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

Armenia and Europol Sign Agreement to Tackle Cross-Border Organized Crime

Emil Lazarian
Sept 18 2021

The agreement will enable both partners to work on some key areas such as migrant smuggling, cybercrime, drug trafficking, asset recovery, money laundering, organized property crime and trafficking in human beings.

ByHomeland Security Today

On September 16, Europol and Armenia signed a strategic cooperation agreement to expand cooperation to combat cross-border criminal activities. 

The agreement will enable both partners to work on some key areas such as migrant smuggling, cybercrime, drug trafficking, asset recovery, money laundering, organized property crime and trafficking in human beings.

The agreement allows for the exchange of general strategic intelligence as well as strategic and technical information and operational information with the exception of personal data, and will lead to the secondment of an Armenian Liaison Officer to Europol.

The signing of the Agreement on Strategic Cooperation concludes the successful negotiations between Armenia and Europol on how to effectively join forces to fight serious and organized crime. 

After entry into force of the agreement, this new level of cooperation will be important for tackling priority crime areas affecting both the European Union and Armenia.

Read the announcement at Europol

https://www.hstoday.us/subject-matter-areas/border-security/armenia-and-europol-sign-agreement-to-tackle-cross-border-organized-crime/

Police detain a citizen protesting against the planned ‘colorful celebration’ of Independence Day

Emil Lazarian
Panorama, Armenia
Sept 18 2021

A protest action against the September 21 Independence Day celebration is underway near Moscow cinema in Yerevan. Dozens of police officers are deployed in Charles Aznavour Square who have already detained one citizen. The detention sparked the outrage of the gathered public. 

The police explained that the detained citizens had thrown insulting remarks about the law enforcement. It is expected that the protest participants will march to the Republic Square where the main celebration is scheduled to take place. Among the participants of the actin is producer Armen Grigoryan. Grigoryan informed that police had warned that they would not let the march reach the square. 

“I will do what I think is right and they would do what they have been instructed to do,” said Grigoryan. 

To remind,  ‘the colorful celebration’ of Armenia’s Independence Day was announced a week ago by Nikol Pashinyan during the cabinet session. The statement sparked an outrage among the public who considered Pashinyan’s wording and initiative as inappropriate after the recent Nagorno-Karabakh war and thousands of victims. 

The protect action can be watched live through 168.аm broadcast. 

Armenian, French FMs point to the need of resuming the NK peace process under the auspices of OSCE Minsk Group

Emil Lazarian
Panorama, Armenia
Sept 17 2021

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan held on Friday a phone conversation with Foreign Minister France Jean-Yves Le Drian. The interlocutors commended the consistent development of Armenian-French privileged relations and reiterated their interest in expanding the multidimensional cooperation. The sides agreed to discuss in detail in the near future the prospects of promoting the cooperation in the economic sphere, including through the implementation of new development programs in Armenia.

The Foreign Ministers touched upon the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, emphasizing the need of resuming the peace process within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship. Ararat Mirzoyan noted that Armenia and Armenian people highly appreciate the position of the French government and parliament and the steps undertaken during and following the aggression unleashed by the Azerbaijani side against Artsakh.

The sides also exchanged views on the humanitarian issues following the 44-day war, in this context specifically emphasizing the immediate repatriation of Armenian prisoners of war and captured civilians held in Azerbaijan.

The sides touched upon the situation resulting from infiltration of the Azerbaijani armed forces into the sovereign territory of Armenia. The need to make efforts aimed at de-escalating and stabilizing the situation was stressed. Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan also expressed gratitude to the French side for its continued support in the fight against COVID-19.

U.S. Representatives file eight amendments to hold Azerbaijan and Turkey accountable

Emil Lazarian
Panorama, Armenia
Sept 17 2021

U.S. Representatives are leading the charge to block U.S. arms and aid to Azerbaijan, as part of a series of eight pro-Artsakh/Armenia amendments to the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (H.R.4350) filed this week, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). 

Other amendments demand Azerbaijan’s immediate release of Armenian POWs; call for an investigation of the use of U.S. technology in Turkish drones used against Artsakh and Armenia; explore ways to expand U.S. aid to Artsakh; and, designate Turkey’s “Grey Wolves” as a terrorist group.

The ANCA is leading a nationwide grassroots effort – anca.org/ndaa – to secure cosponsors for each of the amendments, which are set to be considered by the House Rules Committee as early as Monday, September 20th. The full U.S. House will have the opportunity to vote on each of the amendments ruled “in order” during consideration of H.R.4350. Amendments with strong, bipartisan backing are generally considered more favorably by Rules Committee members.

“We thank Representatives Cardenas, Pallone, Schiff, Sherman, Speier, Titus, and Valadao for offering their Congressional colleagues a long-overdue opportunity for an up-or-down vote on zeroing out all U.S. military aid to oil-rich Azerbaijan and other key pro-peace initiatives,” said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA. “In the wake of Azerbaijan’s ethnic cleansing last year of 100,000+ indigenous Armenians from Artsakh – amid Aliyev’s ongoing invasion and occupation of Armenian territory – the Congress must act in a bipartisan manner to hold both Azerbaijan and Turkey accountable for their violent anti-Armenian aggression.

Newspaper: Armenia-Azerbaijan agreement details known

Emil Lazarian
News.am, Armenia
Sept 17 2021
10:16, 17.09.2021

YEREVAN. – Hraparak daily of Armenia writes: According to our sources, negotiations were taking place in Moscow with the Azerbaijani side over the so-called “peace agreement.”

We were told that the negotiations are over, and the Armenian side was very pleased with the results. It seems that an agreement was reached to start the process of [border] demarcation and delimitation without specifying the status of Artsakh [(Nagorno-Karabakh)], within the framework of the maps of the Soviet Union.

It was managed to extend the presence of the Russian side indefinitely, without the limitations for 5 years.

Armenia opposition MP: Border demarcation occurs when countries have no problems with each other

Emil Lazarian
News.am, Armenia
Sept 17 2021
14:55, 17.09.2021

The [border] demarcation process takes place only when the countries do not have any problems with each other. Hayk Mamijanyan, a lawmaker from the opposition “With Honor” Faction, noted this Friday during the traditional briefings in the National Assembly of Armenia—and answering reporters’ questions.

The opposition MP was asked, in particular, that if the Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is guided by the maps of the ex-Soviet Union for border demarcation, then why a bill is not tabled to the Armenian parliament for debates, and which would prepare legal and historical grounds for ensuring proper demarcation and which would take into account historical justice.

“It will be very painful and insulting for me if there are people in Armenia’s parliament who will consider that Armenia has no problem with Azerbaijan,” Mamijanyan responded.

Armenia PM’s assistant to relatives of fallen soldiers: 30th anniversary of Independence Day event must be held

Emil Lazarian
News.am, Armenia
Sept 17 2021
Armenia PM’s assistant to relatives of fallen soldiers: 30th anniversary of Independence Day event must be held
18:56, 17.09.2021

Assistant to the Prime Minister of Armenia Nairi Sargsyan is discussing the situation created in front of the government building with the relatives of deceased servicemen.

The relatives demand canceling the concert dedicated to Independence Day on September 21 which Prime Minister Pashinyan recently said would be “a vivid celebration”.

One of the parents offered the assistant to the Prime Minister to cancel or postpone the event and, instead, march to Yerablur Military Pantheon to pay tribute to the heroes who were martyred during the war. Other relatives mentioned that it would have been more appropriate to spend the funds for the event to solve the problems of servicemen and volunteer soldiers who were wounded or became disabled during the war. Another relative asked why the government was organizing a large-scale event at Republic Square when the coronavirus situation has worsened.

Nairi Sargsyan said there wouldn’t be a fireworks display, adding that the memorable events of the past 30 years of Armenia’s history would be shown during the event through enactment. According to him, the event is dedicated to Independence Day, which must be celebrated, and since this year marks the 30th anniversary, the government decided to celebrate it worthily and pay tribute to the victims. The relatives opposed and asked if the government could hold the event after the death anniversary of the servicemen, to which Sargsyan said the fallen soldiers died in different periods and it would be wrong to set a specific date since soldiers died this year as well.

Sargsyan offered the relatives to enter the government building and discuss the issue, but the relatives have different opinions (some support the government’s suggestions, others sharply refuse to enter the building and participate in any discussion).

Russian deputy FM, ICRC President discuss NK humanitarian problems

Emil Lazarian

Save

Share

 11:41,

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Sergey Vershinin and President of the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) Peter Maurer held a meeting in Geneva on September 14, the Russian foreign ministry reports.

“The detailed discussion of the current humanitarian agenda in Afghanistan, Syria, Nagorno Karabakh and other regions continued during the meeting. In this context the practical aspects of strengthening the partnership between Russia and the ICRC have been considered”, the ministry’s statement says.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Armenia to host 2022 CSTO meetings

Emil Lazarian

Save

Share

 12:25,

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. The next meetings of the foreign and defense ministerial councils and the committee of heads of security councils of CSTO member states will take place in Armenia in the first half of 2022, the CSTO said in a press release.

“An individual protocol decision has been made in this regard,” the CSTO said.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

Armenia, Portugal expand business ties, boost investments: memorandum signed in Yerevan

Emil Lazarian

Save

Share

 13:49,

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. Armenia and Portugal plan to expand the commercial cooperation.

Today, on September 16, the leaders of the respective structures of the two countries signed a memorandum of cooperation for boosting the business ties and investments.

CEO of the Trade Agency and Investments of Portugal (AICEP) Luís Filipe de Castro Henriques and Director of the Enterprise Armenia Levon Ohanesyan signed the respective document in Yerevan.

The Director of the Enterprise Armenia said that Armenia, in terms of foreign investments, is interesting also as an EAEU market.

Currently, Armenia has certain business cooperation with Portugal. However, Mr. Ohanesyan is confident that still a lot needs to be done. “We must strengthen those bilateral business ties, organize business forums so that our and Portuguese businessmen will get acquainted with one another and will start cooperation”, he said.

According to the memorandum, the sides agreed to strengthen the business ties with forums and expand the partnership. “Portugal will direct its investors to us, we will serve them with the one window principle and will assist at all stages. As well as, if there is an interest from the Armenian side to invest in Portugal, we will do the same”, he said and thanked the Armenian Ambassador to Portugal, the diplomatic corps.

In his turn Luís Filipe de Castro Henriques said: “We believe that Armenia will very soon be much more interesting for the Portuguese business. Currently, the business community of Portugal doesn’t know so well Armenia. This is the first step”.

He also commented on the geographical positions of Armenia and Portugal. “We believe that when Portuguese companies arrive in Armenia, we will look at the whole region with which you have trade, and when Armenian companies arrive in Portugal, they will look at the region with which Portugal has trade”, he said, adding: “We are searching for new trade opportunities, not only for expanding the current export, but also diversifying the export portfolio”.

He stated that there are some fields which can have potential investments from Portugal in the future, in particular mentioning the fields of IT and food production.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan