Author: Frangulian Shushan

Prosecutor General calls for serious work in education programs to have stress-tolerant society to prevent suicides

Frangulian Shushan

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 14:10, 21 April 2023

YEREVAN, APRIL 21, ARMENPRESS. Prosecutor General Anna Vardapetyan said that the general prosecution has already outlined the work on identifying the reasons of suicides in the country. She described the more than 60% growth in suicides to be “concerning”.

Vardapetyan made the remarks during a parliamentary committee session on the annual report of the prosecution.

“We are really concerned over the growth in suicides. We’ve outlined the works for identifying the reasons. Although this isn’t the prosecution’s function, we’ve regularly made notifications through motions regarding identified reasons as part of specific proceedings concerning both civilians and military servicemembers, but now we will inform the relevant bodies more intensively, for example the defense ministry and others,” Vardapetyan told lawmakers at the Parliamentary Committee on State and Legal Affairs.

She said the reasons behind suicide in the country vary, ranging from certain manifestations of depression up to individual or social phenomena, as well as gambling-related occurrences, which impact the person’s mental state.

“There is a need for serious psychological work here, but not individually, rather institutionally, for example serious work should be done in educational programs in order to have a stress-tolerant society, because we live in an information noise, and sometimes this noise flows into very unprepared minds. We will present concrete recommendations during the next session to address the problem on the state level,” Vardapetyan said.

Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 18-04-23

Frangulian Shushan

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 17:30,

YEREVAN, 18 APRIL, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 18 April, USD exchange rate down by 0.16 drams to 387.78 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 0.33 drams to 425.67 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.01 drams to 4.75 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 1.12 drams to 482.32 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price down by 307.74 drams to 24879.35 drams. Silver price down by 8.05 drams to 316.55 drams. Platinum price stood at 16414.1 drams.

Azerbaijan fires at Armenian positions in Sotk

Frangulian Shushan
Armenia –

“The units of the Azerbaijani armed forces fired from firearms of different caliber at the Armenian positions located in the direction of Sotk.

 No casualties reported,” the ministry said in a news release.

 It also said that as of 10:00 a.m. on April 17 the situation on the frontline is relatively stable.

https://mediamax.am/en/news/armypolice/50979/

Dozens of Tegh families in difficult social situation

Frangulian Shushan
NEWS.am
Armenia –
13:06, 15.04.2023
Region:Armenia, Azerbaijan
Theme: Politics, Economics, Society, Incidents

As a result of the invasion and illegal presence of Azerbaijani armed servicemen in Armenia, dozens of families of Syunik’s Tegh Municipality found themselves in a difficult social situation. Arman Tatoyan, former Republic of Armenia Human Rights Defender, director of Tatoyan Foundation, wrote on his Facebook.

“Behind every corner of our Motherland is human destiny, parental home and family.

As a result of the invasion and illegal presence of Azerbaijani armed servicemen in Armenia, families of Syunik Tegh community found themselves in a difficult social situation. People are deprived of their lawful pastures, the opportunity to earn a family income. About 4 dozen families have certificates of ownership, but cannot even come close to their lands,” Tatoyan said.

“I continue to insist that the demands to remove them and provide a security zone for the protection of the civilian population are absolutely justified,” he added.

Expert: Iran continues ‘carrot and stick’ policy towards Baku regime

Frangulian Shushan
Panorama
Armenia –

Iran specialist Vardan Voskanyan has reacted to a phone call between the Iranian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers held for the third time in a week on Friday, saying Iran continues the “carrot and stick” policy towards the Aliyev regime.

“The brief readouts of the phone call make it clear that no tangible progress in the settlement of their relations has been made, but they indicate the possibility of organizing a bilateral meeting between the FMs,” Voskanyan, head of the Chair of Iranian Studies at Yerevan State University (YSU), wrote on Telegram on Saturday.

He stresses strong condemnations of the Baku dictatorial regime’s activities continue unabated in Iran.

“Taking all this into account, Iran continues the “carrot and stick” policy towards the Baku dictator, however, no real “carrots” are visible at least in the near future,” the expert said.

Armenpress: FBI arrests 21-year-old Air Force guardsman in Pentagon leak case

Frangulian Shushan

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 10:10,

YEREVAN, APRIL 14, ARMENPRESS. A member of the U.S. Massachusetts Air National Guard was arrested by the FBI on Thursday in connection with the leaking of classified documents that have been posted online, CNN reported citing U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland.

The arrest of Jack Teixeira, 21, comes following a fast-moving search by the U.S. government for the identity of the leaker who posted classified documents to a social media platform popular with video gamers called Discord.

Teixeira was arrested in Massachusetts without incident, Garland said, and will be arraigned in federal court there. “This investigation is ongoing. We will share more information at the appropriate time,” the attorney general said, declining to answer questions.

The leaked documents posted to social media, some of which have been obtained by CNN, included detailed U.S. intelligence assessments of allies and adversaries alike, including on the state of the war in Ukraine and the challenges Kyiv and Moscow face as the war appears stuck in a stalemate.

Multiple US officials told CNN that Teixeira is believed to be the leader of the group where a trove of classified documents had been posted.

The Air Force released service details for Teixeira, an Airman 1st Class.

Teixeira is an enlisted airman at the Massachusetts Air National Guard, according to details from his service record released by the Air Force Thursday. He joined the service in September 2019 and his official job is Cyber Transport Systems journeyman. According to the Air Force, Cyber Transport Systems specialists are tasked with making sure the service’s “vast, global communications network” is “operating properly.”

The dates of possible deployment of CSTO peacekeepers in Armenia depend on the Armenian side. Zakharova

Frangulian Shushan

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 20:10, 5 April 2023

YEREVAN, APRIL 5, ARMENPRESS. The dates of possible deployment of CSTO peacekeepers in Armenia depends on the Armenian side, ARMENPRESS reports, Maria Zakharova, the official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, announced during a briefing, talking about the possibility of sending a CSTO mission to Armenia. She said that “the ball is in Yerevan’s court”.

Zakharova recalled the statement of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov that Russia is satisfied with Armenia’s continued interest in receiving CSTO peacekeepers. Moscow is convinced that this step will contribute to the stabilization of the situation in the region. Both Russia and other allies are ready for it.

Zakharova recalled the statement of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov that Russia is satisfied with Armenia’s continued interest in receiving CSTO peacekeepers. Moscow is convinced that this step will contribute to the stabilization of the situation in the region. Both Russia and other allies are ready for it.

“Such decisions are coordinated and adopted in the CSTO and approved at a high level. When the Armenian partners are ready, the parties will be able to return to the work of strengthening the specific types of the observation mission of the organization,” she said.

According to Zakharova, the ball is in Yerevan’s court.

Armenian FM Ararat Mirzoyan said during a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart in Moscow on March 20 that the draft decision to send a CSTO mission is on the table, and work on the draft continues. At the same time, Yerevan expects a political assessment from its partners regarding Azerbaijan’s September aggression. In his turn, Sergey Lavrov stated that the possibility of sending a mission still exists, the CSTO is absolutely ready.




Armenia warns Vladimir Putin he will be arrested for Russian war crimes if he visits him

Frangulian Shushan
Rick Schindler

Armenia’s ruling party has warned that the country will have no choice but to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin if he comes to Armenia.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) earlier this month issued an arrest warrant for Putin over alleged war crimes in Ukraine, specifically his alleged involvement in the illegal deportation of children from Ukraine. But the ICC does not have the power to enforce its warrants, and since Russia does not recognize the court’s jurisdiction, much of its enforcement will depend on the willingness of other countries to step in if Putin travels.

“If Putin comes to Armenia, he should be arrested… It is better for Putin to stay in his country,” Gagik Melkonyan, deputy of the Armenian National Assembly, said this week, according to a Moscow times Translation of an interview with Factor.am. “If we enter into these agreements, we must fulfill our commitments. Let Russia solve its problems with Ukraine.”

The decision by Armenia’s ruling party, which is part of a Russian-led collective defense organization, stands in stark contrast to other Kremlin allies, who have not shirked loyalty to Moscow. Hungary, which has close ties with Russia, announced last week that it would not execute the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant for Putin.

Though Armenia is technically a Russian ally — as part of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) — Armenia’s decision is just the latest indication that the country is ready to take matters into its own hands and hold Putin accountable pull. Just last week, Armenia took steps that will pave the way for ratification of the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the International Criminal Court.

“If we enter into these agreements, we must fulfill our obligations,” Melkonyan said.

According to a Russian Foreign Ministry source, the Kremlin has reprimanded Armenia for the idea of joining the Rome Statute.

“Moscow regards official Yerevan’s plans to accede to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court as totally unacceptable in light of the ICC’s recent illegal and void ‘arrest warrants’ against the Russian leadership,” the source said earlier this week. according to TASS.

The Russian Foreign Ministry warned that if it continues, there would be “extremely negative” consequences for Armenia.

But Armenia is not alone, and other countries are joining forces in plans to arrest Putin. Ireland, Croatia, Austria and Germany have each pledged to enforce the arrest warrant.

The decision in Armenia suggests that more than a year into the conflict, Russia’s allies are becoming more willing by the day to question Moscow’s judgment on the war in Ukraine.

Indian officials have expressed concern about Putin’s war in Ukraine, pushing against conflict and the use of nuclear weapons in the war. Chinese President Xi Jinping was also caught off guard by Putin’s invasion, according to US intelligence, and was dismayed at the way he was carrying it out.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/armenia-warns-vladimir-putin-he-will-be-arrested-for-russian-war-crimes-if-he-visits .

Moscow Warns Armenia Against Allying With ICC In The Aftermath Of Putin’s Arrest Order

Frangulian Shushan
BOL NEWS
Moscow Warns Armenia Against Allying With ICC In The Aftermath Of Putin’s Arrest Order
  • Russia had warned Yerevan that proceeding with the proposal would have “extremely negative consequences.”
  • Armenia showed no quick reaction.
  • ICC issued an arrest order for President Vladimir Putin.

Russia has warned Armenia of ‘severe consequences’ if it submits to the authority of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which has issued an arrest order for President Vladimir Putin.

The ICC issued the warrant last month, accusing Putin of committing a war crime by illegally deporting hundreds of children from Ukraine, a move that the Kremlin lambasted as worthless and grossly biased.

Armenia, a traditional Russian ally whose relations with Moscow have deteriorated since Putin gave the order to invade Ukraine in what he dubbed a ‘special military operation,’ is working to become a state party to the Rome Statute, bringing it under the jurisdiction of the ICC.

A source in the Russian Foreign Ministry described Armenia’s ICC intentions as ‘unacceptable.’

It said Russia had warned Yerevan that proceeding with the proposal would have ‘extremely negative consequences’ for bilateral relations. The plan would need to be adopted by the Armenian parliament after being approved by the constitutional court.

‘Moscow considers official Yerevan’s plans to accede to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court to be unacceptable against the background of the recent illegal and legally null and void warrants of the ICC against the Russian leadership,’ RIA cited the Russian Foreign Ministry source as saying.

Armenia showed no quick reaction.

South Africa and Turkey are among the countries Putin may visit this year, while the Russian leader has previously traveled extensively throughout the former Soviet Union, including to Armenia, where Russia has peacekeeping forces and a military facility.

Moscow’s relations with Yerevan have worsened in recent months, owing to Armenia’s claim that Russia has failed to properly implement a 2020 peace pact it helped mediate between Armenia and Azerbaijan to end a war over Nagorno-Karabakh, an Armenian-populated part of Azerbaijan.

Russia has defended the activities of its soldiers, who have so far not intervened to end what Armenia claims is a partial blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh by Azeri activists.

Russia has a mutual defense treaty with Armenia and has traditionally served as a power broker in the South Caucasus region, but it is seeing increased competition for influence from the United States, the European Union, and Turkey.

https://www.bolnews.com/2023/03/28/world/moscow-warns-armenia-against-allying-with-icc-in-the-aftermath-of-putins-arrest-order/index.html

Azerbaijan’s provocations don’t contribute to efforts for establishing stability – Foreign Minister

Frangulian Shushan

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 17:16,

YEREVAN, MARCH 27, ARMENPRESS. On March 27 political consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia and the Czech Republic took place in Yerevan. The Armenian delegation was headed by Paruyr Hovhannisyan, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Czech delegation was headed by Jaroslav Kurfürst, Director General for European Affairs of the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the foreign ministry said in a readout.

During the consultations, the interlocutors discussed a wide range of issues related to the Armenian-Czech bilateral agenda. The parties emphasised with satisfaction the high level of the existing political dialogue and the necessity to maintain it. Touching upon the perspectives of economic cooperation, the sides expressed their willingness to undertake steps towards expanding the business ties. The cooperation in the cultural, educational and scientific fields was also discussed.

The parties referred to the expanded Armenia-EU partnership as well as discussed the possibilities of mutual support within the international organisations.

The delegations exchanged views on a number of issues of regional and international agenda of mutual interest.

Deputy Minister Hovhannisyan briefed the interlocutor on the deteriorating humanitarian situation as a result of the ongoing blockade of the Lachin corridor and Armenia’s commitment and efforts to establish peace in the region. The importance of the decision made on February 22 by the International Court of Justice was emphasised, according to  which, Azerbaijan  should take all necessary measures to ensure the uninterrupted movement of people, vehicles and cargo in both directions through the Lachin Corridor.

Following the consultations, Jaroslav Kurfürst was received by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan. The interlocutors touched upon the bilateral political dialogue between the Republic of Armenia and the Czech Republic, as well as issues of the Armenia-EU partnership, including the deployment of the EU civilian monitoring mission in Armenia. They exchanged views on recent regional developments. Foreign Minister Mirzoyan emphasised that despite the ongoing negotiations on the treaty of establishment of peaceful relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the latter’s provocations and aggressive rhetoric do not contribute to the efforts aimed at establishing stability in the region.