Author: Bedik Zaminian

Arms supply from Slovakia to Azerbaijan is violation of international law, says Armenian foreign ministry

Bedik Zaminian
ArmenPress, Armenia
Arms supply from Slovakia to Azerbaijan is violation of international law, says Armenian foreign ministry


YEREVAN, JULY 31, ARMENPRESS. Armenia continues to follow the illegal arms supply issue from Slovakia to Azerbaijan, Armenian foreign ministry spokesperson Tigran Balayan said today at a briefing.

He said that in addition to bilateral channels Armenia has also raised the issue in OSCE circles, taking into account that Slovakia will chair the OSCE in 2019.

Asked by reporters how Armenia is dealing with the issue of two CSTO member states continuing to supply Azerbaijan with weapons, Balayan said: “We have raised this issue to our Belarus and Russian colleagues. Our stance is not to concentrate on the supplies from one country, for example, the supplies from Slovakia specifically are a violation of international law: when an end user certificate is given for one country, but everyone knows that these weapons turn out in another country. And in the country where these weapons end up, they start boasting, saying – look, we acquired it in a devious way. The criminal code of Slovakia has an appropriate article for this case. As far as the supplies from other countries are concerned, if these supplies are within the law, then our opportunities to limit them are political. We don’t have any legal mechanism to affect. We continue and reiterate our principled stance that the supply of any weapons, lethal armaments to Azerbaijan is problematic, taking into account the unpredictable policy, as well as the shameful state of human rights in Azerbaijan, when it can use the weapons not only against foreign adversaries, but also against its own population,” Balayan said.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan


Turkish press: Historic church in Turkey’s Şanlıurfa undergoing restoration

Bedik Zaminian
ANADOLU AGENCY
ŞANLIURFA, Turkey
Published22 hours ago

The historical Germuş Church in southeastern Turkey’s Şanlıurfa, which is believed to be the birthplace of the Prophet Abraham, will soon be opened to tourism after some extensive renovation.

Located 10 kilometers northeast of the city center and on the edge of Germuş Mountain, the historical church has stood the test of time. The date of its construction date is not precisely known, as there are no inscriptions, but the church is estimated to be built at the beginning of the 19th century. The structure has a facade that rises on three pointed arches.

The historical church partly lost its original character due to alterations carried out at different times. It is only 5 kilometers away from Göbeklitepe, which is often described as “the cradle of human civilization.” The area where the church is located stands out with various old buildings and tunnels.

The Haliliye District Governorship is carrying out a thorough restoration as part of its “Hidden History: Germuş” project, which falls under the “Tourism Routes and Smart Cities Financial Support Program” and is approved by Karacadağ Development Agency.

A new look

Haliliye District Governor Ali Yılmaz Told Anadolu Agency (AA) that they want to open Germuş Church for tourism and are working to that end.

Yılmaz added that they are working to give the church a beautiful appearance. “The renovation, cleaning, lighting and environmental management of the church will be carried out within the scope of the project. Hopefully, Germuş Church will gain a new look and make some contribution to the tourism sector. I congratulate those who worked for the success of this project,” he said.

The Chairman of the Regional Tourist Guides Chamber, Müslüm Çoban noted that Armenians used to live in the surrounding area of the church. “The old houses and underground structures in the region should also be opened to tourism,” he said.

Attractive for tourists

Çoban said that they believe that Germuş Church will especially draw the attention of foreign tourists. “Unfortunately, the building, which has not undergone maintenance in years, is badly damaged. In this respect, the renovation of the church is very important. It is a very good decision to open the church to tourism after the renovation. This region and its churches are important for Christians.

“There are two churches in the village but the smaller one is almost completely destroyed. The Armenian Church is still standing. If there is more than one church in one place, this indicates its importance. The opening of the church to tourism will attract the attention of many foreign tourists. More foreign tourists started to come here after Göbeklitepe was included in the UNESCO list. They will also visit Germuş Church. This means that tourists spend more time in the city. The region close to Göbeklitepe on the Mardin route will contribute a great deal to tourism. The history of the Region will come forth with more excavations carried out in the future,” he added.

Göbeklitepe visitors

Casım Acar, who is the guardian of historical sites and Germuş Church, noted that they have been fighting people who tried to carry out illegal excavations in the region.

The plan to open the region for tourism was great news according to Acar. “Legends have it that the church was built in seven years with stones from these mountains. Our elders tell us that this village had an important place in the past. There are underground bazaars, tunnels and various structures here. Tourists, mostly foreigners, who come to Göbeklitepe come here first, but its state of disrepair is unfortunate. Hopefully, the restoration will revive its historical and cultural value,” he said

NSS chief vows new sensational discoveries on illicit enrichment cases

Bedik Zaminian
| 15:17 | July 19 2018
Category
Society

There are large amounts of materials about the officials illegally enriched on the table of the National Security Service, NSS Director Artur Vanetsyan told reporters.

Asked whether these officials are from the circles of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), the NSS chief said: “There can be people both from the RPA and other circles”. He didn’t mention names, but stated that people will be informed about sensational cases.

In response to the question whether the NSS has somehow failed in its actions, meaning that in the recent period wanted people managed to leave the country, the NSS Director said: “The NSS didn’t fail in its operations, anyone who is not charged, has no status within the frames of the criminal case, is free to move”.

Artur Vanetsyan also informed that not only their structure, but also the whole law enforcement system deal with the cases of wanted persons.

Activists opposing Amulsar deposit development act with unchecked information

Bedik Zaminian
Arminfo, Armenia
July 12 2018
Activists opposing Amulsar deposit development act with unchecked information

Yerevan July 12

Alina Hovhannisyan. As a result of the complaints submitted by the activists against Lydian Armenia in the Office of the Advocate’s Advisor on Compliance, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, during his visit to Vayots Dzor, was informed that the Amulsar Program did not properly assess the impact of the field’s operation on the tourist brand Jermuk, and that the International Finance Corporation (IFC) refused to finance the project due to the identified environmental problems by the Office. “This statement is not true”, is noted in the official statement of the company Lydian Armenia.

“IFC never announced the withdrawal from Amulsar project due to environmental problems. Moreover, IFC in its statement notes that the assessment of the impact of the Amulsar project on the environment corresponds to the best international experience, emphasizing that the introduction of new standards in the mining industry of Armenia is an achievement,” is noted in the source with reference to the IFC statement. However, the exit from the shareholders of the Amulsar project by the International Finance Corporation is due to the fact that Lydian Armenia is successfully attracting funds for the development of the field from private sources: “We are confident that the implementation of the Amulsar program has the potential to contribute to the economic development of the country.”

Moreover, at the request of ArmInfo to the IFC Central Office about the reasons for the company’s withdrawal from the shareholders of Lydian Int., the press service reported: “Since 2007, IFC has been supporting Lydian and Amulsar gold mining project as part of a strategy to support the development of the mining sector in Armenia. Considering Lydian’s success in fully funding the project, in May 2017, IFC refused its investment in the company, as we seek to use our capital where it is most needed for sustainable economic development.”

According to the company, the prime minister was not informed intentionally that the majority of the statements made by the protesters, particularly those concerning the pollution of the waters of Sevan, Vorotan and Jermuk, etc., were refuted as a result of the Office’s investigations. The report of the Office noted that all these issues are appropriate in a way, they were evaluated, moreover, measures are provided in accordance with IFC standards. “The head of government should be informed that the impact of the program on surface and groundwaters has been properly assessed and the activities according to IFC criteria have been designed. Therefore, allegations of water pollution are inappropriate,” the company said in a statement.

Lydian Armenia is a subsidiary of British Lydian International, whose shareholders are also large international institutional investors from the United States, Great Britain, a number of European countries, including EBRD. The Amulsar project is the largest industrial project in Armenia for the development of the Amulsar gold deposit at a total cost of $ 370 million. In August 2016, a project for the construction and development of the field was launched. Preliminary work has been carried out since 2006. The life of the Amulsar deposit will be 10 years and 4 months, an annual average of 200,000 ounces of gold (about 10 million tons of ore) is planned. The company’s shares are quoted on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Amulsar deposit is the second largest in Armenia.

Armenia’s Pashinyan congratulates Trump on U.S. Independence Day

Bedik Zaminian
Panorama, Armenia
July 4 2018

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has addressed a congratulatory message to U.S. President Donald Trump on the occasion of America’s Independence Day.

The message, released by the PM’s official website, reads:  

“The noble ideas advocated by the U.S. Founding Fathers – freedom, equality and democracy – are close to the Armenian people, the best proof of which was the velvet nonviolent revolution in Armenia. The new political and social realities that emerged following the revolution allow us to upgrade our relations to a qualitatively new level. We are ready to do everything possible to strengthen and expand our bilateral relations, based on shared values, mutual respect and an atmosphere of trust.

We highly appreciate the valuable assistance that the United States continues to provide to Armenia in the areas of strengthening democracy and civil society, protecting human rights, developing the economy, fighting corruption, strengthening the security system, expanding peacekeeping capacity and in many other spheres. Your support is called for today more than ever.

We attach great importance to the role reserved to the United States as an OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the establishment of peace and stability in our region.

I should note with satisfaction the special role played by the vibrant U.S.-based Armenian community, which is building bridges of friendship between our countries with its active structures and unconditional commitment to promoting the Armenian-American relations.” 

Drunk Russian passengers detained by Yerevan airport police for brawling on board

Bedik Zaminian
| 15:59 | June 14 2018
Category
Society

Three Russian men, passengers of a Moscow-Yerevan flight, brawled with one another upon landing in Yerevan’s Zvartnots airport in the early morning of June 14.

The passengers, 36, 31 and 51, were intoxicated, police said. One of them suffered an injury to the face.

All three have been detained by police officers at 05:20.

Police are looking into the case.

Sports: Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s new boots feature Armenian flag, coat of arms

Bedik Zaminian
PanArmenian, Armenia
June 8 2018
June 8, 2018 – 16:32 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Swithadot, a company creating handmade customized footwear, has unveiled the latest modification of the trans-generational adidas Predator 18’s, for one of the greatest Premier League football stars, Armenian midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

“We took inspiration from his unique character – he is so humble and positive. That’s why, we went for ‘old look’ texture, making them look like a treasure found after half a century in a forgotten closet,” the company website says.

“A full make-over was imminent, this time in both Armenia and Arsenal F.C. famous colours.”

The details – free hand-drawn Arsenal logo and Armenian’ Coat of Arms symbol. On the inside – ‘The Gunners’ tag – for all the supporters, and ‘Armenia’ written on domestic language. Finally, both his ‘7’ and ’18’ are done in the heel area.

Mkhitaryan captains the Armenian national team and moved from manchester United to Arsenal in January.

168: There are no political prisoners in Armenia, says Prosecutor General

Bedik Zaminian
| 14:34 | May 15 2018
Category
Politics

Armenia’s Prosecutor General Arthur Davtyan has announced that there are no political prisoners in the country.

Speaking to reporters in the parliament, Mr. Davtyan stressed that numerous reputed international structures, numerous embassies, various human rights organizations have carried out monitoring in the last years and none has acknowledged anyone as a political prisoner in Armenia.

“It turns out that we all cite the definition of political prisoner in the relevant international legal document but when it’s the turn for commenting we fall into extremes. I have often seen comments which cause an impression that if someone is engaged in politics and then one day this someone is imputated with crime then this someone is a political prisoner. But that’s wrong, materials are required for this,” he said.

He clarified that when charges are brought against someone it is done by describing an act, which has compliance with an act under the criminal code. “Now at this important moment we must do our best in order for not to decrease the role of our courts. Evidences are being examined openly and publicly in the court, after this all there will be appropriate assessments,” he said.

Speaking on the release of Andrias Ghukasyan on a signature bond from remand, Davtyan stressed that this has been the court’s decision and he hasn’t gotten acquainted with neither the decision nor the grounds for Ghukasyan’s release.

“We’ve had hundreds of cases when we didn’t agree with the court’s verdict, we have appealed. As a result of these appeals we’ve had both [overruling] and [upholding]. This is a court proceeding where there is nothing new”, he said.

A reporter asked the Prosecutor General if his contradiction with PM Nikol Pashinyan’s statement on political prisoners (PM Pashinyan states that there are political prisoners in Armenia) won’t obstacle joint work with the Prime Minister, to which Davtyan responded: “Any official can present his/her viewpoint, a prosecutor is presenting his/her viewpoint based on existing materials in the proceeding, while I don’t see any contradiction in terms of joint work”.

Yerevan Mayor ready to work under new Armenian PM

Bedik Zaminian
News.am, Armenia
 
 
Yerevan Mayor ready to work under new Armenian PM
13:56, 11.05.2018
 
 
YEREVAN. – Yerevan municipality is operating in a normal mode, Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan told reporters on Friday after the governmental meeting.
 
Asked to comment on the demand of his resignation amid protest actions held on Thursday, Margaryan noted that Yerevan is a community that organizes its work according to its own programs.
 
However, Taron Margaryan did not rule out further work as a mayor under the new Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

Azerbaijani press: Karabakh conflict settlement discussed at EU-Azerbaijan Parliamentary Cooperation Committee meeting

Bedik Zaminian
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The process of negotiations on settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was discussed at the second session of the 15th meeting of the EU-Azerbaijan Parliamentary Cooperation Committee in Baku on May 8, APAreports.

 

Addressing the meeting, Samad Seyidov, chairman of the Azerbaijani Parliament’s Committee on international and inter-parliamentary relations said that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict poses a threat to entire Europe.

 

Florian Carmona, representative of the European Parliament’s Secretariat Florian Carmona said that the European Parliament imparts political messages by adopting resolutions.

 

“However, we are unable to fulfill these resolutions. We must not allow double standards so that we can be a trustworthy partner. That’s what we are trying to achieve. We have also designated a special representative for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. We want to be active in resolving the conflict, which affects us as well. We understand that stability in the region is important and Azerbaijan is a key partner in maintaining stability in the South Caucasus region. As for the Minsk Group, Russia is a co-chair of the group” he said.

 

First Vice Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament Ziyafat Asgarov disagreed with Florian Carmona.

 

“You are saying that your resolutions impart a political message. However, the European Union imposes sanctions after these resolutions. Why are no sanctions imposed on Armenia? On the other hand, France and the United States are also co-chairmen of the Minsk Group along with Russia,” he said.

 

Javanshir Feyziyev, Azerbaijani MP, Co-Chair of the EU-Azerbaijan Parliamentary Cooperation Committee said that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has been going on for 30 years.

 

“People who were born during these 30 years in families of refugees and IDPs, have not yet been visited their native lands. We want acceptable peaceful path to be found for Azerbaijani and Armenian people. We are waiting for the support of the European Parliament in this direction. Azerbaijanis are impatiently watching the processes going on in Armenia. If these processes will help bring peace-loving forces to power in Armenia, peaceful negotiations can give results. If the conflict is not resolved peacefully, we will release our occupied lands by military means. Nobody doubts this in Azerbaijan. Perhaps, in Armenia, no one doubts this. This conflict also poses a threat to Europe,” he added.

 

Sajjad Karim, British MP, Chairman of the EU-Azerbaijan Parliamentary Cooperation Committee that the European Parliament has always demonstrated its formal position.

 

“We have always recognized Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. Armenia must understand that when changing its position, it can participate in regional cooperation. We are following changes in Armenia. We will support dynamics ensuring stability in the region,” he noted.