Author: Hagop Kamalian

Armenian government provides 8.8 billion drams to Artsakh people: Total allocations reach 83 billion drams

Hagop Kamalian

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 14:19, 1 July, 2021

YEREVAN, JULY 1, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian government has adopted another decision on providing assistance to the people of Artsakh.

During the Cabinet meeting today, caretaker minister of finance Atom Janjughazyan said the decision aims at providing fund for covering the expenses for electricity, gas supply and communication services of the Artsakh people for July 2021, as well as for the July salaries, pensions and healthcare expenditures as envisaged by the 2021 state budget of Artsakh.

“It is planned to provide 8.8 billion drams, 1.2 billion drams of which will be used for paying the utility bills, and the rest will be provided to the Republic of Artsakh within the framework of an inter-state loan”, he said.

Caretaker Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan noted that by this decision Artsakh is provided with an inter-state loan worth 8.7 billion drams. “14 programs have been implemented since November. Overall, 53 billion drams have been spent so far”, he said, adding that assistance programs worth about 74 billion drams have been implemented in Artsakh following the recent war.

“This is supplemented by these 8.8 billion drams, and we can state that our assistance package for Artsakh already comprises 83 billion drams, 52 billion drams of which has already been spent. These programs should be revised so that the recovery programs are replaced by development programs for the economy of Artsakh to start working, generating money, and our assistance to be spent on development programs”, Pashinyan said.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Lithuania supports Armenian people’s aspirations to live in peaceful, secure and stable state

Hagop Kamalian

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 13:00, 22 June, 2021

YEREVAN, JUNE 22, ARMENPRESS. President of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda congratulated the leader of the Armenian political party Civic Contract, Nikol Pashinyan, over victory in the June 20 early parliamentary elections, the Lithuanian President’s Office said in a statement.

The Lithuanian President wished success, patience and dedication to Pashinyan in performing the duties of the responsible position.

“Political stability is especially important for the citizens of Armenia after the recent war. We support the aspirations of the Armenian people to live in a peaceful, secure and stable state,” the President said.

Gitanas Nausėda underlined the importance of preserving Armenia's national security and sovereignty and the need to resolve the divisions between political forces and within society in order to unite them for the benefit of the state. The President called for active efforts to implement reforms for successful and effective cooperation between Armenia and the EU. This is particularly important with the entry into force of the comprehensive EU-Armenia Partnership Agreement.

Armenia held snap parliamentary elections on June 20.

21 political parties and 4 blocs were running for parliament.

Accordingly, the Civil Contract party led by caretaker Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received 53.92% of the votes, the “Armenia” bloc led by 2nd President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan – 21.04%, “I Have the Honor” bloc – 5.23%, CEC Chairman Tigran Mukuchyan said at the Committee’s extraordinary session.

1 million 282 thousand 411 citizens or 49.4% of the voters cast their ballot in the early elections.

4682 ballots were declared invalid.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Armenian lawyers seek entry into Azerbaijan to defend POWs

Hagop Kamalian
Panorama, Armenia

Armenian lawyers seek entry into Azerbaijan to defend prisoners of war (POWs) facing criminal charges in the country, lawyer Alexander Kochubaev said.

“Armenia’s Chamber of Advocates made a decision to apply to the competent authorities of Armenia and Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijani Bar Association, as well as other international organization over the issue of providing legal assistance to Armenian prisoners of war by Armenian lawyers, allowing their entry into Azerbaijan and guaranteeing their safety,” the lawyer wrote on Facebook.

He said if they are granted permission to enter the country, a “legal battle” will begin for the Armenian captives.

“I have joined the initiative and am ready to go to Azerbaijan to undertake the protection of the rights and interests of our prisoners of war,” Kochubaev said.

Incidentally, the Armenian Chamber of Advocates initiated a process of providing legal assistance to Armenian prisoners being held in Azerbaijan on Friday.

Macron Calls for Karabakh Settlement with ‘Respect for Armenia’s Sovereignty’

Hagop Kamalian
by Asbarez Staff

 

 

 

in Armenia, Artsakh, Featured Story, Latest, News, Top Stories

French President Emanuel Macron welcomes Armenia's Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to Paris on June 1

President Emmanuel Macron of France said only a political settlement of the Karabakh conflict can bring stability to the region.

The French leader reiterated his long-held position in a congratulatory message to acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan for garnering the lead in Sunday’s parliamentary elections in Armenia.

“The Armenian people can count on the full support of France in its determination to strengthen democracy and the rule of law. Economic cooperation between France and Armenia will continue to strengthen,” Macron said in his message.

“Determined to continue to provide humanitarian assistance to vulnerable groups of the population, France, together with your country, is helping to overcome the consequences of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with full respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia,” added Macron, who reaffirmed France’s commitment as a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group to the search for a comprehensive settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

“Rest assured that we are committed to resuming the process of political settlement, which is the only way that can guarantee lasting stability in the South Caucasus, as well as promote our common values of peace, solidarity and friendship with the peoples of the region,” added the French leader.

In congratulating Pashinyan, Macron said, “there are exceptional relations between France and Armenia, which are based on historical ties between our peoples, fueled by a special dialogue between governments, parliaments, local authorities, as well as the civil society of our countries

Dutch Parliament calls on government not to visit EURO 2020 quarter finals in Baku, Azerbaijan

Hagop Kamalian

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 11:46,

YEREVAN, JUNE 24, ARMENPRESS. The Parliament of the Netherlands has adopted a motion with the overwhelming majority of votes which calls on the government not to visit EURO 2020 quarter finals in Baku, Azerbaijan, if the Dutch national team qualifies, the Federation of Armenian Organizations in the Netherlands said, which has also been actively engaged in the process of adoption of the motion.

“Given that the ceasefire agreement and international law of war have been violated after the 40-day war in Nagorno Karabakh in 2020, that more than 200 Armenian prisoners of war are still being held in Azerbaijan, among other places also in Baku, and that there is also a "Trophy park" in Baku with, among other things, the helmets of fallen Armenians, in view of the political-military situation in Azerbaijan, calls on the government not to send a delegation to Baku if the Dutch national team comes to play there”, the resolution says.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

CIS IPA short-term observers to begin monitoring Armenian parliamentary elections on 19 June

Hagop Kamalian
BelTA, Belarus

MINSK, 16 June (BelTA) – Short-term observers from the CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly will begin monitoring the snap elections to the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia on 19 June, BelTA learned the CIS IPA press service.

The observers will take part in a ceremony to lay wreaths and flowers to the Mother Armenia monument. On the same day, they are scheduled to hold talks with the leadership of the parliament, representatives of the political parties and electoral blocs that have nominated their candidates in the upcoming elections. Talks are scheduled with the leaders of the parties “Prosperous Armenia”, “Civil Contract” and “Enlightened Armenia”.

On 19 June, the observers are scheduled to meet with Chairman of the Armenian Central Electoral Commission Tigran Mukuchyan to exchange views on the current election campaign. In the afternoon, meetings with representatives of the parties will continue: the monitoring group will visit the "Armenia" bloc headquarters and then hold meetings with representatives of the headquarters of the "I Have Honor” bloc and "Armenia – Our Home” party.

On 20 June, the observers will attend the opening of polling stations in Yerevan, then will continue monitoring voting in various cities and regions of the country. Then they will meet with observers from the OSCE/ODIHR mission to exchange impressions about the long-term and short-term monitoring in the Republic of Armenia.

On 21 June, the observers will take part in the outcome press conference of the CIS observation mission where they will sum up the results of the monitoring.

A team of international observers of the CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly is taking part in the observation of the snap parliamentary elections in Armenia at the invitation of President of the National Assembly of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan. The team includes MPs and officials of the supreme legislative bodies from seven states – members of the CIS IPA: Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan and officials of the CIS IPA Council Secretariat and experts of the CIS IPA International Institute for Monitoring Democracy Development, Parliamentarianism and Suffrage Protection of Citizens. Igor Komarovsky, Chairman of the Standing Commission on Industry, Fuel and Energy Complex, Transport and Communications of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus, has been appointed coordinator of the CIS IPA observation group.

Civil Contract Party systematically engages children in its election campaign – Electoral Rights Watch

Hagop Kamalian
Panorama, Armenia

The monitoring of the Electoral Rights Watch shows that Nikol Pashinyan’s Civil Contract Party systematically engages children in its election campaign.

“We consider this process illegal and against children rights and draw the attention of competent state and public and international organizations to this issue,” the watchdog said in a statement.

“The international instruments guaranteeing children's rights highlights the principle of "being informed" of the child's participation in the processes having a political character. It assumes that a child, in particular, realizes (1) the purpose of his / her participation in certain processes, (2) by whom and why the decision on his/her participation was made, (3) his/her role in terms of content and not in terms of form.

“The same international instruments consider unacceptable manifestations of children's participation in certain processes, when the child participates in a process where he/she does not realize the essence and purpose, or when children are involved by adults not because the problem is related to their interests, but thus the demonstration of the problem is ensured,” the statement reads.

Armenia ombudsman: There are armed Azerbaijan soldiers on Syunik Province roads

Hagop Kamalian
News.am, Armenia
15:59, 14.06.2021

The reports of the citizens continue to be submitted to the Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Armenia (RA) that there are armed Azerbaijani servicemen in the RA Syunik Province—on the road from Goris to Vorotan and Shurnukh, on the roads from Kapan to Chakaten, between Shikahogh, Srashen, and a number of other settlements—; moreover, they openly show weapons. Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan wrote this on Facebook.

"Reports are being received that Azerbaijani flags and signs are used on the roads between the mentioned communities of Syunik Province as an excuse to deploy Azerbaijani armed servicemen [there]. As a result of these actions, all the free movement of people has been disrupted.

The RA Human Rights Defender once again states that the very presence of Azerbaijani armed servicemen on the roads between the communities of the RA Syunik Province is a violation of the residents’ right to life enshrined in Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights, in the whole country and, first of all, in the mentioned communities of Syunik Province.

In addition to disrupting the safe and peaceful life of the population as guaranteed by the OSCE, their presence is also a continuing violation of the right to free movement of persons guaranteed by Article 2 of Protocol No. 4 to the European Convention.

The right to property, enshrined in Article 1 of Protocol No. 1 to the European Convention, is also violated, as the Azerbaijani military is in houses or land (for example, Vorotan, Shurnukh, etc.) belonging to people with the very legal official documents. It has completely disrupted people's lifestyles," Tatoyan added.

Legal basis of transportation unblocking are firstly the CIS normative legal acts – Russian deputy PM

Hagop Kamalian

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 13:55,

YEREVAN, JUNE 11, ARMENPRESS. The Armenia-Russia-Azerbaijan deputy prime ministerial working group has thoroughly examined all possible railway and automobile routes from technical and legal terms that will connect Armenia and Azerbaijan, Russian Deputy Prime Minster Alexei Overchuk said in an interview to the Rossiyskaya Gazeta newspaper.

“An inventory of all international normative and legal acts is taking place. Firstly, it relates to the CIS because both Armenia and Azerbaijan are members of this organization. It happened so that every time when some multilateral agreements are being signed, the representatives of Armenia and Azerbaijan make reservations to each other, ruling out the spread of the effects of these agreements on the opposing side. Such reservations, which hinder the transportation ties between the two countries, should be removed”, he said.

The Russian deputy PM said the experts of the Russian transportation ministry, Rosavtodor (the Federal Road Transport Agency) and Russian Railways have worked in the border territories of Armenia and Azerbaijan in spring.

“They have examined each road and railway, assessed the opportunities of commercial transfers between the two countries. The situation of railway routes, bridges has been assessed. Unfortunately, almost all possible routes have become useless, and the restoration of transportation communication requires huge investments. Thanks to the results of the work of these experts the sides managed to outline the future steps for the opening of transportation communication. A large part of the work is also connected with the legal issues. There are no diplomatic relations, checkpoints, customs houses between Armenia and Azerbaijan. In the past 30 years Armenia and Azerbaijan have done everything to make the movement between them impossible. All these painful issues must be solved”, he said, adding. “It’s difficult for the people as they bear the history of the previous life and the relations of their countries”.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Armenian cultural sites and attractions to get nominated for World Travel Awards

Hagop Kamalian
Public Radio of Armenia
 

In early June an Agreement on cooperation was signed between the Tourism and Urbanism (TUF) Charitable Foundation and the World Media & Events to develop the tourism industry and tourism infrastructures as well as to facilitate to the professional growth of industry specialists.

With this agreement, TUF Foundation, which implements programs for the socio-economic development in Armenia through tourism and urbanism initiatives, as well as projects aimed at shaping a decentralized tourism chains in Armenia, will partner with the World Media & Events organizing the World Travel Awards. The latter was founded in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all key sectors of the travel, tourism and hospitality industries.

As part of the cooperation, TUF Foundation organized a visit of Graham Cooke, the Founder and the Director of the World Travel Awards, to Armenia. In the course of the three-day tour Mr. Cooke visited the most spectacular and attractive touristic sites in Armenia – Garni, Geghard, Dilijan, Tatev, as well as the Genocide Museum and the Matenadaran in Yerevan. He also participated in the Yerevan Wine Days event.

“This cooperation is an opportunity for Armenia to climb to a new level of international tourism, become more visible, and have the Armenian cultural sites and attractions nominated for the World Travel Awards. Besides, we agreed on organizing an international wine and culinary festival in Armenia in 2022 with an expressed commitment to start the work on the project,” Yelena Abovyan, the Director of the Tourism and Urbanism (TUF) Charitable Foundation, said.

The cooperation aims at developing the incoming tourism in Armenia, improve Armenia’s position as a tourist destination in the world tourism market, strengthen the unity of professional communities in tourism and related industries, improve the image of tourism and hospitality specializations and jobs, develop the professional capacities of those engaged in the industry, support state agencies in developing public policies and implementing tourism development strategy in Armenia, as well as in elaborating and developing applicable laws and regulations in the sphere.

About the Tourism and Urbanism (TUF) Charitable Foundation

In July 2020 the Tourism and Urbanism (TUF) Charitable Foundation undertook the projects by the IDeA Foundation targeted at the tourism and urbanism development (in Dilijan, Tatev, Artsakh, and Yerevan). The Foundation develops innovative projects in tourism and urbanism, promotes sustainable regional development and positions Armenia on the world map as a competive tourism destination.