimitation and peace deal. The meeting at that point agreed on establishing working groups by the end of April to kick off talks, albeit this did not materialize.

On May 18, at the press conference with his Lithuanian counterpart, President Aliyev said that Armenia canceled the previously agreed meeting of the border commissions scheduled for the end of April.

“Azerbaijan set up its working group on time and was ready to send out a delegation. This was agreed with the Armenian side. By the way, it was the Armenian Foreign Ministry that proposed to hold the first meeting on the border issue. Azerbaijan accepted the offer and we were ready to send out a delegation. However, on the last day, on 29 April, Armenia canceled the agreed meeting. This is very disappointing. Even more disappointing was Armenia’s refusal to hold a different meeting on the border issue on 7-11 May, based on Armenia’s initial proposal. So we are waiting for new dates from Armenia to start work,” Aliyev stated.

Commenting on Aliyev’s statement that Yerevan twice refused to hold pre-agreed meetings on border delimitation, Armenian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Vahan Hunanyan said that the Armenian side did not refuse to meet with Azerbaijan and is ready to start the delimitation and border security commission.

“The Armenian side remains committed to the implementation of the agreements reached. Accordingly, Armenia did not cancel or refuse to hold any meetings. Within the framework of the agreements reached between the leaders of the two countries in Sochi and Brussels, Armenia remains ready to proceed with the commissions,” he added.

Armenia has formed a commission on delimitation and security of the border with Azerbaijan and will publish it in due time, Secretary of Armenia’s Security Council Armen Grigoryan told a briefing on May 19.

“The composition of the commission is ready, I think when the time is right, the working group will make a statement,” he added.

In the meantime, large-scale opposition protests have been underway in Armenia since May 1, involving the Armenia Bloc and the Republican Party, as well as the Dashnaktsutyun and Motherland parties. The protestors claim that Pashinyan intends to sign a peace treaty with Baku, thus recognizing Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan.

In another development, rivals of the sitting Armenian prime minister claimed that at a time when the country is in the grip of protests, Pashinyan with his latest meeting with President Putin wanted to display that he has the Russian president’s backing, Armenian Hraparak newspaper writes.

“A proof of this was his visit to the Netherlands, yesterday’s statement by the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia that they ‘seek to help the Armenian people build the kind of future that the Armenian people chose in 2018, and confirmed again during the parliamentary elections in 2021,’ which can even be seen as interference in the internal life of the country,” the newspaper added.

Hraparak writes that Nikol Pashinyan was not originally scheduled to meet with the Russian president at the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) summit in Moscow, as evidenced by the fact that the pre-announced agenda only noted Putin’s meetings with the leaders of Belarus, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, while Armenia was not mentioned. However, it later turned out that there was also a meeting between Pashinyan and Putin. The Russian side said that Pashinyan had asked for a meeting with Putin.

Commenting on allegations, Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan said that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has not applied to the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) to resolve the internal political situation in Armenia, Russia’s TASS said.

“Prime Minister Pashinyan has always relied only on the will of the Armenian people in all internal political issues. The information about Armenia’s alleged appeal to the CSTO to resolve internal political issues is also misinformation,” he underlined.

In November 2020, Pashinyan signed a trilateral statement with Azerbaijani and Russian Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Vladimir Putin, ending military operations in the conflict zone around former Nagorno-Karabakh.

Opponents of the Armenian prime minister called the signed document capitulation, and mass protests broke out in Armenia. As a result, Pashinyan called early parliamentary elections, as a result of which, his party strengthened its position, gaining an absolute majority in the legislative body, and Pashinyan was re-elected as prime minister.

Lithuanian President vows every support in preserving Armenian Christian monuments under Azeri control

Alex Jidarian

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 13:28,

YEREVAN, MAY 20, ARMENPRESS. President of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda vowed during his meeting with Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan to provide every support for the preservation of the Armenian cultural legacy that has gone under Azerbaijani control.

The presidents held a joint press conference after their meeting in Yerevan.

President Vahagn Khachaturyan said that the high-level visits between the two countries show the strong ties coming from the depth of centuries and the continuation of relations based on similar value system, as well as the determination to expand bilateral cooperation.

The presidents had a comprehensive discussion on the current state and prospects of the Armenian-Lithuanian relations, as well as a broad circle of agenda issues relating to bilateral friendly relations.

“The readiness to deepen inter-state relations was reiterated from both sides. Special attention was paid to the possibilities of increasing trade volumes and deepening bilateral economic cooperation. In this context we discussed prospects of partnership in industry, IT, renewable energy, agriculture and other areas,” President Khachaturyan said.

Khachaturyan said they also discussed Armenia’s efforts aimed at establishing lasting peace in the region. “The efforts of Lithuania and Armenia are identical in this matter. The need for preserving the Armenian cultural monuments in Artsakh and under the Azeri control was specially emphasized. President Nausėda vowed to provide every support for the preservation of the Armenian Christian cultural legacy,” the Armenian President said.

In this context they highlighted the need for a visit of the UNESCO expert mission to Artsakh to the territories that have gone under Azeri control.

The Armenia-EU partnership agenda and projects were also discussed.

Supreme Religious Council issues statement on external, domestic challenges

Alex Jidarian

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 18:52,

YEREVAN, MAY 20, ARMENPRESS. The Supreme Religious Council, chaired by Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, referred to the external and domestic challenges, geopolitical and regional developments facing Armenia and Artsakh following the 44-day catastrophic war.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the Mother See, the Supreme Religious Council said in the statement

  • The Azerbaijani authorities continue their condemnable hostile attitude towards Armenia, Artsakh and the Armenian people. After the signing of the trilateral statement, Azerbaijan regularly makes provocations on the borders of Armenia, Artsakh, targets also the civilian population, continues to hold prisoners of war, destroys and appropriates the Armenian religious and cultural heritage in the territories that have passed under its control.
  • In the light of geopolitical developments, the Armenian authorities and national structures need to be vigilant so that the right of the people of Artsakh to self-determination does not become a bargaining chip.
  • Peace cannot be established at the expense of the humiliation of national dignity, in the conditions of incessant encroachments on the territorial integrity of the Motherland, the presence of prisoners of war, the constant threats of Azerbaijan and the propaganda of anti-Armenianism. Peace should be based on the principles of justice, dignity and respect for rights.
  • Regardless of the existing pressures, external threats, especially in the conditions of internal social polarization, the authorities of Armenia and Artsakh should not take steps endangering the independent statehood of Armenia, the future of Artsakh, there should be no compromise in the commitment to the fundamental rights of the nation, the pursuit of historical justice.

 

The Supreme Religious Council, deeply concerned with the complicated situation created, with the domestic political developments in the homeland, relying on the mercy of the Supreme Lord, the wisdom of our people, urges:

  • To Give priority to national-state interests, act responsibly and conscientiously, seek decent solutions to problems exclusively within our common will and consensus,
  • To make every effort in the Homeland and in the Diaspora to strengthen our national unity by eliminating divisive fragmentation, set to strengthening the homeland; protection of national-religious values,
  • To show tolerance, law abidance, respect for each other’s rights, excluding any kind of violence, disproportionate use of force, provocation or violation of the law in domestic political processes, peaceful assemblies, regardless of political views or official functions. Hate speech, insult, incitement of enmity can never be good.

 

The Supreme Religious Council calls on our faithful people all over the world to continue to support our sisters and brothers in Artsakh, to contribute to the strengthening of the Artsakh Republic, to its peaceful and secure life.

“We pray for the peace and progress of our country, we ask for the blessing and support of the Heavenly Father to our people.

Let the prayer for the homeland be constantly on the lips of our nation,” the statement reads.

The wives of Armenian PM and President of Lithuania visit the children being treated at the Hematology Center

Alex Jidarian

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 19:37,

YEREVAN, MAY 20, ARMENPRESS. The wife of the Prime Minister of Armenia Anna Hakobyan hosted the wife of the President of the Republic of Lithuania Diana Nausėdienė. The Lithuanian President is in Armenia on a two-day official visit.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of Anna Hakobyan, Anna Hakobyan and Diana Nausėdienė held a private conversation. Welcoming Mrs. Nausėdienė, the wife of the Armenian PM noted that she is very happy to host her friend in Yerevan. During the private conversation, they referred to the importance of activating the role of women in public life.

“Mrs. Nausėdienė, we first met in 2019 in Lithuania. I am glad that the opportunity to meet for the second time has been created and I am hosting you in Yerevan. I think that there are great prospects for discussing and implementing joint programs. We will be able to use this opportunity to get to know each other better and try to find different ways of cooperation. I hope that this meeting will contribute to the strengthening of the centuries-old friendly ties between the Armenian and Lithuanian peoples,” Anna Hakobyan said.

Anna Hakobyan recalled that two years ago, when the world was fighting against the coronavirus, Diana Nausėdienė sent gifts to the Armenian children infected with the coronavirus by a Lithuanian military plane. Anna Hakobyan again thanked Diana Nausėdienė for the humanitarian act.

The wife of the President of the Republic of Lithuania thanked for the warm reception and recalled with joy their first meeting. It was the first official meeting of Diana Nausėdienė as the wife of the President of Lithuania.

During the conversation, the Lithuanian President’s wife presented her activities to Anna Hakobyan, emphasizing that it is based on the campaign for a healthy lifestyle and sustainable development of societies. She expressed confidence that by increasing the role of women in our societies, they will be able to make the world a better place.

Then the wife of the President of Lithuania accompanied by the wife of the Prime Minister of Armenia visited Hematology Center after Professor R.O. Yolyan, where she met with children receiving treatment. The guests toured the center, got acquainted with the conditions, inquired about the children’s health condition. The wife of the President of Lithuania handed over an official invitation to Anna Hakobyan so that the doctors of Hematology Center after Professor R.O. Yolyan will visit Lithuania and take training.

Anna Hakobyan and Diana Nausėdienė agreed to strengthen contacts in the spheres of healthcare and culture. For that purpose, the wife of the President of Lithuania invited the wife of the Prime Minister of Armenia to Lithuania. Anna Hakobyan accepted the invitation and expressed readiness to implement the agreements reached.

Armenian FM’s Washington visit was a ‘fiasco’, analyst says

Alex Jidarian
Armenia –

Political analyst Suren Sargsyan has called the visit of Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan to the U.S. in early May a “complete failure”.

“Ararat Mirzoyan failed to raise issues concerning Artsakh’s status and its peoples’ right to self-determination in Washington. Globally, Mirzoyan’s visit to Washington was a fiasco. Now I am going to justify my claims:

1. The 30th anniversary of the establishment of the relations was a serious reason to review and update the agenda of Armenian-U.S. relations, which, however, wasn’t done.

2. To mark the 30th anniversary, a meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken was arranged. Unfortunately, the meeting was not used to discuss pressing issues on the agenda or to push for an agenda stemming from our interests.

3. Instead, a document on civil nuclear cooperation was signed, which has nothing to do with Armenia’s vital interests. It is an American agenda, and the Americans are signing this document with dozens of developing nations.

4. During nearly a dozen meetings, Ararat Mirzoyan didn’t raise issues related to Artsakh’s status, the recognition of Artsakh’s independence and the right of nations to self-determination. As we can see, the American side does in his stead.

5. Speaking about the Congress, don’t you know any other congressmen or senators? There are 100 senators and 435 Congress members in the United States. Don’t you have a desire to make new friends? Why do you always communicate with the same people?

6. A meeting was arranged with Mirzoyan at the Atlantic Council think tank (don’t you know another think tank?) in attendance of only 20 people, including the embassy staff and the official delegation, occupying more than half the room.

7. It was obvious that the Armenian side wanted to “extort” from Washington several important messages for their use in the domestic political arena. In particular, the messages were about the U.S. support for the reforms launched by the Armenian government. All Armenian governments without exception, including Vazgen Manukyan’s government, have heard this message. It should be capitalized on and not turned into a domestic political message,” the analyst wrote on Facebook on Friday.

RA Human Rights Defender`s Office keeps track of developments

Alex Jidarian
ARMINFO
Armenia –
Alina Hovhannisyan

ArmInfo.Rapid reaction groups of the RA Human Rights Defender’s Office have visited seven police stations in Yerevan, as well as police stations in Masis and Vagharshapat. 

The talks with the detainees revealed cases of disproportionate use  of force. The police also detained people that had nothing in common  with the protests.  RA Human Rights Defender’s Kristinne Grigoryan  pointed out attempts to detain Armenian MP Artsvik Minasyan, which  was accompanied by scuffles. In the context she recalled immunity. 

Also, police beat two minors in the Yerevan Underground. Ms Grigoryan  applied to the Chief of the RA Police over the incident and was  assured that the incident will be investigated.