Category: 2018

Azerbaijani Press: Baku hard on its stance in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

Emil Lazarian
AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Dec 27 2018
16:55 (UTC+04:00)

By Abdul Kerimkhanov

The statement by the Azerbaijan Foreign Ministry’s that Baku is ready to give Armenians in Karabakh the right of self-government at a high level within the internationally recognized borders of Azerbaijan, has caused a stormy rejection in Armenia.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry in a media statement hurried to reassure the Armenian public and assure that Yerevan “reaffirms its position on the priority status of Nagorno-Karabakh and its security.” So, Armenian Foreign Ministry tried to teach Baku how to build a diplomatic dialogue, accused him of incontinence and pointed to the inadmissibility of “presenting their own one-sided point of view”.

However, Baku continues its hard stance in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and does not pay attention to the empty statements of Armenian FM. The granting of an independent status to a self-proclaimed entity created by Armenia in the occupied Azerbaijani territories has never been the subject of discussion. Azerbaijani side has never concealed that there will be no “independent Karabakh”, but there can be autonomy with a high degree of self-government within the borders of Azerbaijan. If Armenia continues its occupation policy, war is inevitable and in this case, Nagorno-Karabakh region will not receive the autonomy at all.

The first option for the Armenian side would be beneficial, and it should put aside fantasies and unrealistic dreams and think about it. This is the biggest concession that Baku is ready to make, given the enormous evil that Armenia brought to the region and the amount of innocent Azerbaijani blood, shed during the occupation. Karabakh Armenians themselves, remember very well what luxurious life was in Azerbaijan, which was destroyed by the nationalists with the beginning of the conflict.

Such a panic reaction in Armenia can be regarded as a demonstration of the fears existing in Armenia about the Karabakh Armenians, who can suddenly come to their senses and realize the realities.

First Deputy Prime Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said that the “inalienable right” of the Armenians of Karabakh, who “will determine their own destiny.”

It is worth remembering that the nationalists during the conflict did not allow the Armenians of Karabakh to decide their own fate and attributing to them, who lived well in peace and harmony alongside the Azerbaijanis, the desire for “independence.” And Karabakh Armenians for more than 25 years of conflict already understood that the temporarily occupied region has no prospects for any future.

Hysterical warnings about any threats to the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh in the event of the “surrender” of the territories are completely untenable. The greatest threat to the Armenians of Azerbaijan is the ongoing conflict, which, due to the fault of Yerevan, may at any time enter a hot phase. Armenian authorities perfectly remember April 2016, when residents of front-line villages and soldiers of the Armenian army fled to Yerevan.

The voluntary return of occupied Azerbaijani lands will return the peace and prosperity that local Armenians used to have until 1988. Hope, the Armenian society will understand this in 2019.

North-South project staff blocked Yerevan-Talin road, demanding their salaries

Nahapetian Zhanna
Arminfo, Armenia
Dec 27 2018
Tatevik Shahunyan

ArmInfo. Today, the staff of the North-South program has blocked Yerevan-Talin road with their cars, demanding their salaries.

They, in particular, noted that the company Corsan Corviam  Construccion SA, implementing this project, had not paid them wages  since August of this year.

To note, as part of the construction of the 556-kilometer road, the  length of which will be reduced to 490 kilometers as a result of the  construction (the reduction will occur at the expense of tunnels and  bridges being built on the Sisian-Kajaran section), only a  160-kilometer section is funded. The program is funded by three  international credit organizations – the Asian Development Bank, the  European Investment Bank and the Eurasian Bank of Stabilization and  Development. The total amount of loan agreements is 540 million US  dollars.

During the implementation of the project, large-scale abuses reaching  tens of millions of dollars were revealed, as a result of which  construction work was suspended. A criminal case was initiated on the  facts of theft and abuse.

Swan Lake ice rink in downtown Yerevan opens

Maral Takmazian

Swan Lake ice rink in downtown Yerevan opens

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10:34,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 26, ARMENPRESS. One of the most-beloved winter leisure locations in Yerevan is already open! The Swan Lake ice rink is now open every day from 11:00 to 22:00, the City Hall said.

The Swan Lake is an artificial mini-lake near the Yerevan Opera House. For many years now the lake is converted into an ice skating arena in winter seasons.

City Hall said the hourly fees remain unchanged – 500 drams if you bring along your own skates, and 1000 dram drams if you rent them. Trainers will assist amateur skaters in the rink.

From 15:30 to 18:00 the rink will be on a break for technical reasons.

The ice rink will be open until March 1, 2019.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan




Acting defense minister attends ceremony of handing over apartments to 20 servicemen in Agarak town

Emil Lazarian

Acting defense minister attends ceremony of handing over apartments to 20 servicemen in Agarak town

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10:41,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 26, ARMENPRESS. Acting defense minister of Armenia Davit Tonoyan participated in the inauguration ceremony of a residential building in Agarak town, defense ministry spokesperson Artsrun Hovhannisyan said on Facebook, reports Armenpress.

“20 servicemen received apartments. We congratulate all and wish that all servicemen have such an opportunity”, he said.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




Passengers, crew of December 21 Moscow-Yerevan Flight 4377 urged to seek medical attention as precaution amid measles detection

Jirair Kafian

Passengers, crew of December 21 Moscow-Yerevan Flight 4377 urged to seek medical attention as precaution amid measles detection

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16:12,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS. Passengers and crew of the December 21 Moscow-Yerevan Flight 4377 are considered at-risk if they haven’t been vaccinated against measles as one of the passengers tested positive for the disease in Yerevan after arrival. The passenger showed symptoms and lab tests confirmed the disease on December 24. The passenger arrived on December 21.

“In order to prevent the further spread of the infection we urge to seek medical attention at the nearest medical facility or dial 010 550601,” Immunization-Preventive National Program leader Gayane Sahakyan said on Facebook.

Although Sahakyan did not mention which airline operated the flight, online schedules state that the Russian Nordwind Airlines fly daily from Moscow to Yerevan with the flight number N4 377.

An imported measles case has been documented in Armenia. The lab test confirmed the case on December 24. The patients has arrived from Russia with already visible symptoms, the healthcare ministry told ARMENRPESS. The nationality and identity of the patient was undisclosed.

The ministry released a statement, noting that “the only preventive measure for the disease is vaccination”.

Details of the abovementioned particular case weren’t immediately clear.

The ministry said that people who get at least two doses of vaccinations develop a 97-98% immunity from the disease and maintain it for a lifetime.

Below is a factsheet of the World Health Organization (WHO) on measles.

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease. It remains an important cause of death among young children globally, despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine.

Under the Global Vaccine Action Plan, measles and rubella are targeted for elimination in five WHO Regions by 2020. WHO is the lead technical agency responsible for coordination of immunization and surveillance activities supporting all countries to achieve this goal.

Measles is transmitted via droplets from the nose, mouth or throat of infected persons. Initial symptoms, which usually appear 10–12 days after infection, include high fever, a runny nose, bloodshot eyes, and tiny white spots on the inside of the mouth. Several days later, a rash develops, starting on the face and upper neck and gradually spreading downwards.

Severe measles is more likely among poorly nourished young children, especially those with insufficient vitamin A, or whose immune systems have been weakened by HIV/AIDS or other diseases. The most serious complications include blindness, encephalitis (an infection that causes brain swelling), severe diarrhoea and related dehydration, and severe respiratory infections such as pneumonia.

Routine measles vaccination for children, combined with mass immunization campaigns in countries with low routine coverage, are key public health strategies to reduce global measles deaths.

While global measles deaths have decreased by 84 percent worldwide in recent years — from 550,100 deaths in 2000 to 89,780 in 2016 — measles is still common in many developing countries, particularly in parts of Africa and Asia. An estimated 7 million people were affected by measles in 2016. The overwhelming majority (more than 95%) of measles deaths occur in countries with low per capita incomes and weak health infrastructures.

The measles vaccine has been in use since the 1960s. It is safe, effective and inexpensive. WHO recommends immunization for all susceptible children and adults for whom measles vaccination is not contraindicated. Reaching all children with 2 doses of measles vaccine, either alone, or in a measles-rubella (MR), measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), or measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV) combination, should be the standard for all national immunization programmes.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan




Verelq: US Embassy in 2016 acquired wiretapping devices in April (document)

Edgar Tavakalian
  • 25.12.2018

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  • Armenia:

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  • arm

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  • rus

3
 84

The US Embassy in RA in 2016 acquired eavesdropping devices in April. Political scientist Suren Sargsyan writes about this on his Facebook page, publishing the relevant document.


“I am not making any conclusions yet, I think there will be an official clarification,” he wrote.


The document states that the US Embassy has placed an order to buy eavesdropping devices for a wide range of smartphones and various operating systems. According to the document, companies interested in supplying them should apply to the e-mail address specified for this purpose. It is specially emphasized that no questions will be discussed over the phone. Priority will be given to companies that submit their application by mail in English.


 

The congratulatory message of the “Heritage” party

Albert Nalbandian

Dear friends,

 

We are happy for the upcoming New Year and Christmas
On the occasion of the holidays, we would like to convey to you our heartfelt congratulations and friendship
feelings.

 

M:erwishit is he who 2019thewowthey doYour personal
in life and a package of nationwide prayerslettersto be markednewwith his achievements, the country and the peoplebringin: solidarity, unity, peace and progress to the families
abundance, love, happinessand:brightfuturemy faith:

 

Congratulations!
New Year and Christmas.

 

Հարգանոք՝

 

“Heritage” party


The Ministry of Diaspora is the home of Diaspora Armenians

Ani Tigranian

Dear colleagues,

Feel free to print this profitable and now relevant code for your own.

Սիրով՝

Sevak Jacobian


Diaspora Ministry of Diaspora Armenians
is the house

Spoken by: SEVAK JACOBIAN

 

“ZARTONK”, BEIRUT-YEREVAN.RA:
After the National Assembly elections, the RA government is reviewing
government structure and optimizes 
management system. Instead of 17 ministries it offers
to have 12 ministries in the government. in Armenia and the Diaspora
have become the subject of discussion, especially by the Ministries of Diaspora and Culture:
the problem of uniting with other ministries. In this regard, I present to you “Zartonk”.
the interview with the founder of RA Diaspora
with Minister Hranush Hakobyan, by which he appeals to the RA Prime Minister once again
to discuss the issue of maintaining the Ministry of Diaspora.


***


–        
MrsHakobyan, in recent days
There was a lot of noise about the closure of the Ministry of Diaspora. In:՞What can you say as a founder?
minister.

10 years ago, when the Republic
the president offered me to assume that responsible position and undertake the Ministry of the Diaspora
creation process, I suggested and asked for further discussions to be refined
the objectives, tasks, functions, structure, etc. of the ministry. of 2008
The Ministry of Diaspora did not find a place in the government formed in April. The final decision was made to open it on October 1. Already 3 months later, our baby
it became clear to us with the team that this ministry is being created 17 years late. Part of the work with the diaspora was carried out by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a small part by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
and the actual work, connections and relations were in a state of disrepair.

 

–        
At that time, if I am not mistaken, you were a deputy of the RA National Assembly.

Yes, I have been in parliament for 22 years
I was, by the way, elected 5 times by the people:
with the majority electoral system, and has been in charge since 2003
I was the Committee on Science, Education, Culture and Youth Affairs of the National Assembly,
I was the author of more than 100 laws and worked as the Minister of Social Security.
And let me say to the uninformed that I was not idle for a ministry to be created for me.
but its creation was the imperative of the time. in the government and parliament
taking into account my experience and knowledge, 
that I was offered to start the establishment of that ministry.

 

–        
And how?±accepted this
Creation of the Ministry of the Diaspora.

In the Diaspora it definitely is
was not accepted. Voices were heard that the ministry is a governing body and what is it?
have come to rule us. Or some part thought it should survive the Diaspora
at the expense of financial means. There were also people who were perhaps rightly opposed to the ministry
to the name and suggested the Ministry of Relations with the Diaspora, etc. We succeeded
from nothing, from zero state, contributing to Diaspora
of large structures, organizations, individuals, scientists, spiritual leaders,  Worked with AGBU management for about 1 year
and discuss, then on August 20, 2009, the RA Government approved the Homeland-Diaspora
cooperation strategy and to establish clear policy principles:

1.     Support working in the Diaspora
structures, organizations in important works of Armenian protection, fight
to keep the youth Armenian on foreign shores.

2.     Discover the potential of the Diaspora
and use it for the development of Armenia’s economy.

3.     Develop and implement programs,
which will promote repatriation.

 

We undertook this hard, responsible and extremely important task
with a dedicated team and, I think, with honor
the mission of our organization. They were developed and realized in twenty-five years
more pan-Armenian programs, contacts were established with our compatriots living in hundreds of countries,
with thousands of organizations, structures and figures.

Cooperation was concluded with Pan-Armenian organizations
clear agreements, memoranda of understanding. 

of the RA National Academy of Sciences, YSU, “Noravank”
108 scientific projects were carried out by the scientists of the Scientific and Educational Foundation on our order
researches dedicated to various issues of the Diaspora. Armenian, English, Russian
and every year we published “Diaspora” with a volume of more than 600 pages in classical spelling.
yearbook that includes Diaspora communities 
and meaningful information about their activities, becoming Armenians
a part of recent history, a publication with general scientific value, source-based
with a huge amount of material.

To fill the gap in Diaspora knowledge, Diaspora problems
to study it scientifically, first of all, specialists were needed. Here’s why
at our request and recommendation, a Chair of Diaspora Studies was opened at YSU, which we prepared
is more than a hundred master’s diaspora scholars, and all social scientists of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia
Diaspora departments were founded and expanded in institutes.

–        
T:Mrs. Hakobyan, great attention from the Ministry
was focused on the consolidation of Armenian professional potential and its purposeful use
for the development of the motherland, some of which I personally participated in and can testify to
so that your efforts to unite journalists do not go in vain.

Yes, you are right. It became the best format for the activity
holding pan-Armenian professional conferences. Organized within ten years
and 104 conferences, which provided an opportunity for specialists from Armenia and the Diaspora
communicate with each other, transfer advanced experience, develop scientific programs, implement them
professional partnership projects. Many diaspora professionals became important
program managers, opened offices
in the homeland, Armenian scientists were involved in their scientific research,
conducted courses at universities, supervised post-graduate students, becoming a communicator
to the ongoing scientific works in the homeland. During that time, architects,
Pan-Armenian associations of journalists, lawyers, bankers, artists, cardiologists and other professionals. Conferences
and during dozens of conferences, the preservation of Armenian identity, Armenians were discussed
to the rapprochement of the two branches of the language, preservation and development of the Western Armenian language, classical spelling
transition, international recognition of the Armenian Genocide, Islamized and hidden Armenians, mixed marriages
and many other issues.

–        
youalso continued
The tradition of pan-Armenian conferences was established in 1999.

 

In the diaspora, they caused special anticipation and enthusiasm
Pan-Armenian conferences (2011, 2014, 2017). Despite the skeptics growing up
the number of participants of these conferences was expanding
geography. Only in 2017, 1842 people from 71 countries participated in this important pan-Armenian forum.
which was an irreplaceable platform for expanding Armenia-Diaspora relations and cooperation programs
and presenting their results, pan-Armenian strength and power in the Diaspora
and to demonstrate in the Motherland.

As a result of the conferences, national and state were established
priorities, which were the basis for further work.2017 approved by the conference
the following national priorities:

–        
powerful and: safe of Armenia construction,

–        
Artsakhindependence and security
providing

–        
 Most of the diaspora
the organization

–        
the observation of the Armenian language as a threat to the protection of Armenians,

–        
 Armenian Genocide
the struggle for international recognition 100 years later,

–        
 of the Armenian Church
gathering around

–        
safety of Armenians in emergency situations
provision and so on.

Important for the politics of a state with a diaspora of seven million
one of the achievements was the adoption of the mature dual citizenship institution, RA
As a result of changes in the constitution and legislation.

–        
I would like you to list the Armenian protection
some of your programs aimed at.

Connecting the Diaspora to the Homeland, Armenian youth living abroad
was aimed at instilling patriotism
“Come Home” program, which became the most loved and accepted program in the Diaspora. It doesn’t
not only helped Diaspora Armenian youths and girls unite around the homeland, but also mutual ties
created representatives of different communities of the Diaspora, as well as of them and Armenia
between host families. The thousands of Armenian youth who participated in this program today
are our “ambassadors” in the Diaspora. Or how much time, effort and work we put in
To organize and hold “My Armenia” festivals at a high level, cultural
performed by Diaspora song, dance, and theater groups to enliven life in the Diaspora
to present the work in the homeland, to introduce them to the culture created in Armenia
to make

Those operating at Yerevan State University were of great importance
Diaspora Armenian teacher training and Diaspora schools in Diaspora School
programs to provide textbooks. Ministry from a thousand in only four years
more Armenian schools provided more than 
three hundred thousand pieces of books, educational materials. Or Georgian Armenian
from computers provided to schools, cultural and sports centers, sports
the property was used by many young people who enthusiastically participated together
organized various events. It became a unique school for preservation of Armenian identity
“Alexander Mantashyants” Armenian house founded by us in Batumi. In the diaspora: in Latin America, in the Russian Federation,
Middle East, Australia, other regions with particular warmth
accepted teachers, professors, singers sent by the ministry
and artists.

The Diaspora was given a special charge by the ministry’s “Meronk”, “Diaspora hour”, “Hay lur Diaspora”, “Hay Diaspora”, “About Armenians of other faiths”, “Ten problems of immigrating to Armenia and ways to overcome them”, “Armenian family tree”, “Our elders”, “Our benefactors”, Armenian language educational programs, “Kurj” and other radio programs, as well as our slogans: “Armenia is the Motherland of all Armenians”, “He who feels Armenian is an Armenian”, “Diaspora Armenians should benefit and have income in the homeland”, “Recognize, trust and cooperate”, “What have you done for Artsakh” and etc.

– These days in the fight against the closure of the ministry
are also the Syrian Armenians. In:՞how about that?

 

 In 2012, when
it could already be noted that the main directions of the Ministry’s activity
are adjusted, and it is necessary to give a new quality to the programs and manuals, the most organized Armenian
the sword of Damocles hung over the head of one of the communities, the Syrian community. Our compatriots
After 100 years, they were forced to become landless again 
leave home and workplace, business and
property like their grandfathers 
taking the path of migration. The only hope and bright spot was that some of them
were coming to the Motherland. And in Armenia their reception, accommodation, work, education,
support in healthcare and other issues, integration into the country and society
all responsibility was assigned to the RA Ministry of Diaspora.

   Syrian Armenians were cultivated
complex support programs were launched
clear structures for solving their problems, which were also supported by Pan-Armenian
structures. The work carried out with the Syrian Armenians is the best of the professional structures of the United Nations
considered the opening ceremony of the session of the UN General Assembly on refugee issues
was entrusted to the representative of the Government of the Republic of Armenia.

 

–        
In:՞What would you say, are there Diaspora ministries in other countries?


In countries with a large Diaspora
over time, ministries, agencies, and structures dealing with the problems of the Diaspora are also being opened.
there are also cases that are shortened /Georgia,
Lebanon, France.

 

–        
In that case՞what about our country?

Today the people are absolute
gave a vote of confidence to the RA Prime Minister and his team, and it is natural that the Prime Minister will decide the development of the country
main priorities. Taking advantage of this opportunity, I want to appeal to the Prime Minister
once again to discuss the possibility of maintaining the Ministry, taking into account
that 2/3 of our nation lives outside the homeland and a vast experience of working with them
has accumulated, there are close ties and relationships established over the years
Experience and knowledge acquired, dedicated, responsible and hardworking young people
composed team. 

 

–        
No՞do you think
that there are interesting responses from the Diaspora.

That’s the answer to all of it
ignorant people who talk about the poor work of the Ministry of Diaspora. Happy
and I am proud that the Ministry was established
take deep roots in the Diaspora, its role and importance is appreciated by our Diaspora
by strict structures. It is also proof that the ministry ever
did not have a symbolic nature, but became a symbol of the Motherland 
and development and strengthening of Diaspora ties
in action.

You only need to know, recognize the Diaspora, its multi-layered, multilingual, multi-religious,
multi-necessary nature to be able to form relationships and act on it
with. And us with great difficulty, step by step
managed to win the trust of the Diaspora, appreciate and appreciate the efforts of many individuals and structures, Armenian
preservation of identity, unfailing dedication to the struggle of the Armenian Genocide and to the Motherland
for services rendered. 

I want to address my colleagues,
Diaspora Armenian friends interested in the issue, expressing thanks to them
with their help we built the ministry, devoting ten years of my life to that structure
establishing, increasing the reputation, the Republic of Armenia in the Diaspora proper
to present, to present the problems of the Diaspora to the native government, the ministry
to make it a home for Diaspora Armenians.  Understandable
is that my heart hurts so much bit by bit
for the dissolution of the structure built by suffering. 



JPEG image

RFE/RL Armenian Report – 12/25/2018

Ani Basmajian 
                                        Tuesday, 
Former Armenian Defense Chief’s Russian Citizenship Confirmed
        • Naira Bulghadarian
Armenia - President Robert Kocharian (R) and Defense Minister Mikael 
Harutiunian, 15 November 2007.
Russia has officially confirmed that a former Armenian defense minister wanted 
by Yerevan on coup charges is a Russian citizen, an Armenian law-enforcement 
agency said on Tuesday.
The Special Investigative Service (SIS) issued an international arrest warrant 
for retired Colonel-General Mikael Harutiunian in July. The SIS charged 
Harutiunian with illegally using the armed forces against opposition supporters 
who demonstrated in Yerevan against alleged fraud in a 2008 presidential 
election. It said that amounted to an “overthrow of the constitutional order.”
The SIS brought the same coup charges against former President Robert Kocharian 
and Yuri Khachaturov, the then secretary general of the Collective Security 
Treaty Organization (CSTO). Both men strongly denied them.
It emerged afterwards that Harutiunian now lives in Russia. Russian 
law-enforcement authorities notified the Armenian police in September that they 
will not arrest him.
The Interfax news agency reported at the time that Harutiunian has been a 
Russian citizen since 2002. Russia’s constitution forbids the extradition of 
Russian nationals to foreign states.
A spokeswoman for the SIS, Marina Ohanjanian, told RFE/RL’s Armenian service 
that it has received a formal confirmation of Harutiunian’s Russian citizenship 
from relevant Russian authorities. She said the SIS has responded by asking 
them to clarify when the ex-general received a Russian passport.
The Armenian constitution did not allow dual citizenship until 2006.
Harutiunian, 72, served as defense minister from 2007-2008. He was previously 
the chief of the Armenian army’s General Staff.
Moscow was quick to denounce the prosecutions of Kocharian, Harutiunian and 
Khachaturov. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in July that they run 
counter to the new Armenian leadership’s earlier pledges not to “persecute its 
predecessors for political motives.”
Eight protesters and two police servicemen died when Armenian security forces 
quelled the post-election protests on March 1-2, 2008. Kocharian declared a 
state of emergency on that night, ordering troops into Yerevan.
The crackdown came just over a month before he handed over power to Serzh 
Sarkisian, his preferred successor. Kocharian has repeatedly defended the use 
of lethal force, saying that it prevented a violent seizure of power by Levon 
Ter-Petrosian, the main opposition presidential candidate.
The SIS essentially backed Kocharian’s version of events until this spring’s 
dramatic change of Armenia’s government. The law-enforcement agency now says 
that Armenian army units were secretly told to move into the capital before the 
declaration of emergency rule in violation of the Armenian constitution.
Armenian Police Corruption ‘Eliminated’
        • Narine Ghalechian
Armenia - The chief of the Armenian police, Valeri Osipian, speaks to 
journalists in Yerevan, December 20, 2018.
Valeri Osipian, the chief of the Armenian police, on Monday claimed to have 
eliminated corruption in the police ranks since taking office after this 
spring’s “velvet revolution” in the country.
Osipian made the statement as he answered questions from Facebook users at the 
RFE/RL studio in Yerevan. He was asked to comment on critics’ claims that he 
has been “weak” on crime and traffic rule violations.
“I’m very weak,” Osipian replied with sarcasm. “But I have managed to eliminate 
corruption in the [police] system.”
He also cited in that regard the recent arrests and prosecutions of prominent 
individuals connected to Armenia’s former leadership and claimed credit for the 
fact that there were virtually no reports of vote buying or violence in the 
December 9 parliamentary elections.
Nikol Pashinian named Osipian to run the national police service on May 10 two 
days after being elected Armenia’s prime minister following weeks of 
anti-government protests led by him. Osipian was until then a deputy head of 
Yerevan’s police department responsible for public order and crowd control.
Introducing Osipian to high-ranking police officials on May 11, Pashinian said 
one of his main tasks will be to crack down on police corruption which has long 
been endemic. Osipian replaced virtually deputy chiefs of the police in the 
following days.
The police chief admitted on Monday there has been a major increase in the 
number of officially registered crimes in Armenia since then. But he blamed it 
on objective factors such as a general amnesty declared by the authorities in 
late October.
The controversial amnesty led to the release of hundreds of convicts. According 
to the police, some of them have already been arrested for committing 
burglaries and other crimes.
Osipian also repeated his recent claims that many crimes were underreported by 
the police under his predecessors. Besides, he said, victims of petty crimes 
are now less reluctant to report them because of greater public trust in the 
police.
Syrian Armenians Also Protest Against Diaspora Ministry Closure
        • Naira Nalbandian
Armenia - A demonstrator in Yerevan holds a poster objecting to government 
plans to close the Ministry of Diaspora, .
A group of ethnic Armenian migrants from Syria joined on Tuesday employees of 
Armenia’s Ministry of Diaspora in protesting against its closure planned by the 
government.
A government bill publicized this week calls for reducing the number of 
ministries in the country from 17 to 12 in line with Prime Minister Nikol 
Pashinian’s pledges to streamline the state bureaucracy. The Ministry of 
Diaspora would be liquidated as a result.
The ministry employing 90 or so people was set up in 2008 by then President 
Serzh Sarkisian. It is tasked with maintaining and strengthening the country’s 
cultural, educational and other ties with the worldwide Armenian Diaspora.
Some ministry officials again marched to the prime minister’s office in Yerevan 
to demand that the government reconsider its plans. They were joined by Syrian 
Armenians who have taken refuge in their ancestral homeland after the outbreak 
of the bloody conflict in Syria. One of them, Aleksan Garatanayan, is the 
deputy chairman of a non-governmental organization representing such migrants.
“We are not staging a political demonstration,” Garatanayan told reporters. 
“This is our sole means of gratitude to the ministry and its staff that have 
patiently helped us for the last seven years. For seven years we have 
approached the ministry on a daily basis.”
“It’s wrong to scrap this ministry without taking into account the opinion of 
major Diaspora organizations,” said another Syrian Armenian man taking part in 
the demonstration.
Thousands of Syrian Armenians have relocated to Armenia since 2012. The 
Armenian government’s modest financial assistance to them has been mostly 
channeled through the Ministry of Diaspora.
Hovannes Aleksanian, the head of a ministry desk dealing the “repatriation” of 
ethnic Armenians from Syria and other countries, was also among the protesters. 
“We will need the Ministry of Diaspora as long as we have a Diaspora,” he said.
“The repatriation desk has only two employees: myself and its leading 
specialist,” argued Aleksanian. “Hundreds of families come [to the ministry] 
and all that work is done by our small division.”
“Our expenditures are so modest that they cannot serve as an argument [in favor 
of closing the ministry,]” he said, adding that the ministry’s annual budget is 
an equivalent of just $500,000.
Ex-Ally Criticizes Pashinian’s ‘Excessive Powers’
        • Naira Nalbandian
Armenia - Bright Armenia party leader Edmon Marukian speaks at an election 
campaign rally in Masis, November 28, 2018.
The leader of an Armenian parliamentary opposition party criticized Prime 
Minister Nikol Pashinian on Tuesday for not curtailing his sweeping executive 
powers inherited from the country’s former leaders.
Edmon Marukian pointed to a government bill that would keep Armenia’s police, 
National Security Service (NSS) and tax and customs services accountable to the 
prime minister, rather than his cabinet or the parliament.
These agencies were directly controlled by the presidents of the republic under 
the previous, presidential system of government. Former President Serzh 
Sarkisian made sure that they will be subordinate to the prime minister when he 
enacted controversial constitutional changes that turned Armenia into a 
parliamentary republic.
Sarkisian planned to stay in power as prime minister after serving out his 
second presidential term in April this year.
Pashinian, Marukian and other leaders of the now defunct Yelk alliance strongly 
criticized a corresponding bill which Sarkisian pushed through the parliament 
as recently as in March. They accused him of introducing a “super 
prime-ministerial” system of government with the aim of maintaining a tight 
grip on power.
Armenia - Nikol Pashinian (L) and other deputies from the opposition Yelk 
alliance attend a parliament session in Yerevan, 3Oct2017.
Pashinian did not alter that system after he swept to power in May on a wave of 
mass protests that toppled Sarkisian. Under a new bill on the government’s 
structure drafted by his office, the heads of the police, the NSS and the State 
Revenue Committee would continue to report to the prime minister and not be 
part of the ruling cabinet.
Armenia’s newly elected parliament dominated by Pashinian’s supporters is 
expected to debate the bill at its first session next month.
Marukian, whose Bright Armenia party will have 18 seats in the 132-member 
parliament, complained that Pashinian is now intent on retaining what he 
described as excessive executive powers.
“The agencies that were placed beyond parliamentary oversight under [former 
President] Robert Kocharian remain beyond it,” Marukian told reporters. “Those 
are the police, the National Security Service and the State Revenue Committee 
…The country is not becoming a parliamentary republic, it remains super 
prime-ministerial, something which we criticized during Serzh Sarkisian’s rule.”
“In the institutional sense, this is wrong, terribly wrong … There are no 
parliamentary republics in the world where the chiefs of security agencies 
operate outside parliamentary oversight,” he said.
The government has yet to explain why it is not planning to limit the 
prime-ministerial powers. A spokesperson for outgoing First Deputy Prime 
Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said on Tuesday that it is ready to consider 
opposition proposals on the issue.
Press Review
“Zhoghovurd” reports that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian made two important 
statements at Monday’s yearend reception which he hosted for leading Armenian 
businesspeople. Pashinian made clear that no member of his entourage or any 
other senior government official will have business interests. He also 
reiterated that all companies operating in Armenia are now free from “any kind 
of corruptions obligations” to any official. The paper says that neither Robert 
Kocharian nor Serzh Sarkisian made such assurances while in power because they 
and their cronies had “clear economic interests.” “The country’s economy was 
for years divided among a handful of individuals,” it says.
“Zhamanak” quotes Russia’s Trade and Industry Minister Denis Manturov as 
telling a Russian news agency that Moscow has stopped using the U.S. dollar in 
major foreign trade deals. The paper notes that Armenia has for years been 
proposing to Russia to set the price of Russian natural gas in rubles, as 
opposed to dollars. “This proposal was first made during Prime Minister Tigran 
Sarkisian’s tenure,” it says. “[His successor] Hovik Abrahamian also made this 
proposal.”
“Aravot” disapproves of angry street protests against the retired General 
Manvel Grigorian’s release from custody and former President Kocharian’s 
attempts to regain his freedom in a similar fashion. The paper says that 
participants of these protests do not seem to be advocates of the rule of law 
guaranteed by the Armenian constitution. “Any person, even the most terrible 
criminal, deserves humane treatment,” it says in an editorial. “In the 21st 
century this means that a person convicted of a crime is punished by being 
isolated from the society, rather than being forced to endure harsh prison 
conditions or deprived of medical treatment and legal counseling.”
(Lilit Harutiunian)
Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2018 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
www.rferl.org

Armenpress: Conscripts to be involved in utilizing high-tech solutions in defense system

Maral Chavushian

Conscripts to be involved in utilizing high-tech solutions in defense system

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15:38,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS. The joint tender announced by the defense ministry and the Hi-Tech Cybersecurity Center was held December 24-25. The purpose of the tender is to create high-tech solutions in the defense system, efficient application, as well as maximal utilization of skills of conscripts.

Caretaker defense minister Davit Tonoyan attended the second stage of the tender, the ministry said.

Tonoyan spoke to commission members and experts, and was familiarized with the skills of conscripts who are participating in the event.

Conscripts subject to winter draft who have in-depth professional knowledge in informational and communication technologies, practical problem-solving as well as IT are participating in the tender.

The commission will choose the best who will be deployed for mandatory service in respectively divisions in order to utilize their skills in the process of creating high-tech solutions in the defense system.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan