Author: Frangulian Shushan

Armenia unequivocally supports the UN Secretary-General’s appeal for a global ceasefire, which is a key prerequisite to facilitate efforts to address the pandemic in the context of current conflicts, Armenia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Mher Margaryan said at a UN Security Council forum, entitled “Protection of civilians in armed conflict.”

“The civilian population of Armenia’s border regions and Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) continue to face serious humanitarian risks, which may further exacerbate due to the spread of pandemic and suspension of activities of the conflict-related field operations,” he said.

He therefore stressed that strict adherence to the 1994 trilateral ceasefire agreement concluded by Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan and Armenia and the 1995 agreement on consolidation of the ceasefire regime, is essential to ensure protection of civilians and prevent violations of international humanitarian law.

“We strongly condemn continuous attempts of Azerbaijan to escalate the situation along the Line of Contact between Artsakh and Azerbaijan and the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, including targeting of civilians, border settlements and infrastructure, infiltration attempts and large-scale unnotified military exercises of offensive nature. At a time when the international community is consolidating its efforts in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, such actions display total disregard of the Secretary-Generals appeal for a global ceasefire and the calls by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs to refrain from any provocative action that could further raise tensions during this period,” Mher Margaryan said.

He noted that Armenia has been raising for a long time the need to address the manifestations of racial and ethnic profiling, glorification of hate crimes, denial and justification of past crimes, especially led and encouraged by state leaders.

“On May 26 the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) made its ruling on the case of “Makuchyan and Minasyan vs Azerbaijan and Hungary” in relation to the release and glorification by Azerbaijan of its officer by the name Ramil Safarov, who murdered Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan when he was asleep by axing him to death while participating in a training course within the framework “Partnership for Peace” programme in 2004 in Budapest,” the Permanent Representative reminded.

The ruling stated that: “The court is particularly struck by the fact that, in addition to immediate release, upon his return to Azerbaijan R.S. was granted a number of benefits, such as salary arrears for the period spent in prison, a flat in Baku and a promotion in military rank awarded at a public ceremony.”

“The release of the convicted murderer by the decree of the President of Azerbaijan and his glorification is a disrespect and affront to the standard of civilization and human dignity,” Amb. Margaryan stated.

“Today, resolute actions by the United Nations and regional organizations to advance prevention, including prevention of hate speech and identity-based crimes are ever more critical to ensure effective protection of civilians in armed conflict,” he concluded.

President Armen Sarkissian on Wednesday met with Armenian Revolutionary Federation Supreme Council of Armenia chairman Ishkhan Saghatelyan and ARF Bureau member Arsen Hambartsumyan to discuss the socio-economic impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic on Armenia.

The meeting was part of the president’s outreach to experts, civic organizations, as well as parliamentary and extra-parliamentary forces in Armenia to discuss the economic impact of the pandemic and the challenges that it has posed for Armenia.

The president and the ARF leaders agreed that only through a united effort can the challenges brought on by the coronavirus crisis be resolved. The ARF representatives presented their vision and possible avenues to resolve the crisis.

Views were also exchanged on domestic and foreign policy issues, as well as matters of national interest, among them the commemoration of the 105th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide last month, as well as the centennial of the Sevres Treaty in August and the upcoming anniversary of the Armenian Independence.

The ARF leaders briefed the president on some of the important ARF programs and events that were postponed because of the COVID-19 crisis.

They also welcomed the president’s proposed plan to create a vast park around the Dzidzernagapert Armenian Genocide memorial that will be representative of all facets of Armenians, saying that it is of national importance and aims at advancing national unity.

By Samvel Sukiasyan

NEWS.am Sport continues presenting the young Armenian football players who play abroad, but dream of playing for the Armenian national team one day.

Attacking midfielder Eduard Asriyants, 18, plays for the U19 team of CSKA Moscow.

“I was born on April 16, 2002 in Moscow. At the age of four, I started playing football at the football club of the central house of the Red Army. It was here that I refined my technique, which, according to the coaches, is one of my strongest qualities. I am a lefty, I play as an attacking midfielder and a right-forward.

From the age of 12, I joined the Labor Reserves children and youth’s sports school, where the coach played me in the position of attacking midfielder, revealing my potential. With that team we became the winners of Moscow’s top league, then we took the second place in the Premier League. I scored a lot of goals and received invitations from the strongest clubs in Moscow.

At that time, the teams of Labor Reserves were training at Spartak’s academy, and my transfer to that club was the most logical. As a member of Spartak, I became a three-time champion of the Moscow club league.
In 2019, I moved to CSKA. I have played in the U17 and U19 teams of this club. My goal is to move from youth to adult football and sign a professional contract.

A few months ago, the representatives of the Football Federation of Armenia contacted me. It would be a great honor for my family and me to receive an invitation from the Armenian national team.

I have a lot of experience in international tournaments at the club level. I am ready to represent Armenia with dignity in the international arena. Thank you very much for this interview. I hope we will meet in Armenia soon,” Eduard Asriyants said.