Author: Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS

Draft Concept of the New Insecurity Assessment System discussed

Emil Lazarian

 19:27,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 25, ARMENPRESS.  Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan chaired a consultation, during which the draft concept of the new Insecurity Assessment System was discussed. It was developed by the interdepartmental commission established in 2021 in accordance with the instructions of the Prime Minister, the PM's Office said in a statement.

Before the draft concept would be presented, Nikol Pashinyan referred to the data presented at the Cabinet meeting regarding the average monthly salary and noted. "The average monthly salary in December 2023 was AMD 356,180, which is AMD 133,399 or 59.9 percent more compared to December 2018, a little lower than I expected. Compared to December 2022, it is more by 25,273 AMD or 7.6 percent."

According to the source, presenting the concept of the new Insecurity Assessment System, Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Anna Zhamakochyan first presented the problems in the current system of insecurity assessment related to the formula, addressability and effectiveness of the system.

Next, the Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Affairs presented details about the new system's implementation policy, goals, new formula, and hybrid verification method based on the system. According to Anna Zhamakochyan, the flaw in the formula of the current system is that based on the indirect assessment of vulnerability, assumed insecurity is measured and the calculation of income plays a secondary role. 

"The most important thing we need to change is changing the formula in the new system, that is, not only the procedures, not only the issue of the target, but the logic of the formula itself. Taking this into account, the hybrid means-testing method was chosen as the basis of the new formula. At the moment, the most important thing is to put the income measurement in the logic of the formula, so that the real picture of our insecurity and the estimated insecurity is visible and understandable, and the policy of the Government is measurable," said the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs. According to Anna Zhamakochyan, through the new method, the right to benefit will be determined based on the family income.

According to Anna Zhamakochyan, the target of the new system is the extremely poor family with monthly income below the Minimum Expenditure Basket. "With this model, it is proposed to target extremely poor groups and achieve the goal that the Government has set before itself, that is, to have 0 percent extreme poverty," said the deputy minister.

According to him, through the new system, necessary efforts will also be made for those registered in the insecurity system to obtain employment and improve living conditions through capacity development. According to Anna Zhamakochyan, integrated case management will be implemented, that is, social work will be conducted with families based on complex needs.

In terms of encouraging people to work, the Prime Minister emphasized that there are various programs in the labor market and added. "We can plan further incentives to increase interest among both the employer and the employee. What's the point of what I'm saying? A person has been in the benefit system for 20 years, and for 20 years the state spends huge resources for him, but his life does not improve. This is the problem. We have to approach this program in the logic of these 20 years, because we can accompany him with subsidies, income tax, and other programs before the work we mention becomes a mentality for him."

It is noted that an exchange of ideas on the draft concept took place, observations were presented about the process of transition from the old system to the new system, the steps for launching the new system, the features of the hybrid method, and the expected results.

Summarizing, the Prime Minister noted that the results of the discussion show that the package has been developed and the implementation of the new system can be started.

Armenian Ombudsperson participates in the Leadership Forum of European Network of National Human Rights Institutions

Emil Lazarian

 21:25,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 24, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan participated in the Leadership Forum of the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI) in Belgium on January 23-24.

According to the Human Rights Defender's Office, about 30 representatives of the ENNHRI member countries took part in the event. Various issues related to human rights and the rule of law were included in the agenda of the discussions.

According to the source, European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders  gave a keynote speech at the Leadership Forum organized for the heads of national human rights institutions.

Pashinyan says Armenia ‘needs new constitution’

Emil Lazarian
Jan 22 2024
 

ByArshaluys Barseghyan

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has suggested the country needs an entirely new constitution, in a move critics have attributed to pressure from Azerbaijan.

Pashinyan first voiced his call for a new constitution on 18 January during a visit to the Ministry of Justice, claiming that the idea was previously discussed at the Ministry of Justice.

‘During one or two working discussions with the Minister of Justice, I recorded that in my opinion and that of a number of colleagues, and I am voicing this opinion so that it becomes the subject of a wider discussion, the Republic of Armenia needs a new Constitution, not Constitutional amendments, but a new Constitution’, said Pashinyan.

He cited two reasons for his proposal to adopt a new constitution: that Armenia’s constitution should be adopted by a fair referendum, and that the country needed a constitution that would make it ‘more competitive and more viable in the new geopolitical and regional conditions.’

‘I wanted to emphasise this so that we can devote ourselves to such work in the near future’, said Pashinyan.

During a meeting with his party in Yeghegnadzor on 20 January, Pashinyan elaborated that Yerevan and Baku had reached a point in peace talks where they wanted ‘additional guarantees’ that neither party ‘harbours territorial claims and hidden ambitions’.

‘Diplomatic texts always have different twists, subtexts, and footnotes. In the footnotes of Azerbaijan’s proposals, and perhaps Azerbaijan in ours, observe the dangers of territorial claims, if not today, then in the future,’ Pashinyan said.

Advertisements

The first paragraph of Armenia’s constitution states the country adopted the constitution is based on the ‘fundamental principles of the Armenian Statehood and the nation-wide objectives enshrined in Armenia’s Declaration of Independence.

One of the bases expressed in the declaration is a joint decision by the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic and the Karabakh Council to ‘reunify the Armenian SSR and the Mountainous Region of Karabakh’.

The move by Pashinyan has been widely interpreted as related to ongoing peace talks with Azerbaijan and the aftermath of Azerbaijan taking control of Nagorno-Karabakh in September 2023.

Tigran Grigoryan, a political analyst and the head of the Regional Centre for Democracy and Security in Yerevan, said that Pashinyan’s calls for a new constitution could have stemmed from statements by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who in December said he expected guarantees from Yerevan against ‘Armenian revanchism’.

He cited an analysis of his from December, where he argued that ‘there is a high probability that one of the guarantees mentioned by Aliyev is that Yerevan gets rid of that normative legal background’.

Grigoryan cited Rusif Huseynov an Azerbaijani pro-government expert, as saying that Armenia’s legislation includes territorial claims against Azerbaijan, ‘and normative legal documents, such as the Declaration of Independence of Armenia adopted on 21 September 1990, refer to the 1989 joint decision on the unification of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh’.

‘This legal background causes concern in Azerbaijan, where scenarios are predicted in which the Armenian Constitutional Court may reject the peace treaty or a subsequent change of power may raise territorial claims’, wrote Huseynov. 

Many in Armenia’s opposition have criticised the move. In a joint statement, four MPs from the opposition Armenia faction viewed Pashinyan’s statement as a veiled message to Azerbaijan and Turkey. 

The four said that Ankara and Baku had long asked Armenia to remove ‘provisions on supporting the right of self-determination of the people of Artsakh [Nagorno-Karabakh] and pursuing the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide.’

‘We note that with this step, Pashinyan is trying to initiate a new attack on one of the pillars of the Third Republic of Armenia, preparing the ground for the satisfaction of another of the incessant Turkish-Azerbaijani demands,’ read their statement.


https://oc-media.org/pashinyan-says-armenia-needs-new-constitution/

US, British forces carry out new strikes in Yemen

Emil Lazarian

 10:58,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. U.S. and British forces carried out a fresh round of strikes on Monday in Yemen, targeting a Houthi underground storage site as well as missile and surveillance capabilities used by the group against Red Sea shipping, Reuters reports. 

The Houthis, who control the most populous parts of Yemen, have said their attacks are in solidarity with Palestinians as Israel strikes Gaza. 

In the latest response, U.S. and British forces carried out strikes at eight different locations in Yemen, with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada and the Netherlands, according to a joint statement signed by the six countries released by the Pentagon. 

“Today, the militaries of the United States and United Kingdom, at the direction of their respective governments with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands, conducted an additional round of proportionate and necessary strikes against 8 Houthi targets in Yemen in response to the Houthis' continued attacks against international and commercial shipping as well as naval vessels transiting the Red Sea. These precision strikes are intended to disrupt and degrade the capabilities that the Houthis use to threaten global trade and the lives of innocent mariners, and are in response to a series of illegal, dangerous, and destabilizing Houthi actions since our coalition strikes on January 11, including anti-ship ballistic missile and unmanned aerial system attacks that struck two U.S.-owned merchant vessels,” the Pentagon said in a statement.

A senior U.S. military official, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said roughly 25 to 30 munitions were fired, including from warplanes launched from a U.S. aircraft carrier.

So far, eight rounds of strikes over the past month have failed to stop Houthi attacks against shipping.

U.S. officials say the strikes have degraded the Houthis' ability to carry out complex attacks. But they have declined to offer any specific figures as to the number of missiles, radar, drones or other military capabilities destroyed so far.

"We are having the intended effect," the U.S. military official told Pentagon reporters.

British Defence Minister Grant Shapps said in a statement that the latest strikes were carried out in self-defense.

U.S. President Joe Biden said last week that air strikes would continue even as he acknowledged they may not be halting the Houthi attacks.

Armenia, Kazakhstan Ministries of Defense sign cooperation plan for 2024

Emil Lazarian

 17:52,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. As part of the official visit to Kazakhstan, a welcoming ceremony of Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan was held Tuesday at the Ministry of Defense of Kazakhstan, Minister of Defense of the Republic of Armenia Suren Papikyan said on social media.

It is noted that after the ceremony, the meeting with the Minister of Defense of Kazakhstan, Ruslan Zhaksylykov commenced with an expanded composition. Discussions during the meeting centered on security and various mutual interests concerning Armenian-Kazakh defense cooperation.

At the end of the meeting, the defense cooperation plan for 2024 was signed between the Ministries of Defense of the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Kazakhstan, which includes a range of activities both in Armenia and Kazakhstan.




No results regarding the opening of the Armenia-Turkey land border, says FM

Emil Lazarian

 18:46,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS.  In Tehran, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan reaffirmed the agreement to open the Armenia-Turkey border for citizens of the third countries and the holders of diplomatic passports, however, there has been no result thus far,  said Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan during the press conference.

"It was discussed and an agreement was reached to open the Armenia-Turkey border for citizens of the third countries and holders of diplomatic passports. We also reaffirmed this agreement with Minister Fidan on October 23 in Tehran.

As you can see, tangible and objective steps have not been taken in this direction, and there is no final result. The border is not open to the people of the mentioned group," said Mirzoyan.

The minister mentioned that there was a study of the infrastructure on both sides, including checkpoints, roads, and bridges, but the border remains closed.




Netanyahu rejects Hamas conditions for Israeli hostage deal

Emil Lazarian

 10:35,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 22, ARMENPRESS. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday rejected conditions presented by Hamas to end the war and release hostages that would include Israel's complete withdrawal and leaving Hamas in power in Gaza, Reuters reports.

As Israeli planes resumed bombing Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters the Israeli leader's refusal to end the military offensive in Gaza "means there is no chance for the return of the (Israeli) captives."

"In exchange for the release of our hostages, Hamas demands the end of the war, the withdrawal of our forces from Gaza, the release of all the murderers and rapists," Netanyahu said in a statement. "And leaving Hamas intact."

"I reject outright the terms of surrender of the monsters of Hamas," Netanyahu said.

Under a deal brokered in late November by the United States, Qatar and Egypt, more than 100 of the estimated 240 hostages taken captive to Gaza during an attack by Hamas militants on Oct. 7 were freed in exchange for the release of 240 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.

Since then, Netanyahu has faced mounting pressure to secure the release the 136 hostages who remain in captivity.

Azerbaijan’s delegation challenged at opening of PACE session

Emil Lazarian

 19:53,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 22, ARMENPRESS. The credentials of Azerbaijan’s delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) have been challenged on substantive grounds on the opening day of the 2024 winter plenary session, PACE said in a press release on its official website.
 
"Making the challenge, Frank Schwabe (Germany, SOC) cited political prisoners in the country, the violent displacement of people from Nagorno-Karabakh, the fact that Assembly rapporteurs were unable to visit Azerbaijan at least three times during 2023, and the lack of an invitation to the Assembly to observe the country’s 7 February presidential election. He was supported by at least thirty members of the Assembly, belonging to at least five national delegations as required by the Rules.
 
The challenge was immediately referred to the Assembly’s Monitoring Committee for report and to its Rules Committee for opinion, and will be debated by the Assembly on the evening of Wednesday 24 January,'' reads the statement.
 
It is noted that under the Rules, the Assembly must vote for one of three options: to ratify the credentials, not to ratify them, or to ratify them “together with depriving or suspending the exercise of some of the rights of participation or representation of members of the delegation concerned in the activities of the Assembly and its bodies.
 
According to the source, the members of Azerbaijan’s delegation may sit provisionally with the same rights as other Assembly members until the Assembly has reached a decision, but shall not vote in any proceedings relating to the examination of their credentials.

PACE elects new president

Emil Lazarian

 19:26,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 22, ARMENPRESS. Greek politician Theodoros Roussopoulos was elected as the new Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) President, PACE stated in a post on X.

Rousopoulos is the 35th PACE President since 1949 and the first Greek national to hold the office.

He serves a one-year term, which may be renewed once.

Previously, Theodoros Roussopoulos was Vice-President of Group of the European People's Party and Chairman of the PACE Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons.

[Lebanese PM] Mikati discusses social programs with Hajjar, int’l relations with EU and Armenian ambassadors

Emil Lazarian
National News Agency, Lebanon
Jan 23 2024

NNA – Caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, on Tuesday met with Caretaker Minister of Social Affairs, Hector Al-Hajjar, at the Grand Serail. 

On emerging, Al-Hajjar said, "We continued our discussion on two key matters. The first pertains to the 'Aman' program and overcoming the hurdle related to the parliament's issued text regarding the project amendment. We are on the path to a solution, and what the PM has proposed will be acceptable. The necessary points will be prepared in the coming week."

Regarding the issue of the most impoverished families, Al-Hajjar said that he had presented a proposal for the year 2024, over which an agreement has been reached on the required mechanism.

"The proposal will be sent to donor countries for implementation in 2024. In the coming days, the payment mechanism for the most impoverished families will be clarified,” he added. 

European Union Ambassador to Lebanon, Sandra De Waele, was also received by the Prime Minister. 

The EU diplomat briefed Mikati on the preparations underway for the eighth conference on Syrian refugees in Brussels.

Additionally, the Prime Minister met with Armenian Ambassador to Lebanon, Vahagn Atabekian, with whom he discussed bilateral relations.