Author: Boshkezenian Garik

We’re witnessing Aliyev’s attempted land grab in real time – Democratic Rep. Jackie Speier

Boshkezenian Garik

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 21:30,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS. U.S. Democratic Rep. Jackie Speier assesses the military operations unleashed by Azerbaijan against the eastern borderline of Armenia as another attempt of Aliyev’s regime to grab new lands, ARMENPRESS reports Speier wrote on her Twitter page.

“Azerbaijan’s attacks on Armenian territory are yet another sign of how far Aliyev’s regime will go to seize Armenian land and spread violence and hate. We’re witnessing Aliyev’s attempted land grab in real time. We must act now to prevent further bloodshed and destabilization”, she wrote.

Russian, Armenian top diplomats speak on the phone ahead of ceasefire in Karabakh date

Boshkezenian Garik
TASS, Russia
Nov 8 2021
Diplomats also touched upon key issues of Russian-Armenian cooperation, as well as certain aspects of the regional and international agenda

MOSCOW, November 8./TASS/. The foreign ministers of Russia and Armenia, Sergey Lavrov and Ararat Mirzoyan, had a telephone conversation on Monday ahead of an anniversary of the trilateral statement of the Azerbaijani, Armenian and Russian leaders on the ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh. The top diplomats discussed certain issues on the bilateral and regional agenda.

“The ministers continued to exchange opinions ahead of an anniversary of the passing of the November 9, 2020 trilateral statement of the Azerbaijani, Armenian and Russian leaders on the full cessation of hostilities in the zone of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

The top diplomats also touched upon key issues of Russian-Armenian cooperation, as well as certain aspects of the regional and international agenda.

Clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27, 2020, with intense battles raging in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. On November 9, 2020, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint statement on the full cessation of hostilities in Karabakh. According to the document, the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides stopped at the positions that they had maintained, and Russian peacekeepers were deployed along the engagement line in Nagorno-Karabakh and along the Lachin Corridor. The situation stabilized after the deployment of Russian peacekeepers and tens of thousands of Karabakh residents have returned to their homes.

Ceasefire Declaration Between Armenia & Azerbaijan Anniversary

Boshkezenian Garik
Nov 8 2021
November 8, 2021 Maryam Shah Politics

Washington, DC (STL.News) The US Department of State released the following statement:

This week, the United States and the international community recognize the one-year anniversary of the ceasefire declaration that ended 44 days of intense fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces in the South Caucasus.  We extend our deepest condolences to the families of those killed and injured during the hostilities last year.  We call for the return of all remaining detainees, a full accounting of missing persons, the voluntary return of displaced persons to their homes, comprehensive humanitarian de-mining of conflict-affected areas, and access by international humanitarian organizations to those in need.  We also call for an investigation into alleged human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law.

The United States remains committed to promoting a secure, stable, prosperous, and peaceful future for the South Caucasus region. U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Erika Olson is currently in the region to discuss bilateral issues with all three countries and to explore opportunities for regional cooperation.  We urge Armenia and Azerbaijan to continue and intensify their engagement including under the auspices of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs to find comprehensive solutions to all outstanding issues related to or resulting from the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Lavrov, Shoygu discuss situation in Karabakh with French counterparts

Boshkezenian Garik
News.am, Armenia
Nov 12 2021
00:08, 13.11.2021

Russia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov and Minister of Defense Sergey Shoygu discussed the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh with their French counterparts Jean-Yves Le Drian and Florence Parly within the framework of the Franco-Russian Cooperation Council for Security Issues in Paris, as reported on the website of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.

The French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs also reports that the two ministers addressed the joint efforts of France and Russia in their positions as Co-Chairs of the Minsk Group to reach a lasting peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as the close cooperation between the E3 group and Russia in support of the swift resumption of negotiations with Iran so that Iran returns to compliance with the JCPOA at the earliest opportunity.

Armenia-Cyprus Friendship Park inaugurated in Nicosia

Boshkezenian Garik
Public Radio of Armenia
Nov 11 2021
, 13:29

 

Th Armenia-Cyprus Friendship Park was inaugurated on Armenia’s Street in Nicosia on Wednesday, Gibrahayer e-magazine reports.

Speaker of the House of Representatives Annita Demetriou opened the statue symbolizing the Armenian-Cypriot friendship.

Attending the event were representatives of the Armenian community, high-ranking officials representing the Cypriot government.

After the national anthems of the two countries were played and prayers were uttered, speeches were offered by Representative of Archbishop Chrysostomos II, Head of the Greek Orthodox Church in Cyprus, Pontifical Vicar of Cyprus Arhbishop Khoren Toghramadjian, Mayor of Strovolos Andreas Papacharalambous, Armenian Representative in the House of Representatives Vartkes Mahdessian, Armenia’s Ambassador to Cyprus and Greece Tigran Mkrtchyan and Parliament Speaker Annita Demetriou, who represented President Nicos Anastasiades.

The solemn ceremony was followed by reception.

Campaign winners of Converse Bank got gold bars

Boshkezenian Garik

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 15:24,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 10, ARMENPRESS. Converse Bank has finalized the results of the campaign for Visa cardholders. In joyous and lively atmosphere the winners were awarded 50 standard gold bars.

The campaign was implemented in June-August. For three months the Visa cardholders of the Bank made cashless purchases and accumulated “gold.” As the result, 10 most active Visa cardholders of the Bank got 10-gram and another 40 customers got 5-gram standard gold bars (standard 999.9).

Converse Bank is one of the leaders in the Armenian banking sector by cashless purchase promotion campaigns and has afforded its customers the opportunity to spend vacation in various European countries and Thailand and to win valuable gifts for years.

The Bank is also one of the few banks implementing several customer promotion campaigns at a time, such as discounts, cashbacks, co-branded projects and the like, as well as allows to accumulate Converse bonus points from cashless purchases.

The Bank is supervised by the CBA.

Turkish press: Christians in Ras al-Ain grateful to Turkey for ending YPG terror

Boshkezenian Garik
 ISTANBUL WAR ON TERROR 
NOV 04, 2021 11:29 AM GMT+3

A church in Ras al-Ain, northern Syria, Nov. 4, 2021. (AA Photo)

Christians who had to leave their homes after the PKK terrorist group’s U.S.-backed Syrian branch YPG occupied northern Syria’s Ras al-Ain district, now live in a peaceful environment after Turkey’s Operation Peace Spring cleared the region of terrorists and provided secure conditions for different ethnic and religious groups to live together.

When the terrorist organization YPG/PKK invaded the Ras al-Ain district in Syria, across from the Ceylanpınar district of Turkey’s southeastern border province Şanlıurfa, in July 2013, the Melki brothers, from the minority Christian community living in the district, suffered the most.

After the invasion, the Melki brothers took refuge in Turkey, leaving their sisters behind.

The brothers, who fled the persecution of the YPG/PKK, started to live in a tent camp set up for Syrian refugees in the Midyat district of southeastern Mardin province.

Naum, 56, returned to Ras al-Ain district in May 2016 after YPG/PKK terrorists abducted his sisters and stole their home. However, the terrorist organization detained Naum for about three months.

After the Ras al-Ain district was liberated from terrorism in October 2019, 58-year-old Ziyad Melki returned to his home in the district from Turkey, where he had stayed for six years.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA), Naum said: “The Turkish brothers welcomed us. From the time we entered the district, they helped us with whatever we needed. AFAD (Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority) and Kızılay (Turkish Red Crescent) have always helped us.”

Stating that some Christian clergy living in Turkey made offers to send them to Europe, Melki said: “We did not go to Europe because we have rights and land. We refused. We always dreamed of returning to Ras al-Ain one day. Even though there was a tent life, our Turkish brothers have always been good to us.”

Naum Melki said that just before the agreement signed between the U.S. and Turkey on Oct. 17, 2019, he was detained by YPG/PKK terrorists for 43 days and returned to Ras al-Ain after he was released.

Expressing that he was very happy because the district was cleared of YPG/PKK terrorists, Melki said: “When the Turkish army-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) liberated our district, I kissed the land, the SNA group that saved me, the church and my house.”

In 2019, Turkey carried out Operation Peace Spring against the PKK terrorist group’s Syrian branch, the YPG, which is mainly backed by the U.S. in northern Syria, to prevent a terror corridor from being created along its southern border, as well as to bring peace and tranquility to the region.

The operation, conducted in line with the country’s right to self-defense borne out of international law and United Nations Security Council resolutions, aimed to establish a terrorism-free safe zone for Syrians to return to the area east of the Euphrates, which was then controlled by the U.S.-backed YPG/PKK terrorists.

Since the launch of the operation, Turkey has been supporting every aspect of life in the region, from health to education, security to agriculture. In this respect, efforts to clear bombs and improvised explosive devices were launched and administration duties were given to local councils.

The country also rolled up its sleeves to reconstruct hospitals, schools, mosques and roads destroyed by the YPG/PKK. Within the scope of ameliorating the region’s social infrastructure, people were given food and clothing by several nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) while roads and buildings were rebuilt. These efforts paid off as hundreds of displaced Syrians started to return to the liberated areas.

After the completion of the operation, the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) and the Syrian National Army (SNA) units focused on ensuring the security of the region and creating the necessary conditions for the return of civilians displaced by terrorism. Thanks to Turkey’s intense contributions in the fields of health, education and service to return life to normal, the population of the region is now around 250,000.

Locals living in areas held by the YPG have long suffered from its atrocities as the terrorist organization has a notorious record of human rights abuses, ranging from kidnappings, recruitment of child soldiers, torture, ethnic cleansing and forced displacement.

The atmosphere of trust and stability provided in the Tal Abyad and Ras al-Ain districts in the Operation Peace Spring region distanced both districts from the chaos of the war. The commercial activity at the open customs gates with Turkey also plays an important role in the development of the region.

Since 2016, Turkey has launched a trio of successful counterterrorism operations across its border in northern Syria – Euphrates Shield in 2016, Olive Branch in 2018 and Peace Spring in 2019. These operations all aimed to prevent the formation of a terrorism corridor and to enable the peaceful resettlement of residents.

Melki stated that the TSK gives great priority to the maintenance and repair of all churches in the district, and that they install cameras for the security of their churches.

“What Turkey did for the mosques in the district, it did the same for the churches here.” Naum Melki said adding: “The Turkish Armed Forces equipped the interior and exterior of the Mary Mecdeliyya Church with cameras. They also installed cameras, maintained, repaired and illuminated the Martuma Resul Church and the Mar Agob Church of our Armenian brothers. Our brothers in SNA also provided us with generators for the lighting of the churches.

“We live in brotherhood and harmony with other ethnic groups in the district. We often hear that Western society worries about the existence of Christians, but we have never seen them here. On the contrary, we have seen the violations of the terrorist organization YPG, which is supported by the United States and talks about the so-called brotherhood of peoples,” he added.

Ziyad Melki, 58, a member of the Ras al-Ain local council, said that Arab, Chechen, Turkmen and all other ethnic and religious groups in the district lead a brotherly and harmonious life.

Emphasizing that the TSK and SNA protect the churches, Melki said: “As a member of the Christian community, we fulfill our religious obligations in the same way as other ethnicities live their religious freedom fluently and unhindered here.”

Ziyad Melki thanked Turkey and SNA for clearing the region of terrorists.

Muhammed Nura, one of the SNA commanders in the district, said that they made great efforts to make Ras al-Ain a safe district.

Nura said: “Many people from different ethnicities live in Ras al-Ain district. We show great sensitivity to solve their problems. We always treat Christian brothers specially.”

Funding for ministry of labor and social affairs to increase over 15% in 2022

Boshkezenian Garik

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 10:23, 5 November, 2021

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 5, ARMENPRESS. The budget of the Armenian ministry of labor and social affairs will increase by more than 15% in 2022, comprising 580 billion drams, Minister of Finance Tigran Khachatryan said at the joint session of the parliamentary standing committees dedicated to the debate of the 2022 state budget draft.

“According to the state budget draft, the total funding for the ministry of labor and social affairs, according to the structures responsible for our budget, is the direction involving the largest funding volume”, the minister said.

He considered this normal, as he stated that all issues of social significance which are being solved by this ministry are among the most important ones both in their scale and significance.

The ministry is going to implement 16 projects which involve 93 measures.

“580 billion dram funding is envisaged by the 2022 budget draft. In 2021 this funding was 503 billion 670 million drams, the increase is 15.1%”, the minister added.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Armenpress: PM Pashinyan chairs session of the Anti-Corruption Policy Council

Boshkezenian Garik

PM Pashinyan chairs session of the Anti-Corruption Policy Council 

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 18:55,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 28, ARMENPRESS. A regular session of the Anti-Corruption Policy Council took place chaired by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister.

The Council first approved the agenda of the session, after which the Deputy Minister of Justice Suren Grigoryan presented the implementation of the Anti-Corruption Strategy and the execution of its action plan for the period of 2019-2022.

It was reported that within the framework of the accomplishment of the anti-corruption institutional system, a legislative package aimed at the establishment of the Anti-Corruption Committee was adopted by the National Assembly during the reporting period. For ensuring the launch of its formation, a competition for the chairman of the committee was held, as a result of which he a chairman of the committee was appointed by the Government decision No. 1479-A of September 16, 2021. At the same time, 30 investigators from the Special Investigation Service have been appointed to autonomous positions in the Anti-Corruption Committee, until the positions are occupied through competitive procedures. Works are underway to define the legal basis for the formation of the Anti-Corruption Committee’s operative-investigative department. In parallel, work is being done to create office conditions for the Anti-Corruption Committee.

On April 14, 2021, the National Assembly adopted the Law on Making Amendments to the Constitutional Law “Judicial Code of the Republic of Armenia” and the related laws aimed at establishing a specialized Anti-Corruption Court. At the moment it is planned to ensure the implementation of the legislative acts.

In particular, within one week after the entry into force of the legislative acts, the Supreme Judicial Council will apply to the Government for approval to increase the number of judges: 1) in the Anti-Corruption Court by fifteen judges; 2) in the Criminal Court of Appeal by six judges; 3) in the Civil Court of Appeal by six judges; 4) in the Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation by two judges. The Supreme Judicial Council will increase the number of judges within one week after receiving the consent of the government within five days.

The legislative package on the establishment of the Anti-Corruption Court includes the law “On Making Amendments to the Legislation on the Prosecutor’s Office, approved by the National Assembly, according to which a separate division of the Prosecutor General’s Office will exercise control over the legality of pre-trial criminal proceedings of corruption-related cases , which will be created as a result of the reorganization of the Corruption Crimes Oversight Department within the Prosecutor General’s Office, which has been functioning since 2019. An ethics structure is envisaged for the prosecutors of the mentioned subdivision. In addition, the law provides for structures to verify the ethical standards of candidates of prosecutors, including the for Prosecutor General and his deputies.

The following main works were carried out in the direction of prevention of corruption during the reporting period: as a result of the legislative changes aimed at improving the personal property declaration system, the circle of declarants has been expanded, the requirement to declare the property actually owned by a person and his expenses has been introduced. A requirment is also made for the declaration of property acquired in the name, for the benefit or at the expense of the declarant, but belonging to a third party with the right of ownership, as well as the property from which the declarant actually benefits or manages. The monetary threshold of expensive property subject to declaration has been reduced from 4 million drams to 4 million drams. The monetary threshold of expensive property subject to declaration has been reduced from 8 million drams to 4 million drams.

In order to identify the real beneficiaries of legal entities, a legislative package was adopted, within the framework of which an open and public register was created, a mandatory step-by-step requirement for identifying real beneficiaries for all legal entities operating in Armenia was introduced. 

In order to reveal corruption crimes, a new Criminal Code was adopted, within the framework of which the corruption crimes were reviewed, the institute of criminal responsibility of legal entities was introduced.

Within the framework of the monitoring of the anti-corruption strategy, the Ministry of Justice compiled and published the report on the performance of anti-corruption strategy measures during the first half of 2021, in the framework of which the process of implementation of measures, public participation in those works, the circumstances hindering the implementation of the work were presented.

The Ministry of Justice has developed and submitted for public debates a draft amendment to the Anti-Corruption Strategy, which has also improved the current monitoring regulations.

In particular, a new monitoring procedure and evaluation structures have been established. With the support of international partner organizations, a new electronic monitoring platform is currently being developed, the launch of which will digitize the process of monitoring and evaluation, the process of preparation of reports by the Justice Ministry and the civil society organizations, the process of uploading and presenting information by the implementing bodies.

The next issue on the agenda was related to the issues recorded in the reports on the second compliance of the 4th phase of GRECO, and the fifth pilot phase of the OECD Eastern Europe and Istanbul Anti-Corruption Network in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. A report was presented on “A number of issues in the sidelines of transformations of law enforcement and investigation bodies under the anti-corruption reforms”.

An exchange of views took place on the above-mentioned issues. Prime Minister Pashinyan instructed to form a corresponding working group, which will present to the Anti-Corruption Policy Council solutions to the issues raised during the reports in a brief period.

No Pashinyan-Aliyev meeting planned for November 9 – Armenian FM

Boshkezenian Garik
Public Radio of Armenia
Oct 27 2021
, 17:47

 1 minute read

No meeting between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev is expected on November 9, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said during the Q&A session at the National Assembly.

The comments come in the wake of media reports claiming that an Armenian-Russian Azerbaijani summit was expected in Moscow on November 9. The reports further claimed documents on delimitation and demarcation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, as well the unblocking of regional communications was going to be signed.

At the same time, the Foreign Minister said, proposals on different meetings in different formats are constantly being discussed, and as a result of a possible meeting the parties could agree on some text.

The Foreign Minister emphasized, however, that no documents with the content speculated on social media are going to be signed.

“I would like to note that such meetings are of practical importance to us, as they provide an opportunity to address post-war humanitarian issues, and first of all the soonest release of Armenian prisoners of war and civilians held in Azerbaijan, the protection of the Armenian cultural heritage on territories currently under Azerbaijani control and others.” Mirzoyan said.

He noted hat in a broader sense such meetings are an opportunity to ease the tension in the region and try to make efforts towards establishing lasting stability and security in the region.

He reminded about the speculations that preceded the trilateral meeting in Moscow on January 11, 2021, which, he said, had nothing to do with the test eventually adopted.