Author: Chakrian Hovsep

"Was Aliyev right?" On the withdrawal of the Armenian Armed Forces from Nagorno-Karabakh

Chakrian Hovsep



  • JAMnews
  • Yerevan

Withdrawal of the Armenian Armed Forces from Nagorno-Karabakh

“In the course of the war, a number of units of the Armenian Armed Forces moved to Nagorno-Karabakh. They are returning to Armenia, the process will be completed in September. The Defense Army was and continues to stay in Nagorno-Karabakh,” said Armen Grigoryan, Secretary of the Armenian Security Council, in response to the latest statement by the President of Azerbaijan.

According to Ilham Aliyev, Moscow promised Baku that the Armenian military units would be withdrawn from Nagorno-Karabakh by June 2022, but the issue has not been resolved yet.

Political scientist Tigran Grigoryan believes that the Secretary of the Security Council made “very problematic and dangerous” statements, one of which “actually says that Aliyev was right all this time, and we were not.”

Response of the Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia to Aliyev’s statements, along with an expert’s comment.

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According to Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia, Armen Grigoryan, Nagorno-Karabakh’s security will be ensured by the Defense Army, same as before, while the Russian peacekeeping forces deployed here should be a guarantee of security.

“The presence of peacekeeping forces in itself testifies to Russia’s recognition of the existence of a real danger to the life of Nagorno-Karabakh’s population. Peacekeeping forces are of key importance in ensuring the security of NK Armenians,” said Armen Grigoryan in an interview with Armenpress.

The Secretary of the Security Council stressed that since September there would be no conscripts from Armenia in Nagorno-Karabakh.

As he says, residents of Nagorno-Karabakh will be drafted into the Defense Army. Contract servicemen will continue serving in the armed forces of NK, as they used to do previously.

Armen Grigoryan considers the withdrawal of the Armenian Armed Forces logical after the establishment of a ceasefire and the deployment of Russian peacekeeping forces in Nagorno-Karabakh.

He says that units of the Armenian Armed Forces have moved to Nagorno-Karabakh to help the Defense Army. After the armistice has been established, they are returning to Armenia, and this process will be completed in September. Nagorno-Karabakh will have its own army, as it used to in the past.

“We believe that the peacekeeping mission should remain here indefinitely, as the conflict has not been resolved” – statement by the State Minister of the unrecognized NKR

On July 15, Ilham Aliyev spoke at a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, also touching upon the Armenian-Azerbaijani relations.

“If Armenia does not want to withdraw its armed formations from the territory of Azerbaijan, then let them openly tell us about this, so that we know what to do. What will be our answer? It is probably inappropriate to say this now,” said the President of Azerbaijan.

He stressed that this issue was also raised during meetings with the Russian military leadership. According to Aliyev, a few months ago, a high-ranking representative of the Russian Defense Ministry, while in Baku, promised the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry that by June the Armenian armed formations would be withdrawn from Karabakh. However, the problem has not yet been resolved.

Azerbaijan signed a memorandum on gas export with the European Union. According to the document, Baku will double the volume of natural gas exported to Europe

According to political scientist Tigran Grigoryan, the purpose of the interview with the Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia is to mitigate the threats coming from Baku. At the same time, the political scientist says: the fact that there will be no conscription from Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh is not news to anyone.

Announcing the withdrawal of troops in September, the Secretary of the Security Council negates the assertions of the Armenian side that since the end of the war there are no Armenian Armed Forces units in Nagorno-Karabakh.

“By the way, these assertions of the Armenian side were also confirmed in the reports of authoritative international organizations,” stresses Tigran Grigoryan.

He claims there really are no units of the Armenian Armed Forces in Nagorno-Karabakh, and the conscripts drafted from Armenia will soon be demobilized.

Political scientist regards the statement of the Secretary of the Security Council as “extremely problematic and dangerous.” In his opinion, Armen Grigoryan “actually legitimizes the destructive behavior of Azerbaijan in the recent period”:

“This is a real gift for Azerbaijan, whose propaganda machine is already actively distributing the interview. Not only does not this statement reduce the danger of war, but, as Nikol Pashinyan said, it legitimizes the war. This statement actually says that Aliyev was right all this time, and we were not.”


https://jam-news.net/withdrawal-armenian-forces-karabakh/

RFE/RL Armenian Report – 07/16/2022

Chakrian Hovsep 
                                        Saturday, 
Armenian, Azeri FMs Meet In Georgia
Georgia - Foreign Ministers Ararat Mirzoyan (right) of Armenia and Jeyhun 
Bayramov meet in Tbilisi, 
The foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijani reported no concrete agreements 
after meeting in Tbilisi on Saturday.
According to the Armenian Foreign Ministry, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan 
discussed with his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov “the fulfillment of 
previously undertaken commitments” and “possible further steps” in the 
Armenian-Azerbaijani peace process.
A ministry statement cited Mirzoyan as telling Bayramov that a “political 
settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict” is essential for achieving a 
lasting peace in the region. He stressed the importance of using the “mandate” 
and “experience” of the OSCE Minsk Group to that end.
Baku has repeatedly questioned the need for continued existence of the mediating 
group co-headed by the United States, France and Russia. It says that 
Azerbaijan’s victory in the 2020 war with Armenia put an end to the Karabakh 
conflict.
The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry also reported few details of the Tbilisi talks 
which lasted for about three hours.
It said Bayramov called for a full implementation of Armenian-Azerbaijani 
agreements brokered by Moscow during and after the war. He singled out “the 
withdrawal of Armenian forces from Azerbaijani territory.”
The talks followed fresh recriminations traded by the two sides in recent weeks. 
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev again threatened military action against 
Armenia last month, saying that Yerevan remains reluctant to open a land 
corridor connecting Azerbaijan to its Nakhichevan exclave. Prime Minister Nikol 
Pashinian claimed, for his part, that Baku is torpedoing peace talks and 
preparing the ground for another war.
Armenian Film Producer Collapses And Dies In Court
 07:56 GMT
        • By Current Time
Film producer Armen Grigorian (center) is seen in the courtroom shortly before 
he collapsed to the floor and died.
An Armenian film producer collapsed and died in a Yerevan courtroom where he was 
facing charges of inciting hatred, raising questions about why authorities 
ignored defense warnings about the 57-year-old's flagging health.
Video shared by the news.am website showed Armen Grigorian slump suddenly in his 
chair as his lawyers were pleading his case on July 15, and he reportedly died 
before medics arrived.
The cause of death was not initially disclosed.
Grigorian was known among post-Soviet filmmakers in the Caucasus for productions 
exploring regret and redemption, like 2007's I'm Staying; the fateful drama of 
2015's An Interrupted Flight; as well as crime and comedic films, including 
Ticket To Vegas.
His lawyer was seeking a dismissal of the case and said there was no reason for 
Grigorian to even be in court following his arrest in May.
He was facing accusations of inciting ethnic, racial, or religious hatred under 
Article 226 of the Criminal Code, according to news.am.
Ombudsman Kristina Grigorian has demanded an explanation from the 
Prosecutor-General's Office and the Justice Ministry regarding Grigorian's 
condition, his treatment, and the circumstances around his death.
"It is extremely unacceptable and alarming that in the conditions of preliminary 
arrest in relation to a person in the place of his detention, the right of a 
person to health protection is not guaranteed, health problems are not 
identified and eliminated properly, which leads to such tragic consequences," 
she said.
CIA Director Meets With Armenian Prime Minister, Security Council Secretary In 
Yerevan
 06:34 GMT
        • By RFE/RL's Armenian Service
CIA Director William Burns at a meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol 
Pashinian in Yerevan on July 15.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian on July 15 received U.S. Central 
Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director William Burns, Pashinian’s press office said.
The two “discussed issues related to international and regional security and the 
fight against terrorism. Reference was made to processes taking place in the 
South Caucasus region,” the brief statement said.
While in Yerevan, Burns also met with the secretary of Armenia’s Security 
Council, Armen Grigorian, whose office said the two discussed issues related to 
the further development of U.S.- Armenia bilateral relations.
Grigorian outlined for the CIA director the security environment in the region, 
existing challenges, and Armenia’s approach to establishing peace in the region, 
a statement from Grigorian’s office said.
“The sides talked about Armenia-Azerbaijan and Armenia-Turkey negotiation 
processes,” the statement said.
Official Armenian bodies and the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan would not comment on 
media reports about Burns’ visit to Yerevan.
Burns, 66, served as U.S. ambassador to Russia from 2005-08. He visited Armenia 
and Azerbaijan in 2011 in his capacity as U.S. deputy secretary of state.
During that trip, he urged a greater “sense of urgency” for the resolution of 
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, saying that “the status quo is not sustainable.”
Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2022 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

‘Don’t flirt with Trotsenko’, Americans warn Pashinyan as ZCMC ruling is expected soon

Chakrian Hovsep
Panorama
Armenia –

A court in Armenia is set to issue a ruling in the Zangezur Mining vs. Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Combine (ZCMC) case in the near future, while Armenia’s government has already “put up with” the idea of losing the case, Pastinfo reported on Saturday.

Former Russian Health Minister Mikhail Zurabov, who owns 12.5% of the ZCMC shares, sued the mining giant, asking the court to invalidate the sale of its 60% shares to Russian billionaire Roman Trotsenko’s GeoProMining Gold. The decision to unfreeze the shares has already been overturned.

On September 30, 2021, Industrial Company JSC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Roman Trotsenko’s GeoProMining, mysteriously acquired 60% of the ZCMC shares and promptly donated a quarter of that stake to the Armenian government. The granted 25% of the shares make up 15% of the ZCMC equity. Trotsenko’s company acquired the shares immediately after they were unfrozen by an Armenian court.

“Our sources tell us that Nikol Pashinyan is somewhat disappointed, since he has realized that Trotsenko, who has been targeted by U.S. sanctions, has “let him down”. He has warned against any interference in the case as well as any corrupt deal favoring GeoProMining,” Pastinfo said.

“Our government sources report that Pashinyan’s tough stance is also attributed to the reports that Trotsenko and his team have decided to sell another “property” they own – the Agarak Copper-Molybdenum Combine – to the Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Combine at a price much higher than normal in order to solve their personal financial problems. Moreover, the idea apparently belongs to ZCMC Director General Roman Khudolin.

“Another important fact is that the U.S. Embassy has also warned Pashinyan that Roman Trotsenko is on their black list, i.e. he is among the sanctioned Russian businessmen. This has also affected Pashinyan’s position. According to our diplomatic source, Pashinyan has been urged, “Don’t flirt with Trotsenko.”

“The government experts have studied the court case and have concluded that the Zangezur Mining’s lawsuit is well grounded and any meddling to win the case will have negative consequences both on the investment environment and international courts, where the government is likely to lose huge sums,” the media outlet says.

Armenian Ministry of Emergency Situations hosts Disaster Preparedness Assessment Team of US European Command

Chakrian Hovsep

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 17:09,

YEREVAN, JULY 12, ARMENPRESS. A meeting-discussion was held today at the Armenian Ministry of Emergency Situations attended by heads of different units of the Ministry and the Disaster Preparedness Assessment Team of the US European Command, the ministry said in a news release.

The aim of the Team’s visit to Armenia is to implement nationwide assessment on the issues of the disaster preparedness.

The Team first visited Armenia in 2019. Now they are in Armenia to revise and make amendments to the assessment report made during the previous meeting.

The sides discussed the role of the Ministry of Emergency Situations during all types of dangers, as well as other issues relating to preparedness planning and response.

Avetik Chalabyan: The materials of this case are sufficient enough to eventually lead to my acquittal in any reasonable court

Chakrian Hovsep
ARMINFO
Armenia –

ArmInfo. Avetik Chalabyan, a member of the  “Unification” movement, activist and politician, will remain under  arrest.

On Sunday, On July 10, the Yerevan Court of Common  Jurisdiction, headed by Judge Arusyak Aleksanyan, published its  decision, which satisfied the appeal for extension of detention  submitted by the investigative body implementing the proceedings.

“How can I hinder from the proceedings if you have completed the  proceedings? What can I possibly do? If you have completed the  proceedings, then you have effectively taken the actions proposed by  the prosecutor, there is no logical action that I can hinder. By the  way, I have no desire either. The materials of this case are  sufficient enough to  eventually lead to my acquittal in any  reasonable court.These steps will one by one lead to the conclusion  that the that the criminal offense is absent,” Avetik Chalabyan said  in his closing speech at the open court hearing of the extension of  detention dates.

It should be noted that earlier, a hasty motion was submitted to the  court to extend the detention of Avetik Chalabyan after the  prosecutor in charge of the trial did not confirm the indictment of  the case and returned the materials of the proceedings to the  preliminary investigation body with an instruction to continue the  preliminary investigation.

“How do you imagine yourself the escape from an investigation for a  man, who is a member of the board of directors of five companies, a  member of the board of trustees of two charitable foundations, a  father of a large family, the primary caregiver of four children and  two elderly parents? Did you write all this just for the sake of  writing? How can I escape? Can I escape from myself? A man who  returned to Armenia during the war with three boys. A significant  part of the population of our country takes its children out of the  country to escape serving in Army. Did I return to Armenia with three  boys to escape from Armenia?” said Avetik Chalabyan, adding that this  trail would feel ridiculous in any legal practice in any country.

Let’s remind that Avetik Chalabyan is accused of the act provided for  in Article 163, Part 3, Clause 2 of the Criminal Code of the Republic  of Armenia without any credible evidence and with gross violations of  criminal procedure procedures. The article has been reclassified and  softened by the new Criminal Code that came into force on July 1.

“Avetik Chalabyan is a political hostage of the current authorities,  and the courts are their executioners. Yesterday, the investigator  confirmed that Avetik Chalabyan should remain in custody only so that  he and the prosecutor could send the case to the court in a relaxed  manner. He admitted that they have no other investigative actions to  perform. So to say, Avetik Chalabyan will remain in custody on the  basis of sending the case to court,”Varazdat Harutyunyan and Arthur  Harutyunyan,Chalabyan’s defenders, stated earlier.

Public groups and activists have been fighting for the freedom of  Avetik Chalabyan for months for now, calling for the release of  Avetik Chalabyan through mass protests, petitions and all means  prescribed by law. 

STARMUS VI a new opportunity to develop scientific tourism in Armenia

Chakrian Hovsep

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 16:10,

YEREVAN, JULY 11, ARMENPRESS. STARMUS VI Festival, that is going to take place in Armenia this year on September 5-10, is a good opportunity to boost scientific tourism in the country.

From sectoral debates to various concerts, Star Party, etc. All these could bring foreign tourists to Armenia, Co-founder of the Festival Garik Israelian said, while introducing Armenian tour companies on the opportunities to be provided by the Festival.

The meeting held today was also attended President of the Tourism Committee Sisian Boghossian.

“The main task of the Festival is the communication of science so that science is delivered to the people”, Israelian said.

The scientific Festival particularly gave impressive results in Norway, by engaging a large number of people.

“Many young people and school-children in Armenia are interested in technologies and science. And this Festival is first of all for them in order to engage them. The second reason of holding the Festival in Armenia is to make the country’s image better. We want to do strategic things for the country”, he added.

Garik Israelian said the basis exist in Armenia as the country once had very good science, technologies, but the world is not aware of this. And now the goal is to bring not only scientists but also tourists to Armenia thanks to this Festival.

Israelian is sure that tourists arriving in Armenia could be interested in this scientific Festival because many famous musicians, scientists, Nobel Prize winners will visit Armenia for the Festival. A Star Party will take place in Garni. There will be telescopes after 22:00, a live music and cocktails till late night.

“Armenia is attracting tourists mainly with its monasteries, ancient sites and history. Let’s now try to attract those people who are interested in this Festival”, he said.

Many sites in Armenia, like the Observatory, Karahunj, etc, could attract tourists in this context.

The tour operators were introduced on the agenda of the Festival and the ticket prices. They called this Festival a very good opportunity for creating a new tourism product. According to them, this Festival could bring tourists to Armenia especially from Georgia and Iran, as well as from Russia, Kazakhstan and also the European countries.

Director of one of the travel companies Armen Grigoryan called this Festival a wonderful opportunity for development of scientific tourism. “This is a unique opportunity as very few countries can make some proposals of scientific tourism”, he said, adding that currently the tour-operators are preparing to work with their foreign partners on this direction and to present this new opportunity.

STARMUS is a global festival of science communication and art that brings together the most brilliant minds on the planet. Its aim is to inspire and educate the next generation of explorers and regenerate the spirit of discovery. STARMUS combines art, music and science to enhance the science communication.

 




U.S. Congressman submits bi-partisan NDAA amendment calling on Azerbaijan to immediately release Armenian POWs

Chakrian Hovsep

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 10:46, 6 July 2022

YEREVAN, JULY 6, ARMENPRESS. U.S. Congressman Adam Schiff has introduced an ANCA-backed bi-partisan amendment to the FY2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) calling for Azerbaijan’s immediate release of Armenian POWs and captured civilians, ANCA reports.

Amendment #698 is co-sponsored by Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA), Congressman Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), U.S. Rep. Tony Cárdenas (D-CA), Congresswoman Katherine Clark (D-MA), Congressman Jim Costa (D-CA), Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Congressman Tom Malinowski (D-NJ), Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ), Rep. Janice Schakowsky (D-IL), and Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-CA).

The ANCA is leading a grassroots effort to secure additional co-sponsors prior to next week’s House Rules Committee consideration of the amendment.

NDAA amendments ruled “in order” by the House Rules Committee will be voted on by the full U.S. House.

Any attempt for geopolitical changes in the region unacceptable for Iran – Pashinyan receives Iranian official

Chakrian Hovsep

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 19:11, 7 July 2022

YEREVAN, JULY 7, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received the delegation led by Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ali Shamkhani, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister welcomed Mr. Shamkhani’s visit to Armenia, attaching importance to the continuous development of friendly and brotherly relations with Iran. “High-level mutual visits are important for solving this issue. I am happy to note that we have managed to create a very good working atmosphere with the Iranian President, Mr. Raisi. I am happy to see that there are also good working relations between our other partners, which is appropriate for two neighboring and friendly states,” Nikol Pashinyan said. The Prime Minister expressed confidence that Mr. Shamkhani’s visit will be effective in the context of the issues on the bilateral agenda.

The Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran thanked for the reception and conveyed to Prime Minister Pashinyan the warm greetings of the President of Iran Ebrahim Raisi. Ali Shamkhani noted that Iran is also interested in developing and strengthening relations with Armenia in all fields. In this context, the interlocutors referred to a number of issues of bilateral cooperation.

The sides exchanged thoughts on ensuring regional stability and security. Ali Shamkhani emphasized that Iran considers any attempt to change the geopolitical situation in the region unacceptable and noted that his country also supports the process of unblocking infrastructure within the framework of preserving the territorial integrity and sovereignty of states.

The interlocutors emphasized that strengthening of economic ties is fundamental for the development of Armenian-Iranian cooperation in various directions. In this context, Nikol Pashinyan and Ali Shamkhani emphasized the need to boost the existing cooperation in trade, infrastructure, energy, industry and other areas. The parties discussed current programs and projects, as well as those of mutual interest.

Prime Minister Pashinyan asked to convey his warm greetings to both President Raisi and Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei.

Music: G Face: An Armenian-American Independent Rapper

Chakrian Hovsep
July 7 2022



RJ Frometa

This article is about G Face, who is an Armenian-American Indie-Rapper and Actor. He had many ups and downs in his life like everyone has but eventually found his foot in the right place in the music industry back in 2018.

He was born in Armenia and moved to the United States in 1994. He has featured with a lot of celebrities. Celebrities such as Slim 400 and Stupid Young. He was also the lead actor in a movie called “Green Card Warriors”.

Music is his passion. G Face has all the ingredients that a good musician must have. People of all ages love listening to his tracks. He wants to produce something that people can relate themselves to and get inspired. He is sharing his story through his discography.

Music is an art and it’s a resource for people to soothe their minds whenever they are stressed or exhausted from their daily life. His tracks contain a wonderful message in them. The music that he produces will take you on a new musical journey away from your sorrows and daily life problems where you will find comfort for a time being. Some tracks include All up, Gang Politics, Involved, Problems, & many more. 

The song is about some of the Problems that a certain class of people, unfortunately, face in the US usually. The song creates buzz and enables listeners to show their moves.  The track will touch your emotions.

The lyrics of the song are catchy. The celebrity rapper Slim 400 who has also featured in this track with G Face was recently killed. The song is receiving positive feedback from the listeners. You can listen to this track on Spotify.

G Face is a Spotify verified artist with 51.9K followers on Instagram as of now.Subscribe @YouTube


PM Pashinyan offers congratulations on Prosecutor’s Office Employee Day

Chakrian Hovsep

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 13:31, 1 July 2022

YEREVAN, JULY 1, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan visited today the Office of the Prosecutor General for the special session dedicated to the 104th anniversary of the establishment of the Office and the Day of the Prosecutor’s Office Employee, the PM’s Office said.

The session was attended by incumbent Prosecutor General Artur Davtyan, the newly-elected Prosecutor General Anna Vardapetyan and representatives of the Office.

Pashinyan delivered speech at the event. The text of the speech will be available soon.