Author: Bedik Zaminian

Armenia’s Health Minister hits a 10-year old boy by his car: the child suffered no serious injuries

Bedik Zaminian
Aysor, Armenia

Armenia’s Health Minister Arsen Torosyan has been engaged in traffic accident in Yerevan while driving to his working place, the minister reported on his Facebook page.

He said he was driving the car and hit a 10-year old boy by the right side of his car while turning from Sakharov square to Vardanants street.

“I have immediately transported the child to the hospital where all the medical examinations were conducted. He has just a scratch on his hand. His life and health is not in danger. He will stay under the doctor’s control for a while and will go home,” Arsen Torosyan wrote, adding that police have immediately been reported about the case for preparation of materials.

COVID-19: Armenian health minister says too early to talk about decline in number of confirmed cases

Bedik Zaminian

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 11:39,

YEREVAN, JUNE 12, ARMENPRESS. Armenian minister of healthcare Arsen Torosyan says it’s too early to speak about the decline in the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

“It’s still too early to talk about the decline. We had days when more than 700 cases were confirmed, today as well the number of confirmed cases is over 600, which is not a low figure for our country having such capacities. Our actions should continue more intensively to restrain these numbers. Restraining the numbers with a collective behavior only will solve the problem”, the minister told reporters in the Parliament.

Torosyan said as the numbers increase, the number of patients in serious and critical condition also increase. “The mortality rate of critical and serious cases is very high, large numbers lead to high mortality, and all actions should be directed to curbing the numbers, not to increasing the capacities only”, he said.

According to the latest data, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Armenia has reached 15,281, out of which 5,639 patients have already recovered. The number of active cases stands at 9,298. The death toll has risen to 258.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Armenian parliament again discusses crisis resolution of Constitutional Court

Bedik Zaminian
Arminfo, Armenia

ArmInfo. . On May 21, Anna Kostanyan, deputy  from the Enlightened Armenia faction, stated such an opinion during  parliamentary discussions on the crisis in the Constitutional Court.

The deputy stated that , Kostanyan emphasized.  She noted that, for a  referendum, firstly, all the necessary preliminary procedures had not  been carried out.  In particular, the parliament did not appeal to  the Constitutional Court on this issue. “It seems to me that perhaps  the authorities are afraid of the failure of the referendum,  therefore we intend to carry out this initiative through parliament,  but in this case we can violate the principle of differentiating the  branches of government – legislative, judicial and executive,”  Kostanyan concluded.

Meanwhile, according to the deputy of the ruling faction “My Step”  Vahagn Hovakimyan, the crisis of the Constitutional Court can be  resolved through amendments to the Constitution. He noted that the  authorities that gave judges of the Constitutional Court their powers  do not exist any more. 

, Hovakimyan noted.  The  deputy stressed that it is simply impossible to abruptly change the  Constitution or deal with the issue of courts. ,  concluded Hovakimyan.  Explaining the issue, in an interview with  ArmInfo correspondent, Vahagn Hovakimyan stated that the Minister of  Justice of Armenia Rustam Badasyan addressed the Venice Commission on  the issue related to the crisis of the Constitutional Court. , the  deputy stressed. He also touched on the possibility of creating the  Supreme Court, stressing that the commission on constitutional  amendments is dealing with this issue.  Meanwhile, at a recent press  conference, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that the  issue of a possible liquidation of the institution of the  Constitutional Court is being discussed by the constitutional  commission. The Prime Minister noted that the issue of creating the  Supreme Court is being considered.  , – said Pashinyan. He said  that if by the end of next year it becomes obvious that there are no  special changes in the judicial system, then fundamental reforms will  be implemented in this area.  It should be noted that on February 6  the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia adopted a decision  on submitting draft amendments to the Constitution to the referendum.  88 deputies voted for this decision, against 15. It is a question of  introducing amendments to Article 213 of the Constitution, providing  for the dissolution of the Constitutional Court. A referendum on  constitutional amendments was scheduled for April 5 this year.  However, because of the coronavirus epidemic, it had to be canceled. 

U.S. Congress strongly criticizes Azerbaijani authorities

Bedik Zaminian

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 11:22,

YEREVAN, MAY 12, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijan is using the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic as an excuse to carry out political pressures and limit the freedom of speech in the country, Congressman Alcee L. Hastings and Senator Roger Wicker, co-chairs of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, said in a statement, Voice of America reports.

“During this pandemic, public health precautions do not excuse politically-motivated repression. We are deeply troubled by reports that the Government of Azerbaijan is further squeezing its people’s access to free _expression_, media, and information through arrests, fines, harassment, and possibly torture. Authorities should cease exploiting this global crisis to limit the speech of members of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan and other activists and reporters”, the statement says.

The statement of the U.S. Congress’ Commission says “in recent weeks, Azerbaijani authorities have detained, questioned, jailed, fined, and, in one case possibly tortured opposition members and journalists”.

Armenia FM gives diplomatic response to question about Lavrov’s statement

Bedik Zaminian
News.am, Armenia
May 6 2020
Armenia FM gives diplomatic response to question about Lavrov’s statement Armenia FM gives diplomatic response to question about Lavrov’s statement

22:56, 06.05.2020
                  

Artsakh’s incumbent President and President-elect meet PM Pashinyan at Stepanakert airport

Bedik Zaminian

Artsakh’s incumbent President and President-elect meet PM Pashinyan at Stepanakert airport

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 12:48, 9 May, 2020

YEREVAN, MAY 9, ARMENPRESS. Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan together with his wife Anahit Sahakyan and President-elect Arayik Haroutyunyan together with his wife Christina Haroutyunyan met in the Stepanakert airport Premier Nikol Pashinyan of the Republic of Armenia and his wife Anna Hakobyan who arrived in Artsakh on the occasion of the Victory Holiday, the 28th anniversary of the Artsakh Republic Defense Army and the Liberation of Shoushi, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of Artsakh President’s Office.

State Symphony Orchestra organizes an online master class by Sergei Nakariakov

Bedik Zaminian
Panorama, Armenia
May 9 2020

The Armenian State Symphony Orchestra (ASSO) continues the series of “Maestro” masters classes delivered by world-known musicians. As the Orchestra reported on Facebook, the upcoming session is scheduled for May 11 and will be led by a Russian-Israeli acclaimed trumpeter Sergei Nakariakov.

One of the most virtuoso trumpeters of the modern times, Nakariakov has been dubbed “The Paganini of the Trumpet” “Caruso of the Trumpet”. His repertoire includes not only the entire range of original literature for the trumpet but also many fascinating transcriptions. Throughout his career, Nakariakov has performed on many world stages with acclaimed musicians, orchestras and conductors.

The Orchestra offers a unique chance for the audience and music lovers to join the master class free of charge. Details of the class are available on the Facebook page of the Orchestra. 

Armenians begin return to normal life

Bedik Zaminian
EurasiaNet.org
May 7 2020
Ani Mejlumyan May 7, 2020 
           
   Cafes newly reopened on Yerevan’s Saryan Street. (photo: In Vino EVN)

Armenians have flocked back to cafes, restaurants and hair salons following the government’s lifting of the coronavirus lockdown.

Cafes in the popular Yerevan areas around the Cascade and Saryan Street have been full, albeit with some concessions to the ongoing pandemic. Tables are set apart farther than normal, but often not the full proscribed 1.5 meters. Waiters wear masks and gloves, offering hand sanitizer to customers and checking their temperatures. Still, in the cozy, French-style cafes popular in the area full social distancing is impossible, and many cautious residents continued to give public places a wide berth.

“We’re being careful, keeping a distance, keeping tables apart” one café employee told the website news.am. “In general, we have a vigilant attitude against the virus.”

The lockdown was partially lifted on May 4, ahead of which Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that responsibility for stopping the spread of the virus was now in the hands of the people.

“We are declaring new stage of fight against the coronavirus,” he said. “We are moving towards a decentralized struggle. This phenomenon is known to all of us from 2018’s non-violent people’s Velvet Revolution.”  

While up until now the Ministry of Health and an ad hoc body, the office of the commandant (led by the deputy prime minister), have dealt with the coronavirus outbreak, now “each citizen is taking on the responsibility of the fight against the epidemic,” Pashinyan continued. “The first [responsibility] is not to be infected and the second is not to infect.”

Many Armenians, though, continue to take a fatalistic attitude toward the virus, or deny that it exists at all. “If it’s bound to happen it will,” said one bare-faced woman interviewed in Yerevan by news.am. “Many more people are moving around now and wearing a mask and gloves will look artificial.”

Social media is full of stories of lax enforcement of the regime. One reporter from the news.am wrote on her Facebook page about people in line at a bank carrying out a mask exchange: those leaving the bank were giving their used face masks to the patrons about to enter.

While restaurants are supposed to limit tables to five customers, RFE/RL reported that when one of its reporters asked one Yerevan establishment to celebrate a large birthday party, the restaurant agreed to host them with no restrictions.

Meanwhile, the spread of the disease continued. On May 7, Armenia announced 101 new cases of COVID-19, two deaths, and 50 recoveries. In total, the country has recorded 2,884 cases, with 42 deaths and 1,185 recoveries.

Health Minister Arsen Torosyan said that those numbers will continue to grow. By the end of May Armenia could see 10,000 infections, “and if the rules are not observed, that number could increase,” he told RFE/RL. 

 

Ani Mejlumyan is a reporter based in Yerevan.

PM names new Deputy Director of NSS

Bedik Zaminian

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 15:20, 5 May, 2020

YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. Argishti Kyaramyan has been appointed Deputy Director of the National Security Service a day after being appointed Vice Chairman of the Investigative Committee.

Kyaramyan was serving as Deputy Director of the State Supervision Service before being named Vice Chairman of the Investigative Committee on May 4 by PM Nikol Pashinyan.

His appointment as Deputy Director of the NSS was formalized today by President Armen Sarkissian at the recommendation of the PM.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

Turkish press: Turkey’s US envoy slams Trump on 1915 events statement – Turkey News

Bedik Zaminian
  • April 25 2020 10:24:00

U.S. President Donald Trump’s statement on the 1915 events is “void of objectivity,” Turkey’s ambassador to Washington said on April 24. 

Serdar Kılıç said the U.S. president’s statement is “based on a subjective narrative which Armenians try to turn into a dogma.”

“This statement, made with domestic political considerations has no validity for us. We reject the claims put forward in this statement,” he said in a statement.

“We observe that the suffering of more than 500 thousand Muslims who were massacred by Armenian rebels in the same period was insistently ignored in this statement. This understanding which is deprived of justice and equity needs
to be changed from now on,” he added.

In a twitter statement accompanying the statement, Kılıç added it is “void of objectivity in reflecting 1915 events, and as such is totally unacceptable.”

The ambassador’s response came after Trump issued an annual commemoration of the 1915 events on April 24, again using the Armenian term “Meds Yeghern” to describe the tragedy.

“On this day, we bear witness to the strength and resiliency of the Armenian people in the face of tragedy,” he said in a statement. “We are fortunate that so many Armenians have brought their rich culture to our shores and contributed so much to our country, including decorated soldiers, celebrated entertainers, renowned architects, and successful business people.”

Meanwhile, in a written statement, Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said Trump’s remarks were based on the “subjective” narrative of Armenians trying to turn the issue into a “dogma.”

The ministry said it rejected Trump’s “claims,” which it said catered to domestic political motives. It also accused Trump’s statement of ignoring the “suffering” of more than 500,000 Muslims killed at the time by Armenians, calling for this understanding to be “changed.”

Turkey’s position on the events of 1915 is that the deaths of Armenians in eastern Anatolia took place when some sided with invading Russians and revolted against Ottoman forces. A subsequent relocation of Armenians resulted in numerous casualties.

Turkey objects to the presentation of these incidents as “genocide,” describing them as a tragedy in which both sides suffered casualties.

Ankara has repeatedly proposed the creation of a joint commission of historians from Turkey and Armenia as well as international experts to tackle the issue.

Successive U.S. presidents have refrained from calling the deaths of Armenians “genocide,” but former President Barack Obama adopted the Armenian phrase “Meds Yeghern”, or “Great Crime”, to describe the tragedy, a practice
repeated by Trump.

“We welcome efforts by the Armenians and Turks to acknowledge and reckon with their painful history,” Trump said. “On this day of remembrance, we pay respect to those who suffered and lost their lives, while also renewing
our commitment to fostering a more humane and peaceful world.”