Author: Emma Jilavian

Armenia-UAE friendship group members with ambassador Isa al-Zaabi discuss cooperation prospects

Emma Jilavian
Arminfo, Armenia
Feb 13 2020

ArmInfo.The members of the Armenia-UAE friendship group met with the UAE Ambassador to Armenia Mohammed Isa al-Zaabi. This was reported by the press service of the parliament.

According to the source, the head of the friendship group Narek  Zeynalyan noted that regular business forums, bilateral tourism,  flights, the presence of almost six thousandth Armenian community in  the UAE, etc., testify to the relations formed between the two  countries.

Zeynalyan noted with satisfaction that about 20 enterprises operate  with the participation of Arab capital in Armenia. He assured that in  the post-revolutionary period a favorable investment environment was  formed in Armenia.

Ambassador Mohammed Isa al-Zaabi described the bilateral relations as  excellent and noted that his country recognizes the importance of  cooperation with Armenia, in particular, in the cultural,  educational, humanitarian fields, as well as in the field of latest  technologies. He said that the Emirates are interested in the  activities of the creative center “TUMO” and would like to create  such a center in their country.  Turning to the growing tourism year  after year, the ambassador noted that Armenia is a safe country and  his compatriots visit the whole family with Armenia. N. Zeynalyan  informed the ambassador that more than 11 thousand tourists from the  UAE visited Armenia last year.

The interlocutors also discussed issues of cooperation at  inter-parliamentary venues.  The ambassador said that the UAE is  interested in the parliamentary experience of the RA, therefore,  mutual visits and contacts with parliamentarians can be very  effective.

In this context, the creation of the UAE-Armenia friendship group was  discussed. Mutually expressed the hope that the activities of  friendship groups will contribute to the further development of  productive cooperation.

The interlocutors concluded the meeting expressed confidence that the  vectors of cooperation and the ways to achieve success are numerous. 

Silence of country`s leadership in connection with death of servicemen is unacceptable

Emma Jilavian
Arminfo, Armenia
Feb 13 2020

ArmInfo. In the first months of 2020, 12 soldiers were already killed in our army and all of them died not from the enemy’s attack,  meanwhile t the Ministry of Defense reports only unexplained circumstances, ” head of the Armenian Association of Investigative Journalists Edik Baghdasaryan said.

It should be noted that since the beginning of the year, 10  servicemen became victims of unlawful acts committed in the Armenian  Armed Forces and the Artsakh Defense Army. On February 12, it became  known that two more military servicemen had died.

“The response of the country’s leadership to this tragedy is only  silence. The defense ministers of Armenia and Artsakh are silent, the  presidents are silent, the speaker and parliamentarians are silent.  The Prime Minister delivers speeches, but for some reason only on  other topics. He also prefers to remain silent on this subject”   Baghdasaryan wrote  on his Facebook page.

Baghdasaryan notes that the whole nation is discussing a referendum  with a view to dismissing 7 judges of the Constitutional Court, and  he expresshis conviction that the question of deposition of judges of  the Constitutional Court is certainly not worth one soldier’s life.

On the fact of the death on February 12 of two servicemen from  gunshot wounds, criminal cases were opened. According to the  Investigative Committee, an investigation is underway, necessary  investigative and other procedural actions are being taken to ensure  a comprehensive, complete and objective investigation.

On February 12, at around 11:30 a.m., on a military position of the  Defense Army soldier of the NKR Defense Army, born in 2000 Tigran  Manvelyan, received a fatal gunshot wound and died on the way to the  military hospital. On the same day, at around 13:00, another soldier,  Tigran Mkhoyan received a gunshot wound to the head. He also died on  the way to the military hospital. 

ANCA Urges Congress to Fully Fund Artsakh De-Mining

Emma Jilavian
February 7, 2020

Ask your legislatures to support targeted Artsakh and Armenia foreign aid policies by filling out the petition at ANCA.org/AID

Ask your Senators and Representative to Support Targeted Armenia and Artsakh Foreign Aid Priorities

With U.S. assistance for Artsakh de-mining under attack like never before, the Armenian National Committee of America requires the community’s help to ensure that the Fiscal Year 2021 foreign aid bill saves this life-saving program.

Take action now to ask your U.S. legislators to support the following three provisions:

  • A “hard earmark” appropriating no less than $10,000,000 for Artsakh, to fully fund the HALO Trust’s life-saving de-mining work and meet other desperate humanitarian needs.
  • A “hard earmark” appropriating no less than $90,000,000 for Armenia, to reinforce Armenia’s progress and strengthen Armenia’s political, economic, and military partnerships with the United States.
  • A prohibition on funds to Azerbaijan until it stops attacking Armenia and Artsakh.

Sharing your foreign aid priorities will only take a few minutes but will make a lasting impact for Armenia and Artsakh.

To send a free ANCA WebMail to your Senators and Representative, simply type in your name, address, email, and phone number, and click “Load Messages.” Then, please review and revise the sample letters and click “Send Messages.” Contact your Senators and Representative now!

Armenian parliament debates on putting Constitutional amendments to referendum

Emma Jilavian

 

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 20:00, 6 February, 2020

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 6, ARMENPRESS.  The National Assembly of Armenia is debating on the issue of putting the Constitutional amendments bill on referendum. ARMENPRESS reports head of “My step” bloc Lilit Makunts proposed debating on the issue after the bill was declined at 1st reading.

Vice Speaker of the National Assembly Alen Simonyan had announced before the ballot that “My step” bloc will abstain. “The crisis over the Constitutional Court must be solved through referendum”, he had said. 36 MPs voted against the bill and 87 abstained. Head of “My step” parliamentary faction Lilit Makunts announced earlier that their political force wants to put the issue of the Constitutional amendments to national referendum. “The power in Armenia belongs to the people. The people implements its power through free elections, referendums”, Makunts had said, adding that putting the issue of suspending the powers of key bodies of the country to referendum can significantly decrease undue tensions and keep the country away from shocks.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

Armenian PM sees good preconditions for economic progress in 2020

Emma Jilavian

 13:22,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan expects that 2020 will be a better year for the economy than 2019.

“Today from early morning I am working on several economic topics. And I want to state that we have very good news about the economy and also very good preconditions that 2020 will be a better year from economic perspective compared to 2019. And I am confident that the corrupted officials will not succeed in breaking our economic revolution’s pace with their actions because the Armenian people and government are united and will jointly move on the legal path”, the PM said live on Facebook.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




Number of US Senators supporting resolution on Armenian Genocide increases

Emma Jilavian

Number of US Senators supporting resolution on Armenian Genocide increases

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 20:46, 1 November, 2019

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. The number of US Senators supporting the resolution on the Armenian Genocide reached 9, Armenian political scientist Suren Sargsyan said on Facebook.

“The number of supporters of our resolution in the US Senate, the upper house of the Congress, has become 9. Today 2 more Republican Senators Mitt Romney and John Cornyn joined them”, Sargsyan said.

On October 29 the US House of Representatives adopted a resolution on recognizing the Armenian Genocide based on the voting results. 405 Congressmen voted in favor of the resolution, while 11 voted against. A similar resolution is most likely to be debated at the Senate in November.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




Deputy PM Grigoryan, Ambassador Wiktorin discuss development prospects of Armenia-EU ties

Emma Jilavian

Deputy PM Grigoryan, Ambassador Wiktorin discuss development prospects of Armenia-EU ties

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 19:33,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 30, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan received Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, Ambassador Andrea Wiktorin, the deputy PM’s Office told Armenpress.

Deputy PM Grigoryan thanked the EU delegation for the current constructive cooperation and stated that the EU is one of Armenia’s key partners which constantly supports the country in the implementation of reforms.

The Ambassador praised the results and progress recorded in the Armenia-EU relations.

The sides exchanged views on the Armenia-EU partnership framework, talked about the technical assistance provided to Armenia. They also touched upon the activity directions within the frames of the 2020 annual action plan, as well as the ongoing reforms in judiciary and the Police.

The Armenian deputy PM and the EU Ambassador also discussed the prospects of deepening and developing the bilateral ties.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




What factors led to the slaughter of October 27? reveals Vagharshak Harutyunyan

Emma Jilavian
  • 27.10.2019

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Former Defense Minister of RA (1999-2000), Lieutenant General Vagharshak Harutyunyan believes that three factors led to the crime of October 27, 1999. first, the Meghri version of the Karabakh conflict, then the issue of keeping power and, of course, the issue of financial losses. He said this today in a conversation with journalists on the 20th anniversary of the events of October 27 in Yerablur.


It should be noted that according to Harutyunyan, Meghri’s version was discussed in his presence by the 2nd President of the Republic of Armenia, Robert Kocharyan, and the then President of Azerbaijan. Heydar Aliyev between July 1999 in Sadarak. At that time, Meghri’s version was presented as follows. The territory of the former Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous Region (NKM) and Lachin are connected to Armenia as a corridor between Armenia and Artsakh. Instead, Armenia ceded the Meghri region (with the 1988 borders) to Azerbaijan, so that Azerbaijan would have a land connection with Nakhichevan. However, in this way, Armenia lost its land connection with Iran, writes Sputnik.


It was an exclusively American initiative, and Robert Kocharyan and Heydar Aliyev was introduced to the American Key West, thus receiving the informal name of the Key West version. It is also known among the people as the Meghri version, but it has never been discussed as an official version of the settlement within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group.


Vagharshak Harutyunyan also claims that at that time Prime Minister Vazgen Sargsyan was against that option.


“He was against it, we know very well, in his notes he expressed what Meghri means for Armenia, it is an important part that ensures Armenia’s security and connection with Iran,” added Harutyunyan.


Referring to the news about Nairi Harutyunyan’s early release, Harutyunyan said that now, 20 years after the crime, Nairi Hunanyan has the right to apply for parole.


“His testimony can be divided into two phases. before and after May 2, 2000. Until May 2, Nairi Hunanyan was testifying, from which it became clear that there were organizers. After May 2, he took all the blame on himself and declared that there were no organizers,” said Harutyunyan and emphasized that everyone understands that it is impossible to organize such a crime with 5 people.


Let’s remind that on October 27, 1999, the gang led by Nairi Hunanyan killed the Speaker of the National Assembly in the session hall of the RA National Assembly. Karen Demirchyan, Prime Minister Run to Sargsyan, interlocutors Yuri Bakhshyan and: Ruben Miroyan, minister for operational issues Leonard Petrosyan, deputy Armenak Armenakyan, Henrikh Abrahamyan and: Mikael Kotanyan:


The preliminary investigation of the initiated criminal case lasted 1.5 years, the trial lasted 2.5 years.


As a result of the trial that ended in 2003, the court decided Nairi Hunanyan, his brother Karen Hunanyan, their uncle Vram Galstyan, as well as Derenik Bejanyan, Edik Grigoryan, Norayr Yeghiazaryan and Ashot Knyazyan sentenced to life, Hamlet Stepanyan to 14 years in prison.


In the 20 years following the crime, 4 of the 8 members of the group died under different circumstances.

Incident at Armenia casino turns into scuffle

Emma Jilavian
News.am, Armenia
Oct 26 2019
Incident at Armenia casino turns into scuffle Incident at Armenia casino turns into scuffle

21:25, 26.10.2019
                  

Today an unusual incident occurred in Kotayk Province of Armenia, SHAMSHYAN.com reports.

At 1:30pm, Police received information that an incident took place inside a casino in Tsakhkadzor, and which turned into a scuffle.

Police found that on the same day, at about 1pm, the said casino’s security chief, 35-year-old Garegin K., together with his ten employees, had argued about betting with Yerevan residents 38-year-old Babken A. and 46-year-old Mikael Sh., during which both were hit, causing injuries to Mikael Sh.

Police officers found both victims and Garegin K., who was also brought to a police station, he gave an account of what had occurred, and then was released.

Police are preparing a report, and trying to ascertain the identities of the other persons and are looking for them.

Mikael S. is the director of a private business in Yerevan.

Uefa probes Turkish footballers’ military salute in Euro 2020 qualifier

Emma Jilavian
Panorama, Armenia
Oct 15 2019
Sport 11:05 15/10/2019 World

Europe’s football governing body Uefa says it will investigate a military salute given by Turkish footballers after Everton star Cenk Tosun scored a goal against Albania, BBC News reports.

Turkey’s 1-0 win in Istanbul came on Friday, amid Turkish army clashes with Kurdish fighters in northern Syria.

Tosun posted the salute photo on Instagram, with the message: “For our nation, especially for the ones who are risking their lives for our nation.”

Uefa does not allow political gestures.

The win keeps Turkey at the top of its group in the Euro 2020 qualifying matches.

On Wednesday Turkey launched a major offensive in areas controlled by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Dozens of civilians and fighters have been killed on both sides.

On Instagram, the Turkish Football Federation also posted an image of the Turkey players and trainers saluting in the dressing room, along with the message:

“At the end of the road lies the championship! After seven matches we continue our leadership in the Euro 2020 Qualifying Group H. We give this win to all our hero soldiers.”

Uefa spokesman Philip Townsend told Italian news agency Ansa the Turkish salute “could seem like a provocation”.

“I can guarantee that we will examine this situation, let me check,” he said.

Uefa’s disciplinary rules prohibit “the use of gestures, words, objects or any other means to transmit a provocative message that is not fit for a sports event, particularly provocative messages that are of a political, ideological, religious or offensive nature”.