Category: 2018

Acting Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan received on October 29 OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, Stephane Visconti of France, and Andrew Schofer of the United States of America and Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk.

Nikol Pashinyan welcomed the visit of the Co-chairs to Armenia and highlighted their activities as the only internationally authorized negotiation format for Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement. The acting PM emphasized that necessity of commitment of all the conflicting sides for a peaceful settlement.

The interlocutors referred to Nagorno Karabakh peace process following the recent political developments in Armenia. They exchanged views over the agreements receives between the Armenian PM and Azerbaijani President in Dushanbe this year. Nikol Pashinyan highlighted the implementation of the agreements that will foster the creation of an atmosphere aimed at raising mutual confidence and progressing the peace process. The sides outlined the future possible steps.

The European Union will continue supporting Armenia’s agriculture sector progress. At the moment discussions are underway with the Armenian government over a program on making investments in the field of organic agriculture in the northern provinces, EU Ambassador to Armenia Piotr Świtalski told reporters in Vayots Dzor province.

“The EU is the largest donor in Armenia’s agriculture sector. We are committed to continue that support. We believe that Armenia’s organic agriculture can ensure great progress for Armenia, the Armenian agricultural goods can enter into the market of different countries. We are holding discussions with the new government over the 2018 agriculture strategy. The agriculture sector is one of the priority issues. We are discussing different ideas, including making investments in organic agriculture sector in Armenia’s northern provinces – Tavush, Shirak and Lori”, the EU official said, expressing hope that these discussions will end soon.

The Organic Agriculture Support Initiative EU program will be completed soon, but Piotr Świtalski assured that they will continue supporting Armenia for progress.

Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan on October 30 attended an event dedicated to the Day of the Worker of the State Service on Emergency Situations, the Artsakh Presidential Office reported.

In his congratulatory remarks the President said the staff members of the structure carry out an important and responsible job, are ready to respond to various emergency situations, help our citizens, and solve diverse problems. “It requires relevant professional training, enhancement of skills and capabilities, application of innovations in the sphere, closer communication with the central and regional structures of the system, systematic interaction with all the concerned institutions”, Bako Sahakyan said.

Bako Sahakyan underlined that the state kept the activity of the State Service on Emergency Situations in the spotlight, and during these years large-scale projects have been carried out to improve the working conditions of the department, upgrade its material and technical base, improve social conditions of the staff servicemen.

An awarding ceremony was held during the event.

The Armenian government has displayed flexibility and pragmatism in cooperating with the European Union, EU Ambassador to Armenia Piotr Switalski told reporters today, mentioning that he is pleased with the cooperation.

“We recommended the government to revise previously discussed issues after the domestic political changes. And I understand that the new government was very busy during the summer months. I can say that the 2018 action plan mostly reflects our previously implemented work. Since the new government displayed flexibility and pragmatism, I can say that I am satisfied with our cooperation,” he said, adding that they have discussions with the new government over the 2019 action plan.

The Ambassador noted that the government has outlines rather broad boundaries for defining priorities. The EU has also recommended revising budgetary assistance programs. “This, certainly was unprecedented. We usually don’t take such actions with new governments. But we understand that a change has taken place. We received new documents about the developments of various sectors from the government. We are satisfied over them [documents]. I’ve had a good first impression from these proposals. Their demands are acceptable for us,” the EU Ambassador said.

He described the contacts of the two parties as “rather constructive”.

The meeting of Armenian President Armen Sarkissian and his Belarussian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko was held in Minsk on October 30.

The President of Belarus welcomed Armen Sarkissian’s visit to Minsk, stating that he is happy to host his Armenian counterpart on the sidelines of the meeting of the Core Group of the Munich Security Conference.

“Your visit to Belarus is very welcomed. Tomorrow we have an important even on security matters which will take place within the frames of the Munich Group. Your visit to Minsk and participation to the meeting on this topic shows that Armenia is not just concerned over this issue, but it is also very important for the Armenian people.

You should know that regardless of all kinds of views, you had and will always have good and reliable friends in a democratic Armenia in the person of Belarus. We both work in the common economic space – the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), the CSTO, and consistently fulfill our agreements and everything that is envisaged by these organizations.

As for the foundations of our relations, the trade turnover, it should be noted that it is growing. Last year we recorded high growth, which comprises nearly 45-50 million USD. This is a good result, but if we talk about the potential in terms of the goods which are in high demand in Armenia and the goods which are in high demand in Belarus, then it’s not a great figure. Today we could have 150 million USD trade turnover which would raise our relations to a high level.

You know our opportunities, and we know yours. Therefore, we will observe any proposal by Armenia in a short period of time and will make a respective decision. I know that currently you are facing complicated democratic changes, you can’t avoid it, and of course, it’s very important for me to receive first-hand information from my friend, counterpart”, the Belarussian President said.

He added that it was very important for Belarus to follow the developments in Armenia. “We see a person in the person of you who is objective, realistic and ready to support the relations with Belarus, and we give mutual response to this”.

In his turn the Armenian President thanked for the reception and stated: “I also would like to start from the dramatic days of April-May and use the chance here, in perfect Minsk, to personally thank you for the support and friendship you showed during that days. I, both as a President and as an individual will not forget the attention I have received from you. Your telephone calls were not just diplomatic or political calls: they were calls from a friend, who was not only interested, but also was sad and happy, a man who wants to know and help. That was a great support for me during that days when major changes were taking place in our country.

It seemed, everything was good, without any dramas, human losses, but in any case it wasn’t easy. And I highly value your support and want to inform you about that, therefore I want to personally thank you.

Yes, I arrived here to participate in the Munich Security Conference. It’s very nice to be in Minsk which is a unique city. I think today Belarus is an example of stability and predictability. One can find such qualities very randomly in this new world where we live. The world is not just the regions, the world has become unpredictable, unstable, and the states, which in reality have these two qualities, are highly appreciated by me, my Belarussian friends and the world community in general.

It’s not a coincidence that the Munich conference, one of the leading conferences in the world, is taking place here in Minsk”.

US President Donald Trump told Axios he is planning to terminate birthright citizenship, potentially setting up another constitutional standoff, CNBC reports.

Trump said Monday he will sign an executive order that would remove the right to citizenship for babies of noncitizens and unauthorized immigrants born on U.S. soil.

“It was always told to me that you needed a constitutional amendment. Guess what? You don’t,” Trump said in the interview by Axios on HBO, the news site’s new documentary series.

“We’re the only country in the world where a person comes in and has a baby, and the baby is essentially a citizen of the United States … with all of those benefits,” Trump said. “It’s ridiculous. It’s ridiculous. And it has to end.”

“It’s in the process. It’ll happen … with an executive order.”

However, Canada and many other countries grant birthright citizenship.

Opponents will argue that it’s not within the president’s power to change birthright citizenship.

The 14th Amendment to the Constitution says:

“All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.”

Trump’s comments come as he continues to push a hard anti-immigration line ahead of next week’s midterm elections. On Monday, the Defense Department announced plans to deploy 5,200 active duty troops to the U.S.-Mexico border by end of the week as a migrant caravan made its way north from Central America.

Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan received on October 30 co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group Stéphane Visconti of France and Andrew Schofer of the United States of America, personal representative of the OSCE chairman-in-office Andrzej Kasprzyk and officials accompanying them.

The press service of the Artsakh President’s Office reported that issues related to the Azerbaijani-Karabagh conflict settlement, situation along the border between Artsakh and Azerbaijan as well as recent developments were on the discussion agenda.

The Artsakh Republic President reaffirmed commitment of official Stepanakert to the peaceful settlement of the Azerbaijani-Karabagh conflict under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group, reiterating the necessity of restoring the full-fledged negotiations format with the participation of Artsakh in all the stages of the conflict settlement.

Bako Sahakyan stressed the imperative of applying ceasefire-maintenance mechanisms, considering it among the cornerstone components of maintaining stability and peace in the region.