Author: Kanayan Tamar

Baku hands over body of Armenian soldier killed in Armenian-Azerbaijani border fighting

Kanayan Tamar

Nov 18 2021


    JAMnews

The body of one Armenian soldier who died on November 16 during the fighting at the Armenian-Azerbaijani border was brought to Yerevan. In the afternoon it was reported that the former commander of the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Karabakh, Rustam Muradov, would arrive in Armenia.

He always accompanied all Armenian prisoners who returned to their homeland from Baku, therefore, prisoners of war were expected to arrive. Then it became known that this time there were no prisoners on board, but it was not assumed that Azerbaijan only handed over one body.

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The fact that the plane from Baku was already flying to Yerevan was first reported by the pro-government Azerbaijani website Caliber. The publication said that the plane with the so-called “cargo-200” en route to Yerevan was accompanied by the Deputy Commander of the Southern Military District Rustam Muradov.

According to preliminary information, he was sent to the region to hold negotiations to develop “mechanisms for preventing armed incidents between the parties on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, outside the zone of responsibility of the Russian peacekeepers”.

The largest escalation since the end of the second Karabakh war in 2020 took place on November 16. The Armenian side reported one dead, 13 prisoners and 24 missing. The Azerbaijani side announced that seven servicemen were killed, 10 soldiers were wounded.

80% of displaced persons returned to Artsakh so far

Kanayan Tamar

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 15:15,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS. The number of displaced persons in Artsakh at the end of the 2020 war was more than 91,000, the Armenian Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Narek Mkrtchyan said in parliament in response to a question from the opposition Hayastan faction.

“More than 80% of them have returned to Artsakh, and the rest are still in Armenia. The government continues to be focused on issues related to them,” he said.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

Contacts between Putin, Aliyev, Pashinyan not planned on Karabakh, says Kremlin

Kanayan Tamar
TASS, Russia
Nov 9 2021
Regarding communication with Baku and Yerevan, Moscow does it at various levels and exclusively on a regular basis, Dmitry Peskov noted

MOSCOW, November 9. /TASS/. Contacts between Russian President Vladimir Putin, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan are not planned on the anniversary of the signing of the trilateral statement on Karabakh, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov reported on Tuesday.

“Today no contacts on this matter are planned. Regarding communication with Baku and Yerevan, Moscow does it at various levels and exclusively on a regular basis,” he said. “Regarding any further trilateral dialogue, if and when such an arrangement is made, we will inform you. Currently, there are no any specific arrangements,” the Kremlin spokesman added.

On Monday, Peskov told journalists that the exact date for negotiations of Putin, Aliyev and Pashinyan via a videoconference is not arranged, but preparations have been underway. Earlier, the information appeared in the media over a meeting of the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia allegedly scheduled for November 9.

Clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27, 2020, with intense battles raging in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. On November 9, 2020, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint statement on the full cessation of hostilities in Karabakh. According to the document, the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides stopped at the positions that they had maintained, and Russian peacekeepers were deployed along the engagement line in Nagorno-Karabakh and along the Lachin Corridor. The situation stabilized after the deployment of Russian peacekeepers and tens of thousands of Karabakh residents have returned to their homes.

Asbarez: San Francisco Community Celebrates 55th Anniversary of St. Gregory the Illuminator Church

Kanayan Tamar
by Contributor

 

 

 

in Community, Featured Story, Latest, News, Top Stories

A scene from the Divine Liturgy said by Western Prelate Bishop Torkom Donoyan at the St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in SF

To mark the 55th anniversary of the establishment of the St. Gregory the Illuminator Church of San Francisco, Western Prelate Bishop Torkom Donoyan celebrated Episcopal Divine Liturgy on Sunday, November 2.

Attending the Divine Liturgy were Very Rev. Fr. Dajad Ashekian, Executive Council members Dzovig Zeitlian, Garbis Bezjian, Honorary Consul of Armenia in Fresno Berj Apkarian, Central Executive member Gaidzag Zeitlian and Vahe Yacoubian and representatives of the community.

  • Western Prelate Bishop Torkom Donoyan
  • St. Gregory the Illuminator parish priest Rev. Smpad Saboundjian

In his sermon, the Prelate said: “We thank God a thousand times that we are gathered here in this Godly house today to celebrate and glorify 55 years of this blessed house by way of this vital, life-giving service. Today, exultation belongs to the Creator. It was with his blessing that this House, which is dedicated to His glory, was built. It belongs to all those who toiled and suffered to build this church, for today, they have become dwellers in heaven. Joy belongs to those who continue to live among us and participate in the divine Christian mission of St. Gregory the Illuminator Church. It belongs to parishioners and the community—because you filled your souls with the blessing of God that emanates from this altar, from where you also obtained the oil for your spiritual house that graced our children. Joy belongs to your diligent Pastor Fr. Smpad Saboundjian, who has added new stone and brick to strengthen, enlighten and uplift this church for the past two years. Joy belongs to members of the board of trustees who consistently work to maintain a bright and radiant church—your church—our church. It belongs to all: the ladies guild, and all those entities that work alongside the board of trustees—deacons, the choir—to the group of dedicated and faithful of St. Gregory Illuminator Church.”

The prelate invited the faithful to trust our Creator, God, as the founders of the church trusted. “Today we reap the fruits of their trust, jointly celebrating the 55th anniversary of St. Gregory the Illuminator,” said the Prelate Donoyan and, in closing, congratulated the Armenian community and the St. Gregory the Illuminator family on the great milestone.

Celebration dinner marking the 55th anniversary of the St. Gregory the Illuminator Church

After the Divine Liturgy, the Prelate and guests gathered at Saroyan Hall at the Khachaturian Armenian Community Center where he presided over a celebration banquet on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of the church’s founding and the first anniversary of his election to serve as Prelate of the Western Prelacy.

Master of Ceremonies, Deacon Levon Barsoumian, delivered opening remarks, followed by Executive Council member Garbis Bezdjian, California State Senator Scott Wiener, San Francisco Assessor-Recorder Joaquín Torres, San Francisco St. Gregory the Illuminator Board of Trustee Chair Rostom Aintablian, parish pastor Rev. Smpad Saboundjian, who congratulated the 55th anniversary of the church as well as Bishop Dononyan’s one year anniversary as Prelate.

The festive dinner celebration concluded with congratulatory remarks by H.G. Bishop Donoyan, Prelate, who commended and thanked the presence of official guests, representatives of the Western Prelacy, local community leaders and guests.

The artistic portion of the program consisted of Soloist Danielle Zaroukian’s performance of classic Armenian renditions and piano selections by Andrew Boldi.

Iravaban: The person wanted by Turkish Interpol was found at “Zvartnots” Airport

Kanayan Tamar

2021-10-29 / 10 57 |

Due to the operative-investigative measures taken by the officers of the line department of “Zvartnots” airport of the Police, 33-year-old Kader S., who was going to leave by the Yerevan-Minsk flight, was brought to the line department. He has been wanted by Interpol of the Republic of Turkey since 9 November, 2006 on charges of membership in an armed terrorist group.

The precautionary measure is arrest.

The fact was reported to the National Central Bureau of Interpol in Armenia and the Prosecutor’s Office.

Note: A person suspected or accused of an alleged crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in accordance with the procedure established by the RA Criminal Procedure Code by a court judgment that has entered into force.

Iravaban.net



Armenia’s government at odds with its human rights ombudsman

Kanayan Tamar
EurasiaNet.org
Oct 25 2021
Karine Ghazaryan Oct 25, 2021
Armenia’s human rights ombudsman, Arman Tatoyan, gives a presentation on the border situation. (photo: ombuds.am)

On October 18, Armenia’s outspoken human rights ombudsman Arman Tatoyan announced that Azerbaijani forces were fortifying their presence in a small bit of Gegharkunik province where they reportedly have been stationed for several months.

“They continue building new roads, increasing the number of servicemen and armaments at the posts,” Tatoyan wrote on his Facebook page. “Active engineering work is being carried out to reinforce their positions.”

The announcement prompted an unusual rebuttal from Armenia’s ministry of defense, which issued a statement calling Tatoyan’s claims “obviously exaggerated” and “detached from reality.” Tatoyan shot back in another Facebook post, accusing the MoD of feeding into an Azerbaijani disinformation campaign by impugning his claims.

The confrontation represented a new spark in a long-running tension between the government and the office of the ombudsman, who has taken a highly visible role calling public attention to the fragile security situation along the Azerbaijani border following last year’s war.

Tatoyan was appointed to the post of ombudsman in 2016, two years before the “Velvet Revolution” that brought the current government, led by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, to power.

Initially, Tatoyan took a low profile under the new government. But starting after last year’s defeat in the war with Azerbaijan, he has become far more outspoken. That has led to criticism that he has remained loyal to the former regime, which since last year’s war has also heavily attacked the current authorities on security issues.

Tatoyan has stayed quiet about his own political sympathies, though his take on human rights often dovetails with that of the opposition. In 2019, when the country was debating whether to ratify the anti-domestic violence Istanbul Convention, he remained on the sidelines as opposition figures assailed the government on the topic. Human rights organizations also have criticized Tatoyan for failing to properly condemn violations of LGBTQ rights.

He is regularly praised by opposition figures while sparring with government officials and ruling party members of parliament.

In one session of parliament in May, when Tatoyan presented his annual report on the work of the ombudsman’s office, Maria Karapetyan, a member from the ruling Civil Contract party, criticized the ombudsman, reminding him that he is “not a politician” and that the “aggressive tone and content” of his speech were “not appropriate for the institution that he represents.” Tatoyan responded by complaining that ruling party members “overtly falsify facts” about his work.

Tatoyan also criticized the state-run public television for becoming a “government propagandist” because, Tatoyan claimed, the channel’s news programs did not cover his statements about the situation on borders in Syunik province. In response, the leading Public TV host invited Tatoyan for an interview and accused him of taking a political position. 

In March, the government proposed a bill that would reduce funding to the office of the ombudsman. Government officials denied that there was any political motive behind the bill, but some human right defenders criticized the decision as an infringement on the ombudsman’s independence.

While Tatoyan had failed in the past to act on other critical issues for human rights in Armenia, he deserved credit for his work after the war, said Nina Karapetyants, the head of Armenia’s Helsinki Association. And the government’s bill would have set a dangerous precedent for the political independence of future ombudsmen, too, she added. The government eventually withdrew the bill.

This round of conflict has dragged on, as well, with the defense ministry and Tatoyan continuing to issue mutual accusations.

And the spat has drawn in other officials. The Secretary of Armenia’s Security Council, Armen Grigoryan, accused Tatoyan of supporting the political opposition, noting in an interview with news site Rusarminfo that the ombudsman only had a few months left in his term and suggesting that when that happened Tatoyan would openly enter politics. (Tatoyan’s term ends in February 2022.)

Meanwhile, the opposition again stepped up to defend him. “While we hear from Europe that the Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan is a ‘Status A,’ high-class official with exceptional public trust — which for us doesn’t even need proof — the Secretary of the Security Council is hurrying to call him a ‘counter-revolutionary’ and biased,” wrote Lilit Galstian, an opposition member of parliament, on her Facebook page. 

 

Karine Ghazaryan is a freelance journalist covering Armenia.

  

Armenian Prime Minister receives Iranian Prosecutor General

Kanayan Tamar

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 16:03, 13 October, 2021

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 13, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan received Prosecutor General of Iran Mohammad Jafar Montazeri, the PM’s Office said in a statement.

Pashinyan welcomed the Iranian Prosecutor General’s visit to Armenia and stated that the government attaches great importance to the relations and cooperation with Iran, including in the law enforcement field.

“I am happy to record that there is quite an effective cooperation between our offices of prosecutor general. Of course, Armenia is ready to develop and deepen the cooperation in the justice field, and your visit is a good opportunity in this direction. During the meetings with the Iranian President we agreed that all our agencies should establish close cooperation”, the Armenian PM said.

In turn Mohammad Jafar Montazeri said his visit to Armenia is taking place in response to the visit of the Armenian Prosecutor General to Iran.

“Of course, due to coronavirus this visit was delayed a little bit. Before my visit to Armenia, I met with President of Iran Mr. Raisi two-three days ago. He asked to convey his warm greetings to you, praised you and stated that your recent meeting was very good and productive”.

The Prosecutor General said that Iran highlights the development and expansion of the cooperation with Armenia in all areas. He said that the centuries-old friendly relations between the two countries are a good base to resist all the challenges existing in the region and find necessary solutions with the exercise of the existing big potential. “We are interested in developing the relations with Armenia for the benefit of our countries”, Mohammad Jafar Montazeri said.

Mr. Montazeri said that Iran, in its relations with neighbors, is guided by friendly policy, however, adding that they will never allow deployment of terrorists and forces provoking war along the country’s borders.

PM Pashinyan added that he has great impressions from the meetings with the Iranian President and stated that his statement according to which the new governments of Armenia and Iran have started their activity at the same time is viewed as a message to open a new page in the bilateral relations.

In terms of resisting the current challenges, Pashinyan highlighted boosting also the Armenian-Iranian economic cooperation, in particular extending the gas for electricity agreement, complete the construction of the 3rd high-voltage power transmission line, completely utilize the potential of the Meghri free economic zone, etc.

The sides also discussed the regional developments.

Pashinyan also asked to convey his warm greetings to Iran’s Supreme Leader and President.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Local self-government elections to be held in Armenia

Kanayan Tamar
Foreign Brief
Oct 17 2021
  • In Daily Brief
  • Alex Avaneszadeh

Photo: OSCE Parliamentary Assembly

The first municipal elections organized under a new local voting format will be held today in Armenia.

Before June 2020, Armenia’s multi-day local elections resulted in the direct appointment of city mayors. In contrast, today’s elections will see voters elect individual candidates, who will then form the city councils that will choose new mayors.

The electoral threshold has also been reduced to 4% for political parties and 6% for coalitions, from 6% and 8%, respectively. Since today’s elections were originally scheduled to take place at an earlier date, two more election days are scheduled for November 14 and December 5.

In the medium- to long-term, expect the change in the electoral threshold to boost party and national minority pluralities. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, however, has been appointing acting mayors—who are also running in the election—as the current municipal election dates surpass the five-year term limits of incumbent mayors. As such, expect the acting mayors to have access to greater administrative resources than their opponents. With Pashinyan maintaining popularity in rural areas, expect the acting Pashinyan-appointed mayors to receive much of the rural vote, thus consolidating the administration’s political influence at various municipalities across the country.

Armenian finance minister introduces government’s five-year action plan to German partners

Kanayan Tamar

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 16:47, 13 October, 2021

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 13, ARMENPRESS. Finance Minister of Armenia Tigran Khachatryan had a working meeting with the representatives of Berlin Economics independent consulting company and the German Economic Union NGO, the ministry said in a statement.

Minister Khachatryan introduced the guests on the government’s five-year action plan and talked about the manageability of the current foreign debt and the macroeconomic features.

The guests expressed readiness to cooperate around issues of mutual interest and stated that the German partners closely follow the activity of the Armenian government and welcome the ongoing reforms.

The sides agreed to continue the dialogue over the issue on the agenda and expressed their support to the development of the Armenian-German bilateral economic ties.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Armenian companies will get cheaper loans as a result of S&P Global rating – Pashinyan

Kanayan Tamar

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 12:02, 14 October, 2021

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 14, ARMENPRESS. The assigning of a rating by the S&P Global Ratings to Armenia for the first time has a strategic meaning, Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan said today at the Cabinet meeting.

According to him, this development contributes to the internal formation of both the domestic and the foreign capital market. “This is very important for us”, he said.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that over the past years the government has issued Eurobonds twice, and in both cases a historical minimum of rates has been registered. “International investors trusted the capacity of Armenia, and they turned to be right in fact. It’s necessary to work with the private sector very intensively, so that the companies will go to the capital market. This will raise the affordability of loans, because if there is an alternative in the market, the banks will have to run a more flexible interest rate policy, which can inject a new blood in our economy”, the PM said.

Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan added that the rating helps to activate the processes in the domestic market. “Even the Central Bank for some reserve normatives has privileges for those companies who have a rating”, he said.

In turn the Central Bank President Martin Galstyan said this rating reduces the spending of private companies. “I think in this sense the government has taken the necessary step, maybe we need to urge the private companies to be open, transparent and accountable in order to be able to attract funds and carry out their activities”, he said.

PM Pashinyan added that the government must work with those potential companies which can be rated. “We should put a task before us that in 2022-2023 we will do everything for the appearance of such companies”, the PM added.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan