16:47,
YEREVAN, JULY 26, ARMENPRESS. The Defense Ministry of Armenia denies another statement of the Azerbaijani defense ministry according to which the Armenian Armed Forces have shelled the Azerbaijani combat positions.
Armenian Defense Ministry Spokesperson Aram Torosyan told ARMENPRESS that the statement released by the Azerbaijani defense ministry is disinformation.
The “Armenia” Faction of the Republic of Armenia National Assembly (RA NA) has accepted the invitation by the Artsakh NA speaker to visit Artsakh on September 2. Gegham Manukyan, an MP of the aforesaid opposition faction, wrote about this on Facebook.
“Many of us will be in Artsakh on September 2. BUT, it is very important that the NA political majority of Armenia accepts [Artsakh NA speaker] Artur Tovmasyan’s invitation. (…) I wonder if the current president of the NA of Armenia will respond to the invitation by his colleague from Artsakh. (…).
The opposition MPs will go even without an invitation.
Will the authorities [of Armenia] accept the official invitation of Artsakh?
Time has started.
P.S. in one of the photos, on April 12, 2022, we the MPs of the RA NA ‘Armenia’ Faction are waiting at the checkpoint in Aghavno village to be allowed to visit Artsakh,” Manukyan added, in particular.
On Saturday, the President of Artsakh had addressed—with a message—to the lawmakers of Armenia and invited them all to Artsakh on September 2 to celebrate the Republic Day and hold joint discussions.
Turkey signals renewed interest in normalising ties with Armenia, but the question is whether Ankara sincere about peace with Yerevan, or “just wants to appear moderate,” said Michael Rubin, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.
As the two countries resumed talks in January to mend fractured diplomatic relations, the meetings between their representatives should take place in Turkey and Armenia, not in Austria or other third countries, Rubin said. However, Turkey shows willingness, he said.
Secondly, “Turkish negotiators should pay their respects at the Armenian Genocide Memorial,” Rubin said in an article for news and analysis website 1945 on Wednesday.
“They can also signal that they support a fair solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute by encouraging Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to resolve it rather than supporting his attempts to eliminate the Armenian population and erase their cultural heritage,” as another step for expressing sincerity, Rubin said.
“Never again should Turkey reap the benefits of a policy it has no intention to implement,” he said.
A full reproduction of the article follows below:
Fifteen years ago, a Turkish nationalist shot Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink point-blank in the head, shouting to horrified onlookers in the heart of Istanbul that he killed the “infidel.” The murder made international headlines and shocked not only Armenians but also liberal Turks. There was a silver lining, though, as the Turkish government sought to change the narrative by addressing its bilateral tensions with Armenia.
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan invited his Turkish counterpart, Abdullah Gül, to a soccer game in Yerevan, and more such exchanges followed. Finally, in October 2009, Armenian and Turkish negotiators agreed on two bilateral protocols that created a roadmap to formalise diplomatic relations, opening the border to end Turkey’s unilateral blockade and setting up a joint committee to address the Armenian Genocide.
Within days, however, optimism turned to defeat. The Turkish parliament refused to ratify the Zurich protocols, absent a greenlight from Azerbaijan. It was a nonsense excuse: Ankara commands Baku, not vice versa. It was also classic Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. He feigned diplomacy to avoid accountability for the violence that logically flowed from his nationalist and extremist excesses.
At the same time, Erdoğan sought advantage from a lack of relations. The Turkish-Azerbaijani blockade of Armenia forced Armenia to rely on Iran as its economic outlet to the world. Partisans then pointed to these ties as reasons to ally with Turkey and Azerbaijan over Armenia. In reality, this policy was like an arsonist setting his neighbour’s house on fire next door and then complaining about the smoke. Nevertheless, in Washington, such tactics work, both because the Turkey cadre at the State Department far outnumbers employees assigned to manage the relations of other regional countries and because Azerbaijan and Turkey’s embassies have traditionally been more active than Armenia’s.
History repeats. As Turkey today faces triple-digit inflation and looming bankruptcy, Erdoğan again signals a willingness to bury hatchets and talk. Whereas he once berated Israeli President and Nobel Laureate Shimon Peres as a murderer, he now welcomes his Israeli counterpart to Ankara. And whereas he once promised he would stop at nothing to hold Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman (MBS) accountable for the murder of Saudi journalist and former intelligence operative Jamal Khashoggi, he welcomed MBS to Ankara last month after ordering the court case against him dropped. That Riyadh played hardball with Erdoğan and forced his retreat raises questions about why Washington and Brussels always opt for a softer approach and then wonder why it never works.
Now, it is Armenia’s turn to be the subject of Turkey’s diplomatic turn. Almost two years ago, Azerbaijan, along with Turkish Special Forces and Israeli drones, launched a surprise attack on Artsakh, the Armenian-populated republic in Nagorno-Karabakh, a region whose status they had pledged to resolve diplomatically. That the attack occurred on the 100th anniversary of the Ottoman assault on the Armenian-populated region was no coincidence. Erdoğan repeatedly framed the attack in religious terms as a jihad against Christians.
Today, however, Turkey signals renewed interest in negotiating with Armenia. On July 1, Turkey agreed to open the border for cargo and non-Armenian, non-Turkish passport holders. Erdoğan and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan spoke directly as a result. While Turkish officials said they were coordinating with their Azerbaijani counterparts, Baku has been generally cool to Turkey’s diplomatic moves. The looming question now is whether Turkey truly wants to normalise ties with Armenia or, conversely, just wants to appear moderate.
There are ways to find out.
Rather than meet in Austria or other third countries, Turkey and Armenia can resume their talks in Ankara and Yerevan. Turkey signals willingness. Should Turkey be sincere, Turkish negotiators should pay their respects at the Armenian Genocide Memorial. They can also signal that they support a fair solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute by encouraging Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to resolve it rather than supporting his attempts to eliminate the Armenian population and erase their cultural heritage. The elimination of cultural heritage and restraint from ethnic cleansing should not be something over which Turkey should seek to bargain. Indeed, there is hypocrisy about Erdoğan complaining about the treatment of Muslims while presiding over the elimination of Christian presence in Turkey, Azerbaijan, and even northern Syria.
It is in the interest of all parties to resolve disputes in the South Caucasus diplomatically. To do otherwise only benefits Russia and Iran. If the State Department wants to show diplomacy to be back, however, it can play a role. First, rather than reward Ankara for signalling conciliation, it should instead judge Turkey on the substance of its actions. Never again should Turkey reap the benefits of a policy it has no intention to implement. Second, it should appoint someone with ambassadorial rank to succeed U.S. Minsk Group Co-Chair Andrew Schofer, who has rotated into a new assignment. That the French and Russian co-chairs were ambassadors, but Schofer was a self-inflicted wound to U.S. influence. Third, maximalist approaches will never bring peace. Only cultural and political autonomy will. Artsakh is not Donetsk; it is not an artificial creation. Instead, it predates and has survived Ottoman, Soviet, and Azerbaijani attempts to erase it. It is time to embrace the Kosovo model.
(The original version of the article can be found here.)
16:53,
YEREVAN, JULY 22, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan received today the delegation led by the Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) David McAllister, the PM’s Office said.
During the meeting PM Pashinyan highlighted the close cooperation with the European Parliament and stated that the European Union is one of the key partners in the effective implementation of Armenia’s democratic agenda. Pashinyan highlighted the mutual partnership within the Eastern Partnership and said that Armenia is holding leading positions in Eastern Partnership in the fight against corruption, freedom of speech, electoral reforms and other directions.
David McAllister thanked for the warm welcome and highlighted the productive and close cooperation with Armenian parliamentarians. He welcomed Armenia’s ongoing democratic reforms in different areas, adding that the European Union will continue providing support to the Armenian government in this direction.
The sides touched upon the process happening in the South Caucasus region, the situation around Nagorno Karabakh, the unblocking of regional infrastructure and the delimitation opportunities between Armenia and Azerbaijan. PM Pashinyan presented in-detail the position of the Armenian side and answered to the questions of the EP delegation.
The sides highlighted ensuring regional peace and stability and continuing the dialogue on this direction.
PM Pashinyan touched upon the issue of Armenian prisoners of war, who are still held in Azerbaijan, and in this respect David McAllister said that the European Parliament also stresses the importance of ensuring their return by Azerbaijan and will continue the efforts on this path.
Issues relating to the preservation of the Armenian cultural heritage in the territories under the Azerbaijani control were also discussed.
Nikol Pashinyan and David McAllister stressed the need of ensuring the entry of UNESCO mission to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict zone and conducting consistent works for this purpose.
14:23,
YEREVAN, JULY 20, ARMENPRESS. Newly appointed Ambassador of Albania to Armenia Luela Hajdaraga (residence in Athens, Greece) presented her credentials today to President Vahagn Khachaturyan, the Presidential Office said.
The Armenian President congratulated the Ambassador on appointment and wished a productive work.
In her turn the Ambassador of Albania thanked the Armenian President for the reception and stated that a big potential of educational, tourism and cultural cooperation exists between the two countries.
The sides exchanged ideas about the opportunities of developing the mutual partnership in commercial and educational-cultural spheres.
15:29,
YEREVAN, JULY 20, ARMENPRESS. The government of Mexico is providing scholarships to foreign nationals, including the citizens of Armenia, who wish to study in Mexican educational institutions, the Armenian Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport said.
“Applications should be submitted online. The deadline is July 24, 2022, 23:59 Mexico time (14:59 Armenia time).
Details are available here.
In case of other questions, those interested could send an e-mail to [email protected]”, the ministry said.
The Civil Contract faction of the National Assembly will not take the case of stripping opposition MPs from parliamentary mandates to the Constitutional Court, Armenpress reports.
The issue was discussed today at the sitting of the National Assembly Board. Speaking to reporters after the sitting, Deputy Speaker of Parliament Ruben Rubinyan cited several reasons for the decision.
First, he said, the issue can be considered solved after the removal of opposition MPs from their positions at the National Assembly.
Another reason, according to Rubinyan, is the respect for the people’s votes. Furthermore, he said, the country needs political stability and solidarity now.
Finally, he said, the opposition is wrong thinking that the ruling faction will turn to the Constitutional Court, thus providing them with a “lifeline” to escape.
At the same time, Ruben Rubinyan noted that the issue will emerge again if the opposition MPs fail to show up during the next session of the National Assembly.
The opposition MPs have not attended the sitting since launching series of protests against the incumbent government.
The ruling Civil Contract faction earlier removed Ishkhan Saghatelyan from Armenia faction from the position of Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly. Vahe Hakobyan was dismissed as Chair of the Standing Committee on Economic Affairs. Armen Gevorgyan, in turn, resigned as head of the Standing Committee on Regional and Eurasian Integration.
14th July 2022
Although having faced defeat against Andorra the previous evening the Gibraltar U16s started brightly netting their first points without miss. However, Armenia showed that they were exactly as expected, a force to be reckoned with netting two three points from their first two shots, without a miss.
One of Gibraltar’s biggest problems on the court, especially with the senior teams has been scoring. The under 16s looked to have started to close this gap with their initial scoring record showing that they were effective under the basket. Nine points in the first minutes from six attempts at basket was already a higher rate of scoring than previously seen in international competitions for Gibraltar.
Having already beaten Moldova in their first match, the defeat against Andorra had come as a leveller for the young team. One that set the tone in the match against Armenia where, whilst confident on the court, they maintained an initial cautious approach which bode well for them as they kept their lead. Armenia levelled at 11-11 and 16-16 only to be met by a Gibraltar side immediately coming back into the game both times.
With three minutes of the first quarter left and going into a time-out Gibraltar led by five points at 22-16, and managing well in defence.
Gibraltar kept their lead and finished the first quarter 28-22.
Armenia started the second quarter on the offensive responding well to a long delay between quarters as the points were recalculated.
It was Gibraltar, however, who added to their score to make it 30-22.
Stealing well in defence three times Gibraltar extended their lead to 32-22 but could have made it more, missing two good opportunities.
Although the Gibraltar teams efficiency under the basket started to lag in the second quarter their continued strength in defence secured them extending their lead. At one point leading by twelve points.
This was reduced slightly with Gibraltar going into the halftime break leading 40-33.
Gibraltar started the third quarter on a positive note notching their first two points quickly but soon lost momentum.
It was a tight contest after Armenia grabbed their next three points. For some time neither team adding to their scores.
Armenia then were to reduce the gap to just two points after two consecutive baskets, both coming from steals in defence with six minutes of the third quarter still to play.
Gibraltar’s lead was erased a minute later as Armenia levelled at 42-42.
Armenia overturned the score to go to a 43-44 lead as Gibraltar, rattled by the five minutes in which they had lost their lead tried to regain their composure.
They levelled at 44-44 with four minutes still remaining of the quarter.
A well intercepted pass in defence provided them with a boost as they retook the lead at 46-44 but Armenia responded with a three pointer which brought them back into the lead within seconds.
With just a point between them it was a tense encounter in the final three minutes in which Gibraltar retook the lead and saw it overturned immediately before retaking it yet again as the match went to 50-49.
Armenia’s three point efficiency played in their favour as they extended the lead to two points at 50-52 with just over a minute of the quarter to play.
Three well played points saw Gibraltar’s chances boosted again with less than forty seconds left for the end of the third quarter.
The Gibraltar u16s were dealt a blow immediately after with an injury that required attendance from the medical attendants at the venue.
It did little to take away Gibraltar’s focus on the match though as they tried to protect their lead. Armenia however coming up once again with an impressive three points on the final second to take the lead at 53-55.
It was all to play for in the final quarter.
Armenia increased their lead immediately on starting the final quarter to take the score to 53-57.
This sparked Gibraltar into somewhat of a comeback as they came level at 57-57 after winning defensive rebounds.
Disciplined defending saw Gibraltar regain possession after Armenia tried to retake the lead but the loss of the ball in attack gave Armenia a second chance which they readily took.
Once again, Armenia after protecting well in defence produced another three point to open the gap to five points with six minutes of the match to play.
With very little between the two teams it was now a matter of who was more effective under the basket. Armenia added to their score to go 57-67 ahead as Gibraltar saw the game walking away from them with five minutes to play.
Luckless under the basket Gibraltar saw Armenia add two further points to their lead, then a free shot before they could respond. With three minutes on the clock left the score at 59-70 for Armenia.
There was no lack of determination by the Gibraltar u16s as they battled for every ball both in attack and defence. However, with time ticking away the eleven point deficit weighed heavier by the second and kept on piling as Armenia entered the final minute with a 59-76 lead.
Gibraltar were to finally fall 59-76 in a match in which they had dominated at first but found themselves falling behind even though they produced an impressive, determined performance which they should be proud. Gibraltar’s small pool of players producing a display which through most of the match had been in par to their opponents with greater numbers to select from.
Glendale Councilmember and Metro Board Chair Ara Najarian speaking at Thursday morning’s event at Union Station.
Glendale Councilmember Ara Najarian became the new Chair of the Metro Board of Directors at Metro’s annual State of the Agency event on Thursday morning. Najarian succeeds outgoing Board Chair Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis.
“I am honored to be selected and I am looking forward to leading the Metro Board over the coming year,” said Najarian. “We have a great number of exciting projects and initiatives coming to fruition in the coming year that will include the opening of both the Regional Connector Transit Project and the Crenshaw/LAX light rail line. In addition, I look forward to continuing to strengthen our commitment to public safety, growing ridership back to pre-pandemic levels, continuing to improve the customer experience and delivering more countywide, regionally integrated projects.”
Najarian, during his first Chairmanship of the agency in 2014, was instrumental in beginning construction and shepherding in the Regional Connector and now as the current Board Chair he will have come full circle from start to finish of this vital transportation project with its opening later this year.
A practicing attorney, Najarian has served on Glendale’s City Council since 2005 and has held the position as Mayor of the City of Glendale four times during his tenure. He also serves as the Chair of Metrolink’s Board of Directors and is a member and past Chair of the San Fernando Valley Council of Governments and past Chair of the Glendale Housing Authority and Glendale Redevelopment Agency.
Outgoing Metro Board Chair and County Supervisor Hilda Solis checking out Metro’s art bus (see below!) on Thursday.
“I’m excited to work closely with Director Najarian in the coming year,” said Stephanie N. Wiggins, CEO of Metro. “As both the Chair of Metro and Metrolink, Director Najarian will bring a unique perspective to the many mobility challenges facing our region. It’s really important for our region that the Metro and Metrolink partnership be strong. Many of our customers take both systems, and I look forward to working with Chair Najarian to strengthen that partnership in the interest of all Angelenos.”
In approving the appointment of Najarian as new Board Chair, the Metro Board also voted to appoint Jacquelyn Dupont-Walker as the First Vice Chair and Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn as the Second Vice Chair.
As Metro’s new Board Chair, Najarian has appointed Chairs and Vice Chairs on six Metro Board Committees. They are:
•Finance, Budget and Audit Committee: Chair will be L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger with L.A. County Supervisor Holly Mitchell as Vice Chair.
•Planning and Programming Committee: Chair will be Glendale Councilmember Ara Najarian with Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti as Vice Chair.
•Operations, Safety, and Customer Experience Committee: Chair will be L.A. County Supervisor Holly Mitchell with Pomona Mayor Tim Sandoval as Vice Chair.
•Construction Committee: Chair will be Whittier City Councilmember Fernando Dutra with L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn as Vice Chair.
•Executive Management Committee: Chair will be Glendale Councilmember Ara Najarian with L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn as Vice Chair.
•2028 Olympics Committee: Chair will be L.A. County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis with Glendale Councilmember Ara Najarian as Vice Chair.
The 13-member Board of Directors is comprised of the five Los Angeles County Supervisors, four members appointed by the Los Angeles County City Selection Committee, the Mayor of Los Angeles and three members appointed by the Mayor. The position of Board Chair rotates between the three groups. Najarian’s term as Chair runs from July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023.