Author: Emma Nadirian

Armenia extra-parliamentary forces to join legislature committee of inquiry into 44-day war?

Emma Nadirian
 NEWS.am 
Armenia – Feb 14 2022
15:25, 14.02.2022

YEREVAN. – The participation of extra-parliamentary forces in the work of the National Assembly (NA) committee of inquiry into the 44-day Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) war—in the fall of 2020—can be ensured only after a relevant legal decision. Andranik Kocharyan, chair of the aforesaid committee as well as of the NA Standing Committee on Defense and Security, and an MP of the ruling majority “Civil Contract” Faction in the NA, stated about this at Monday’s press briefing—at the NA—of the representatives of the ruling Civil Contract Party.

As the pro-government lawmaker noted, no extra-parliamentary force is currently included in this inquiry committee.

“Of course, they want to participate in all this, as there is a corresponding platform. But the legal level where these wishes can be realized will be decided by the [NA] Standing Committee on Defense and Security. The participation of extra-parliamentary forces in the work of the committee of inquiry will be ensured only after the existence of a relevant legal decision,” Kocharyan explained.

To note, openly pro-Western political parties supporting the activities of the incumbent authorities are included in the “format” of the extra-parliamentary forces in Armenia.

Armenian Foreign Ministry still vague over participation at 2022 Antalya Diplomacy Forum

Emma Nadirian

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 14:16, 2 February, 2022

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 2, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs still has no decision whether or not Armenia will participate in the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey, the Armenian FM Ararat Mirzoyan said when asked by a reporter at a joint press conference with visiting Austrian FM Alexander Schallenberg.

However, Mirzoyan underscored that the Antalya Diplomacy Forum is not a bilateral format event and it shouldn’t be viewed in the context of the Armenian-Turkish relations.

“Indeed, me and Ruben Rubinyan received an invitation to participate at the Antalya event. By the way, we discussed the event with Mr. Schallenberg today. The Armenian foreign ministry doesn’t have a decision in this regard so far, the issue is under discussion. But it is important to underscore that it’s not a bilateral visit and it shouldn’t be viewed in the context of bilateral relations. This is an international diplomatic event which Armenia could decide to take part in. I won’t see any problem, moreover I think that even if we were to connect it with the Armenia-Turkey dialogue the event would convey nothing but positive tones,” FM Mirzoyan said.

The Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu announced on January 20 that Armenia is invited to the Antalya Diplomacy Forum which is scheduled to take place March 11-13, 2022 in Antalya.

Armenia President Sarkissian writes his letter of resignation from abroad

Emma Nadirian
  News.am  
Armenia – Jan 24 2022
18:10, 24.01.2022

Before submitting his resignation, Armenian President Armen Sarkissian was on a short vacation during which he underwent a medical examination abroad.

Armenian News-NEWS.am was informed by the Public Relations Department of the President’s Office that Sarkissian’s undergoing a medical examination abroad is due to the fact that he overcame a serious illness some years ago thanks to its treatment courses abroad, and ever since then he is under the constant supervision of a group of doctors who are well aware of his medical history.

“According to their instructions, President Sarkissian regularly undergoes specialized medical examinations as needed,” the Public Relations Department of the President’s Office added.

Although the aforesaid department does not say where the President submitted his letter of resignation, it is clear from the response that he wrote it from abroad.

To note, it was also from abroad that Armen Sarkissian had resigned from the post of Prime Minister of Armenia in February 1997.

Sports: 6 Armenian athletes to take part in Beijing Olympics

Emma Nadirian
  NEWS.am  
Jan 18 2022

Six athletes from Armenia will participate in the 24th Winter Olympics to be held in Beijing in February 2022.

Skiers Mikayel Mikayelyan, Katya Galstyan, Angelina Muradyan, Harutyun Harutyunyan as well as dance couple Tina Karapetyan and Simon Senecal will represent Armenia at the Winter Olympics in Beijing, press service of the Armenia’s National Olympic Committee reported.

Russian MFA issues statement on the results of the meeting between the special representatives of Armenia, Turkey

Emma Nadirian

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 19:30,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 14, ARMENPRESS. Based on the results of the talks held in Moscow on January 14, the Special Representative of Armenia Ruben Rubinyan and the Special Representative of Turkey Serdar Kilic agreed to conduct the dialogue in a constructive and apolitical way in order to find common ground, ARMENPRESS reports the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on this.

“The parties showed readiness to conduct a dialogue on a constructive, apolitical manner, with an open spirit and aimed at practical results, moving in small steps, passing from simple to complex. An agreement has been reached to continue finding common ground for the benefit of the peoples of the two countries, for the benefit of regional stability and economic prosperity,” the statement said.

Armenia notifies CSTO about Kazakh President’s request to end peacekeeping mission

Emma Nadirian
Public Radio of Armenia
Jan 12 2022
, 21:26

 

The Armenian side has informed the CSTO Secretariat about Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s request to the Prime Minister of Armenia, Chairman of the CSTO Collective Security Council Nikol Pashinyan to end the CSTO peacekeeping mission in Kazakhstan from January 13, CSTO informs.

According to the CSTO Secretariat, the order of withdrawal of peacekeeping forces will be decided on January 13 during the session of the Council of CSTO Defense Ministers that will be held in a video conference format.

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said earlier today that the withdrawal of forces would begin on January 13.

Armenia wants CSTO mechanisms to work, says Security Council Secretary amid peacekeeping deployment

Emma Nadirian

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 15:47, 7 January, 2022

YEREVAN, JANUARY 7, ARMENPRESS. Armenia attaches importance to the responsibility that it assumed as part of the CSTO Chairmanship, the Secretary of Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan said in an interview to Public Television.

“One of the most important questions is why didn’t the Republic of Armenia, when it had asked for help in time, receive such help, while today Armenia is reacting when it is receiving such request. First of all I’d like to say that it is the stance of responsibility here. We attach great importance to the responsibility that we’ve assumed. There is another question here as well – is Armenia interested that the CSTO mechanisms work? The answer is definitely yes. And if the answer is yes, then Armenia, proceeding from this answer, tried to take steps for the CSTO mechanisms to function,” Grigoryan said.

“I’d like to note that the Prime Minister of Armenia, upon receiving reports on the developments in Kazakhstan and the request of Kazakhstan’s President Tokayev, launched consultations with all other CSTO member-state leaders so that the CSTO provides help. Everyone provided information and gave their assessment to the situation, and Armenia also made its decision. At that time, there were no revolutionary processes there, there were terrorist acts happening. You’ve seen videos online showing armed people outside. And the decision was made within the framework of the logic of ensuring stability and security,” Grigoryan said.

Armenia lifts ban on Turkey’s imports in bid to ease icy bilateral relationship

Emma Nadirian


    Dec 31 2021


    Armenia is lifting a ban on Turkish manufactured imports imposed after Turkey backed Azerbaijan in its crushing 2020 war in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

    The six-month ban was imposed on New Year’s Eve last year, extended for another six months and it is not being extended. It did not apply to raw materials.

    Yerevan called the import ban retaliation for Turkey’s “inflammatory calls”, arms supplies to Azerbaijan and “deployment of terrorist mercenaries to the conflict zone”.

    It is hoped the lifting of the ban will boost Armenian exports.

    Turkey has refused to establish diplomatic ties with Armenia and the border has been closed since the early 1990s in solidarity with Azerbaijan over Armenia’s seizure of Nagorno-Karabakh. It also bans all Armenian imports.

    In September 2020, Armenia and Azerbaijan fought a one-sided, 44-day war over Nagorno-Karabakh, claiming more than 6,500 lives and ending with a Russian-brokered ceasefire. Under the deal, Armenia formally lost territories it had controlled since the breakup of the Soviet Union.

    Turkey and Armenia in December said they would appoint special envoys on improving relations.

    Armenia imported US$267 million worth of Turkish manufactured goods in 2019, mostly through Georgia. According to Armenia’s Ministry of Economy, Turkish imports fell to $20 million in the first nine months of this year.

    Armenia’s foreign ministry has said it believes in “normalising relations with Turkey without preconditions”.

    Turkey recently said it is hoping to normalise its relations with Armenia if Yerevan agrees to open a land corridor connecting Azerbaijan to its Nakhichevan exclave. Turkish leaders have also mentioned Azerbaijan’s demand for formal Armenian recognition of Azerbaijani sovereignty over Karabakh.

    Turkey and Armenia have announced that steps toward normalisation are being taken and bilateral charter flights will commence.

    This month Turkey appointed Serdar Kılıc, a former ambassador to the US, as its special envoy to normalise ties with Armenia. Armenia then appointed a special representative, National Assembly Deputy Speaker Ruben Rubinyan.

    Turkey said Russia will host a meeting between the two special envoys, although no date was given.

    The disputed legacy of the Armenian Genocide during the First World War is an ongoing source of bilateral tensions.

    Armenia and Turkey signed a peace accord in 2009 to establish diplomatic ties and open the border but the agreement was never ratified and relations remain tense.

    https://www.eurasiatimes.org/en/31/12/2021/armenia-lifts-ban-on-turkeys-imports-in-bid-to-ease-icy-bilateral-relationship/









    Maestro Hovhannes Chekidjian, National Hero of Armenia, celebrates 93rd birthday anniversary

    Emma Nadirian
    Panorama, Armenia
    Dec 24 2021

    Prominent conductor, National Academic Choir Director Hovhannes Chekidjian, holder of Order of Motherland for outstanding personal contribution to culture as well as for exceptional services rendered to the Armenian people, celebrates his 93rd birthday anniversary on December 23. 

    Armenia’s Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Vahram Dumanyan has congratulated the renowned intellectual on the occasion of his birthday, wishing him robust health and new creative achievements. 

    “Maestro Chekidjian’s contribution to the development and propagation of the Armenian choir music is invaluable. It is difficult to name a country where Maestro has not performed with his Choir, presenting the achievements of the Armenian Choir music and the masterpieces of Komitas throughout the world,” the congratulatory message reads in part.