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

Armenian PM receives Nobel laureate Ardem Patapoutian

Emil Lazarian

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 15:35, 16 June 2022

YEREVAN, JUNE 16, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan hosted today Armenian-American scientist, Nobel Prize laureate and molecular biologist Ardem Patapoutian, who arrived in Armenia on the sidelines of Science and Business Days 2022 forum organized by the Ministry of Economy, the PM’s Office said.

“Dear Mr. Patapoutian, I am glad to welcome you and to getting acquainted with you. I welcome your visit to Armenia.

Yesterday I carefully listened to your speech during the graduation ceremony in the Yerevan State University and I am very impressed. I think that Armenia and the entire Armenian people consider your achievements as their own. Of course, it’s a great occasion of pride for us that finally we have also our compatriot among the Nobel laureates.

I also want to thank you for your readiness to support the development of science and education in Armenia. Making tangible reforms in this area is one of our key strategic directions, and we think that science, education reforms are of strategic significance and should determine our country’s future. Of course, it’s important for us to engage the potential of our compatriots in this process, if there is such a readiness.

I want to once again welcome you and I would like to hear from you about your visit, how is it going and how do you spend your time in Armenia”.

In his turn, Ardem Patapoutian said:

“It’s a great honor for me to meet with you and be here. I had a wonderful visit, I am impressed by the welcome you and the government showed to me, but most importantly, by the welcome of the nation.

The happiness of the students I met is really shocking, and I think that even the United States does not appreciate its young scientists in this way. I will be very happy to help in any way, within my capacities. I already met many ministers, education and science sector representatives and the people who have established high-tech companies.

I share your view that science and technologies are very important for the next stage of the life of Armenia, not for the economy, the military field only, but for all areas.

I visited Synopsis, TUMO, and these are two wonderful examples of Armenian ingenuity, which are useful not only for the industry but also contribute to education, improve education which will later nourish and help the economy. I hope I can be useful in the field of healthcare and informatics that has a mathematical basis. I think it will have a major place in future biology.

With its limited budget Armenia could show a strategic approach to those areas where there is an opportunity to reach the maximum in a short period of time. I think there are some directions where we can compete, there are also directions where, I think, it is meaningless to become the best one. I repeat that I will be glad to help within my capacities. I am very excited for the general anti-corruption movement that you have started which is already reflected in the academic field”.

Thereafter, Nikol Pashinyan and Ardem Patapoutian discussed the problems in the fields of science and education in Armenia and the government’s ongoing reforms.

PM Pashinyan said the government is planning to increase the funding for science by 2026 and added that it has already been raised by 80%. He attached importance to Mr. Patapoutian’s observations, recommendations and proposals for promoting the reforms. Pashinyan said that Patapoutian’s example is encouraging for the youth, expressing confidence that his visit will inspire them.

The Armenian-American scientist said he is ready to contribute to the development of science and education in Armenia with his knowledge, experience and potential.

At the end of the meeting, Pashinyan awarded Patapoutian with the Order of St. Mesrop Mashtots for his significant achievements in the field of biology.

“We did not give up”: Armenian opposition changes its tactics after over a month of protests

Emil Lazarian

June 17 2022


  • JAMnews
  • Yerevan

Armenian opposition changes tactics of political struggle

“The movement started by the Armenian opposition has become a [significant] factor for the international community, they no longer think they can do whatever they want with Armenia“. This statement was made by Ishkhan Saghatelyan, one of the leaders of the Resistance movement.

The Armenian parliamentary opposition began large-scale protests at the end of April. Their demand was the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. According to opposition representatives, the government led by Pashinyan intends to “make Nagorno-Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan.” Opposition deputies cite the statement of the Prime Minister of Armenia that “the international community expects Armenia to lower the bar on the status of Nagorno-Karabakh”.

France Square, where the opposition set up tents and blocked traffic, reopened on June 15. According to Saghatelyan, the tents have been removed, but this does not mean the end of the movement or a pause, but a change of tactics. The opposition intends to expand the range of its actions, create regional structures, involve Nagorno-Karabakh and the diaspora to the protest movement.

The movement is not considering the issue of a candidate for prime minister at the moment. The oppositionists say they will discuss this issue after the resignation of the current government.

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Referring to the prime minister’s latest speech, Saghatelyan said that Pashinyan had effectively lost his only trump card, the “peace agenda” promoted by his government.

“According to the negotiation logic we inherited, Nagorno-Karabakh could not obtain a status outside of Azerbaijan without the consent of Azerbaijan. This legacy was the basis and cause of the war”, the Prime Minister of Armenia said on June 15.

Pashinyan said that the only guarantee of the security of the state was a comprehensive peace, hence the peace agenda: “Any alternative would be disastrous not only for Nagorno-Karabakh, but also for Armenia. We can’t let that happen”.

“If there are no guarantees in terms of security, no guarantees in terms of peace, what will he do? It is obvious that Nikol and Aliyev have a schedule, an agreement on the transfer of the country”, said Ishkhan Saghatelyan.

According to him, as a result of opposition protests, this schedule was disrupted, but the process did not stop.

“If there is a sane person who thinks that it will be possible to ensure the security of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, being part of Azerbaijan, then he is either a traitor or has no idea about the situation”, Saghatelyan said.

The prime minister made a statement about the failed negotiation process on the Karabakh settlement by his predecessors. Experts called him “manipulative”

According to the oppositionist, the main issue – the removal of Nikol Pashinyan from power – remains unresolved, but over these months the movement has serious achievements.

According to him, before the street struggle, only “the voice of defeat and compromise” was heard from Armenia, which was also noticed by the international community:

“The Armenian people have shown that the current government does not have a mandate for new concessions”.

Saghatelyan assured that the opposition’s approach was heard by the international community. The oppositionist called this circumstance a historical achievement:

“No matter how much [the authorities] try not to ignore it, this movement is talked about at the highest level. They no longer think they can do whatever they want with Armenia”.

According to the leader of the movement, Azerbaijan is also following the developments in Armenia.

“Azerbaijan’s daily worries and statements are the result of this movement, because Aliyev is well aware that when he loses his partner in Armenia, his plans will remain unfinished”, he said.

Saghatelyan also spoke about the omissions of the movement, emphasizing that they failed to achieve a higher level of organization, and therefore failed to form a “regular civilian army” from the protesters. According to him, such an army could bring acts of disobedience to such a level that the government could not withstand this onslaught and filed a resignation.

Political scientist Armen Grigoryan calls for urgent revision of Armenia’s foreign policy to replace the ongoing “pseudo-diversification” of the country’s foreign affairs

According to Saghatelyan, the liquidation of the protest camp in France Square does not mean that the movement has retreated from its goals. He says the tents have already done their job, and the forces of citizens are needed elsewhere. Where exactly, the oppositionist did not specify.

“All the talk about the break, about the retreat is just talk. Our plan is not to take a break, but to expand areas of activity. The work is in full swing”, he said.

To increase the effectiveness of the struggle, the opposition intends to change the structure and tactics of the movement. In order to “achieve the final victory”, they consider it necessary to involve the inhabitants of the regions of Armenia, Nagorno-Karabakh and the foreign Armenian diaspora in the movement.

Saghatelyan said that the struggle to achieve the main goal, that is, the resignation of Prime Minister Pashinyan, will begin in August.

According to him, first it is necessary to create political and legal grounds for the resignation, and then nominate a new candidate for the post of prime minister.

The vice-speaker of the parliament confirmed that the opposition deputies would return to the National Assembly, but only with their own agenda. The oppositionists do not intend to give up their mandates, since, according to Saghatelyan, they will still be needed to consolidate their final victory in parliament.

Will Armenian opposition MPs loose their mandates? Ruling party and opposition MPs, as well as legal expert discuss the legality of stripping opposition deputies of mandates for missing sessions amid protests

The success of the movement depends on all the citizens involved, the defeat will also depend on the people, the leader of the opposition movement believes.

However, the plans of the opposition are not limited to the change of power. According to Saghatelyan, their goals should become the main tasks of the next government.

“The goal of our movement is to prevent the deportation of Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh, the Turkification of Armenia and threats to the sovereignty of Armenia. This agenda should be implemented after the change of power”, said Ishkhan Saghatelyan.

The oppositionist said that there are regular discussions between the members of the movement and former presidents Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan. According to him, the goal of the presidents is to get the country out of the current situation, and not to return to power.

The leaders of the two parliamentary factions that took to the streets and demanded the resignation of the current prime minister are representatives of the former government, former Armenian presidents Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan.

https://jam-news.net/we-did-not-give-up-armenian-opposition-changes-its-tactics-after-over-a-month-of-protests/

Session of CSTO Committee of Secretaries of Security Councils launched in Yerevan

Emil Lazarian

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 09:45, 17 June 2022

YEREVAN, JUNE 17, ARMENPRESS. The session of the Committee of Secretaries of Security Councils of the member states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) launched in Yerevan on June 17, Armenpress correspondent reports.

Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan announced the opening of the session.

The session is attended by Secretary of the Security Council of Belarus Alexander Volfovich, Secretary of the Security Council of Russia Nikolay Patrushev, Secretary of the Security Council of Kazakhstan Gizat Nurdauletov, Secretary of the Security Council of Kyrgyzstan Marat Imankulov, Secretary of the Security Council of Tajikistan Nasrullo Mahmudzoda and CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas.

After the announcement of Chairman Armen Grigoryan, the session continued in a closed format.

Armen Grigoryan and CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas will make a joint statement after the session.

 

Reporting by Aram Sargsyan

Armenia hasn’t rejected proposal of trilateral meeting in Tbilisi: Foreign Ministry comments on Aliyev’s statement

Emil Lazarian

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 11:13, 17 June 2022

YEREVAN, JUNE 17, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia commented on the statement of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev according to which Armenia rejected the proposal to hold a trilateral meeting in Tbilisi at the level of foreign ministers of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.

“We not only have not rejected, but also have always positively reacted to such a possible meeting, at the same time noting that work needs to be done to ensure the efficiency of the meeting”, MFA spokesperson Vahan Hunanyan said in response to query of ARMENPRESS.

Chief of Staff at PM’s Office and Vice Speaker of Parliament to chair STARMUS VI Festival organization commission

Emil Lazarian

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 11:30, 17 June 2022

YEREVAN, JUNE 17, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a decision on setting up an inter-agency commission to coordinate the organization works of the STARMUS VI Festival which will take place in Yerevan this year on September 5-11.

The commission will be co-chaired by Chief of Staff at the Prime Minister’s Office Arayik Harutyunyan and Vice Speaker of Parliament Hakob Arshakyan.

Officials from other agencies are also involved in the commission.

More than 90 European organizations address letter to Charles Michel on his mediation concerning NK conflict

Emil Lazarian

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 12:16,

YEREVAN, JUNE 17, ARMENPRESS. On the initiative of the European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy (EAFJD), 91 organizations active in the EU Member states sent a letter to the President of the European Council Charles Michel, expressing profound discontent with his statement following the trilateral meeting with the Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev dating to 23 May 2022, Armenpress reports citing the EAFJD website.

“The organizations welcome Charles Michel’s efforts for peace negotiations. Nevertheless, they emphasize the importance of ensuring that peace is negotiated based on justice and not by sacrificing the fundamental rights and needs of the Armenian side which has been a victim of vicious aggression of the Turkish-Azerbaijani tandem in 2020.

The organizations regret that the press statement of 23 May disregards key principles of EU’s documented approach towards the resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and overall endorses the Azerbaijani stance on the conflict resolution in some crucial aspects. This includes using the wording “Karabakh” while referring to the conflict, instead of “Nagorno Karabakh” which is a political entity with a defined territory. The letter further elaborates that using the term Karabakh by the Azerbaijani authorities is a part of the ongoing state policy of ethnic cleansing against the indigenous Armenian population of Nagorno Karabakh.

Referring to the statement by the spokesperson of Charles Michel on 31 May 2022, the organizations express appreciation that it introduced important clarifications and emphasized key principles. The organizations express hope that EU’s future mediation on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict does justice to negotiating an equitable and lasting peace. For this purpose the call on the President of the European Council to base the mediation on six concrete aspects”, the statement says.

Ardem Patapoutian expresses readiness to support Armenian Healthcare Ministry’s programs in fighting cancer

Emil Lazarian

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 12:36,

YEREVAN, JUNE 17, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Healthcare of Armenia Anahit Avanesyan met with Armenian-American scientist, Nobel Prize laureate and molecular biologist Ardem Patapoutian, who arrived in Yerevan within the framework of the Science and Business Days 2020 forum.

“We talked about the current situation, achievements of the healthcare system and the systematic reforms that have entered a new phase. Patapoutian was interested in the activities being carried out to overcome the pandemic and the consequences of the war and made valuable observations on the field.

Highlighting the ongoing reforms in the sector, particularly the programs in fighting cancer, he expressed readiness to support our programs in fighting the disease, stating that the system is open now more than ever, and today he feels himself closer to the Armenian land, culture and homeland”, Anahit Avanesyan said in a statement on social media.

FM Mirzoyan briefs U.S. Assistant Secretary of State on developments in Armenia-Turkey normalization process

Emil Lazarian

 

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 13:14,

YEREVAN, JUNE 18, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan received today U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Karen Donfried, the foreign ministry reports. 

The sides touched upon the Armenian-American bilateral relations that are based on common values of human rights, democracy and rule of law, as well as the prospects of expanding the cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

Highlighting the positive dynamics in the mutual visits and contacts at an official level, the Armenian FM praised the visit of the delegation of Armenia to the United States this May and the meetings held there, as well as the launch of the activities within the Armenia-U.S. Strategic Dialogue. 

Issues relating to regional security and stability were also discussed. 

Minister Mirzoyan presented the current developments in the activity of the delimitation and border security commission between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the unblocking of economic ties and transportation communications in the region.

Touching upon the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, FM Mirzoyan highlighted the need for fully resuming the peaceful negotiations for the comprehensive and lasting settlement of the conflict within the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship, in this context emphasizing the efforts of the U.S. as a Co-Chair country.

FM Mirzoyan also presented the current humanitarian problems caused by the 2020 Azerbaijani aggression against Artsakh, particularly the issues on immediate release of Armenian prisoners of war and civilians held in Azerbaijan, and the preservation of Armenian cultural and religious heritage in the territories under the Azerbaijani control.

FM Mirzoyan briefed the guest also on the developments in the Armenia-Turkey normalization process. The necessity of taking concrete steps for the normalization was emphasized.




Georgian PM arrives in Armenia on working visit, meets with Pashinyan in Dilijan

Emil Lazarian

 

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 17:11,

YEREVAN, JUNE 18, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili arrived in Armenia on a working visit. 

[see video]
The Georgian PM met with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Dilijan town, the Armenian PM’s Office said.

The two PMs said that the high-level intensive contacts show that the Armenian-Georgian relations are dynamically developing and the political dialogue is at a high level. 

They discussed issues and prospects on the Armenia-Georgia cooperation agenda.

Views were exchanged also on the regional situation and developments. 

The sides reaffirmed the readiness to consistently deepen the friendly ties and agreed to continue the active dialogue.

Putin to Khachaturyan: Armenia is not just our partner, it is also our strategic ally, and we appreciate it

Emil Lazarian
ARMINFO
Armenia –
Marianna Mkrtchyan

ArmInfo. On the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Russian leader Vladimir Putin had a conversation with Armenian President Vahagn  Khachaturyan.

According to the Kremlin press service, during the conversation,  Putin expressed the hope that Khachaturyan did not coming to St.  Petersburg to participate in the Economic Forum.

“We have been holding this event for 25 years, it has become a  landmark, at least for our country, for Russia. I hope for our  partners as well. And Armenia is not just our partner, it is also our  strategic ally, we appreciate it. We understand everything that is  happening today in Armenia, around Armenia, we are determined to  develop our partnership relations, We are interested in the situation  of the country to be stable and guarantee development.

I hope that our meeting today will also contribute to this,” Putin  said.

In turn, Khachaturyan noted that he had not been to St. Petersburg  for a long time, he had been there in Soviet years- these were the  1980s, until 1992.

“And this is another opportunity for me to see how [the city] has  changed. And I can also give an assessment, as a former mayor of the  city, that in reality the city looks very good.  I know your personal  attitude towards St. Petersburg – I also feel about Yerevan,” he  said.

As for the St. Petersburg forum, the President of Armenia stated with  regret that he was taking part in it for the first time. At the same  time, he assured that as an economist, as a specialist, he always  followed, and always highly appreciated it, because from the economic  point of view, very interesting discussions are taking place here.

“And yesterday’s discussion, which took place on the platforms, is  also very interesting: the economic leaders of the country, your  adviser [assistant to the President M. Oreshkin], the Minister of  Economy [M.  Reshetnikov], the chairman of the Central Bank [E.  Nabiullina]. And I also wanted, as a specialist, to understand how  events will develop, and my, so to speak, expert assessment coincided  with what you also spoke about today.

By the way, I followed very carefully. I have always been engaged in  the economic aspect and I want to say that I agree with your  conclusions. In fact, this is a new time. Actually, we probably need  to think about how to develop further in the new conditions that  provide new opportunities”, added the RA President.

At the same time, Khachaturyan agreed, for example, with the  conclusions made by the head of the Central Bank: there is no need to  think that this situation will change, sanctions will stop or end  soon – you just need to get used to it and prepare the economy for  completely different tests.

At the same time, he expressed confidence that the Russian economy  will endure, based on what resources are available, what  opportunities are available, taking into account the past two months.   “Those expectations, forecasts, as you also have mentioned, even by  Russian specialists, financiers and economists, did not come true.

It is also interesting what methods the Central Bank, economic  bodies, the Ministry of Finance used to ensure that the ruble  recovered, inflation stopped, and development continued. Even now,  the current, latest forecasts of the International Monetary Fund have  also changed towards positive, that is, the assessments that were  given,” the Armenian leader added.

At the same time, Khachaturyan expressed his conviction that the  Armenian people appreciate the efforts of the President of Russia in  the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. “. I can state that  your efforts made for stopping the war are appreciated not only by  myself personally, but also I know that they are appreciated by the  people of Armenia. 

In fact, you wanted to stop it early, somehow end the war, and I know  your efforts. There was such an opportunity on October 19 [2020] – we  talked about this with Sergei Viktorovich [Lavrov] when he was in  Yerevan. But it so happened that on November 9 [2020], but most  importantly, the war stopped.  And after that, your efforts to  prevent any hostilities, so that these agreements between you, the  Prime Minister [of Armenia] and the President [of Azerbaijan] are  actually consolidated and observed, is also very important for us,”  he said.

At the same time, the President of Armenia noted that both he and the  Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, the Government of the  Republic of Armenia are determined to live together with Russia, to  use joint efforts in order to simply develop. “I’m sure that our  further relations will develop, of course”.