Author: Emma Jilavian

Finance minister holds meeting with EU ambassador

Emma Jilavian

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 11:47, 4 May, 2022

YEREVAN, MAY 4, ARMENPRESS. Finance Minister Tigran Khachatryan held a meeting with the Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia Andrea Wiktorin.

The EU Delegation Head of Cooperation Section Frank Hess also participated in the meeting.

Khachatryan attached importance to the activities of the EU in Armenia, and presented the macroeconomic situation in the country and addressed possible risks and impacts on the Armenian economy in the context of regional developments.

Ambassador Wiktorin underscored that the EU always shares the challenges facing Armenia and is ready to continue providing support to the Armenian government, and presented details from the ongoing EU projects in Armenia.

Ambassador Wiktorin praised the Armenian government’s efforts directed at strengthening the Armenia-EU cooperation and expanding the partnership circle.

The course of implementation of the Armenia-EU CEPA, the content and goals of ongoing reforms were also discussed.

Such statements do not contribute to formation of peace agenda – Armenian Security Council Secretary on Aliyev’s remarks

Emma Jilavian

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 13:41, 5 May, 2022

YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan commented on the recent statements of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev according to which the process of clarifying the borders with Armenia will be implemented on the basis of all the maps of 1918 and the once that existed before the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, and that according to some of the maps of 1918 to 1920, Yerevan and Syunik were allegedly part of Azerbaijan.

Speaking to reporters, Grigoryan said that he is not going to make any statement over the maps or the historical excursion, adding that all maps and historical facts exist, any member of the society both in Armenia and Azerbaijan can get acquainted with the maps and know whom which territory historically belonged to.

Armen Grigoryan said that one of the issues of the possible peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan is the recognition of each other’s territorial integrity.

“Of course, we note that in 1992 Armenia and Azerbaijan recognized each other’s sovereign territories and sovereignty within the CIS, but you also know that other developments have taken place in the future, but Armenia and Azerbaijan continue recognizing each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. Of course, such statements do not contribute to the formation of a peace agenda and to working in a calm environment. We hope that such statements will be as few as possible”, he said.

AP: Armenian authorities block roads, warn anti-govt protesters

Emma Jilavian
May 4 2022

Authorities have blocked streets in Armenia’s capital and warned anti-government protesters against trying to seize the country’s parliament building

4 May 2022, 18:31
2 min read

YEREVAN, Armenia — Authorities blocked streets in Armenia’s capital Wednesday and warned anti-government protesters against trying to seize the country’s parliament building as they demonstrated to demand the prime minister’s resignation.

Police used cement mixers and trucks to close off roads and bridges leading to the center of Yerevan as demonstrators chanted, “Armenia without Nikol,” referring to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

The protesters, meanwhile, used cars to block the area around pedestrian underground passageways at major intersections. They marched in at least 10 directions.

“We can speak with the authorities about only one thing – their immediate departure,” Ishkhan Saghatelyan, vice president of the country’s parliament, the National Assembly of Armenia. He also is chair of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation’s Supreme Council.

Police arrested some of the protesters, and security officials warned them against trying to storm the parliament building. Pashinyan was scheduled to speak to parliament on Wednesday.

Anti-government demonstrations have taken place almost daily since April 17. The prime minister became a renewed target of rancor after he spoke in parliament about the need to sign a peace agreement with neighboring Azerbaijan.

The two countries have clashed for decades over the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh, which is part of Azerbaijan but has been under Armenian control since early 1990s. During a six-week war in 2020, Azerbaijan reclaimed control over some of the region before signing a Russia-brokered truce with Armenia.

https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/armenian-authorities-block-roads-warn-anti-govt-protesters-84494375

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https://www.lmtonline.com/news/article/Armenian-authorities-block-roads-warn-anti-govt-17147303.php

Turkish press: ‘Almond Blossom Festival’ takes place in Turkey’s Van for first time

Emma Jilavian
 VAN, TURKEY APR 29, 2022 – 3:28 PM GMT+3

Organized by the Van Culture and Tourism Provincial Directorate on Akdamar Island in the Gevaş district of Van, the “First Almond Blossom Festival” was the scene of colorful images, Van, Turkey, April 28, 2022. (IHA Photo)

Akdamar Island on Turkey’s Van has been home to the “Almond Blossom Festival” amid blossoming trees around Lake Van.

With the support of the Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism, the Governorship of Van, and the Metropolitan Municipality, the “Almond Blossom Festival” has brought a fresh breeze of blossoming trees which takes on a different beauty every season. Van Governor and Deputy Mayor of Metropolitan Municipality Mehmet Emin Bilmez, other high-ranking officials, and many citizens have joined the festival.

Organized by the Van Culture and Tourism Provincial Directorate on Akdamar Island in the Gevaş district of Van, the “First Almond Blossom Festival” was the scene of colorful images, Van, Turkey, April 28, 2022. (AA Photo)

The festival started with a cortege from the central district of Gevaş. The visitors reached the island after a 20-minute boat ride. Within the scope of the activities held in front of Akdamar Church, the folklore team performed. Meanwhile, the bride and groom, who came to the island for the photoshoot, together with Governor Bilmez, and the accompanying protocol members, danced the halay. During the festival, where poems were recited, local artists also sang Turkish and Kurdish songs.

Speaking at the festival, Governor Bilmez thanked all the institutions that contributed to the festival and added that from now on, they would organize the Almond Blossom Festival every year in the season when almond flowers bloom.

Organized by the Van Culture and Tourism Provincial Directorate on Akdamar Island in the Gevaş district of Van, the “First Almond Blossom Festival” was the scene of colorful images, Van, Turkey, April 28, 2022. (AA Photo)

“Our main goal here is to introduce our city to the world, on the one hand, the ancient artifacts that are still standing in the bosom of dozens of civilizations. We want to preserve our natural beauties and riches, and introduce the life, culture, folklore, and music of our people to the world. This is our culture,” he said.

“Akdamar Church was built in Anatolia during the most dominant period of Islamic civilization. This is the greatest symbol of Anatolian Islamic civilization,” he added.

“I hope that after the security forces clear the area from terrorist attacks, we will see serious developments in tourism, animal husbandry, and our industry. Hopefully, there will be more to come,” he said.

Organized by the Van Culture and Tourism Provincial Directorate on Akdamar Island in the Gevaş district of Van, the “First Almond Blossom Festival” was the scene of colorful images, Van, Turkey, April 28, 2022. (AA Photo)

The guests who came to the island took lots of photos of the landscape accompanied by the snowy Artos Mountain, the turquoise blue of Lake Van, and the blooming almond trees.

“We held the first of our festival this year. We will make it permanent by doing it every year. We try to make a significant contribution to the city’s tourism with events,” Provincial Culture and Tourism Director Erol Uslu said.

Opposition MP criticized behavior of Premier and pro-government media in connection with fatal accident in Yerevan

Emma Jilavian
ARMINFO
Armenia –
Marianna Mkrtchyan

ArmInfo. MP from the “Armenia” opposition faction Aram Vardevanyan harshly criticized the behavior of Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashyyan, who did not show any  reaction in connection with the fatal incident involving his security  motorcade. He also criticized the position of some, including the  pro-government, media, for their unjustified passivity about this  tragic story.

“Partners from “Azatutyun” Radio (RFE/RL’s Armenian Service, ed.  note), I publicly appeal to you.  How is it that you are extremely  passive on the fact of a tragic and obvious crime? You use any excuse  to mention the name of second President of the Republic of Armenia  Robert Kocharyan on the tragic incident in “Poplavok” (Yerevan jazz  cafe where Kocharyan’s security guard beat a man to death in 2001).  Why don’t you write that Nikol Pashinyan, seeing the crime  personally, left Sona Martirosyan (a pregnant woman who was hit by an  escort car at high speed, ed. note) (Article 128 of the Criminal Code  of the Republic of Armenia). Why don’t you write that the person who  told the people that his motorcade is stopping and will stop at a red  light, is moving around the city at BREAKNECK speed, hitting people,  spitting on public order. Write, cover, eliminate hypocrisy,” the  opposition MP wrote.

It should be noted that earlier, the Investigative Committee of  Armenia reported that in the framework of the criminal case initiated  under Art. 242 part 2 and art. 244 part 1 of the RA Criminal Code,  the necessary investigative actions are being taken to clarify the  circumstances of the fatal accident at the intersection of Paronyan  and Leo streets. “According to preliminary data, on April 26, at  about 18:06, at the indicated intersection, the commander of an  officer platoon of the Traffic Police in a Toyota Prado car hit a  28-year- old resident of the Ararat region. The latter with bodily  injuries was taken to the Nairi medical center, where she died  without regaining consciousness. The driver of the car left the scene  of the accident, but later returned to the scene at about 20:05 and  took part in investigative measures. He was detained. The preliminary  investigation continues,” the RA Investigative Committee said in a  statement.

This 28-year-old pregnant woman who died in this accident by the  motorcade of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan was Sona Mnatsakanyan. In  the evening, citizens began to bring toys, flowers and burning  candles to the scene of an accident that claimed two lives. It is  also worth adding that the news that after the accident, none of the  seven cars accompanying the prime minister’s motorcade stopped to  help the woman caused a wide public outcry. However, the prime  minister’s office only commented “Nikol Pashinyan was not driving.”  Neither condolences were expressed in connection with the tragic  incident, nor words of regret.  We note that Sona Mnatsakanyan was a  founding member of Support Our Heroes and the leader of the Artsakh  Tever IT Center project group within SOH.  “Sona will always remain  in our hearts as an exemplary patriot and a dear friend with great  human values. Our condolences to Sona’s family, loved ones,  friends…”, the respective message of Support Our Heroes – Armenia  reads. 

Nizhny Novgorod TV tower lit up in Armenian flag colors

Emma Jilavian

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 15:19,

YEREVAN, APRIL 21, ARMENPRESS. The TV tower of the Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod was lit up in the Armenian flag colors on the occasion of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s visit.

[See video]
Pashinyan visited Nizhny Novgorod on April 20 as part of his official trip to Russia.

In Nizhny Novgorod, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia first visited the factory of GAZ Automobile Plant, where, accompanied by the chairman of the company Vadim Sorokin, toured the plant, got acquainted with the products.

Afterwards, the Prime Minister visited the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin, laid a wreath at the eternal flame, paying tribute to the memory of the victims of the Great Patriotic War. Nikol Pashinyan toured the Kremlin State Art Museum, the Bell Tower, the Alley of Military Glory, and the Cathedral of Archangel Michael.

The Prime Minister had a private conversation with the Governor of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast Gleb Nikitin, discussed the possibilities of developing cooperation in various fields.

The Prime Minister also visited the Armenian Holy Savior Church, lit candles.

Nikol Pashinyan concluded his visit to Nizhny Novgorod with a meeting with representatives of the Armenian community, during which the Prime Minister referred to the results of his official visit to Russia and answered various questions, which referred to the situation around Nagorno Karabakh, economic cooperation between Armenia and Russia, implementation of investment programs in the Motherland and other topics.

Forcible annexation of Artsakh to Azerbaijan will lead to the destruction of the republic: Artsakh announces its "red lines"

Emma Jilavian
ARMINFO
Armenia –
Naira Badalian

ArmInfo. Artsakh has never been and never will be a part of Azerbaijan, and any discussions on this issue are unacceptable for the people of Artsakh. NA Speaker Artur  Tovmasyan announced this on April 14 at an extraordinary session of  the Artsakh Parliament.

Yesterday, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, speaking in  parliament, said that the international community urges Armenia to  slightly lower the bar on the status of Nagorno-Karabakh. ”  Otherwise, please do not pin your hopes on us, and not for the reason  that we do not want to help you, but because we cannot help you,” the  RA Prime Minister said. After this statement by Pashiyan, a meeting  of the Security Council was convened in Artsakh. “Azerbaijan’s  proposals regarding the status of Artsakh are unacceptable,” Artsakh  President Arayik Harutyunyan said at a meeting with the leadership of  the regional administration, heads of communities, and active  representatives of the population in Martakert.

“Artsakh has never been and will never be part of an independent  Azerbaijan, and any discussions around this issue are unacceptable  for us. This is a” red line “that no one has the right to cross. The  forcible annexation of Artsakh to Azerbaijan will lead to the  destruction of Artsakh and will become a geopolitical, historical and  a moral tragedy for the Armenian statehood and the Armenian people,”  the President of the Artsakh Parliament said.

Tovmasyan emphasized that the people of Artsakh are full of  determination and will not deviate from the chosen path. “We have  paid a very high price for our freedom and independence. And you have  no moral right to close our history in an unworthy way,” the Speaker  of the National Assembly of Artsakh noted.

At the suggestion of Tovmasyan, the PMs honored the memory of the  martyrs with a minute of silence.  “Eternal Honor to all our  soldiers-liberators who died in the three Artsakh wars, in the border  regions of Armenia and in March 2022 at the height of Karaglukh. We  all understand that they died in the name of the Armenian nation, in  the name of the existence of the people of Armenia and Artsakh,”  emphasized the President of Parliament.

As Artsakhpress reports, Artsakh Foreign Minister David Babayan also  responded to Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. “I don’t know  what it means – you have to ask him. We don’t have a bar issue, we  have a problem of ‘red lines’. This is a ‘red line’ that no one has  the right to cross,” the Artsakh Foreign Minister said.

According to him, the authorities and the people of Artsakh are  united and “not only the people of Artsakh, but any normal person,  any normal Armenian is convinced that Artsakh will not be part of  Azerbaijan.” “There will be no Artsakh, there will be no Armenia  either – this is a simple truth. Let no one think that there is an  alternative – there will not be,” the Minister said.

Members of Armenian parliament visit Helena, Yellowstone

Emma Jilavian
April 5 2022


    Cece Braken, of the Lewis and Clark County elections office, talks with Armenian members of parliament about the election process on Tuesday at the City-County Building.

    THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record


Several members of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia are visiting Helena and other parts of Montana this week, following an agenda peppered with visits with state officials, learning about the American political system, touring Yellowstone National Park and getting a taste of life in the Big Sky State.

The six-member group arrived March 31 in a visit hosted by WorldMontana, an affiliate of Global Ties that participates in the International Visitor Leadership Program sponsored by the U.S. State Department. This was WorldMontana’s first in-person program since 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Stops included meetings with the Montana Legislative Division, Secretary of State’s Office and various state lawmakers, a visit with Lt. Gov. Kristen Juras, tours of the Helena Independent Record and Montana Historical Society, a stop at the Commissioner of Political Practices Office and a visit with the Lewis and Clark County elections office.

“They had a lot of questions about the school elections, especially about the differences between how their country runs their school system and how we run our school system,” said Connor Fitzpatrick, elections division supervisor. “Their government is more involved.”

“They were a great bunch,” he said.

The Armenia contingent will be in Helena through Thursday, according to their agenda.

Other stops on the agenda include a visit to the office of Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., a visit to the Montana Department of Commerce, a presentation with Helena Rotary International Club and dinner at the Montana Club.

The group also met with Dave Hunter, a U.S. political and parliamentary consultant based in Montana, and was to meet with Patricia Cotter, former state Supreme Court justice.

During their visit to the Independent Record, they said mining is the No. 1 industry in Armenia, but that most people work in agriculture. Although there are about 8 million Armenians living throughout the world, only about 3 million live in Armenia. 

They also said they are geographically located so that both Russians and Ukrainians visit their country. They said Russia is a strategic partner.

They said there are 107 members of their parliament, comprised of three main factions.

Separate group photos were taken during their visit to the Independent Record, with members saying they were not allowed to have photos taken with other factions. 

WorldMontana hosts nearly 150 international leaders through this and other programs each year. Participants may include parliament members or international leaders in the fields of environmental affairs, local government, media, education, human rights, law, e-commerce, management of nonprofit organizations, livestock and wildlife management or foreign affairs.

Alexandra “Sasha” Fendrick, executive director of WorldMontana, said the tours provide a people-to-people experience.

“They are professional politicians, but they are also people,” she said.






COVID-19: 16 new cases, 1 death in Armenia

Emma Jilavian

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 11:16, 29 March, 2022

YEREVAN, MARCH 29, ARMENPRESS. 16 new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Armenia in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 422,484, the ministry of health said.

2416 tests were conducted on March 28.

The recoveries rose by 34 in a day, bringing the total number to 409,853.

1 death case has been registered. The death toll has risen to 8611.

As of March 29, the number of active cases is 2344.

Britain urges Armenia, Azerbaijan to de-escalate in Karabakh

Emma Jilavian
PanARMENIAN
Armenia – April 1 2022
April 1, 2022 – 17:03 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Britain is calling both Armenia and Azerbaijan to work towards a de-escalation in Nagorno-Karabakh, amid Azerbaijan’s ongoing incursion and continuous ceasefire violations on the contact line.

“In discussions with Ambassadors of Azerbaijan and Armenia this week I urged de-escalation of tensions in Nagorno-Karabakh,” Britain’s Minister of State for Europe and North America James Cleverly said in a tweet on Friday, April 1.

“UK calls for ceasefire to be observed and supports a diplomatic solution to ensure stability and security for all in the region.”

Azerbaijan has broken into Nagorno-Karabakh, and the incursion has left three Armenian soldiers dead and at least 14 others injured. On March 24, Azerbaijan stormed into the zone of the responsibility of the Russian peacekeepers stationed in the area and is refusing to completely withdraw its forces from strategic heights.