Author: Jagharian Tania

Cyprus, Greece and Armenia discuss enhancing cooperation on Diaspora issues

Jagharian Tania
Cyprus News Agency
Wednesday
Cyprus, Greece and Armenia discuss enhancing cooperation on Diaspora issues
 
 
Enhancing cooperation among Cyprus, Greece and Armenia on Diaspora issues was at the heart of the trilateral meeting of the three countries on Wednesday that took place on the sidelines of the Conference of Overseas Cypriots taking place in Nicosia.
 
In remarks after the meeting, Presidential Commissioner for Humanitarian Issues and Overseas Cypriots Fotis Fotiou said that they had a very productive tripartite meeting” in which specific issues related to the Diaspora of the three countries were discussed.
 
Fotiou said that that there is political will to move ahead with a productive and effective trilateral co-operation on Diaspora issues.
 
As he said, the three countries have very strong Diasporas in very important countries, such as the USA, France, England and Australia.
 
“Through this cooperation we will activate the organized groups of our Diasporas to promote the interests of the three countries” he added.
 
He also referred to the goal they set to bring the new generation of the Diaspora of the three countries closer, noting that they decided to repeat the example of the last days with regard to Israel, Greece and Cyprus.
 
Fotiou also referred to the decision taken jointly to hold a trilateral conference in Greece where through various events the three historical tragedies, namely the 1974 Turkish invasion in Cyprus, the Pontic Greek Genocide and the Armenian Genocide will be presented.
 
He also said that they have decided to work together so that entrepreneurs from Diaspora visit the three countries to explore investment opportunities. Fotiou also announced their decision to cooperate on tourism issues relating to Diaspora.
 
He also said that the issue of Diaspora will be one of the topics that will be discussed at the trilateral summit of the leaders of the three countries, which will take place very soon.
 
Greece’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Diaspora Greeks Antonis Diamataris and the High Commissioner for Diaspora of Armenia Zareh John Sinanyan, in their statements, have also referred to the decision to deepen the cooperation among the three countries on Diaspora issues setting a preliminary agenda to this direction.

PM offers birthday greetings to Garegin II

Jagharian Tania

PM offers birthday greetings to Garegin II

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16:44, 21 August, 2019

YEREVAN, AUGUST 21, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has extended birthday congratulations to Armenian Apostolic Church leader Catholicos Garegin II who turned 68 today, the PM’s Office said in a news release.

In a letter sent to the Catholicos, the PM said that he values Garegin II’s role in strengthening the cooperation between the government and the church.

“The Armenian Apostolic Church has great importance and role in our people’s life in terms of strengthening spiritual values and preservation of national identity. I am sure you will continue your productive activities in this direction,” the PM told Garegin II, wishing good health and good luck in his mission.

Earlier today President of Artsakh Bako Sahakyan had also extended congratulations to the Catholicos.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan




Armenian American woman insists on completing citizenship ceremony despite labor pains

Jagharian Tania
The Hill, DC
Aug 22 2019
 
 
Armenian American woman insists on completing citizenship ceremony despite labor pains
 
By Zack Budryk – 08/22/19 06:16 PM EDT
 
A pregnant Armenian American woman refused to leave a naturalization ceremony on Thursday until she had been sworn in as a U.S. citizen — despite experiencing contractions, according to reports.
 
U.S. District Judge Cormac Carney said the 31-year-old woman — who asked to be identified only by her first name, Tatev — began feeling contractions at a Los Angeles convention center where Carney was to preside over a naturalization ceremony for more than 3,000 people, Reuters reported.
 
Tatev, who had been scheduled for a cesarean section next week, would not leave until she was sworn in, according to Carney, who performed an improvised ceremony specifically for her ahead of the more formal one.
 
Tatev told Reuters that the contractions ended after she returned home and rested, and that she was determined to become a citizen due to concerns over the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
 
“I sped up this process because of the fact of the current president, because the immigration laws are under attack,” said Tatev, who already has a 2-year-old daughter.
 
President Trump has made hardline immigration policies a central aspect of his presidency.
 
The administration has in recent weeks announced a new proposed rule that would expand the types of public aid legal immigrants can receive before being deemed a “public charge,” which could lead to them being denied green cards.
 
Trump also said this week the administration was “looking at” ending birthright citizenship.
 
“I don’t want my kid to face these issues growing up in this country and having this be his home and not legally being part of this country,” Tatev, who has lived in the U.S. since the age of 14, told Reuters.
 
 
 
 
 

I read what you wrote. Pashinyan talks to local residents in Jermuk (video)

Jagharian Tania
  • 23.08.2019

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RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is already in Jermuk. He is now talking to the local residents about the problem of exploitation of the Amulsar mine.


Local residents who are against the operation of the mine present their opinion, Pashinyan says in response that he is familiar with their approaches.


A little while ago, Pashinyan published a photo about his visit to Jermuk.

Armenian Defense Minister receives outgoing Ambassador of Iran

Jagharian Tania

Armenian Defense Minister receives outgoing Ambassador of Iran

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17:55,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 23, ARMENPRESS. Defense Minister of Armenia Davit Tonoyan received on August 23 Ambassador of Iran to Armenia Seyed Kazem Sajjadi, who completes diplomatic mission in Armenia.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Defense Ministry of Armenia, the sides discussed the current situation and prospects of the Armenian-Iranian relations, exchanged views on regional security and international developments.

Davit Tonoyan thanked the Ambassador for his contribution to the strengthening of the Armenian-Iranian relations and wished his success in his future activities.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan




Earthquake hits 20 km north-west Martakert town of Artsakh

Jagharian Tania
Panorama, Armenia
Aug 22 2019

On August 22, at 09:41 local time (at 05:41 by GMT) the RA MES Seismic Protection Survey Seismological Network registered an earthquake at the northern latitude of 40.290 and eastern longitude of 46.600 geographic coordinates (20 km north-west from Martakert town of Artsakh Republic) with 3.7 magnitude and 10 km depth. As Armenia’s ministry of emergency situations reported, the tremor measured magnitude 5 at the epicenter area.

The earthquake was followed by a 2.2-magnitude aftershock.

According to the source, 3-4 magnitude earthquake was felt in capital Stepanakert, Shushi, Karvachar and Martakert towns in Artsakh as well in Goris and Noyemberyan cities of Armenia. 

Armenia Constitutional Court judges to reject authorities’ proposal

Jagharian Tania
News.am, Armenia
Aug 17 2019
 
 
Newspaper: Armenia Constitutional Court judges to reject authorities’ proposal
10:03, 17.08.2019
 
YEREVAN. – The predicament regarding the Constitutional Court (CC) of Armenia will not be resolved also as a result of the legislative changes proposed by the authorities, Hraparak (Square) newspaper reported.
 
“In exchange for resignation, the authorities have offered [the current CC members-judges] a lifetime salary and social guarantees, as well as a threat [to them]—with the prospect of being prosecuted—in the event of not resigning.
 
“[But] according to our information, the [current] CC judges are going to reject this proposal, since, first of all, such a law is unlawfulness; and even if the new CC judges who come in their stead do not recognize it as unconstitutional, not only will the lifetime salary will not be maintained after the dismissal of [PM Nikol] Pashinyan’s power, but, also, years later they will have to return that money to the state and answer for being a participant in the unlawful process. And second, by accepting the offer, it would mean giving in to the blackmail by the authorities.
 
“According to the vision of newly elected [CC] Judge Vahe Grigoryan who is sent by the authorities to the CC, there are currently [solely] two judges in the CC, [whereas] the others are [just] members, so, [new CC] judges shall be elected with new elections,” Hraparak wrote.
 
 
 
 

Environmentalists protesting against Amulsar gold mine re-launch in Armenia

Jagharian Tania
Panorama, Armenia
Aug 15 2019

A group of environmentalists are staging a protest outside the government building in Yerevan, Armenia, against the renewed exploitation of Amulsar gold mine owned and operated by Lydian Armenia.

Earlier on Wednesday, Armenia’s Investigative Committee published the results of an audit on Amulsar gold mine project tasked to an expert group of Advanced Resources Development (ELARD).

Although the report concludes that the exploitation of the gold mine will not cause any significant danger to the environment, environmental activists claim the findings of the audit have not been fully published and the mine operation poses great environmental risks.

A member of the Armenian Environmental Front, Levon Galstyan stated that the authors of the audit report failed to answer the question about whether the exploitation of Amulsar is safe or not, since the environmental expertise conclusion is incomplete.

“This is what the expert group said in the conclusion. Now question rises if it is impossible to answer that question and if these assessments are not trustworthy, how the Investigative Committee official declares publicly that there are no issues,” he said.

Environmentalist Anna Shahnazaryan invited the government members to step in and get acquainted with the findings of their study, stating the results of the Amulsar Project’s Environmental Impact Assessment are incomplete and should be voided. 



Armenian Speaker: Armenia cannot halt purchase of Iranian gas

Jagharian Tania
Iran Daily
Friday
Speaker: Armenia cannot halt purchase of Iranian gas
 
“Armenia cannot pay such a price,” Mirzoyan said during a recent visit to the US, reported Fars News Agency.
 
“We don’t want the United States to put pressure on Armenia for joining its Iran sanctions agenda,” he added.
 
The comments come as Armenia heavily depends on Iran for energy and trade as Iran has served as one of Armenia’s two conduits to the outside world since borders to Azerbaijan and Turkey were closed.
 
“I informed American partners that our economy is suffering losses due to the sanctions against Iran and that we cannot stop buying Iranian gas,” Mirzoyan wrote on his Facebook page following a speech in Washington.
 
Senior Armenian authorities visiting Tehran last week said that their government is seeking to expand a barter arrangement involving Iran’s gas and Armenia’s electricity.
 
That comes as Washington has repeatedly asked Armenia to cut business with Iran. US national security adviser John Bolton warned authorities in Yerevan during an October visit to the city that traffic through the Armenian-Iranian border will become a “significant issue” for Washington.
 
Bolton said at the time that the US government was planning to enforce the sanctions against Iran very vigorously.
 
Also, on Wednesday, the head of the Iran-Armenia Joint Chamber of Commerce Hervic Yarijanyan said that Yerevan was working on plans to establish new trade relations with Tehran based on national currencies.
 
Yarijanyan said the officials were looking for trade in their national currencies and had proposed the establishment of a credit institution outside the banking system to the president of Armenia.
 
Referring to his recent meeting with Armenian President Armen Sarkisian in a news conference on Tuesday, Yarijanyan pointed to economic relations between the two countries, and said, “The president of the country has a positive view of Iran and calls for increased mutual investment between the two countries.”
 
He added that dispatching delegations, creating exhibitions, and maximizing the capacity of the two countries are among the intended programs.
 
“We are looking for trade in the two countries’ national currencies which are the rial and the dram,” Yarijanyan said in response to a question on banking relations between the two countries. “We have proposed the establishment of a credit institution outside the banking system to the president of the country.”