14:53, 4 May, 2020
YEREVAN, MAY 4, ARMENPRESS. The number of COVID-19 cases in Russia has risen by 10,581 over the past day, reaching 145,268 in all regions, TASS reports citing the anti-coronavirus crisis center.
More than 18,000 people have recovered and 1,356 others have died.
According to the crisis center, the daily growth rate stands at 7.9%. Some 5,352 new cases (50.6%) are without any symptoms.
20:11, 29 April, 2020
YEREVAN, APRIL 29, ARMENPRESS. 3 people have been arrested over the brawl between vice Speaker of the parliament Alen Simonyan and Co-founder of Adekvat Party Artur Danielyan. Danielyan is among the three arrested, head of the press service of the Police Edgar Janoyan told ARMENPRESS.
”Afterwards, Artur Danielyan was taken to the hospital from police department. Examination is underway”, he said.
Earlier today, the Police of Armenia received the alarm call from MP Arman Babajanyan over the incident of attacking National Assembly Vice Speaker Alen Simonyan.
Co-founder of Adekvad party Konstantin Ter-Nakalyan posted the photo of the other co-founder of the party Artur Danielyan where it can be seen that Danielyan has blood traces on the face.
‘’Alen Simonyan has attacked Artu Danielyan, who was walking in the street’’, he wrote.
Alen Simonyan informed that he was walking in the street and met some of the activists of Adekvad, one of whom made insulting expressions, after which brawling took place. Simonyan has also light injury at the palate.
Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan
12:09,
YEREVAN, APRIL 27, ARMENPRESS. The session of the governmental commission coordinating the works to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus in Armenia was held today in the government chaired by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, the PM’s Office told Armenpress.
Deputy Prime Minister, the State of Emergency Commandant, Tigran Avinyan introduced the ongoing actions within the frames of the policy to prevent the spread of COVID-19, as well as the future steps.
In particular, the session touched upon the issues relating to the organization of works in economic, social, educational, cultural and other spheres of public life.
The participants of the session exchanged views on the manageability of the problem, the possibilities to mitigate restrictions on free movement and economic activitiy, control mechanisms, etc.
The Commandant will soon make respective decisions based on the results of today’s session.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
In her most recent book, The Education of an Idealist, Samantha Power dedicates significant time to the Armenian Genocide. She advocated for its recognition before joining the Obama administration, then failed to do so while serving as a special assistant to the president on the National Security Council and then as ambassador to the United Nations.
As part of her ongoing apology tour, Power has argued that she tried to strike the right balance between idealism and realism. In the end, she concluded that the politics of genocide was too complicated.
Power’s book came out at the same time Congress passed landmark nonbinding resolutions last year that formally affirmed recognition and defined American policy on the Armenian Genocide as the systematic mass extermination of 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Turks from 1915 to 1923.
As a first-generation Armenian-American and grandson to survivors of the Armenian Genocide, this historic decision was something I had been waiting for my entire life. I wanted to know that the stories about how my grandfather, Haroutiun Toufayan, hid in a haystack for more than 40 days from Turkish soldiers while his father and brother were taken away (never to be seen or heard from again) had not been told in vain.
Unfortunately, that sense of euphoria and jubilation quickly turned to skepticism and doubt. After all, this wasn’t the first time Congress had recognized the Genocide. We had been down this road before when similar acknowledgments had been made in 1951 and 1984 and by Ronald Reagan early in his presidency. There were multiple reports that the Trump White House sought to block the resolution on the Senate floor so as to appease Turkey’s President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Ankara officially responded by calling the resolutions political theater, claiming they had been proposed merely because of heightened tensions between the United States and Turkey over that country’s invasion of Syria and purchase of a Russian S-400 missile system. It was also widely whispered that Democrats were trying to send a message to President Trump by sabotaging his budding relationship with Erdogan. It reminded me of how political this issue had become.
Although it’s often referred to as the “forgotten” genocide, the Armenian Genocide has increasingly become the “political” one. We’ve seen presidential candidates on the campaign trail looking for votes and money promise recognition, only to capitulate to Turkish pressure once in office.
To understand why Turkey continues to deny its role in orchestrating the first genocide of the 20th century, and Washington’s complicity in that denial, one must examine the political machinations of the Cold War and America’s War on Terror.
In seeking not to upset Turkey for geopolitical reasons, the U.S. has avoided holding Turkey culpable for these atrocities and crimes against humanity. During the Cold War, the U.S. would often claim that it was not in our national interest to do so because Turkey was a NATO ally, strategically located near the Soviet Union. When the Cold War ended, the rationale turned to the War on Terror and Turkey’s importance as a launching pad for U.S. airstrikes against ISIS and other Islamic fundamentalists from the Incirlik Air Base.
Following the attacks of 9/11, Washington even went so far as to cite Turkey as a model democracy in the Middle East, despite the country’s poor record on human rights and free speech. It all boils down to Turkey taking advantage of its geopolitical position to influence how it wants the world to see it. Unfortunately, perception is reality when it comes to Turkey. It’s one of the reasons the Turkish government spends so much money each year on lobbyists to manufacture and shape Turkey’s image.
Sadly, this issue has become a political football where politicians use empty threats to gain leverage with Turkey. Even Israel, a country founded in the wake of genocide, has used the Armenian Genocide as a political cudgel when dealing with Turkey. Last year, for example, lawmakers voted to debate recognition of the Armenian Genocide in the Knesset as relations between Israel and Turkey deteriorated over unrelated matters. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s son even took to social media to accuse Turkey of genocide.
What politicians fail to understand is that genocide isn’t a political issue — it’s a human rights issue. Political expediency should play no role in this debate. For far too long, we’ve seen Turkish subterfuge define this issue for U.S. policymakers, who invariably acquiesce to Turkey’s wishes. When decisions are being made to score political points, it then opens lawmakers up to questions around the authenticity of those outcomes.
What’s more, it sows doubt about their intentions and can play right into the hands of deceitful actors. At a time when trust in our government leaders is at a nadir, we should be vigilant in holding autocrats like Erdogan accountable for his country’s actions and history. Our abrogation of that responsibility only adds to Turkey’s resolve, giving it cover to question the sincerity of our motives.
It’s incredible the amount of power and sway that Turkey has over Washington, D.C., when it comes to dictating foreign policy. Are we to take guidance from a country that purports to be a democracy when more journalists sit in Turkish jails than anywhere else in the world? Are we going to take their word over ours?
Today marks the Armenian Genocide’s 105th anniversary. It’s high time that the U.S. honor and acknowledge this Genocide — not because it serves a political purpose, party, or foreign government, but because it is the right thing to do.
We owe it to my grandfather, as well as the survivors and victims of all genocides.
Stephan Pechdimaldji is a public relations professional who lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.
11:49,
YEREVAN, APRIL 23, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan sent a letter of condolences over the death of famous ethnic Armenian philanthropist and scientist Aso Tavitian, the PM’s Office told Armenpress.
“With a deep sorrow I learnt about the death of Aso Tavitian. I express my deepest condolences to his relatives and friends.
Aso Tavitian’s death was a great loss for all of us. He was one of the most significant figures of the contemporary Armenian Diaspora and the US-Armenian community, who was famous not only as a talented scientist and entrepreneur, but also as a patron and philanthropist.
His long-term support to Armenia especially deserves great praise and gratitude. During Armenia’s independence years nearly 300 public servants and civil society representatives studied and trained at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University thanks to his funds and efforts.
Aso Tavitian lived a meaningful life. His past path and high values are exemplary for our society and especially the young generation.
Rest In Peace”, reads the Armenian PM’s condolence letter.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
14:46,
YEREVAN, APRIL 23, ARMENPRESS. Suren Galstyan has been appointed chief secretary at the ministry of justice of Armenia.
The respective decision has been signed by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and is posted on e-gov.am.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
17:28,
YEREVAN, APRIL 21, ARMENPRESS. Foreign minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan reaffirmed today the position of the Armenian authorities according to which no decision relating to Artsakh can be adopted without the consent of the Artsakh people.
“The Armenian authorities do not have a mandate from the Artsakh people to represent Artsakh in the peaceful settlement negotiations of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. A few days ago the Artsakh authorities received a mandate from the people through competitive, free and democratic elections. During these two years the Republic of Armenia has always consulted with the Artsakh side, the negotiation process was discussed in detail, we are working together, the same continued with the new leadership. No decision relating to the people of Artsakh can be made without them”, the FM said.
Artsakh held parliamentary and presidential elections on March 31. The voting in the second round of the presidential election took place on April 14, and based on the results Arayik Harutyunyan was elected President of Artsakh.
Reported by Norayr Shoghikyan
Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
Armenia plans to organize 4th Global Forum Against the Crime of Genocide
18:10,
YEREVAN, APRIL 21, ARMENPRESS. Armenia plans to hold the 4th Global Forum Against the Crime of Genocide this year, ARMENPRESS reports Foreign Minister of Armenia Zohrab Mnatsakanyan said in a press conference on April 21.
”We plan to hold the 4th Global Forum Against the Crime of Genocide this year. This is already a permanent platform for consolidating the expertise potential of the international community and working and developing the tool kits that foster the implementation of preventive measures of genocides at national and international levels”, Mnatsakanyan said.
On April 24 the Armenian Genocide Memorial will be closed for all visitors aimed at preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus in the country. Other events are planned to take place to pay homage to the memory of the victims of the genocide.
State of emergency has been prolonged until May 14. Strict limitations on people’s movement has been imposed.
Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan
PanARMENIAN.Net – Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said that a document envisaging a step-by-step settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict has been proposed.
He added that new projects were unveiled at the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia and the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs in Moscow in April 2019, which are “being actively discussed”.
“These documents envisage a step-by-step approach, which includes the solution of the most pressing issues in the first stage, the withdrawal from several regions surrounding Nagorno Karabakh and the unblocking of transport, economic and other communications,” Lavrov said.
“I am confident that when we sign these documents, it will be a major step towards the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions calling for an end to the war and the start of negotiations.”