Author: Chmshkian Vicken

Czech FM expresses support for OSCE MG Co-chairs’ efforts in a meeting with PM Pashinyan

Chmshkian Vicken

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 18:58, 1 October, 2021

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 1, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan received the delegation led by Foreign Minister of the Czech Republic Jakub Kulhánek, who are in Armenia on a working visit.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan highlighted the continuous development of relations with the Czech Republic, noting that there is great unexploited potential for expanding cooperation.

Nikol Pashinyan expressed hope that as a result of Mr. Kulhánek’s visit, part of that unexploited potential will be realized. The Prime Minister thanked the Czech executive body for its support to the democratic reforms being implemented in Armenia within the framework of the European Union.

Jakub Kulhánek noted that the Czech Republic attaches great importance to the expansion of multilateral relations with Armenia, including in the trade and economic sphere. The Czech Foreign Minister noted that Czech businessmen are also included in his delegation, which will contribute to the deepening of bilateral business ties and the discussion and implementation of joint investment programs.

Nikol Pashinyan stressed the importance of the € 2.6 billion investment package to be provided to Armenia by the European Union and expressed confidence that the Governments of Armenia and the Czech Republic could closely cooperate in the programs envisaged within its framework.

The interlocutors also discussed the developments in the South Caucasus region. The Prime Minister referred to the trilateral statements signed by the leaders of Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan after the 44-day war and the implementation of their points, noting that the Azerbaijani side has not returned Armenian prisoners of war, hostages or other detainees despite its obligations to do so.  At the same time, Nikol Pashinyan stressed the need to withdraw the Azerbaijani armed forces from the sovereign territory of Armenia, reminding that the Armenian side had made a relevant proposal for a peaceful solution to that issue.

The Prime Minister added that the Armenian side supports the peace process within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs’ format for the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and welcomed the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan in the sidelines of the Minsk Group Co-chairs’ format in New York.

Arman Tatoyan: Policy of Armenophobia has received new extremist and fascist manifestations in Azerbaijan

Chmshkian Vicken
Panorama, Armenia
Sept 27 2021

Azerbaijan carried out a genocidal and ethnic cleansing policy in Artsakh during the 44-day war and its policy of Armenophobia has received new extremist and fascist manifestations, Armenia’s Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) Arman Tatoyan said in a statement on the first anniversary of the war on Monday.

He reminded that the large-scale war unleashed by Azerbaijan against Artsakh and Armenia on September 27, 2020 was accompanied by unprecedented war crimes and crimes against humanity.

“On the first day, 9-year-old Viktoria Gevorgyan was killed at the yard of her own house as a result of shelling of the town of Martuni. Civilians, 69-year-old Genadi Petrosyan from Madatashen and 82-year-old Yuri Asryan from Azokh were brutally beheaded. The whole process was filmed by the Azerbaijani troops,” Tatoyan wrote.

Civilians as well as Armenian soldiers were tortured and ill-treated both during and after the war, targeted attacks and the use of prohibited weapons destroyed civilian settlements and Armenian churches were desecrated, the ombudsman said.

Tatoyan underlined that Azerbaijan’s attack in the light of the coronavirus pandemic was directed against humanity. As a result, it led to an increase in the number of deaths due to the paralysis of the health system of Artsakh and Armenia.

“All this was accompanied by propaganda of hatred and hostility, which the Azerbaijani authorities only encouraged. What happened allows us to draw an unambiguous conclusion: a policy of ethnic cleansing and genocide has been carried out.

“We must not forget that Azerbaijan’s state-sponsored policy of Armenophobia and hostility has not only not diminished, but has also received new extremist and fascist manifestations,” he noted.

The ombudsman recalled that to date, not a single perpetrator of the war crime has been held to account.

“As long as the perpetrators are not brought to justice, the policy of hatred and enmity towards Armenians will continue, the danger of atrocities will remain and peaceful and safe life of people will be disrupted,” Tatoyan concluded. 

Criminal case opened for ‘insulting’ Facebook comment on Pashinyan photo

Chmshkian Vicken
Sept 23 2021
 23 September 2021

ByAni Avetisyan
                                                                            

Armenian police have opened a criminal case against a Facebook user for insulting Nikol Pashinyan in a comment under a photo featuring the Prime Minister.

Police have stated that the alleged perpetrator violated Article 137.1 of Armenia’s Criminal Code: ‘serious insult to a person due to his public activities.  The case was initiated ‘without a complaint of the presumably injured party՛․

RFE/RL reported that police ‘are taking steps to identify the author of the comment’.

Earlier in September, local media reported the police were searching for a social media user named Hrant Avetisyan who allegedly wrote an insulting comment directed at Pashinyan on Facebook. 

According to the recently adopted amendments to Armenia’s Criminal Code, the use of obscene language in public has been criminalised, with more severe penalties reserved for those who direct such language at public officials. The maximum fine is ֏3,000,000 ($6,000) or up to three months in prison.

The amendments were criticised by local and international rights organisations. 

A coalition of local media watchdogs condemned them as ‘unacceptable restrictions on freedom of _expression_’ while Marc Behrendt, director for Europe and Eurasia programs at Freedom House, said that the amendments would ‘stifle free _expression_ and threaten the financial viability of media outlets in the country’.

[Read more: New policies threaten Armenia’s press freedom]

According to a recent Freedom House report, in 2020 Armenia dropped four points in its ranking on internet freedom. 

‘Despite the government’s reformist stance, concerns about political interference in the judiciary and hostile rhetoric toward the media from government officials persist’, the report reads. 

Despite the decline in ranking, Armenia’s internet is still categorised as ‘Free’. 


Russia Embassy in Armenia pays tribute to victims of 44-day Karabakh war with moment of silence

Chmshkian Vicken
News.am, Armenia
Sept 27 2021
21:24, 27.09.2021

The Embassy of the Russian Federation in Armenia paid tribute to the victims of the 44-day war [in Nagorno-Karabakh] with a moment of silence, as reported on the Facebook page of the Embassy.

“Russia attaches special importance to the fact that the population of Armenia overcomes the stress caused by the war as soon as possible, feels safe and certain about the future. As allies, we are ready to support and are supporting.

Active efforts are being made and practical steps are being taken to maintain regional security and stability, overcome the consequences of the scaled clashes, restore infrastructures, bring the refugees back and finally solve the issue of the release of Armenian captives.

Russia continues its mediation efforts as a co-chairing country of the OSCE Minsk Group to find a long-term settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

We express our deep condolences to the relatives and close ones of the deceased,” the press release reads.

Armenia Eyes Energy Cooperation with Iran

Chmshkian Vicken
Tasnim News Agency, Iran
Sept 25 2021
  • September, 25, 2021 – 10:25 
  • Politics news 

In a meeting with his Iranian counterpart, held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on Friday, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan stressed the need to launch cooperation with Iran in the oil industry and energy sector.

Hailing the close and growing relations between Yerevan and Tehran, he urged that Armenia-Iran Joint Commission should convene as early as possible.

For his part, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian described mutual cooperation in the energy sector as an important section of economic interaction between the two neighbors.

Tehran is ready to host Armenia’s energy minister to discuss the capacities for cooperation, he added.

In separate messages to Armenian President Armen Sarkissian and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on September 21, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi expressed his administration’s willingness to boost relations with Armenia in various fields, saying closer mutual cooperation will fulfill the interests of the two neighbors and strengthen regional security and stability.

​Dilijan to host 9th Pan-Armenian Festival of Arts and Crafts

Chmshkian Vicken
Public Radio of Armenia
Sept 10 2021

Dilijan to host 9th Pan-Armenian Festival of Arts and Crafts

September 10, 2021, 12:54 

The 9th traditional Pan-Armenian Festival of Arts and Crafts will take place on September 25 in Dilijan, Tavush Governor’s Office informs.

The guests of the festival will have the opportunity to watch the unique examples of handicrafts from all regions of Armenia in one place: these include carpets, embroidery, blacksmithing, fine arts, puppetry, national decorations, national costumes, etc.

There will be receptions in all the pavilions, the regions will present their local national cuisine.

The event will be accompanied by a multi-genre concert program.

Wine ad beer tasting and sale is also expected.

The traditional lavash bread will be baked in a unique tonir on the ground.

Lieutenant-General Rustam Muradov positively assesses Russian peacekeeping mission in Nagorno Karabakh

Chmshkian Vicken

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 12:21,

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 10, ARMENPRESS. Former commander of the Russian peacekeeping troops in Nagorno Karabakh, Lieutenant-General Rustam Muradov assesses positively the work of the Russian peacekeepers.

“I assess it only positively. The peaceful population gives us the assessment. Today the life in Karabakh is in normal course. There are, of course, very complex issues, but the process is underway – the people’s return, the solution of a number of problematic issues. Therefore, I think, everything will be normal”, he said, reports TASS.

Rustam Muradov added that after the recent Nagorno Karabakh war, the Russian peacekeepers have been deployed there for five years based on the statement signed by the leaders of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan on November 9, 2020.

“A decision over the extension of the Russian peacekeeping mission will be made in the future”, he said.

Lieutenant-General Rustam Muradov’s mission in Nagorno Karabakh completed on September 6, 2021. Mikhail Kosobokov is the new commander of the Russian peacekeeping troops in Karabakh.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Military experts treat exercises of troops of Azerbaijan and Turkey as ordinary

Chmshkian Vicken
Caucasian Knot, EU
Sept 8 2021

Russian military experts, interviewed by the “Caucasian Knot”, suggest that like the manoeuvres of Russian peacekeepers, the joint exercises of the Azerbaijani and Turkish troops in the Lachin District do not pose any threat of an aggravation of the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that on September 6, the joint tactical exercises of the Azerbaijani and Turkish troops with live fire began in the Lachin District, through which the corridor between Yerevan and Stepanakert passes.

The Azerbaijani-Turkish military exercises in the Lachin District are medium-sized and tactical in their nature, and “something similar” had been conducted by the Russian peacekeepers a little earlier, the “Caucasian Knot” correspondent was told by Pavel Felgengauer, a military observer of the newspaper “Novaya Gazeta”.

According to the expert, “it is hardly worth expecting” a reaction to the exercises of Azerbaijan and Turkey in the form of the Armenian-Russian exercises. “Russia will not react in any way, because Moscow will not benefit from quarrelling with Baku or Ankara. It is not worth expecting an escalation of the conflict because of the exercises as well,” Pavel Felgengauer explained.

“Russia will not benefit from an armed conflict. Especially the one provoked by some exercises,” military political analyst Alexander Perendjiev believes. “Moscow will not allow anything like that. We (Russia) call for cooperation, drawing up a road map, work to resolve the conflict, and to peace agreements in the future. Russia won’t allow Armenia ‘to take revenge’ and Azerbaijan ‘to flex its muscles’,” Alexander Perendjiev emphasized.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on September 8, 2021 at 03:07 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

See earlier reports:

Azerbaijan and Turkey conduct military exercises in Lachin District, Military experts treat Azerbaijani and Turkish exercises as related to Karabakh, Shusha Declaration evidences strengthening of Turkey’s role in the Caucasus.

Author: Oleg Krasnov; Source: CK correspondent

Source: 
© Caucasian Knot

Armenpress: Armenian, Georgian PMs express readiness to boost trade turnover

Chmshkian Vicken

Armenian, Georgian PMs express readiness to boost trade turnover

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 18:10, 8 September, 2021

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 8, ARMENPRESS. At the invitation of Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has arrived in Georgia on an official visit.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister, David Zalkaliani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, met the Armenian PM at Shota Rustaveli International Airport of Tbilisi. Nikol Pashinyan headed to the Government of Georgia from the airport, where Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili met him.

The official welcoming ceremony of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia took place. The state anthems of Armenia and Georgia were performed in the presence of the Prime Ministers of the two countries, performed by a military orchestra. Nikol Pashinyan and Irakli Garibashvili, accompanied by the Commander of the Guard of Honor, inspected the military orchestra and Guard of Honor, after which introduced each other to the members of the official delegations of Armenia and Georgia.

Afterwards, Nikol Pashinyan and Irakli Garibashvili held a private conversation.

In his welcoming speech, the Prime Minister of Georgia said,

” I would like to greet the Prime Minister of Armenia, Mr. Nikol Pashinyan. I am glad that my dear colleague visited Tbilisi today.

I would like to congratulate my colleague once again on his convincing victory in the parliamentary elections. I am confident that he will bring success and development to the Armenian people and Armenia.

Welcome!’’.

 

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said,

‘’ Honorable Mr. Prime Minister,

First of all, let me thank you for the invitation and the warm reception.

It has always been a great honor and pleasure for me to visit the capital of fraternal Georgia, because this is a good opportunity to first communicate with friends and second, to discuss issues of our bilateral, regional and international relations.

I am glad that quite effective cooperation has been established between our governments. I am sure that based on the results of our meeting, the cooperation will become more effective and closer’’.

The private conversation between the Prime Ministers of Armenia and Georgia was followed by an extended-format meeting of the governmental delegations of the two countries. Nikol Pashinyan and Irakli Garibashvili discussed a wide range of issues of the agenda of Armenian-Georgian friendly relations.

The Armenian Prime Minister expressed gratitude to the Georgian side and the Georgian Prime Minister for the efforts made by Georgia for returning 15 Armenian prisoners of war from Azerbaijan, emphasizing that it was a significant contribution to peace and stability in the region. In this context, Nikol Pashinyan highlighted Georgia’s balanced position on the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, which should be based on the principles proposed by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs. The Prime Minister referred to Azerbaijan’s unconstructive policy, anti-Armenian rhetoric, which is a threat to regional stability and security.

The Prime Ministers of Armenia and Georgia noted with satisfaction the significant intensification of high-level bilateral official visits in the last three years, which has given a new impetus to the Armenian-Georgian cooperation.

The parties exchanged views on the domestic political situation in the two countries. Prime Minister Pashinyan noted that for the second time in the history of Armenia the elections are recognized by international observers as completely transparent, free and fair, as a result of which it was possible to overcome the domestic political crisis in Armenia. Nikol Pashinyan noted that the strengthening of the rule of law, including the fight against corruption, opening the era of peace and development for the Armenian people, as well as for the region are the priorities of the Armenian Government’s Action Plan.

The interlocutors discussed the ways for further development of economic ties. The sides expressed mutual readiness to increase trade turnover. In this regard, the work of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation between Armenia and Georgia was highlighted, the next sitting of which is scheduled to be held in Georgia at the end of this year. An agreement was reached to continue the ongoing programs, as well as to develop new initiatives in the fields of transport, energy, high technologies and other spheres.

The sides highlighted the five-sided format of cooperation between Armenia-Georgia-Bulgaria-Greece-Iran and the continuous work on the draft agreement on the establishment of an international transport corridor from the Persian Gulf to the Black Sea.