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

Vilnius supports closer EU-Armenia integration – Lithuanian president

Emil Lazarian

May 20 2022


  •  2022-05-20

    •  

  •  BNS/TBT Staff

VILNIUS – Lithuania supports closer integration between the European Union and Armenia, President Gitanas Nauseda said on Friday. 

As part of his official visit to Yerevan, Nauseda met with his Armenian counterpart, Vahagn Khachaturyan, to discuss bilateral cooperation, the security situation in the Caucasus region, democratic reforms in Armenia, and EU-Armenia relations, the Lithuanian president’s office said in a press release.

“Especially now, when Ukraine is fighting not only for its sovereignty but also for European values and democracy, keeping the EU’s Eastern Partnership policy active is essential,” it quoted Nauseda as saying.

“Closer cooperation between the EU and Armenia and the implementation of democratic reforms will contribute to the country’s resilience, security, social and economic prosperity,” he said. 

Nauseda noted that bilateral relations between Lithuania and Armenia have “untapped potential” and “expressed his hope that both the direct flight between Vilnius and Yerevan and the political will at the top level will boost bilateral cooperation”.

The president expressed his support for Armenia’s efforts to carry out democratic reforms and noted that the country has already made progress, but it is important to continue the reforms.

He said that “Lithuania is ready to share its experience and help Armenia on the path towards democratic reforms”.

The Lithuanian and Armenian leaders also discussed the security situation in the Caucasus region.

In the fall of 2020, Armenia and Azerbaijan fought a six-week war over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh that killed more than 6,500 people.

Hostilities ended with a Russia-brokered ceasefire deal under which Armenia ceded several areas it had controlled for decades and Moscow deployed a peacekeeping contingent in the region.

Nauseda “stressed that Lithuania stood for a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and welcomed the direct dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan with efforts to normalize bilateral relations”, according to the press release. 

Tatoyan: Azerbaijanis fired from positions that have been on Armenia sovereign territory for over year

Emil Lazarian
NEWS.am
Armenia –
12:19, 22.05.2022

Azerbaijanis fired yesterday and a few days before mainly from positions that have been on the sovereign territory of Armenia for more than a year, Ex-Ombudsman of Armenia Arman Tatoyan wrote on his Facebook.

Shots, officially confirmed yesterday, May 21, by Armenia, due to which the Armenian serviceman was wounded, were fired in the neighborhood of the village of Norabak.

Ombudsman: The people of Artsakh will not accept a document providing for autonomy within Azerbaijan

Emil Lazarian
NEWS.am
Armenia –
14:50, 22.05.2022

No autonomy is acceptable for the people of Artsakh, Artsakh Ombudsman Gegham Stepanyan told reporters, answering a question about the possibility of signing an agreement between the heads of Armenia and Azerbaijan, according to which Nagorno-Karabakh can be granted the status of cultural autonomy.

Nikol Pashinyan and Ilham Aliyev are scheduled to meet in Brussels today.

“This is not an end in itself and not a whim. The people of Artsakh already know what autonomy is within Azerbaijan. He knows by clear demographic indicators, by the discriminatory policy pursued by the leadership of the AzUSSR. The number of the Azerbaijani population in the NPO was growing, the number of the Armenian population was declining. The Azerbaijani way of life, culture and so on were imposed on the people of Artsakh. We have repeatedly said that we will not be part of Azerbaijan. No matter who accepts, we will not be part of Azerbaijan,” he said.

Asked if the document nevertheless becomes a reality, the Ombudsman noted that the people of Artsakh will not accept it.

“The statements of the National Assembly, the daily statements of the Foreign Minister testify that the authorities and the people of Artsakh unanimously say: there are red lines that cannot be crossed, Artsakh will not be part of Azerbaijan. The fate of the people cannot be decided without taking into account their will. The person sitting in Brussels and Washington cannot decide how a resident of Stepanakert or Martuni should live. This is absurd,” he said.

Gegham Stepanyan noted that following the results of meetings in various formats, he also got the impression that under the guise of introducing international mechanisms for the protection of rights, involvement in Azerbaijan is being dragged through.

“Our clear answer was make no mistake, it’s impossible. We see a discriminatory policy, then there were 30 years of Azerbaijan’s policy of hatred towards Armenians. What rational person would think after that that Artsakh can live as part of Azerbaijan or that the rights of Artsakh people can be protected in Azerbaijan?”

Gegham Stepanyan recalled that 80 civilians were brutally killed by the Azerbaijanis.

“Azerbaijan systematically destroys Armenian cultural monuments in the occupied territories. What kind of autonomy can we talk about? concluded the Ombudsman.

Signing of any document is not planned in Brussels: Armenian Security Council Secretary

Emil Lazarian
ARMINFO
Armenia –
Naira Badalian

ArmInfo.Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and President of the European Council Charles Michel are not planning to sign any document at their upcoming trilateral meeting in Brussels, the  Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan said in  response to a query from Armenpress news agency.

The Secretary of the RA Security Council also touched upon the  criticism that the agenda of the meeting is classified. “That’s to  say the least a strange criticism because the current agenda of our  discussions with Azerbaijan is well known. These are: the points  presented by us and by Azerbaijan for the normalization of relations  or launch of peace talks, which are also disclosed and include the  topic of the NK conflict settlement, issues of return of captives and  revealing the fate of those missing, issues relating to opening of  regional connections, delimitation and demarcation of borders, as  well as issues relating to the launch of the work of the trilateral  commission dealing with border security. This is the same agenda that  was discussed during the previous meetings.” 

Armen Grigoryan stated that there are no plans to sign any document  in Brussels, because, for example in the issue of opening regional  connections a working group co-chaired by deputy prime ministers is  active and discussions on agreements reached on the highest level  must continue in that format. “The same can be said on the other  issues which are being discussed more in detail in working formats.  Therefore, no document is planned to be signed in Brussels.  Presumably there will be a press release on the results of the  discussions,” he pointed out.

The citizen is the key guarantor of democracy in Armenia – PM Pashinyan

Emil Lazarian
Public Radio of Armenia
Armenia –
, 15:25

 1 minute read

The citizen is the key guarantor of democracy in the Republic of Armenia, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at the Armenian Forum of Democracy.

He noted that Armenia is the right place for holding the forum.

“The citizen of the Republic of Armenia knows that he is a decision-maker, that he is the main, key subject as provided by the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia,” PM Pashinyan stated.

“The Republic of Armenia went through great shocks after the 44-day war in 2020, and it was the citizen of the Republic of Armenia who prevented the collapse of the statehood of the Republic of Armenia, the loss of sovereignty and independence,” he noted.

He pointed out two key questions – to what extent democracy is able to protect the country’s security and to what extent democracy is able to protect and preserve the sovereignty and independence of the country.

“The answer to the second question is unequivocal: democracy is the most important and key factor in preserving the sovereignty, guaranteeing and preserving the independence of the Republic of Armenia today. Our task is to prove that democracy is able to ensure the external and internal security of the country. In this regard, I would like to emphasize the importance of the peace agenda adopted by the Government of the Republic of Armenia, for which the citizen of the Republic of Armenia has given a mandate,” Nikol Pashinyan continued.

In general, he said, “it’s very important to formulate and discuss the peace agenda with the logic that, in the end, the key decisions in the country are made by the citizen in accordance with the rules of democracy, the Constitution and the legislation.”

“It is very important that we provide complete and relevant information to the citizen so that he or she is sufficiently informed in making his or her decisions,” the Prime Minister said.

Humanitarian consequences of Azeri aggression against Artsakh discussed at meeting of Armenian, Irish FMs

Emil Lazarian

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 13:51,

YEREVAN, MAY 21, ARMENPRESS. On May 20, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan of Armenia, who is in Turin to participate in the 132nd session of CoE Committee of Foreign Ministers, met with Foreign Minister of Ireland Simon Coveney, the Armenian foreign ministry said in a press release.

The interlocutors referred to the issues on the cooperation agenda between Armenia and Ireland at bilateral and multilateral levels.

Minister Mirzoyan stressed that Armenia welcomes the priorities of the forthcoming Irish Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, aimed at protecting human rights, fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law, and emphasized their importance, especially in the context of conflicts.

Referring to humanitarian consequences resulting from the Azerbaijani aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh in 2020, Ararat Mirzoyan emphasized the need for the involvement of the Council of Europe.

2021 election gave answers to all questions raised today by demonstrators – Deputy PM

Emil Lazarian

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 14:26,

YEREVAN, MAY 21, ARMENPRESS. The 2021 parliamentary election in Armenia gave answers to all the questions that are now being raised by the protesters in the country, the Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan told RIA Novosti.

When asked whether or not the Armenian government plans to hold snap elections, Grigoryan said: “The absolutely democratic, free and lawful parliamentary election that took place in June of 2021 in Armenia gave the answers to all the questions that are today being circulated by the minority protest movement.”

Armenpress: Representatives of 15 countries to participate in Eurasian Economic Forum in Bishkek

Emil Lazarian

Representatives of 15 countries to participate in Eurasian Economic Forum in Bishkek

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 10:10,

YEREVAN, MAY 20, ARMENPRESS. Around 1700 people from 15 countries will participate in the first Eurasian Economic Forum in Kyrgyzstan’s capital of Bishkek, Vice Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan Arzibek Kojoshev said at a press conference, reports TASS.

“We expect that a total of about 1700 people will participate in the Eurasian Economic Forum”, he said, adding that as of this moment the representatives of ten countries of Latin America and South-East Asia have confirmed their participation. He informed that all members states of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), Armenia, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, will be represented at the Forum.

The Eurasian Economic Forum will start on May 26.

The Forum program includes a plenary session involving the Heads of the EAEU States and the Chairman of the EEC Board, as well as six panel discussions:

  • “Eurasian Integration Strategic Development Prospects in the Time of Global Changes”;
  • “Financial Markets and Development Institutions: Opportunities for Macroeconomic Stability and Growth Points of the EAEU Countries’ Economies”;
  • “Manufacturing Industry and Agriculture as Drivers of the Union’s Economic Growth and Ensuring Economic Security”;
  • “Energy and Transport Infrastructure to Promote Economic Development and Integration”;
  • “EAEU Digital Agenda 2.0”;
  • “New Areas of Interaction in the EAEU”.

Ombudsperson addresses urgency of repatriating Armenian POWs from Azerbaijan at meeting with Russian ambassador

Emil Lazarian

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 12:18,

YEREVAN, MAY 20, ARMENPRESS. Human Rights Defender Kristinne Grigoryan held a meeting with the Russian Ambassador to Armenia Sergey Kopirkin, the Human Rights Defender’s Office said in a press release. 

The Russian Ambassador congratulated Grigoryan on assuming office and attached importance to effective cooperation between the embassy and the Human Rights Defender’s Office and emphasized their readiness to continue the cooperation.

Ambassador Kopirkin highlighted the important role of the Human Rights Defender in terms of the development of state institutions and properly reacting to the developments taking place in the country. He appreciated the Human Rights Defender’s efforts aimed at guaranteeing the freedom of assembly taking place during these days and respect and protection of human rights during the rallies.

Grigoryan addressed the urgency of repatriating the Armenian prisoners of war, including civilians, held in Azerbaijan and stressed the important and responsible role of Russia in this matter.

The Human Rights Defender presented the security issues, humanitarian and social issues identified during the regular meetings with the families of the POWs, families of those missing, as well as the residents of border towns.

Grigoryan expressed hope that Russia will continue its important efforts in the direction of repatriating the POWs.

The sides stressed the importance of close cooperation between Armenian and Russian Human Rights Defender institutions both bilaterally and multilaterally, including as part of the Eurasian Ombudsmen Alliance.

As we brought democracy to Armenia, so let’s bring peace: PM calls for unity

Emil Lazarian

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 13:15,

YEREVAN, MAY 20, ARMENPRESS. Democracy today is the most important factor to guarantee and preserve the sovereignty and independence of Armenia, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said in his remarks at the Armenian Forum For Democracy.

“I think that there are two very important questions which we need to answer. The first one is to what extent democracy is capable to protect and preserve the country’s security and to what extent democracy is capable to protect and preserve the country’s sovereignty and independence. I think that I already gave the answer to the second question and this question that today democracy is the most important and key factor for guaranteeing and preserving the sovereignty and independence of the Republic of Armenia. And our task is to prove that, yes, democracy is capable to ensure the country’s external security and internal security. In this respect I want to highlight the peace agenda which was adopted by the government of Armenia and for which the citizen of Armenia gave a mandate. In general, I think that the formulation of the peace agenda and its discussion is very important also in the logic that eventually, the citizen makes the important decisions in the country, as I said, in accordance with the democracy rules, the Constitution and the legislation. It’s very important that we give complete and proper information to the citizen so that he/she is informed enough while making decisions. Recently and quite often we touch upon issues relating to the peace agenda, the negotiation processes, the history. Some interpret this as a debate between the previous and present leaderships. But it has nothing to do with it. And our government, our political team considers it its duty to provide citizens with sufficient and proper information about what has happened with us so that the citizen is aware of the problems deelpy and makes the decisions he/she should make in the future. The citizen of Armenia made the decisions based on the analysis of this information”, the PM said.  

Pashinyan said that for many years they fought for the establishment of democracy in Armenia and carried out their mission, however, “it is not over yet”.

“Now, in order to strengthen democracy, it’s very important that we unite around one more mission. As we have brought democracy to Armenia, so let’s bring peace to Armenia, because I think that one can exist without another with a great difficulty. And I can at least state with pride that there is a political leadership in Armenia who is united around this mission. I think that all democratic forces in Armenia should gather around this mission because one is a continuation of the other. This doesn’t mean that we should have the same opinion and vision on all issues, but I think that at this stage it is highly important that we sincerely, by looking at the eyes of each other, analyze the history of our country of the past 30 years and be able to do this in an atmosphere of sincerity and honesty. Democracy creates sufficient conditions for this. Therefore, the continuation of our mission of democracy is our mission of peace which is much heavier, much more difficult and requires much more strength and will. I believe and I am convinced that we will implement this mission as well because if there is no belief, there will also be no readiness to take and bear the responsibility”, the PM said.