Category: 2018

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, ARMENPRESS. There cannot be any solution in the Nagorno Karabakh (NK) conflict settlement that wouldn’t be acceptable for the peoples of Armenia and Artsakh and the government of Artsakh, acting PM Nikol Pashinyan told reporters – addressing a recent statement by US National Security Advisor John Bolton who said that the victory of Pashinyan’s political force in the upcoming early elections of parliament in Armenia would be a good opportunity for taking action in the direction of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement.

“You know, everyone speaks on their own behalf. John Bolton speaks on his own behalf, and John Bolton or generally anyone can’t speak on my behalf. It would give opportunities, but let me say that there can’t be a solution that wouldn’t be acceptable for the people of Armenia, Artsakh and the government of Artsakh”, Pashinyan said.

Pashinyan added that certain people are organizing “mini storms” regarding the NK issue online, once again stressing that there can’t be a solution that wouldn’t be acceptable for the people of Armenia and Artsakh.

“In terms of a global settlement of the issue it is clear that any solution should also be acceptable for the people of Azerbaijan. We must be public in the event of any solution. People are still guided by the old habits. Like they used to decide behind the scenes and attempt to do something behind the back of the people, we won’t have this kind of a conduct, because I don’t know how they considered it in the past, but I don’t think that the one to solve the Nagorno Karabakh issue is any government or me, or any prime minister. The one to solve or not solve the Karabakh issue are the Armenian people, and specifically the people of Armenia, the people of Artsakh and in this case also the Diaspora, because this is a Pan-Armenian issue. They are moving with the logic that they had privatized the Karabakh issue, and now they are attempting to privatize it to me, without asking my opinion. Don’t privatize, because I am not the solver of the Karabakh issue, because the solver of this issue are the Armenian people”, Pashinyan emphasized.

Speaking about a question about the Vienna and St. Petersburg agreements, Pashinyan stressed that he speaks about these agreements during any meeting. “But, unlike the previous government, we succeeded in very rapidly making concrete steps and achieve concrete agreements, including in the direction of more or less maintaining the ceasefire state, now are they pleased or displeased over this?”, he said.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, ARMENPRESS. Acting Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan doesn’t rule out getting nominated in the second round of election of a prime minister also.

“On November 1 we will have a disbanded parliament, but we will see through what scenario”, Pashinyan told reporters today.

“Due to considerations to address the current economic situation and development strategy, as well as other political considerations, I don’t rule out that I will be nominated as candidate for prime minister,” Pashinyan said, adding that during the previous debates he didn’t manage to speak about everything he wanted to, namely about the economy.

On October 24, the Armenian parliament got one step closer to being disbanded as it voted down Nikol Pashinyan’s candidacy as a formality in the first round of electing a prime minister.

No one voted in favor, 1 MP voted against, and 11 lawmakers abstained.

53 votes are required to elect a prime minister.

The Yelk faction nominated incumbent acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s candidacy as a formality in a pre-arranged scenario of not being elected in order to trigger the process of dissolution of parliament.

Pashinyan tendered a technical resignation on October 16 in order to launch the process of calling early elections.

According to the Constitution, if a prime minister resigns lawmakers must elect a new PM within two weeks. If MPs fail to elect a PM during the first vote, a second round takes place a week later. If the second round also fails to elect a prime minister, the parliament is dissolved by virtue of law and the president calls early elections.

Prior to the vote, parliamentary factions must nominate candidates for the election. All factions agreed that they wouldn’t nominate anyone in order to pave way for dissolution. But the Yelk faction nominated incumbent Nikol Pashinyan in a technical maneuver because the Constitution says that a “vote” must take place.

Pashinyan took office after massive protests in April forced president-turned PM Serzh Sargsyan to resign. But Sargsyan’s Republican Party (HHK) still has most seats in parliament. Since taking office, PM Nikol Pashinyan has numerously said that the incumbent parliament doesn’t represent the people and that early elections should take place as soon as possible.

Below is an excerpt from Article 149 of the Constitution of Armenia onElection and Appointment of the Prime Minister:

“In case the Prime Minister submits a resignation or in other cases of the office of the Prime Minister becoming vacant, the factions of the National Assembly shall be entitled to nominate candidates for Prime Minister within a period of seven days after accepting the resignation of the Government. The National Assembly shall elect the Prime Minister by majority of votes of the total number of Deputies [Members of Parliament]. In case Prime Minister is not elected, a new election of Prime Minister shall be held seven days after voting, wherein the candidates for Prime Minister nominated by at least one third of the total number of Deputies shall be entitled to participate. In case Prime Minister is not elected by majority of votes of the total number of Deputies, the National Assembly shall be dissolved by virtue of law”.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 26, ARMENPRESS. Member of Parliament Manvel Grigoryan, the lawmaker currently under pre-trial detention suspected in embezzlement and fraud, has addressed the government – expressing willingness to donate nearly 330 hectares of land of private property to the state.

The land is part of a company owned by Grigoryan in Aknalich, a village in Armavir province.

“The representative of Manvel Grigoryan has sent a document to our committee stating that he [Grigoryan] is willing to donate territory without any obligations. I don’t possess other details, since the agreement is under the authority of the other deputy chairman of the department,” Sergo Atanesyan – Deputy Chairman of the State Property Management Department told ARMENPRESS.

The other deputy, Gevorg Loretsyan, confirmed the report.

“We will organize the process of receiving the property as defined by procedures,” he told ARMENPRESS.

Loretsyan said the land includes 5500 sq.m. of buildings and is worth roughly 6 billion drams (around 12,000,000 dollars).

Manvel Grigoryan, a retired army general, is under arrest since July 19. At the time of his arrest he also served as president of the Yerkrapah Union of Volunteers, but was later ousted by the board of the organization amid highly scandalous accusations.

Law enforcement agencies found a private zoo, a car collection, huge amounts of weapons and ammunition, as well as embezzled military supplies and donations in his compound.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 26, ARMENPRESS. The first international China-Eurasia conference can boost attraction of investments from China to Armenia.

Mher Sahakyan, head of the China-Eurasia political and strategic research foundation, told ARMENPRESS that currently China’s role in world policy and economy has increased.

“This country plays an important role in the current global developments, and it’s important for Armenia to follow China, as well as the ongoing processes there. China deepens its influence in the Eurasian continent by One Belt, One Road program and is going to invest more than 1 trillion within the frames of the program”, Sahakyan said.

The first international China-Eurasia conference launched in Yerevan on October 26, within the frames of which scientists from 12 countries, in particular Finland, Russia, China, Portugal, UK and Pakistan, have arrived in Armenia.

“Armenia must be able to present programs thanks to which it would be possible to be included in the program and bring some part of that investments to Armenia. By inviting our partners here we aim to awaken their interest towards Armenia so that they will conduct research on our country”, he said.

The conference is co-organized by the Institute of Oriental Studies of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia.

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 26, ARMENPRESS. Acting Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan attended the conference “Investments and trade”. Parliamentarians, ministers, business representatives, chairmen of trade and industry chambers, representatives of major companies from 20 countries participated in the conference.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the official website of the Prime Minister of Armenia, Pashinyan saluted the intentions of the businessmen participating in the conference to invest in Armenia. “Unfortunately, not so long ago some people used the words corruption and poverty when referring to our country and emphasized the factor that Armenia is an agrarian country. Following the non-violent, popular velvet revolution of Armenia in April-May we set a task to make Armenia a lawful country and to encourage labor and high technologies. And for reaching this goal we consider businessmen our best allies, who want to make new investments in Armenia. We want to promote labor in the Republic of Armenia and tell each investor to come and do business in Armenia, to become rich and make others rich. We invite every investor to Armenia for recording success and inspiring others by their success”, the acting PM said.

Pashinyan emphasized that today favorable conditions for investments have been created in Armenia, since equality before the law has been established in Armenia. “I think it’s a tragedy when the head of a country is engaged in business and has business interests. I think it’s really a priority factor for promoting business. Therefore, I have good news for all of you. I am out of competition” pashinyan said.

The participants of the 3-day conference will have the opportunity to get familiarized with the business and investment environment of Armenia, and discuss issues referring to the prospects of investing in Armenia. The delegates will visit various companies, and will get acquainted with the legal and economic specifications of investing in Armenia,

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 26, ARMENPRESS. US President’s National Security Advisor John Bolton describes Armenia as an important friend of USA in the region. ARMENPRESS reports Bolton tweeted about his visit to Armenia.

“Yesterday I had a nice visit to Armenia, an important friend in the region. I enjoyed productive conversations with the Prime Minister and his national security team”, he wrote.

Acting Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan received US President Donald Trump’s national security advisor John Bolton and his delegation on October 25.

Pashinyan said at the meeting, “I am happy to host such a high-level delegation, which is historical for Armenia. It’s very important to have high-level contacts with the US, and our government attaches importance to the Armenian-American active dialogue and close cooperation”. The acting PM touched upon the ongoing political events in Armenia and stated that now the country is facing a historical period. “The processes, which are taking place as a result of the peaceful, velvet revolution of love and solidarity, are based exclusively on democratic values. Now we are working on creating and strengthening sustainable and institutional democratic state”, Nikol Pashinyan said, attaching importance to the democracy development in Armenia, strengthening of transparent public administration system, independent judiciary as a result of effective cooperation with international partners. Pashinyan noted that Armenia decisively moves on the path of democracy development which is an internal belief and value for the Armenian society.

John Bolton thanked for the reception and conveyed to Pashinyan the warm greetings of US President Donald Trump. The US official said at this important historical period for Armenia they attach importance to the development and deepening of the Armenian-American relations. “I am happy to discuss with you the wide range of bilateral and regional issues concerning the Armenian-American ties. Congratulations on successfully guiding the peaceful democratic transition in Armenia. The United States supports the efforts of the new government aimed at fighting corruption, raising the transparency degree of the judiciary and increasing the accountability of the government before the citizens with steps which will lead to strengthening democracy, rule of law and regional stability”, John Bolton said.

The officials discussed a number of agenda issues of the bilateral relations. In particular, they touched upon issues of cooperation in the directions of development of democratic institutions, economy, justice system, civil society. In this regard, Nikol Pashinyan and John Bolton highlighted the necessity to make such high-level mutual visits more frequent.

The officials also exchanged views on the settlement process of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Both highlighted taking consistent steps aimed at peacefully settling the conflict within the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship format, and forming a respective atmosphere for the negotiation process.

Bolton told the reporters in Armenia that relations with Armenia are very important for the USA. Referring to NK conflict settlement, Bolton said that the settlement of the conflict stems not only from the interests of Armenia and Azerbaijan, but also the USA.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan