After the bomb alarm, all metro stations are closed, passengers have been evacuated

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 20:14, 2 August 2022

YEREVAN, AUGUST 2, ARMENPRESS. After receiving an alarm about the presence of an explosive device in the Karen Demirchyan metro, the doors of all metro stations are closed, passengers have been evacuated.

In a conversation with ARMENPRESS, press secretary of Yerevan metro Tatev Khachatryan mentioned that works are currently underway. More information will be provided later.

On August 2, at 6:59 p.m., the National Crisis Management Center received information that explosive devices have been installed in Yerevan City Hall, all metro stations, “Zvartnots” International Airport, 19 Baghramyan St., as well as in all important military and civilian facilities.

Azerbaijani units resort to provocation, making attempts to cross the contact line. Defense Ministry of Artsakh

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 20:13, 1 August 2022

YEREVAN, AUGUST 1, ARMENPRESS. In a number of sections of the northern and northwestern border zone of the Republic of Artsakh, on August 1, starting at 09:00, the Azerbaijani units resorted to provocation, making attempts to cross the contact line, which were stopped by the forces of the Defense Army of Artsakh, ARMENPRESS reports the Defense Army of Artsakh informs that the Armenian side has suffered no casualties.

“The situation remains tense. Detailed information about the incident has been provided to the command of the Russian peacekeeping troops,” the message says.

FY2023 Senate Appropriations Bill Reaffirms Section 907



Washington, D.C. – The United States Senate Committee on Appropriations released its Fiscal Year 2023 Appropriations Bill today, which reaffirms Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act and recommend $2 million in demining assistance to Artsakh, along with humanitarian aid to help displaced Armenians, reported the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly).
Specifically, the Committee Report stated that “up to $2,000,000 for humanitarian demining and unexploded ordnance [UXO] clearance activities in areas affected by fighting in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, subject to prior consultation with the Committees on Appropriations” as well as “humanitarian assistance” for those displaced “by the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh.”
Last month, the House of Representatives passed its version of the Bill that called for $60 million in assistance to Armenia and $2 million for demining activities in Artsakh. The House Bill also included language on Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act.
 
“Having just returned from Armenia and Artsakh, continued U.S. assistance and engagement remains critically important,” stated Assembly Congressional Relations Director Mariam Khaloyan. “The Assembly will continue to work with the House and Senate to ensure the best outcome to help the Armenian people,” Khaloyan added.

Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.

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NR# 2022-31

French Armenian Leader Files Appeal for Ban on Entering Armenia

ARF Bureau member Mourad Papazian


Mourad Papazian, a member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Bureau and a co-chair of the Coordination Council of Armenian Organizations of France (CCAF) announced on Thursday that he has taken legal steps to reverse the ban placed on his entry to Armenia by the authorities.

“I have decided to restore my right within the legal establishment, and for that I have entrusted my court defense to Member of Parliament Artsvik Minasyan to represent me, and attorney Siranush Sahakyan, whom I authorize to handle the necessary actions,” Papazian said on in a statement published on social media.

On July 14 Papazian arrived in Armenia on a flight from France only to be escorted by Armenia’s National Security staff to a holding area, where he was told that he was banned from entering the country and that he had been declared a persona non-grata.

The government action drew widespread criticism, including from the ARF Bureau, the CCAF leadership, as well as the ARF Western U.S. Central Committee, which in an announcement condemned the government for refusing entry to Armenia for any Armenian.

After weeks of silence on the matter, the government last week stated that the reason for expelling Papazian from Armenia was his alleged role in an anti-government protest in Paris in June 2021, when Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan was in the French capital on an official visit.

Papazian called this line of reasoning a “lie,” saying he had traveled to Armenia on at least four occasions since June 2021, the most recent of which was a trip accompanying the mayor of Paris on a visit to Armenia in May of this year.

Papazian said in his statement on Thursday that Minasyan has already filed a complaint to Armenia’s NSS on July 25 calling for the department to reverse the entry ban.

“By law, the NSS has 5 days to issue an answer, and based on that we will decide how to proceed,” Papazian explained.

Avetik Chalabyan is released

NEWS.am
Armenia –

Political and public figure Avetik Chalabyan was released from Armavir penitentiary institution.

Chalabyan thanked all those present, the family members who supported him all this time, as well as the team of lawyers and media representatives.

“I want to thank all my like-minded people. We all, in fact, joined the fight for our homeland, for our ideals, for the realization of our aspirations, it just so happened that I was the victim this time, had to pay with my freedom. But I think that this is just a small episode on the panorama of a much bigger struggle, a struggle for which other people have lost their lives and their health. So I consider my small sacrifice as only a little crumb on the altar of my homeland,” he said.

Recall that Avetik Chalabyan is accused of attempting to financially interest students to participate in opposition rallies.

Turkish consulate in Mosul was shelled

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 19:15,

YEREVAN, JULY 27, ARMENPRESS. The Turkish Consulate located in the Iraqi city of Mosul has been bombed, ARMENPRESS reports, the Turkish “Anadolu” news agency informs.  

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey issued a condemning statement regarding the incident and threatened the side that carried out the attack, calling them terrorists.

According to Turkish sources, 4 rockets were fired at the consulate building, but there were no casualties or injuries as a result of the incident.

Moscow to host next meeting of Armenia-Azerbaijan border commission in August

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 16:49,

YEREVAN, JULY 18, ARMENPRESS. The next meeting of the border delimitation and border security commissions between Armenia and Azerbaijan will take place in August, the Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan’s Office said in response to a query from ARMENPRESS.

Grigoryan is the chairman of the commission from the Armenian side.

The meeting in August will take place in Moscow. The exact date is yet to be announced.

The first meeting of the Armenian and Azeri deputy prime ministers on border delimitation and border security took place on May 24 on the state border between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Conscript Arsen Manukyan found dead – Defense Ministry

Public Radio of Armenia
Armenia – July 14 2022

The body of Armenian conscript Arsen Manukyan (born in 2003) was found at around 10:25 am today in the combat position of one of the military units located in the eastern direction of the republic.

An investigation into the circumstances of the case is under way.

Iran supports peaceful settlement of Karabakh conflict: FM

July 4 2022

TEHRAN: /DNA/ – Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has reiterated Tehran’s support for the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict based on principles of the international law.

“In today’s talks, the issue of the territorial integrity of countries, including the Republic of Azerbaijan, was once again emphasized by us. We also reaffirmed our support for the peaceful settlement of the ongoing Karabakh conflict based on the well-known principles of the international law,”  Amir-Abdollahian said at a joint press conference with the visiting Azerbaijani Foreign Minister JeyhunBayramov in Tehran on Monday.

“Since the beginning of the Karabakh dispute, the Islamic Republic has always declared its readiness to help resolve the conflict through dialogue. We are still ready to continue our support and assistance in this regard, so that the remaining issues would be resolved on the basis of respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the involved parties and through political dialogue,” he added.

Also in his remarks, Amir-Abdollahian said the Islamic Republic of Iran and Azerbaijan have cleared up all previous misunderstandings between the two neighboring Muslim countries.

The regime, he said, had used the flare-up of the latest tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region in 2020 to establish a presence in parts of Azerbaijan.

Tensions started to flare up after Azerbaijan’s president criticized military exercises by the Iranian Army’s Ground Forces in the northwestern part of the country. Tehran hit back by saying that holding drills is part of the national sovereignty, warning that Israel’s anti-Iran activities in neighboring countries will not be tolerated.

But later Azerbaijan released the two Iranian truck drivers whose arrest had strained ties between Baku and Tehran.

The move marked a thaw between the two countries a week after their foreign ministers agreed to resolve the issue through dialogue.

Elsewhere in his Monday remarks, Amir-Abdollahian touched on the promotion of bilateral ties and said that the volume of their bilateral trade has increased dramatically in the past months.

“Over the past 10 months, we have clarified misunderstandings and we are in the phase of the promotion of increasing relations,” he said. 

He added that the volume of trade between the two countries has witnessed a big jump in the past months, and expressed hope that the two countries’ public and private sectors will take further steps toward increasing the volume of bilateral trade.

“During today’s negotiations, a wide range of bilateral issues were thoroughly discussed and relevant viewpoints exchanged. As you know, the presidents of the two countries have had two one-on-one meetings in the last 10 months. During the meetings, especially in last week’s meeting between IlhamAliyev and [his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim] Raeisi, constructive and forward-looking talks on a new phase of mutual ties between the two countries were held,” Amir-Abdollahian said.

“We stressed the need for deepening the relations between the two countries on the basis of understanding, trust and mutual interests,” the Iranian foreign minister added.

The top Iranian diplomat stressed that various existing diplomatic formats between two or more countries should be seriously taken into consideration given unfolding developments and new conditions.

Amir-Abdollahian went on to note that he had tabled a proposal on hosting a tripartite foreign ministerial meeting between Iran, Azerbaijan and Turkey in Tehran during his last week meeting with his Turkish counterpart MevlutCavusoglu in Ankara.

Amir-Abdollahian also extended the Iranian president’s invitation to Aliyev to visit Tehran, emphasizing that consultations are underway to determine the timing of the trip.

Bayramov, for his part, said that he had fruitful talks with Iranian officials during Monday’s talks on matters of mutual interest as well as regional issues.

“Our bilateral trade volume grew by 30% last year,” the Azerbaijani foreign minister pointed out. He, however, noted that Tehran and Baku needed to further bolster ties as they enjoy great economic and trade potential. 

He also said that his country has reached an argument with Iran to make joint cars and tractors, adding that cooperation on building dams and power plants is also among top priorities for the two neighbors.   

If we give in to emotions, the result will be a social tragedy- Pashinyan

ARMINFO
Armenia – July 1 2022
Alexandr Avanesov

ArmInfo. It is very difficult to overestimate the importance of the prosecutor’s office as a state institution in the institutionalization of the state and ensuring  legal security.  RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated this on  July 1 at a solemn meeting dedicated to the 104th anniversary of the  formation of the Prosecutor’s Office and the Day of the Prosecutor’s  Office, the press service of the government reports.

During the meeting, which was also attended by Acting Prosecutor  General Artur Davtyan, newly elected RA Prosecutor General Anna  Vardapetyan and representatives of the Prosecutor’s Office, the head  of the Armenian government stressed that the Prosecutor General’s  Office is perceived as the pinnacle, the culmination of the  preliminary investigation. , Pashinyan emphasized.

He noticed that behind every criminal case there are people, a human,  family tragedy. , the Prime Minister  emphasized.

At the same time, Pashinyan noted that the principle of the  inevitability of punishment is the most important factor in the  formation of the state. , the head of government  emphasized.

Speaking about the statistics of arrests presented by the Prosecutor  General’s Office, the prime minister pointed to half-empty prisons as  an important achievement. “But at the same time, we recorded that it  is difficult to conduct a preliminary investigation in Armenia if the  accused is not detained. When talking about the development of law  and legal thought, the most important criterion for me is the  effectiveness of the investigation, and, as a result, the  inevitability of punishment, in conditions where the accused is not  in custody. This is, of course, the most important question in my  layman’s opinion, when it is possible to conduct an investigation  while the accused is at large as effectively as in the case of his  detention. Of course, it is clear that there are cases when the  arrest directly follows from the interests and the need for a  preliminary investigation. I give this example in order to emphasize  the direction in which we are moving today, including the government,  which bears the main responsibility for the policy being developed  and implemented,” Pashinyan said.

The head of government also stressed the importance of the  anti-corruption fight and the effectiveness of the public  administration system. “We talk a lot about the fight against  corruption, which is of political importance to us, including in  terms of increasing the strength and effectiveness of the fight  against corruption in the law enforcement system. It is extremely  important for us to strengthen the law enforcement system as a whole,  as well as social guarantees for prosecutors, because this is a  really important factor. The point is not at all in mercantile or  material interests, but in the fact that we must give the  investigator, prosecutor, policeman and, in general, all employees of  state institutions the opportunity to focus on their work. Social  security, from my point of view, is to allow, first of all, to focus  on work. Of course, this issue is always at the center of our  attention, and we must consistently be able to follow this path. Why  are our wages so low? Because the state, due to circumstances known  to you and to us, is often unable to consolidate the resources of the  entire state, which should be concentrated in the state budget. In  other words, if we talk about corruption, they are a brake that does  not allow funds that should be concentrated in the state budget to be  concentrated in the state budget. Therefore, the fight against  corruption is the most important way to generate the necessary funds  to support our public spending, including the social security system  of the state and the law enforcement system>, the Prime Minister  stressed.

He also pointed out the need to improve the efficiency of the public  administration system. “Of course, the prosecutor’s office in this  sense is perhaps one of the most compact state institutions, but one  must take into account the overall efficiency of work. Although in  many cases, including in the work of individual divisions of the  prosecutor’s office, we see that sometimes there is a need to attract  new resources, for example, in the process of preliminary  investigation. Because when we talk about an increase in the number  of criminal cases, we often forget that the same number of people  with the same salary investigate this volume or deal with this volume  of cases.

I say all this in order to record that we are clearly aware of the  existing agenda, and the solution of this agenda is, of course, a  priority for us. I should repeat that all the problems that we have  are related to the degree of development of our state institutions.  Where we have a shortcoming, we must look for this shortcoming in all  state institutions, from the army, armed forces and ending with  ministries, departments and local governments. And, of course, the  basis of all this must be sought in education and the education  system, starting with primary, general, higher and postgraduate  education>, Pashinyan stressed.

He added that no matter how difficult the work of the prosecutor, no  matter how difficult it was before the war and well-known events, it  is even more difficult after it, due to well-known circumstances,  because new emotions have been added to emotions, many new tragedies.

It should be noted that on the occasion of the Day of the  Prosecutor’s Office, by the decree of the President of Armenia, a  number of employees of the Prosecutor’s Office were awarded state  awards for their contribution to strengthening law and order, which  were presented to them by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.