Author: Bedik Zaminian

MP: Armenia must either force Azerbaijan to pull back its troops or use CSTO military component

Bedik Zaminian
panorama.am
Armenia – Jan 20 2022

Armenia must either force Azerbaijan to pull back its troops from Armenia’s sovereign territory or ask for military assistance from the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), MP Seyran Ohanyan, head of the opposition Hayastan faction, told reporters in the parliament on Friday.

According to him, decisions cannot be made without a full assessment of the situation.

“What does the “mirror withdrawal of troops” entail? Is it about the pullout from the entire border or from those sections where the enemy has advanced into?” the MP said, stressing Azerbaijan must unilaterally withdraw its troops from the invaded areas.

In his opinion, the Armenian foreign minister should clearly explain to the public that talks are underway with the leaders of the CSTO members, the military committee, as well as international organizations to make Azerbaijan retreat.

“And if it refuses to pull back, we will have to use the military component of the CSTO together with the Armenian armed forces,” Ohanyan noted.

Separately, he said, the enemy states must become neighbors for the launch of a border delimitation and demarcation process, adding a commission must be set up to carry out the work.

“Can Azerbaijan be considered a neighboring state now with its aggressive rhetoric, provocations and local attacks on the border with Armenia, let alone Tukey’s involvement?” the MP said.

“Only after thorough discussions can it be decided where the border should run through, while in the current circumstances the so-called “mirror withdrawal” proposal makes no sense to me,” Ohanyan stated.

UNHCR welcomes support from the People of Japan to conflict-affected families in Armenia

Bedik Zaminian

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 16:36,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 20, ARMENPRESS. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has expressed gratitude to the People of Japan for the country’s generous contribution of USD 2 million, which made possible provision of timely and life-saving assistance to conflict affected families in Armenia – among them women, children,older persons, and people with special needs.

 

On , UNHCR organised a ceremony in Ashtarak, Aragatsotn province, to thank theEmbassy of Japan for its support and show the impact of the humanitarian assistance.The ceremony was held at the recently renovated and upgraded Ashtarak Territorial Pedagogical-Psychological Support Centre, serving as a psycho-educational support point and a collective shelter for those displaced by the conflict.

 

The ceremony was attended by Mr. Masanori Fukushima, H.E. Ambassador of Japan to Armenia and other officials, andwas combined with on-site observation of capacity building and community support activities conducted by UNHCR’s partner organization Mission Armenia NGO, conversations with the residents, and the pedagogues and psychologists of the Centre.

 

“On behalf of the Government of Japan, it is a great honor and pleasure for me to attend today’s closing ceremony. Since last August, I have visited several sites where UNHCR carried out crucial activities, and have seen many important outcomes” said Mr. Fukushima. “We strongly believe that people in need as well as host communities in Armenia will overcome all the challenges. I would also like to emphasize that the Government of Japan will remain together with Armenia, and will continue to support Armenia’s efforts to move forward and achieve longer-term development.”

 

With the contribution from Japan, UNHCR has been able to provide community support and capacity-building activities for conflict affected families, renovate and provide technical equipment and furniture to 30 educational centres/collective shelters, construct community playgrounds and sports pitches in five provinces, delivercash assistance to help centre residents meet their basic needs, and help those living in rental apartments with rental subsidies.

 

In addition, the contribution from Japan supportedimportant protection activities conducted by UNHCR in Armenia, including identification and assessments of needs, provision of legal counselling and psycho-social support, activities promoting self-reliance and livelihoods, as well as resilience projects for women and children, educational and cultural events.

 

“UNHCR sincerely thanks the people and the government of Japan for their committed support for the displaced families” said Anna-Carin Öst, UNHCR Representative in Armenia during the ceremony. “ The generous contributionof Japan has allowed UNHCR to reach some 32,000 people across the country bydelivering timely and crucial support for families and the communities which have warmly welcomed and hosted them.”

French Institute to open in Yerevan, Armenia

Bedik Zaminian

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 14:42,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 18, ARMENPRESS. Former Ambassador of France to Armenia Jonathan Lacôte has announced in a statement on social media that a French Institute will open in Yerevan as the French government has officially approved the initiative.

During his mission in Armenia the former Ambassador has made a lot of efforts together with the Aznavour Foundation for the implementation of this project.

The Institute will be located near the Aznavour Center on Yerevan’s Cascade.

“This Institute will unite the projects of all those who contribute to cultural ties of the two countries. The creation of this Institute 30 years after the establishment of diplomatic relations will justify the sincere expectations of the Armenian society”, Jonathan Lacôte said on Facebook.

The new French Institute will be engaged in implementing educational, cultural and humanitarian programs.

Chief of General Staff chairs consultation on ways to improve military discipline

Bedik Zaminian

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 17:04,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 17, ARMENPRESS. Chief of the General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces, Lieutenant-General Artak Davtyan chaired a consultation on the situation and improvement of the military discipline in the army, the defense ministry said.

The existing problems and their solutions were discussed.

Artak Davtyan highlighted the importance of works aimed at improving the military discipline and stated that similar meetings will be held also in the military units for further improving the condition of the military discipline and preventing emergency situations.

Deployment of CSTO forces to Kazakhstan disrupted Turkey’s and Azerbaijan’s plans, says Armenian MP

Bedik Zaminian
panorama.am
Armenia – Jan 10 2022

The deployment of the CSTO peacekeeping forces to Kazakhstan has disrupted the regional plans of Turkey and Azerbaijan, Armenian MP Tigran Abrahamyan from the opposition With Honor faction said on Monday.

The MP noted that in the first days of the crisis in Kazakhstan, the Azerbaijani media reported only the facts concerning the developments in the country. However, after the decision to send a CSTO peacekeeping contingent to Kazakhstan, the Azerbaijani media and Telegram channels controlled by the authorities started not only an anti-Russian propaganda, but also a campaign against the Kazakh authorities.

“The regional plans of Turkey and Azerbaijan got mixed up. Forgetting about their close, multilateral and deep relations, they launched a propaganda campaign also against Kazakhstan,” Abrahamyan wrote on Facebook.

Also, he says there have been some changes in signals from the U.S., EU and NATO over the deployment of the CSTO forces in Kazakhstan, their involvement in the ongoing processes and long-term stay.

“However, it is obvious that in fact these processes are much deeper; there is a problem of control over important communications and zones of influence,” the lawmaker said.

Abrahamyan believes that after the events in Kazakhstan, the forces active in the Eurasian region will adjust their policies and the processes will “follow a different logic”.

Assembly’s 2022 Summer Internship Deadline Extended to Feb. 1

Bedik Zaminian

Washington, D.C. – The Armenian Assembly of America’s application deadline for its 2022 Terjenian-Thomas Assembly Summer Internship Program in Washington, D.C., and the Assembly’s Yerevan Internship Program in Yerevan, Armenia, is fast approaching on Tuesday, February 1, 2022. Barring COVID-19 restrictions, both programs are on track to resume in June 2022.


The influential internship programs in Washington, D.C. and Yerevan provide college students of Armenian descent an opportunity to experience two vibrant capitals, and participate in a full slate of educational, cultural, networking, and social activities throughout the eight-week duration, including a “Lecture Series” program that features leading entrepreneurs, academics, civic leaders, and public policy makers.


Participants also regularly intern and meet with Members of Congress through the “Capitol Ideas” program. Past meetings with U.S. elected officials have included former Senator Bob Dole (R-KS), former House Foreign Affairs Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA), Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), along with the leadership of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, and among other noted politicians.

Internship placements in D.C. include congressional, think tanks, media, and governmental agencies, whereas students admitted into the Yerevan Internship Program may intern with Armenian governmental offices, NGOs, think tanks, museums, media outlets, medical centers, and more. Throughout the course of two months, participants in the Yerevan Internship Program will experience life in their ancestral homeland, tour historical sites around Armenia, and meet Armenian officials, while forming friendships with fellow Armenians in the homeland and from around the globe.


Further information about both programs can be found here.



For additional details or assistance with the application process, please contact Intern Program Director Joseph Piatt at 202-393-3434 ext. 336 or via email at [email protected].


“I would recommend the Assembly’s Internship Program to anyone. Through the lectures and meetings, it gives people the opportunity to explore many fields in just eight weeks. I feel like I had three internships at once, in the best way possible.”

-Lucine Beylerian, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), 2019


“The Assembly’s Internship Program is a great experience and shows young scholars what it’s like to be in a work environment, with many opportunities, such as meetings on Capitol Hill and connecting with prominent figures.”

-Alex Nargizian, Armenian National Institute, 2019


The Assembly’s Terjenian-Thomas Internship Program’s 2019 participants met with Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and learned about the Appropriations process.


The Assembly’s Yerevan Internship Program 2019 interns at the

Republic of Armenia’s National Assembly.


Yerevan Internship Program interns at Alphabet Park in Artashavan, Armenia.



Yerevan Internship Program interns in traditional Armenian costumes.


Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
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NR# 2022-01

Turkey embargo wasn’t working in practice, says Armenian lawmaker after lifting trade ban

Bedik Zaminian

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 14:28, 4 January, 2022

YEREVAN, JANUARY 4, ARMENPRESS. There is no certain final opinion in Armenia on the “economic appropriateness” regarding a potential extension of the ban on imports of Turkish products, but nevertheless the Armenian government lifted the embargo by taking into account all opinions both in favor and against.

Lawmaker Babken Tunyan, the Deputy Chairman of the Economic Affairs Committee of the Armenian Parliament, told ARMENPRESS that the ban wasn’t delivering its desired effect, and despite the embargo many importers were utilizing circumvent ways to bring Turkish products into the Armenian market. 

“If we look at this issue from a patriotic perspective, what matters is – why is there demand for Turkish products in Armenia? If we were to compare with the situation we had during the 44-day war when everyone was boycotting Turkish products, now we must understand why people are again willing to buy Turkish products. If there is demand for some product, that product will find its market and will reach its consumer, be it in circumvent ways or at higher costs. That’s why it’s not right to artificially do something. If we put aside the emotional part, we must evaluate its appropriateness from an economic perspective,” Tunyan said.

Tunyan, an economist, further noted that the ban was anyway temporary and partial, with only finished goods being prohibited. Moreover, the list of banned products was revised several times because it turned out there was no alternative in the market.

“Economically, unfortunately this ban led to a situation where Turkish products were entering Armenia through different ways, because carrying out customs administration and control is practically impossible, and this simply led to prices of clothes, household items and other products in Armenia to grow, because these products are going through more complicated ways. Meaning, the objective we’d initially set politically doesn’t serve its purpose.”

In turn, the Ministry of Economy admitted that during the one year of its effect the ban had both positive and negative economic consequences.

Several newly launched or expanded industries in light industry, furniture and construction material production and agriculture are among the positive ones, according to the ministry. While the main negative consequence is the “significant impact on inflation” on various products. In addition, according to the ministry of economy many Armenian businessmen asked them to lift the ban.

The Armenian government initiated the 6-months embargo against Turkey because of the latter’s military support to Azerbaijan during the 2020 Nagorno Karabakh war.

The embargo was extended for another 6 months in the summer of 2021.

But on December 30, 2021, the Armenian authorities announced that they will no longer extend the embargo.

Interview by Aram Sargsyan




"Path of Law” NGO to offer free legal services to two servicemen detained after repatriation from Baku

Bedik Zaminian
Panorama, Armenia
Dec 29 2021

“Path of Law” NGO will provide pro bono legal services to two Armenian prisoners who were repatriated from Azerbaijan early in December and were immediately arrested on charges for violation of combat duty regulations during war or military actions, the defense team of the NGO led by Siranush Sahakyan, Ruben Melikyan and Davit Avagyan said in a released statement. 

According to it, on December 29, at 16.00, the Yerevan court is set to consider the petition on extension of detention as a measure of restraint against one of the servicemen, Robert Nalbandyan, a father of three who had also suffered a rib fracture during captivity in Azerbaijan. 

To remind, the Investigative Committee brought against some of the Armenian captives returned from Azerbaijan. The servicemen were charged with violation of combat duty regulations during war or military actions, which is punishable by imprisonment for the term of 4 to 10 years under Armenia’s Criminal Code provisions.

Earlier, Nikol Pashinyan suggested the investigative bodies to investigate every case of captivity to find out circumstance of capture and determine whether there are elements of crime in their actions. 

Yerevan Mayor on Armenia’s ruling political force: These people are trying to privatize the revolution

Bedik Zaminian
News.am, Armenia
Dec 22 2021
13:54, 22.12.2021

Let them not tell tales. The “My Step” has put the petty group interest above the interest of an entire community. Mayor Hayk Marutyan noted this in his remarks at Wednesday’s special session of the Yerevan Council of Elders—and with respect to the matter of the no-confidence motion against him.

“Today a process is taking place that has never taken place in the history of Yerevan. This is the first case of expressing no confidence in the mayor of Yerevan. It seems that in order to do such a thing, the initiators had to have very weighty arguments against the mayor. (…). [But] the reason presented is completely different. As the initiating party says, since I have left the [ruling] CC [Civil Contract] party, I must leave this position as well.” Marutyan added.

He recalled that the first snap elections after the revolution in Armenia in April 2018 were held in the capital Yerevan, and the revolutionary team ran in this election in a bloc. Marutyan noted that out of the first 57 people elected via the “My Step” bloc to the Council of Elders, only 27 were members of the CC at that time.

Marutyan reminded that as a result of this election, 82% of the voters had cast their ballots for that team.

“I repeat: the people did not vote for any party; they voted for the bloc, the revolution, the revolutionary team, the leader of the revolution [serving PM] Nikol Pashinyan, Hayk Marutyan, the respected and well-known people included in the team, (…) who for years had dedicated themselves to the victory of the revolution,” Marutyan said.

The mayor of Yerevan noted that today the process of expressing no confidence in him is based on his leaving the CC and the “My Step” bloc. He emphasized that he left the CC, but not the “My Step” bloc.

“Mentioning the name of the Civil Contract party in their arguments, these people are trying to privatize the revolution, they are trying to make the CC the only bearer and heir of revolutionary values. This is unacceptable for me and for thousands of non-partisan people like me, who carried out the revolution to have a better Armenia,” Marutyan added.

As reported earlier, the Yerevan municipal council has convened a special session Wednesday—and with only one matter on the agenda: the draft decision of the Yerevan Council of Elders on expressing no confidence in Mayor Hayk Marutyan. Also, this draft proposes to elect Deputy Mayor Hrachya Sargsyan as the Mayor of Yerevan. The session is being chaired by Hayk Marutyan.

The ruling majority “My Step” Faction of the Yerevan Council of Elders had collected signatures to express no confidence in Marutyan. This initiative is supported also by the members of the opposition “Prosperous Armenia” Faction and Ani Khachatryan from the opposition “Luys” Faction.

But several members of the “My Step” Faction have opposed this initiative and resigned from the Yerevan city council.