Author: Alex Nanijanian

Rules of conduct to follow by all Armenian public servants adopted and presented in Yerevan

Alex Nanijanian
Public Radio of Armenia
Armenia – July 4 2022

The Model Code of Conduct for Public Servants developed and adopted with the support of the Council of Europe was presented today at a high-level conference in Yerevan. Based on the model rules, specific Codes of Conduct for all Armenian public institutions will be developed and adopted. The conference signalled the launch of this process. 

The “High-level Conference on the Model Code of Conduct for Public Servants in Armenia” was jointly organised by the Council of Europe and the Corruption Prevention Commission of the Republic of Armenia, in the framework of the European Union and Council of Europe Partnership for Good Governance II (PGGII) Project on “Strengthening institutional capacities to fight and prevent corruption in Armenia”.

The development and promotion of the Model Code of Conduct, as well as the preparation of the respective guidance has been envisaged in the Armenian Public Service Law as part of the Corruption Prevention Commission’s responsibility. Furthermore, the adoption of codes of conduct for public officials is one of the recommended actions by the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) as a measure towards enhancing integrity of public officials.

The Model Code of Conduct for Public Servants in Armenia is part of the tangible results of the co-operation between the Corruption Prevention Commission of Armenia (CPC) and the PGGII Project and the result of a long process which begun in 2021 and included a public conference on corruption prevention, integrity and codes of conduct in February 2022, as well as other forms of interaction with the stakeholders through the national consultation process, the outcomes of which were taken into account in the final version of the Model Code. 

The purpose of today’s event was to present the Model Code as officially endorsed at  high level of the Armenian government, highlight its essential role in the development of the corruption prevention system of Armenia, and promote the next steps, namely the adoption of specific codes of conduct by all institutions, as well as associated guidance and training on effective implementation of the rules and more systematic promotion of ethical practices at all levels of public service. The PGGII project will continue supporting the Armenian authorities on this path.

The Minister of Justice of the Republic of Armenia, the Ambassador of the European Union to Armenia, and the Executive Secretary of GRECO and Head of the Action against Economic Crime Department of the Council of Europe delivered keynote speeches at the event. The importance of Codes of Ethics for public officials in preventing and fighting corruption was highlighted by the keynote speakers. Minister of Justice Karen Andreasyan expressed Armenia’s strong commitment to progress further towards an effective anti-corruption system in line with European standards and to address pending GRECO recommendations in this regard. European Union Ambassador Andrea Wiktorin and GRECO Executive Secretary and Head of Council of Europe Action against Economic Crime Department Hanne Juncher encouraged Armenian authorities to continue to take concrete steps in this direction and renewed the commitment of the Council of Europe and the EU to continue to support Armenia in this endeavour.

Corruption Prevention Commission Chair Haykuhi Harutyunyan presented the main elements of the newly adopted Model Code and the next steps required for its adaptation and adoption by public institutions at all levels, as well as related guidance and training.     

Participants of the event, including over sixty representatives of public authorities and civil society, also learned about good practices and practical challenges faced by other countries in the adoption and implementation of rules and codes of conduct for public officials. The Deputy Minister of Justice of Albania shared her country’s experience in this regard. 

A forward-looking discussion followed these interventions, focusing on practical implementation modalities of the adopted Model Code, and its integration with other anti-corruption mechanisms in order to strengthen the overall system, with the ultimate aim to induce a progressive positive change of culture and mentality in the Armenian society as a whole.  

This activity was organised in the framework of the Project on “Strengthening institutional capacities to fight and prevent corruption in Armenia” which is funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe in their Partnership for Good Governance II.



Expert condemns Armenian authorities’ failure to respond to Cavusoglu’s remarks on opposition

Alex Nanijanian
Panorama
Armenia – July 5 2022

The Turkish leadership on Monday again interfered in Armenia’s internal affairs, Varuzhan Geghamyan (Ph.D.), an expert on the Middle East and the South Caucasus, said on social media on Tuesday.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that the Armenia’s opposition groups are an “obstacle” to the Armenian-Turkish normalization process.

“Moreover, he labeled the opposition as “extremist groups on Armenian streets”. Of course, Armenian MFA raised no voice to prevent this verbal intervention,” Geghamyan tweeted.

He accused the authorities of collaboration and failure to defend the interests of Armenian citizens. 

“Let’s not forget about more than a hundred Armenian men have been held in Baku’s prisons for almost two years and whose “status” the capitulant [Nikol Pashinyan] and his regime lowered from “prisoners of war” to “persons held in Azerbaijan”, which deprived them of additional legal protection and now no one even talks about them,” Geghamyan wrote on Telegram.

“Happy Constitution Day of the Republic of Armenia, a state that has ceased to exist for more than a year!” he added.

Armen Grigoryan: No issue in the corridor logic is discussed within the framework of the Armenian- Azerbaijani normalization process

Alex Nanijanian
ARMINFO
Armenia – July 7 2022
Marianna Mkrtchyan

ArmInfo.The trend of sustainable development of the Armenian- Iranian multi-sectoral  cooperation, and in this context the importance of bilateral economic  cooperation and the need for its development, were mutually  emphasized at the meeting of Secretary of the Security Council of the  Republic of Armenia Armen Grigoryan and Secretary of the Supreme  National Security Council of Iran Ali Shamkhani  on July 7.

According to the press service of the RA Security Council, in the  context of the Armenian-Iranian economic relations and especially the  development of Syunik, the emphasis was placed on the role of the  Iranian port of Chabahar. The interlocutors highly appreciated the  readiness of the parties to continue cooperation within the framework  of the Meghri Free Economic Zone and the North-South International  Transport Corridor.

Grigoryan spoke about the course of the settlement of the  Armenian-Azerbaijani relations, emphasizing that not a single issue  in the corridor logic is discussed within this process.

In turn, Ali Shamkhani  noted that in the context of the  abovementioned, the principles of the territorial integrity of states  and the inviolability of borders should be observed.

Grigoryan also presented Armenia’s approaches to ensuring regional  security and deblockade. In this vein, the Secretary of the Iranian  Security Council stressed Tehran’s readiness to assist in ensuring  security in the South Caucasus.

The parties agreed to meet at the Armenian-Iranian border to continue  the dialogue. 

Vice speaker: Lot to be done on implementation of Bundestag resolution on Armenian Genocide recognition

Alex Nanijanian
NEWS.am
Armenia – July 6 2022
13:37, 06.07.2022

Within the framework of the visit to Germany by members of the Armenia-Germany friendship group in the National Assembly (NA) of Armenia, a meeting of this delegation with the Vice President of the Bundestag, Petra Pau, took place in the German parliament.

Hayk Konjoryan, the leader of the ruling majority “Civil Contract” Faction in the NA, informs that matters aimed at the development of interparliamentary relations were discussed during the meeting.

Also, the members of the Armenian parliamentary delegation presented information about the developments taking place in Armenia and the region.

The Armenian NA delegation emphasized the need for the Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) conflict’s settlement within the framework of the co-chairmanship of the OSCE Minsk Group, and reflected on the matter of Azerbaijan not returning all Armenian prisoners of war and the preservation of Armenian cultural heritage.

The vice president of the Bundestag, in turn, particularly emphasized that there is still a lot to be done regarding the implementation of the Armenian Genocide recognition resolution adopted by the Bundestag in 2016.

Also, Pau stressed the importance of Armenian-German parliamentary cooperation, and expressed readiness to assist that process.

Armenia opposition movement demonstrators leave tree branch outside parliament building

Alex Nanijanian
NEWS.am
Armenia – July 5 2022
13:23, 05.07.2022

The participants of Armenia’s opposition Resistance Movement on Tuesday marched toward the Constitutional Court, then to the presidential residence, after which they reached nearby the National Assembly building.

“Today I would have very much liked to congratulate all of us on the occasion of Constitution Day. Today is not only Constitution Day, but also of our coat of arms, our flag. Unfortunately, these authorities have defiled the Constitution, the coat of arms, and the flag for four years. (…) The ‘scarecrow’ holding the post of Prime Minister has gone and is feeding deer today. I have come here to feed his ‘cattle,’” a demonstrator said.

Also, he was holding a tree branch.

“I am leaving this here so that his ‘backpacks,’ ‘cattle’ come out and eat this grass,” he added.

Also, participants of the Resistance Movement protest left the photos of opposition activist Avetik Chalabyan—who is in prison—at the gates of the National Assembly

After that, the march moved to France Square—in downtown Yerevan—where today’s demonstration concluded.

Earlier, the participants of the Resistance Movement protest had left a “chained” constitution in front of the Constitutional Court building, and cucumbers—outside the presidential residence.


Azerbaijani press: Azerbaijani MFA responds to Armenian PM’s statements

Alex Nanijanian
Politics Materials 28 June 2022 14:49


BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 28. A number of statements made by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at an online press conference on the normalization of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations, on June 27, cast doubt on the country’s desire to establish lasting regional peace, Trend reports referring to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

According to the statement, the fact that the leader of the country, which has been keeping the part of Azerbaijan’s territories under military occupation for almost 30 years, accuses Azerbaijan of pursuing a blockade policy during these years, does not fit into any legal and moral framework.

“Azerbaijan has been the initiator of the normalization process between the two countries since the liberation of its territories, despite the aggressive policy of Armenia. It was the President of Azerbaijan who proposed signing a peace agreement on the basis of strict adherence to the principles of international law at the post conflict stage,” stated the ministry.

Moreover, the Azerbaijani side laid out the basic principles on which the agreement should be based. If Azerbaijan wanted a war, as Pashinyan claims, these steps would probably not be needed. If Azerbaijan wanted a war, it would not have made great efforts to rebuild the lands destroyed by Armenia for 30 years.

The Azerbaijani side not only makes verbal statements on the delimitation of borders between the two countries, opening of all communications in the region and signing of a future peace agreement, but also implements own statements through its actions. It was the Azerbaijani side that has said that the establishment of normal relations in the region would be beneficial to Armenia. The fact that the Armenian side finally realized this and the Prime Minister’s statement that “the opening of communications is beneficial for Armenia” attracts attention as a new approach of Armenian leadership, said the statement.

The statement also noted that Armenia sends sabotage groups to the Azerbaijani territories, doesn’t withdraw its illegal armed groups, and delays the opening of communications, thereby grossly violating the requirements of the trilateral statements.

“The Prime Minister of Armenia, without elaborating on the specific situation he refers to, claims that “the Azerbaijani side boycotted the meeting at least once”. If we start listing the meetings that have been proposed so far with the participation of international mediators in the post-conflict phase and were violated by Armenia under various pretexts, the list will be very long,” the ministry emphasized.

As the statement noted, if Armenia really wants peace, it must show its political will and take specific steps towards it.

Armenian President visits US Ambassador’s residence ahead of Independence Day

Alex Nanijanian

 

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 15:13, 29 June 2022

YEREVAN, JUNE 29, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan visited today the residence of the US Ambassador to Armenia ahead of America’s Independence Day, being celebrated on July 4, the Presidential Office said. 

President Khachaturyan congratulated US Ambassador Lynne Tracy, the embassy staff and the whole people of the United States on the national day, wishing all the best. 

The President highly valued the US support provided to Armenia since independence aimed at registering progress in country’s development and democratic processes. 

The current agenda of the Armenian-American relations and the development prospects of the bilateral partnership were also touched upon during the talk.

Parliament session begins: Draft decision on removing Ishkhan Saghatelyan from post of Vice Speaker on agenda

Alex Nanijanian

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 11:00, 1 July 2022

YEREVAN, JULY 1, ARMENPRESS. Extraordinary session launched in the Parliament of Armenia.

The session has been convened at the initiative of the ruling Civil Contract faction.

The draft decisions on removing Vice Speaker of Parliament Ishkhan Saghatelyan, representing the opposition Hayastan faction, from the position, as well as terminating the powers of the same faction MP Vahe Hakobyan as the chairman of the standing committee on economic affairs are on the agenda of the session.

Sports: Armenian wrestler Suren Aghajanyan crowned European champion

Alex Nanijanian
PanArmenian
Armenia –
– 12:10 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Greco-Roman wrestler Suren Aghajanyan has won gold at the 2022 European Juniors Championships in Rome, Italy.

Competing in the 60kg weight category, Aghajanyan defeated Georgia’s Dimitri Khachidze to secure the champion’s title. The Armenian had earlier beat Nihat Zahid Mammadli of Azerbaijan and Ilias Jason Ayhan of Sweden.

Ashot Khachatryan, meanwhile, won silver in the men’s 67 kg event earlier, while Vigen Nazaryan (87 kg) and Albert Vardanyan (130 kg) took bronze.

Pashinyan says corridor connecting Armenia to Karabakh will be changed

Alex Nanijanian
PanARMENIAN
Armenia –
– 10:42 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan has revealed that there is a “preliminary understanding” that Lachin corridor connecting Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) will be changed.

Pashinyan made the demarks during an online press conference organized for the media and non-governmental organizations on Monday, June 27.

He cited the trilateral statement from November 9, 2020, according to which “the Parties have agreed that a plan for the construction of a new route along the Lachin corridor shall be determined within the next three years.”

“During this time, we have been holding discussions, preliminary agreements have been reached,” the Prime Minister said. “The purpose of this change is to provide a more reliable, stronger and better road connection for Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia.”

Asked what will happen to the residents of Aghavno and Sus communities, which are situated within the current corridor, Pashinyan said: “In case of a change in the route, the territories that are not part of the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region will pass under the control of Azerbaijan. The problems of the residents of Aghavno will be solved with the help of the Artsakh government.”

https://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/301164/Pashinyan_says_corridor_connecting_Armenia_to_Karabakh_will_be_changed