13:02,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. The death toll from the novel coronavirus in Iran has reached 18, according to Al Arabiya TV.
As of February 22 the death toll was 6, with 28 confirmed cases of the virus, known as Covid-2019.
Iran reported the first case of the virus on February 19.
Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
The former chair of the Artsakh Parliament Foreign Relations Committee, Vahram Atanesyan, considers it to be monumental that the Nikol Pashinyan-Ilham Aliyev debate took place in February, which is 22 years after Levon Ter-Petrossian resigned.
In an interview with Aravot Daily, Vahram Atanesyan gave a history lesson, speaking about how the mediators presented a suggestion for the Artsakh resolution in 1997, which is known by the “phase” name. The purpose was so that the sides- Artsakh, Azerbaijan, and Armenia- would sign a peace agreement in the initial phase to allow the Artsakh conflict to be resolved in future negotiations. The agreement was supposed to be that the Aghdam (Akna), Fizuli (Varanda), Jebrayil (Jrakan), Zangelan (Kovsakan), Qubadli (Vorotan), and Kelbajar (Karvachar) regions be returned to Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan needed to remove its troops from the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Republic administrative borders. So, the parts of the Martakert and Martuni regions that were being controlled by Azerbaijan needed to be returned to Armenia.
The issue of internal displacement was based on the principle of parity; if Azeris were returning to Shushi, then Armenians were to return to Shahumyan. The political advantage of this agreement was that Azerbaijan would accept Artsakh’s sovereignty and would sign the agreement with Artsakh as an equal. Azerbaijan was supposed to agree to leave the entire Lachin (Berdzor) region under Armenian control. This would have not only created a separation, but also a buffer zone, which would have remained heavily armed and not suitable for habitation. The size of the buffer zone was to be agreed upon until troops left the region. This suggestion was rejected by the authorities of Artsakh and by three main figures in Armenian politics: Prime Minister Robert Kocharyan, Minister of Defense Vazgen Sargsyan, and Minister of the Interior and National Security Serzh Sargsyan. President Levon Ter-Petrossian resigned.
“Why did the mediators, who frequently call upon us to keep the contents of the negotiations private, organize an open discussion?” Atanesyan said, and he responded to his own question. “It seems like they want to tell Armenians and Azeris that there is no secret process in place. They want to show people the approaches of both leaders and allow people to come to their own conclusions. There is no topic of discussion, nor are there any similar perspectives or approaches. So, the last 22 years have been a waste of time. The sides did not even make half a step towards any mutual goal. There was a goal in 1997 to bring an end to the armed portion of the conflict and reduce tensions, which would create a tolerable atmosphere. This would allow the sides to discuss the Artsakh issue without emotions, and Artsakh would also participate in this discussion. The mediators, through publicizing the Pashinyan-Aliyev debate, seem to be hinting that their opportunities and imaginations are running out.”
According to Vahram Atanesyan, the sides need to come up with their own suggestions. Aliyev presented his perspective and Prime Minister Pashinyan presented his “Munich principles.” But they are on two different ends of the spectrum and they do not even have any parallels. What remains is for the co-chair nations to keep the situation under control until it becomes possible to establish a new negotiations agenda,” Atanesyan said.
Nelly Grigoryan
Fri 14 Feb 2020 15:35 GMT | 19:35 Local Time
Jabrayil Hasanov waging struggle in 79 kg weight category won the confident victory over the Armenian athlete Arman Avagyan in his third encounter.
The three-time European champion having defeated Nika Kentchadze (Georgia) and Omaraskab Nazmundinov (Romania) continued the successful series in 1/4 final round as well. This time he won the victory over the Armenian athlete with an 8:4 score. This victory carried forward to semifinal the captain of our national team.
14:51, 7 February, 2020
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 7, ARMENPRESS. Spokesperson of the foreign ministry of Armenia Anna Naghdalyan commented on the claims of a candidate for the President of Artsakh Vitaly Balasanyan according to which during their recent meeting in Geneva the Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers “discussed the issue of building joint settlements of Azerbaijanis and Armenians in the southern part of Kashatagh and Lachin regions and deploying peacekeeping forces there”. Commenting on this statement, the MFA spokeswoman said they deny such false assumptions that have nothing to do with the reality.
Armenpress presents the MFA spokesperson’s comment:
Question: Artsakh presidential candidate Vitaly Balasanyan, commenting on the recent meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani FMs in Geneva, stated that they have discussed the issue of “building joint settlements of Armenians and Azerbaijanis in the southern part of Kashatagh and Lachin and deploying peacekeeping forces in these regions”. Was this issue on the meeting agenda of the FMs?
Answer: We once again strongly deny such assumptions which have nothing to do with the reality. We closely follow the pre-election campaign launched in Artsakh. For the sake of our pan-national goals and aspirations, we call on not to make the speculations over the Nagorno Karabakh peaceful settlement process a tool for the domestic political campaign and urge to refrain from spreading obvious lies and provocative information in the fight for being elected representative of the people of Artsakh.
Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
20:53, 4 February, 2020
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 4, ARMENPRESS. Detention has been chosen as a preventive measure for Davit Movsisyan who is indicted for the death of serviceman (conscript) Vahram Avagyan, ARMENPRESS reports head of the press service of the Investigative Committee of Armenia Naira Harutyunyan wrote on her Facebook page.
Davit Movsisyan is the son of former MP Arakel Movsisyan, known as Shmays.
Davit Movsisyan is charged under Article 359 (3) of the Criminal Code of Armenia, that is, breaching the rules of conduct of servicemen in the absence of subordinate relations between them, which negligently caused grave consequences.
The incident took place on January 30. Davit Movsisyan was the co-serviceman of the killed soldier.
Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan
PanARMENIAN.Net – The ANCA Western Region has endorsed Armenian-American former bobsledder and actor Dan Janjigian for Congress in Texas’s 31st Congressional District.
“As the grandson of Armenian Genocide survivors, Dan Janjigian is committed to continuing the work started with congressional recognition of the Armenian Genocide to ensure justice for the victims and survivors of this horrific crime against humanity,” said Chair of the ANCA-WR Board of Directors Nora Hovsepian, Esq.
“Mr. Janjigian has been a proud and active member of the Armenian-American community. From representing Armenia in the 2002 Olympics, to his advocacy and community organization on H.Res.296, Janjigian has consistently used his public profile to raise awareness for the Armenian Cause and empower our community.”
Janjigian is running for the seat currently occupied by Congressman John Carter, who did not vote on the Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.296), voted against expanded aid to Armenia, and voted against an amendment to block additional arms sales to Azerbaijan.
http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/277573/Armenian_Committee_endorses_Dan_Janjigian_for_Congress
Janjigian is a sales and management consultant and lives in Leander, Texas with his wife and three children. He also owns a number of restaurants in Austin and Hollywood. He speaks fluent Armenian and holds dual citizenship in Armenia and the United States.
11:25,
YEREVAN, JANUARY 24, ARMENPRESS. FC Astana of Kazakhstan have signed midfielder Tigran Barseghyan of the Armenian National Football Team.
The Kazakh club said they signed a two-year contract with the Armenian footballer.
Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
Victor Soghomonyan, head of Robert Kocharyan’s office, referring to the latest incident at Erebuni Plaza, said that he did not know whether the incident was actually related to President Kocharyan’s office.
To recall, Kocharyan’s office is located in the Erebuni Plaza business center.
Soghomonyan also said that no one was in the office at the time of the incident, and then the officers were unable to return and enter the office as police blocked the entrance to the hotel.
By Lusine Shahbazyan
Greco-Roman wrestling Olympic champion, three-time World, four-time European, and European Games champion Arthur Aleksanyan won a gold medal at the United World Wrestling Grand Prix de France Henri Deglane in Nice, France.
In the final of his weight category, Armenia’s Aleksanyan beat Azerbaijan’s Orkhan Nuriyev 3-1.
This is Artur’s first competition since returning from injury.
And Armenia’s Karapet Chalyan won a silver medal in the final of the 77kg competition.
“Hrant was killed here 13 years ago. For 13 years they haven’t shed light on his death,” he told AFP. “We won’t stop following Hrant’s murderers. Whether they shed light on this or not, as Hrant’s brothers, we will continue to be here.”
Another supporter, Seyit Dogan, said: “There are courthouses in this country but there is nothing in the name of justice.” Turkish police heightened security and blocked the street where the commemoration was being held to traffic. After the ceremony, carnations were laid on the sidewalk where Dink was shot dead.