Yerevan (AFP) – Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Friday decried crimes against “civilisation” and demanded an apology from Turkey as his country marked the 105th anniversary of the WWI-era Armenian genocide.
The genocide is a “crime not only against our ethnic identity, but also against human civilisation,” Pashinyan said in a message after laying flowers at a genocide memorial in the capital Yerevan.
Commemorative events were scaled back this year due to the coronavirus restrictions imposed throughout the country, and the Yerevan memorial was closed to the public.
In a short video address at the memorial, Pashinyan said that after more than a century, “the consequences of the genocide have not been eliminated.”
“Turkey has not yet apologised for what it did,” he said, adding that Yerevan “demands” that Ankara officially recognise the massacres as genocide.
Armenians say up to 1.5 million people were killed as the Ottoman Empire was falling apart during World War I in what amounted to genocide, a claim supported by some 30 countries.
Turkey fiercely rejects the genocide label, arguing that 300,000 to 500,000 Armenians and at least as many Turks died in civil strife when Armenians rose up against their Ottoman rulers and sided with invading Russian troops.
Yerevan has long demanded Ankara provide financial compensation and restore property rights to the descendants of those killed in the 1915-1918 massacres, which Armenians call Meds Yeghern or the Great Crime.
Pashinyan said Armenians “are still facing the challenges posed to our people at the outset of the twentieth century.”
He said that instead of visiting the memorial, Armenians worldwide will be able to send their names to a mobile number to have them displayed on the pillars of the memorial until dawn.
Commemorations started in Armenia on Thursday evening, when street lights were switched off and church bells chimed across the country.
Yerevan residents also switched off lights in their homes and many lit candles or waved mobile telephone flashlights at windowsills.
Last month, Armenia — which has reported 1,596 coronavirus cases and 27 deaths — declared a state of emergency and imposed a nationwide lockdown to slow the spread of the infection.
16:13,
YEREVAN, APRIL 18, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan chaired a consultation today during which the draft strategy of Police reforms were discussed, the PM’s Office told Armenpress.
The PM was thoroughly introduced on the actions expected to be taken in 2020-2022 on the sidelines of the reforms. The reforms will mainly focus on creating a Ministry of Interior and a patrol service. According to the strategy the following priority directions of the reforms are proposed: structural changes in the Police system and clarification of functions, creation of a patrol service and an operative management center, raising the efficiency of preliminary investigation, maintenance of public order, revision of community police, attractiveness of service in the Police, preparation of personnel and professional development, improvement of human rights, transparency and public accountability.
PM Pashinyan highlighted the implementation of reforms in the Police system and the formation of a new image of a police officer. “The service in the Police should become attractive and the system must be provided with cadres with high professionalism”, he said, highlighting the necessity of ensuring social guarantees.
Touching upon the road traffic control Pashinyan said the policy should be not fining the citizens, but taking measures to prevent violation of rules. “Our this project is very important, and I do not see any obstacle for it to be implemented within the set timetable”, the PM said and gave concrete instructions to the responsible officials for implementing the strategy.
According to the strategy the patrol service will start operating in the first quarter of 2021.
Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
Armenian defense minister Davit Tonoyan and Russian Ambassador to Armenia Sergey Kopirkin got familiarized with the mobile laboratory conducting testing for Covid-19 infection that was set up in Yerevan. As the ministry of defense press service reported, Minister Tonoyan conversed with the staff of the mobile lab, got familiarized with the first results of the tastings and the lab capabilities.
It is reminded that the mobile lab was transferred from the Russian Federation to the Republic of Armenia on April 7 as part of bilateral agreement between the defense ministries of the two countries.
As the source said, specialists of Russia’s Armed Forces are in Armenia for exchange of experience and knowledge with Armenian colleagues in the works of preventing and combating the spread of Covid-19. Along with Armenian specialists, they are conducting laboratory examinations, trainings and discussions on organizing the ongoing activities.
It is noted that the mobile lab operates in all terrains and weather conditions, producing 99% accuracy of the results.
Armath engineering labs have created special protective mask shields and printed them on 3D printers.
These masks are planned to be distributed to health workers in hospitals and polyclinics of Armenia.
As Armath representative Mary Sargsyan told a NEWS.am Medicine, the leaders of style groups of Vardenis and Chambarak regions were engaged in the development and printing of mask shields – each at home.
The mask shields have already been transferred to the administration of the regions or to the mayor’s office of large cities.
Since 2011 the Union of Advanced Technology Enterprises (UATE) undertakes to establish the Armath Engineering Laboratories educational program. UATE has started the process of exporting the Armenian model of technology education all over the world.
As of January 2020, 575 engineering laboratories operate on the territory of Armenia, Artsakh and Georgia.
WHO/Europe has published a new guide on how to eat healthily during the COVID-19 self-quarantine. It contains valuable information about nutrition to help keep the immune system strong.
The guidelines published by the Organization’s website has tips for a diet that supports good health while many of us are advised to stay at home and may have less opportunities to consume fresh foods and be physically active.
Even with scarce ingredients, one can continue to eat a healthy diet. In order to support individuals and families in eating healthily during self-quarantine and isolation, the WHO European Office for Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) has developed a set of general tips, a list of “best food buys”, and a few examples of recipes for inspiration.
The newly published WHO/Europe nutrition guidance explains how to be strategic while buying and using ingredients, and how to follow safe food handling practices and limit salt, sugar and fat intake. The publication also includes a list of food items, including canned products, with high nutritional value which are generally affordable, accessible and have a long shelf-life.
The WHO experts also suggest avoiding alcohol or at least reducing its consumption. “Alcohol is not only a mind-altering and dependence-producing substance, harmful at any level consumed, but it also weakens the immune system. Thus, alcohol use and especially heavy use undermines your body’s ability to cope with infectious disease, including COVID-19,” the guidance reads.
14:48, 20 March, 2020
YEREVAN, MARCH 20, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is holding a meeting with Director of the National Security Service Eduard Martirosyan and Police Chief Arman Sargsyan. The meeting is broadcast live on PM’s Facebook page.
“I want to congratulate you on your appointments. After new appointments it’s an accepted practice in Armenia to introduce the new officials to their staffs, but today I decided to change that format”, Pashinyan said, adding that two reasons stand behind that decision.
“Firstly, I already introduced you to your staffs when you were serving as acting chiefs of your agencies. And secondly, given the current state of emergency in the country due to the coronavirus I avoided conducting an action out of the common logic”, he said.
Pashinyan thanked those NSS and Police officers who are assisting these days the healthcare ministry and doctors to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.
On March 19 President Armen Sarkissian signed decrees on appointing Eduard Martirosyan NSS Director, and Arman Sargsyan – Police Chief. The president signed the respective decrees based on the PM’s proposal.
On March 16 Armenia declared a 30-day state of emergency to fight against the spread of the novel coronavirus. The state of emergency is effective until April 14, at 17:00. As of now, the total number of the confirmed cases is 136, one patient has recovered.
Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
GLENDALE –The Consulate General of Armenia in Los Angeles and the Los Angeles chapter of the Armenian International Women’s Association organized a festive reception dedicated to International Women’s Day. Armenian-American ladies distinguished by their work in public, political, charitable, literary, cultural, and media realms were invited. The event was held on Tuesday, March 10.
Following his opening remarks, Consul General of Armenia in Los Angeles Ambassador Armen Baibourtianpresented a brief historical overview of the perception relating to the role of Armenian women and its legal articulation in various periods of shaping of the Armenian social and legal thought, including Gosh’s code of laws “Datastanagirk,” Shahamirian’s constitutional writing “Snale of Glory,” and the Constantinople Armenian national constitution. Ambassador Baibourtian stressed that the equality of Armenian men and women has been emphasized at various stages of the development of Armenian legal thought. Another manifestation of the deep roots of the Armenian woman’s perception of equality, according to Ambassador Baibourtian, is the Armenian linguistic mentality, which has not separated the masculine and feminine in the language by defining different genders.
The Consul General also highlighted the remarkable role of the Armenian women in any period of our nation’s history. Dr. Baibourtian noted that the Armenian women, with their prudence and wisdom, have always been a pillar of support for Armenian men in challenging times. Statistical data testifies that every nation has a continued development, including economic, when there is an equality between men and women.
Nelly Saroyan, Minister-Counselor at the Consulate General of Armenia, Nicole Nishanian, President of AIWA-LA, as well as Hermine Janoyan and Marisa Najaryan, AIWA-LA Board members were among the speakers.
AIWA is a nonprofit organization with its worldwide membership. Without alignment to any political or religious group, since its inception in 1991, AIWA has been successful in bringing together creative women of various generations, diverse in interests and academic backgrounds, to fulfill its mission.
13:39, 13 March, 2020
YEREVAN, MARCH 13, ARMENPRESS. A very small local production of face masks has already started in Armenia, Chairman of the State Commission for the Protection of Economic Competition Gegham Gevorgyan told reporters today.
“There are some price changes of face masks as they were purchased from various sources and at different prices. But the economic entities inform us that there is a tendency in the decline of prices. There is also an offer for sale from China. We also received new batch of masks. Very small local productions of face masks have already started in Armenia”, he said, adding that the price of face masks is nearly 200 drams.
Gevorgyan assured that if there is a need to acquire face masks, the state will ensure that.
Gegham Gevorgyan said by calculating the current numbers and demand, they see that the problem of face masks is not so serious. Commenting on the question that pharmacies sell masks to one person at limited amount, he said the economic entities have talked to them on this matter. “If they sell at unlimited amount, they may not be able to ensure the daily physical volume”, he said.
Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan