15:14, 29 May 2023
YEREVAN, MAY 29, ARMENPRESS. Secretary of the Security Council Armen Grigoryan will visit Slovakia and Moldova for working meetings, according to the official decree register.
Grigoryan will be in Bratislava, Slovakia on May 31-June 1 and then in Chisinau, Moldova on June 1-2.
09:58, 30 May 2023
YEREVAN, MAY 30, ARMENPRESS. Several unmanned aerial vehicles attacked the Russian capital on Tuesday morning, damaging several buildings, RT reported citing a statement from Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin.
Two drones struck residential buildings, according to local news reports.
Sobyanin, citing data from the city medical services, said that no residents of the buildings hit by the UAVs were seriously hurt. He added that two people requested medical assistance at the scene.
Moscow Region Governor Andrey Vorobyov said in a statement that “several drones” bound for Moscow were shot down by air defenses.
"This morning, residents of some districts in the Moscow Region could hear the sounds of explosions – it was our air defense in operation. Several drones were downed on their course to Moscow," TASS news agency quoted Vorobyov as saying.
Emergency services are clarifying the circumstances of the incident, Moscow authorities added.
[see video]
The attack comes after two drones – claimed by Russia to have been Ukrainian – attempted to strike the Kremlin earlier this month. Moscow accused Ukraine of attempting to assassinate President of Russia Vladimir Putin and vowed retaliation, but Kiev denied responsibility.
11:37, 31 May 2023
YEREVAN, MAY 31, ARMENPRESS. The lack of democracy in Armenia had been used as an instrument to cover up the truth about the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said.
“The absence of democracy or the attitude towards democracy in Armenia had served as an instrument to prevent us from knowing the truth about the Karabakh issue. Of course I don’t want to spark a political debate, but the model that only a few people have expert-level knowledge on the Karabakh issue is the clearest evidence for that. This is the biggest problem that we have faced,” Pashinyan said at the Armenian Forum for Democracy.
Pashinyan added that now, in conditions of democracy, they are learning new information about the Nagorno Karabakh issue, decrypting new meanings and subtexts of well-known words.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan arrived in Turkey on a working visit.
The Prime Minister is accompanied by the Vice President of the National Assembly of Armenia, the Special Representative of Armenia for the normalization process between Armenia and Turkey Ruben Rubinyan.
The Special Representative of Turkey for the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations of the Turkish side, Ambassador Serdar Kilic, met the Armenian PM at Ankara’s Esenboga Airport.
Prime Minister Pashinyan will attend the inauguration ceremony of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Bilateral relations between Türkiye and Armenia have been strained for many years.
One of the most important reasons for the cold relations between the two countries is the Armenian side's stance on the 1915 events.
The Armenian side is trying to have the world recognize the so-called "genocide" of the "deportation" policy of the Ottoman Empire against Armenians during the World War I.
While Türkiye says that both sides suffered greatly during the war, it strongly rejects Armenia's so-called genocide allegations.
Both Ankara and Yerevan have recently taken steps to normalize bilateral relations.
Türkiye and Armenia are taking steps to normalize their bilateral relations.
At a time when normalization efforts are underway, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's statements attracted considerable attention.
Pashinyan stated that the government has frozen its attempts to have the so-called genocide allegations recognized in the international arena and called on the Armenian diaspora to adopt the same attitude.
The recent change of policy by Pashinyan, who has been on the agenda with his anti-Türkiye statements in previous years, is considered as an indication that the normalization efforts in the relations between Türkiye and Armenia have yielded results.
Source: turkiyegazetesi.com.tr
Pashinyan sold Putin out, not just betrayed. To make it even clearer, I will put it this way – for euros.
The topic of betrayal is not up for discussion at all. It is obvious and has already been discussed multiple times. In the long-range view, there is nothing left to discuss, there is even nothing to predict and forecast.
What Pashinyan is doing has been clear for a long time. In 2008 some guy named Nikol Pashinyan stepped in when in the same year Turkey announced its plans for a Caucasus platform which would unite the Turkic states. For some reason Iran was not part of this platform, Georgia, once again cherishing its independence, rejected it, and the Caucasus platform apparently collapsed. Russia's recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent countries also ruined Erdogan's dream, which in fact was not so much about the unification of Turkic states as about the formation of a new Turkish empire.
Once again, Armenia got in the way, and the orphan Azerbaijan further strengthened its position as Turkey's younger brother by virtue of its usefulness.
Years of attempts to fraternize with Russia and squeeze it out of the South Caucasus went wrong: Georgia sought independence and, although it had a well-deserved hatred for Russia, the country also had diplomatic dexterity and enough wisdom not to lose its independence due to the conflict with Russia over South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Turkey waited for a while and found another way to put pressure on Russia, using the other two self-proclaimed republics and the non-Georgian mindset of Ukraine.
Armenia and Artsakh: A different leader was needed here, someone who, amazingly enough, wrote just in 2008 about a "corridor" connecting Turkey and Azerbaijan to serve the Turkish and U.S. interests… about the handover of parts of the Artsakh Republic to Azerbaijan. Yes, Pashinyan and Turkey found each other.
You all know very well that happened next: a war and a total shattering of the Armenian people’s hopes and goals
Now let’s get back to the present day.
May 27
"We are perfectly aware of the goals of the forces seeking to isolate our brother, Azerbaijan," Turkish Minister Cavusoglu says and reiterates the importance of the Organization of Turkic States platform, "which gives strength and confidence to Turkic-speaking countries."
Meanwhile, the Armenians are convincing the Armenians not to dream about Ararat and to give up what they have… Turks are pushing for their Turkish empire. The Armenians are ashamed of their liberated homeland and sow doubts, whereas the Turks are not ashamed to occupy the countries of others.
And, notably, they say, "the goals of the forces." What forces are left? Armenia is defiantly not a force, the U.S. is a force, but it's on the same side as Turkey, while Europe is “chaneling” the Azerbaijani gas… If anyone remains as a force, it's Russia. Who else? China is far away and it also doesn't need these games here yet.
May 28
Aliyev decides to spoil a national holiday in Armenia – the Republic Day marking the anniversary of the First Armenian Republic in 1918. Incidentally, it was the Armenian that was among the allies that had defeated and imposed capitulation on Turkey.
Did the Civil Contract party say something about the First Republic? Well, Erdogan probably told Aliyev and Pashinyan to say some bad things.
So, Aliyev is encouraged to lay out new demands: "The delimitation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border must be carried out exclusively on Baku's terms, the road to Nakhichevan must be opened and the Armenian troops must withdraw from Nagorno-Karabakh.”
The fact that there is a road linking Nakhichevan to Azerbaijan through Iran is constantly forgotten.
"We are the strong side, we are the ones who have a strong position at the negotiating table, we are the ones who have a strong position on the border. Even if the peace treaty is not signed, we will live comfortably and safely," says the Baku dictator, (as Iran expert Vardan Voskanyan would refer to him).
See, it turns out that only Armenia needs this peace deal, does it? Do they think we really need the withdrawal of troops from Artsakh and its depopulation? What are they saying? This is all just aimed at intimidating people. And Pashinyan, who amazingly pretends to be law-abiding, saying he can't speak on behalf of Artsakh because he wasn't elected by them, renounces Artsakh at Europe and Asia trips.
That's how a talented salesman should be. And you are saying it’s about Azerbaijani gas.
June 1
At the end of the five-sided meeting between the leaders of France, Germany and the European Council chief in Chisinau, Aliyev and Pashinyan reaffirmed their mutual recognition of each other's territorial integrity.
Recognition is not a problem, but the recognition of Azerbaijan’s territory within some square kilometers amounts to Nikol’s final renunciation from Artsakh, as well as his responsivity for the deaths of the Armenian heroes.
June 2
It turns out later on that the French president's statement following the Chisinau meeting was not to Aliyev's liking: "The statement made unilaterally by the French president about the meeting does not reflect and distorts the position of the parties,” Azerbaijan’s foreign ministry spokesperson said.
So what actually happened that even Macron "distorted" the reality?
June 2
The Kremlin reacts to Pashinyan's statement that he (it doesn't feel right to subscribe to any "we" Pashinyan says) is not Russia's ally in the war with Ukraine.
"We have taken note of it,” Peskov says.
Thus, Pashinyan fulfils Turkey’s dream, quietly forcing Russia out of the game, because the latter is busy fighting its own war, you might say, with its fellow people, and will have no desire to go above and beyond for the Armenians who renounce the country… and themselves. Slowly or rapidly, Turkey is heading towards the Caucasus platform – the Turkish empire.
The rest is as clear as it was a century ago.
Anahit Voskanyan
MOSCOW, June 2. /TASS/. Moscow factors in Armenia’s position on the conflict around Ukraine but continues developing allied relations with it, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said on Friday.
"We have taken note of that," he said, commenting on Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s statement that his country does not support Russia on the conflict in Ukraine. However, in his words, the West thinks otherwise and this causes concern for Yerevan.
"It is an important statement," Peskov said. "We know that there are certain nuances in Armenia’s approach to the conflict around Ukraine and we take them into account."
"Naturally, we continue to develop our conceptually allied relations with Armenia," he stressed.
On Thursday, Armenia’s cabinet disclosed a transcript of Pashinyan’s interview with CNN Prima News in early May. The Armenian prime minister said that his country was not Russia’s ally in the conflict with Ukraine and this situation was directly affecting relations between the two countries.
The ANCA Policy Seminar will include presentations by respected experts across the fields of government, media and public relations, in addition to roundtable discussions and advocacy workshops.
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Several prominent Armenian-American professionals in the field of government, media and public affairs will headline the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Policy Seminar at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum on June 4.
The invitation-only program will include presentations by respected experts across the fields of government, media and public relations, in addition to roundtable discussions and advocacy workshops. The seminar will bring together ANCA activists from across the United States and provide a platform for community leaders to gain insights and share their own experiences into the most effective approaches for promoting grassroots political engagement, building momentum behind state and regional policy priorities, and advancing our community’s federal legislative priorities through sustained advocacy.
The conference will be headlined by Ken Khachigian, who will offer reflections on his career as an influential political strategist in a fireside chat with ANCA Nevada co-chair Lenna Hovanessian.
Khachigian, known as the “Lion of California GOP [Republican Party] Politics,” served as an adviser on nine presidential campaigns – and worked in the Presidential administrations of Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and Gerald Ford. Most notably, he served as President Reagan’s chief speechwriter, authoring many of the president’s most consequential speeches – including his remarks on Holocaust Remembrance Day, where Reagan became the first President to publicly acknowledge the Armenian Genocide.
Khachigian also served as a senior advisor on California Governor George Deukmejian’s gubernatorial campaigns and managed the California campaign for Presidential candidate Bob Dole – a long-time champion of the Armenian people.
The conference will also feature a panel discussion led by prominent Armenian Americans in the field of media and communications. Senior political editor at POLITICO Charlie Mahtesian will join senior vice president of Edelman Public Relations Stephan Pechdimaldji and AXIOS Breaking News reporter Sareen Habeshian in a discussion on how the Armenian-American community can more effectively impact the media landscape.
In addition to his current role at POLITICO, Mahtesian has served as the editor-in-chief of National Journal’s Almanac of American Politics, the biennial book often referred to as “the bible of American politics,” as well as politics editor and deputy Washington desk chief at National Public Radio (NPR). Pechdimaldji is a communications strategist who has managed public and media relations for some of the top publishing and media companies in the country, including Time Inc., Los Angeles Times, Yahoo!, and CBS Interactive. Habeshian is a reporter with Axios, prior to which she worked at KTLA as a digital news producer – where she extensively contributed to coverage of the Armenian American community.
The ANCA Policy Seminar will also feature a panel discussion with Armenian-American elected officials who have played a critical role in advancing issues of importance to the Armenian-American community – including Glendale City councilmember and former mayor of Glendale Ardashes “Ardy” Kassakhian, Glendale City councilmember Elen Asatryan, and Rolling Hills Estates city councilmember and professor of governance at the University of Southern California Frank Zerunyan.
The conference will conclude with a panel discussion featuring ANCA executive director Aram Hamparian and ANCA Government Affairs director Tereza Yerimyan, who will provide an overview of the ANCA’s short- and long-term strategic policy objectives, including the organization’s engagement with key Congressional and Administration branch stakeholders on the following priorities:
— Delivering sustained US pressure on Azerbaijan to end its blockade of Artsakh
— Prohibiting all US arms sales and security assistance to Azerbaijan
— Providing immediate US humanitarian assistance to Artsakh
— Ensuring accountability for Azerbaijan’s ongoing war crimes and human rights abuses
— Securing the release of Armenian POWs illegally detained and tortured by Azerbaijan
— Defining Armenia’s security as the highest US-Armenia bilateral priority
— Recognizing the Artsakh Republic’s inalienable right to self-determination
The ANCA Policy Seminar will build upon a legacy of ANCA service to the cause of Armenian liberty that dates back more than a century, leveraging robust youth programs, vast grassroots reach in all 50 states, vigorous community engagement, and resilient coalition partnerships. The ANCA, as a grassroots Armenian American organization with chapters throughout the US, is deeply anchored in the community. The ANCA remains aligned with our enduring national aspirations – the security and survival of the Armenian homeland – while constantly updating our policy priorities and advocacy tactics to adapt to and overcome the challenges of a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape.
15:55, 1 June 2023
YEREVAN, JUNE 1, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan participated in the second European Political Community Summit in Chisinau, Moldova on June 1.
PM Pashinyan held brief meetings with several heads of state and government in attendance. In particular, the Armenian PM talked about issues of mutual interest with Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob, Latvian Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, French President Emmanuel Macron, Prime Minister of Andorra Xavier Espot Zamora, President of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, Prime Minister of Portugal Antonio Costa, Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, President of Switzerland Alain Berset and President of the European Council Charles Michel.
The Armenian Prime Minister will have a meeting later on June 1 with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, together with the President of France, Chancellor of Germany and the President of the European Council.