Armenia’s Henrikh Mkhitaryan, the midfielder of London’s Arsenal, who is also the National Goodwill Ambassador of UNICEF for Armenia, is featured in a new UNICEF video calling for equal opportunities for children with disabilities.
“Children with disabilities must be a part of, not apart from, the daily lives of their families, communities and societies”, Mkhitaryan said on Instagram and shared the video.
Mkhitaryan was appointed UNICEF National Goodwill Ambassador in 2016.
Friday,
Former Ruling Party Set To Run In Snap Elections
• Ruzanna Stepanian
Armenia - Vahram Baghasarian of the Republican Party of Armenia speaks at a
news conference in Yerevan, .
Former President Serzh Sarkisian’s Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) gave more
indications on Friday that it will participate in early parliamentary elections
expected in December.
A senior HHK figure, Vahram Baghdasarian, said the party will hold a conference
“in the coming days” to finally decide whether to enter the parliamentary race.
“Our aim is to form a parliament befitting a parliamentary republic,” he told
reporters. “We are entering the [new] National Assembly to show and restore our
face. We will be a radical-constructive opposition force.”
Baghdasarian said the conference will also decide who will top the list of the
HHK’s candidates in case of its participation in the elections. He declined to
specify whether Sarkisian would the party’s top candidate.
Sarkisian, who ruled Armenia from 2008-2018,has made very few public
appearances and statements since mass protests led by Nikol Pashinian, the
country’s current prime minister, forced him to resign in April.
According to some media reports, the HHK’s electoral list will likely be headed
by former Defense Minister Vigen Sargsian, a U.S.-educated protégé of the
ex-president.
The HHK won Armenia’s last parliamentary elections held in April 2017.
Observers believe that it is now too unpopular to make a strong showing in
December. Some of them say that it would fail to win any parliament seats.
Earlier this month, the HHK leadership tried unsuccessfully to delay the snap
polls until next May or June.
Baghdasarian and another leading HHK member, Eduard Sharmazanov, argued against
an election boycott when they spoke to RFE/RL’s Armenian service last week.
Sharmazanov said the former ruling party is now Armenia’s sole genuine
opposition force and must therefore be represented in the new parliament.
Bolton Satisfied With ‘Productive’ Talks In Armenia
Armenia - U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton speaks at a news
conference in Yerevan, .
John Bolton, U.S. President Donald Trump’s national security adviser, described
Armenia on Friday as an “important friend” of the United States after visiting
the country and meeting with its leaders.
“Yesterday I had a nice visit to Armenia, an important friend in the region,”
Bolton wrote on his Twitter page. “I enjoyed productive conversations with the
Prime Minister [Nikol Pashinian] and his national security team.”
Bolton also retweeted a U.S. Embassy post that quoted him as telling Pashinian
that the U.S. supports the new Armenian government’s “efforts to address
corruption, increase judicial transparency and enhance the government’s
accountability to its citizens in ways that strengthen democracy, rule of law
and regional stability.”
Speaking in Yerevan, Bolton said he discussed with Pashinian a “very wide range
of subjects,” notably the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. He said Washington expects
the Armenian leader to take “decisive steps” towards a compromise peace deal
with Azerbaijan after his widely anticipated victory in upcoming general
elections.
Bolton also indicated that the Trump administration is ready to allow Yerevan
to buy U.S. weapons and thus reduce Russia’s “excessive influence” on Armenia.
The Trump adviser noted that Russia has been the principal arms supplier of
both Armenia and Azerbaijan. That has given Moscow “enormous leverage” against
the two warring nations but “not contributed to the resolution” of the
conflict, he said.
Together with France, the U.S. and Russia have long been jointly spearheading
international efforts to broker a Karabakh settlement.
Azerbaijan -- U.S. National security adviser John Bolton, second left, and
Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev, right, during talks in Baku, Azerbaijan,
Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2018.
Armenian officials have not yet publicly commented on Bolton’s surprise offer.
One of them said earlier this month that Yerevan is seeking yet another Russian
government loan for more arms acquisitions from Russian manufacturers.
The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), a Washington-based lobbying
group, voiced concern at some of Bolton’s statements later on Thursday.
“Bolton expressed openness to U.S. arms sales to Armenia, which - almost
certainly - would happen in the context of such sales to Azerbaijan,” it said
in a statement. “The danger here is that Azerbaijan, given the size of its
military budget, can afford significantly more advanced U.S. arms than Armenia
- leading to imbalances both on the battlefield and in terms of political
relationships.”
Armenia’s relations with neighboring Iran and renewed U.S. sanctions against
Tehran were another major theme of Bolton’s talks in Yerevan.
In an interview with RFE/RL’s Armenian service, Bolton said he told Pashinian
that the Trump administration will enforce those sanctions “very vigorously.”
For that reason, he said, the Armenian-Iranian border, one of Armenia’s few
conduits to the outside world, is “going to be a significant issue.”
“Obviously, we don’t want to cause damage to our friends in the process,” added
the U.S. official.
The ANCA said in this regard that it “will work with key government
stakeholders to ensure that regional sanctions do not improperly or unduly
impact Armenia.”
Jailed Armenian General Offers Land To State
• Naira Bulghadarian
Armenia - General Manvel Grigorian attends an event organized by the Yerkrapah
Union, 5 March 2018.
Manvel Grigorian, a retired Armenian army general arrested in June on
corruption charges, has offered to donate vast land holdings to the state, it
emerged on Friday.
Grigorian’s lawyer, Levon Baghdasarian, said the 330-hectare plot owned by him
is part of a beaver fur farm located in a village about 40 kilometers west of
Yerevan.
“Real estate experts estimate its minimum market value at about $10 million,”
Baghdasarian told RFE/RL’s Armenian service (Azatutyun.am).
Baghdasarian claimed that the offer extended to the Armenian government is a
gesture of good which is not aimed at pleasing the public or ensuring his
lenient treatment by the authorities. He argued that his client continues to
deny the grave accusations levelled against him.
Grigorian was arrested when security forces raided his properties in and around
the town of Echmiadzin on June 16. They found many weapons, ammunition,
medication and field rations for soldiers provided by the Armenian Defense
Ministry.
They also discovered canned food and several vehicles donated by Armenians at
one of Grigorian’s mansions. A widely publicized official video of the raids
caused shock and indignation in the country.
The Armenian parliament, of which Grigorian is a member, was quick to allow
investigators to keep him under arrest him on charges of illegal arms
possession and embezzlement. The once powerful general denies the accusations.
Grigorian’s lawyers have repeatedly demanded his release from pre-trial
custody, saying that the 61-year-old is suffering from a number of serious
illnesses. Armenian law-enforcement bodies and courts have ignored those
demands so far. It remains unclear when he will go on trial.
Grigorian served as Armenia’s deputy defense minister from 2000-2008. Until his
arrest he was also the chairman of the Yerkrapah Union of Karabakh war
veterans, an organization which was particularly influential in the 1990s and
the early 2000s. He was reelected to the parliament last year on the ticket of
then President Serzh Sarkisian’s Republican Party.
Press Review
“Zhamanak” describes as sensational U.S. National Security Adviser John
Bolton’s effective offer to Armenia to buy U.S.-manufactured weapons and other
military hardware. The pro-Western paper says Washington has never expressed
readiness to supply weapons to Yerevan before. It says this development
underlines the need for Armenia to be “sovereign,” rather than heavily
dependent on Russia.
Lragir.am also comments on Bolton’s “surprise” statement on possible arms
supplies to Armenia. The publication is also encouraged by his remarks on the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, speculating that Washington is not forcing Armenia
to accept a peace deal with Azerbaijan not favorable to the Armenian side.
“They know in the United States that any coercion on the Artsakh (Karabakh)
issue makes Armenia more dependent on Russia and isolated from the
international community,” it says. “Besides, it strengthens pro-Russian
circles’ positions in Armenia.”
“Zhoghovurd” reports that some of Armenia’s leading medics and healthcare
professionals have appealed to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian to take action
against the recently appointed head of Armenia’s state-run Center for Mental
Health, Narek Vanesian. The latter reportedly behaved in a rude, offensive and
even violent way at an event in the Yerevan State Medical University (YSMU)
attended by two Nobel Prize winners visiting Armenia.
“His impudent behavior is hardly accidental,” comments “Zhoghovurd.” “Vanesian
is a friend of Health Minister Arsen Torosian and therefore enjoys the latter’s
support. What is more, Vanesian has hinted in many places that he played a
large role in Torosian’s appointment as minister.” The paper says the
government’s failure so far to hold him accountable makes mockery of Prime
Minister Nikol Pashinian’s claims that there are no longer privileged
individuals enjoying impunity in Armenia.
(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
GLENDALE, Calif. – Thursday’s planned homecoming football game between Hoover and Glendale high schools was canceled amid rumors of expected disruptions following a major brawl on Hoover’s campus weeks ago.
The Oct. 3 brawlinvolved hundreds of students on Hoover High School’s campus.
Its exact cause remains unclear, but some parents and school officials say there are underlying tensions involving some ethnic groups of students as well as school athletes.
The fight may have started after a bullying incident involving a special needs student.
“I saw him getting bullied, so I stepped in. It wasn’t right, but people thought it was a fight,” Hoover High School football player Jaiden Forster said regarding the incident. “I was just confronting a guy.”
Coaches allege the bullies were a group of Armenian students, and say of the 24 students suspended, 15 to 16 were athletes.
Since the brawl, other games had been canceled, but Thursday’s homecoming was expected to be held as scheduled.
Players protested by putting tape over the school logo on their jerseys during school hours before the game. Players said they removed the tape when asked by the school’s principal.
“This was our last game, so we all wanted to play it together,” Hoover High School football player Gabe Harris said.
The school started notifying parents that the game would not happen because there were rumors about possible disruptive behavior.
“We understand that sentiments around this game run deep and while it was our wish that our students were able to finish the season on the field, we will not run the risk of hosting an event with threats of disruption that potentially puts all involved at risk,” Glendale Unified School District told parents.
CORRECTION: This story was updated to reflect that the brawl was on Hoover’s campus.
An interview with the representative of the Armenian Apostolic Church to the Holy See to mark the visit of Karekine II to Pope Francis. A theological dialogue between increasingly closer Churches. Pastoral collaboration in America and other regions. The history of a Church that has determined national identity, even under the genocides of Turkey and the USSR. Lack of clergy one of the most burning issues.
Vatican City (AsiaNews) – Yesterday, October 24, Patriarch Karekine II of the Armenian Apostolic Church met Pope Francis (photos 1 and 2). Recently, in April, he was in Rome for the blessing and unveiling of the statue of Saint Gregory of Narek in the Vatican gardens. There is no official communication on the contents of the meeting. In an informal way, it can be said that they discussed various issues, including how to support Christians in the Middle East.
In order to support and strengthen the relations of friendship between the Vatican and Etchmiadzin, the seat of the Armenian Patriarchate, Msgr. Khajag Barsamian (photo 3) will remain in Italy. The archbishop, 67, former primate of the Armenian Apostolic Church in America, is now a representative of the Armenian Apostolic Church to the Holy See and a legate of the Armenian Church in Western Europe. Throughout Italy there are about 7 thousand Armenian faithful, scattered between Milan, Rome, Bologna, Venice, Florence.
AsiaNews met Msgr. Barsamian, who granted the following interview.
Excellency, can you share any progress in the relationship between you, the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Churches?
From the theological point of view, we have dialogue and in them we discuss issues such as the Eucharist, ordination, the sacraments. There are no substantial differences. One of the most obvious differences is obviously that on the primacy of the Pope as head of the Church. Which must be studied and understood. Pope Francis, when he came to Armenia, declared that “unity is where one is no higher than the other”.
In terms of theological discussions, we note that there are no great differences. Sometimes there are differences in the family of Eastern Orthodox Churches, but they are not an obstacle to our unity. In the same way, in history some Catholic theologians considered the Armenian Church as monophysite, but when studying the Armenian texts of the fifth century, hymns, we see how the two natures of Christ were accepted among the Armenians: human and divine.
From a pastoral point of view, for example in the United States, there is a strong dialogue between Catholics and Orientals. I was the president of the Armenian Church in America, and we had good relations in pastoral care. In case of marriage, if the couple were Catholic and the ritual took place in a Catholic church, we would accept to participate in the Catholic sacraments.
Let’s talk about Armenia: what is the relationship between the Church and its people?
The Armenian Church is a Church of the people, therefore a national Church. Not nationalistic, but national. Faith is part of the Armenian identity, as when in the fifth century, the Persian King Sassanid wanted to force the Armenians to deny their Christian faith and embrace Zoroastrianism, General Vardan [Mamikonan] replied: “Faith is part of our skin, we cannot change it “. And they fought, became martyrs but did not give up. Also in the fifth century, there is the so-called Golden Age, when the monks created the Armenian alphabet …. Our culture, architecture, music and everything else is based on Christ.
Faith is part of the Armenian identity, so in case of a vacuum in reign or political leadership, the Church is the driving force. For example, during the period of the diaspora in the United States, Armenian Christians remained such thanks to the Church. In every parish there is a room where there are cultural programs, catechism classes, meetings for young people, where faith is taught, but also identity.
Did all this endure even during the genocide?
We lost a lot during the genocide. Before the genocide there were 6 thousand Armenian priests around the world. During the [Turkish] genocide, 4 thousand of them were massacred. Then communism arrived in Armenia, which killed about 2 thousand priests. This created a void: 98% of spiritual leadership was destroyed. And it must be said that the Communists did worse than the Turks because the Turks only killed the body, but the communists also destroyed the spirit.
Let me give you an example from my own experience. I was born in Anatolia, in the central part of Turkey. My grandmother was three months pregnant when one night they came and took her husband and all the men. When my father was born, there were no churches. But he used to say: “My mother was a mother and a father”. I was born in Arapkir, where there was no church: all seven had been destroyed, but my brother and I learned to pray from my grandmother. The Church was at home. So when we moved to Istanbul, it was very natural for us to start going to church right away. I am a priest thanks to my grandmother, because the spirit [of Christianity] was there.
The communists not only destroyed the churches and annihilated the clergy: they taught atheism in schools against the Church, faith, Christ. In every [scholastic] curriculum faith was set aside.
And when Armenia chose independence from the USSR in 1991?
When we gained independence, Armenia was in turmoil. It was a moment full of challenges, and once again at the forefront, the Church offered great support. In our diocese, we immediately created a fund to support the Armenians and I personally signed an agreement with the US government for aid of up to 10 million dollars. I spoke to the State Department and I said that the Armenians needed help.
At present the Armenian aid fund has donated $ 315 million for development projects in the medical, agricultural, educational and other areas. The Church has offered its support to orphans, children, etc. And this from a single diocese, the American diocese, but certainly others also contributed.
There are still several challenges. The first is that in all the world the Armenian clergy is made up of only 815 members. This number is not enough, so new seminaries have been opened in Armenia. His Holiness the Katolikos is placing great emphasis on this aspect, and is sending many young priests to study at universities, especially Catholic ones, particularly in Rome, Paris, Europe and the United States. Some of these priests have already returned and have now become professors in the seminaries. In this way the younger generations are prepared.
Another challenge is on Christian education: this is why the Katolikos signed an agreement with the government to teach the history of the Armenian Church in public schools. On the recommendation of the European Union, religion cannot be taught at school, but history can be taught. Thus the new generations can learn something about the Armenian Church. Religious texts are written by the Etchmiadzin, as well as teachers for these courses.
The Etchmiadzin has also created youth organizations, television programs that talk about catechesis, films, various programs to communicate the faith to people.
What is the current economic situation in the country?
The main problem is that the borders are still closed with Turkey and Azerbaijan. Instead, those with Georgia and Iran are open. Armenia tries to maintain a good balance in relations with the West, the European Union and the United States, but also with Moscow, because the situation imposes it.
I myself tried to create dialogue with Turkey because I believe that opening borders could improve the economy. There were many more possibilities during the presidency of Abdullah Gül; now with Erdogan it is different. When the Holy Father Francis visited Armenia in 2016, I suggested to Card. Pietro Parolin that the Pope could also go to Turkey, crossing the border between our two countries. But the Turks did not agree to this. With closed borders, there are not many opportunities for free markets. In any case, I believe that something good is happening in Turkey: there is a development in small steps.
In Armenia, months ago there was a change of government, demonstrations by young people: These are all good signs. This means that the previous government – with all the problems it had – was able to give the new generations the freedom to start thinking freely. This is positive, and it is not automatic. For example, this is not happening in Azerbaijan.
What are the main evangelization challenges for the Armenian Church?
One of the main challenges, once again, concerns people: young people now have an open mind, but the elderly have a Soviet mentality. The Church is experiencing this process: during the Soviet domination, the clergy did not have permission to evangelise, to go out and announce as Jesus told us to. They waited for people to come for baptism, confirmations and all the rest. But now there are new developments: clergy go out, the go out to meet people, and people know that priests can go to them. It is beginning to happen, but it takes time to become customary.
Collaboration between priests and laity is also important. For example, in my American diocese, religious and lay collaborate together to carry out the mission at the diocesan and outside level, in assemblies, in parish councils. Even the laity are involved, it is not the priests who do everything. This process is also taking place in Armenia and His Holiness Karekine II is pushing a lot for this.
Another challenge is the lack of clergy. In every city, community or village there is a need for a pastor, a priest who can take care of people’s spiritual needs. For example, in the United States, 85% of priests’ time is spent on pastoral care: visits, assistance, organization, celebrations, liturgy. And also for the remaining 15%, the needs are pastoral. This is another necessity and reflects the vision of His Holiness the Katolikos. But it takes time. For their part, the laity also help in the administration of the dioceses.
Finally, there are programs for the care of orphans, hospitals, meetings to advise how the Church can help people start a business, even small businesses.
From the point of view of ecumenism and interreligious dialogue, I must say that in our country there are Kurdish and Muslim villages that are very free. Then there are Russian, Georgian, Syrian villages and even a Jewish community with the Synagogue. There are no problems of any kind. Also in Yerevan there is an ancient mosque, which has recently been restored, I believe by the Iranians.
PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenian lifter Andranik Karapetyan (85kg) and Hakob Mkrtchyan (94 kg) have won gold medals at the U23 event of the European Junior & U23 Weightlifting Championships.
The 2018 edition of the championships is currently underway in the Polish town of Zamość.
In addition to the medal, Karapetyan set a new European record in the clean and jerk event.
Karapetyan and Mkrtchyan lifted 369 kg and 368 kg above their heads, respectively.
Samvel Babakyan (94 kg), meanwhile, took silver in the U20 event of the championships, bringing in the 3rd medal for Armenia among juniors.
Alexander Avanesov. Former Prime Minister of Armenia Karen Karapetyan can join the council directors of the Russian ”Zarubezhneft” company.This was reported by the newspaper Kommersant on October 25.
According to the source, this appointment can be both a political gesture and a consequence of Karen Karapetyan’s long career in Russian state-owned companies in 2000-2010. Russia has previously invited loyal politicians from abroad: for example, German former chancellor Gerhard Schroder is on the board of directors of Rosneft. According to the newspaper’s sources, Karen Karapetyan can take the place of an independent director who is currently occupied by Hrayr Simonyan, advisor to the head of Inter RAO Boris Kovalchuk. Zarubezhneft and the Federal Property Management Agency did not respond promptly to the request. The representative of the Deputy Prime Minister for Fuel and Energy Dmitry Kozak Ilya Dzhus told Kommersant that the directive on the appointment did not come out, but did not deny its possible preparation.
Karen Karapetyan became the Armenian Prime Minister in September 2016, when Serzh Sargsyan was the country’s President, and finally left the government this spring after the mass protests that brought Nikol Pashinyan to power. At the end of June, Karen Karapetyan also withdrew from the leadership of the Republican Party of Armenia, whose chairman is Serzh Sargsyan. After the May events in Armenia in the public policy, the former Premier was not noticed, about any claims to him by the new government is unknown.
“Karapetyan is well-known in business circles in Russia, and he could have received such a proposal (to join Zarubezhneft’s Board. -” Kommersant “),” the source’s correspondent added, “Karen Karapetyan’s friends are Russian friends businessmen Ruben Vardanyan and Samvel Karapetyan (owner of the Tashir holding, not a relative of the former prime minister). Karen Karapetyan has extensive experience in Russian companies, in particular, in the fuel and energy sector. In 2011-2012, he was the first vice-president of Gazprombank, since 2012 – deputy general director for strategy and development of Gazprom Mezhregiongaz, in 2015, he became deputy general director for international projects of Gazprom Energoholding. In the 2000s he headed the structure of Gazprom in Armenia ArmRosgazprom. Sources from the Gazprom system characterized Mr. Karapetyan as a man of “very energetic” and with an “innovative spirit”, but impulsive, and noted that he had good relations with Gazprom’s board member Kirill Seleznev.
Zarubezhneft is a relatively small oil company against the background of industry leaders in the Russian Federation. In 2017, it produced 5.3 million tons of oil equivalent, the main assets are located in the Russian Federation and in Vietnam. In this case, the board of directors of six people traditionally includes former major officials. So, it is headed by the ex-head of the FSO Yevgeny Murov, and already this year the ex-minister of transport Maxim Sokolov joined the council. The membership in the board of directors of Zarubezhneft is well paid: the amount of remuneration in 2017 amounted to 38.8 million rubles. Artur Shamilov from TopContact believes that the inclusion of Karen Karapetyan on the board of directors of “Zarubezhneft” should be interpreted as recognition of the development of bilateral cooperation. Trying to build good relations with the new government of Armenia, the government of the Russian Federation gives a signal to the Armenian elites that they do not forget the previous political leaders, he said. This is a consistent policy, adds Mr. Shamilov, citing the example of German ex-chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, who is on the board of directors of Rosneft.
Ani Mshetsyan. On October 25, Armenian Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received the US President”s National Security Advisor John Bolton. According to the press service of the government, Pashinyan noted that the visit of Bolton delegation is historic for Armenia. “It is very important to have high-level contacts with the United States, and our government understands the importance of close cooperation within the framework of the Armenian– American relations.”
The Acting Prime Minister touched upon the political events that took place in Armenia, noting that our country is going through a historical period. “The processes caused by the velvet revolution of love and solidarity are based exclusively on democratic values. Now we are working to create and strengthen a stable and institutional democratic state,” said Nikol Pashinyan, stressing that Armenia is developing a democracy, a transparent system of governance, strengthening an independent judiciary systems through effective collaboration with international partners. The Acting prime minister also noted that Armenia is confidently moving forward towards the development of democracy.
In turn, John Bolton conveyed warm greetings from US President Donald Trump to Nikol Pashinyan. The Adviser to the US President on National Security noted that in this historically important period for Armenia, they attach great importance to the development and deepening of Armenian-American relations. “I am pleased to discuss with you a wide range of bilateral and regional issues pertaining to Armenian– American relations. I congratulate you on the successful peaceful democratization of Armenia. The United States supports the efforts of the new government to combat corruption, increase the transparency of the judiciary and accountability of the government towards strengthening democracy , the rule of law and regional stability “, Bolton said.
The interlocutors discussed the agenda of bilateral relations. In particular, the parties touched upon the development of democracy in Armenia, the economy, the justice system, the expansion of cooperation towards the development of civil society and stressed the importance of taking consecutive steps aimed at giving new impetus to bilateral cooperation. In this context, Pashinyan and Bolton stressed the need for more frequent such high-level visits.
The Acting Prime Minister and National Security Advisor to the President of the United States exchanged thoughts on the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The interlocutors noted the importance of taking consecutive steps to resolve the conflict peacefully and to create an appropriate atmosphere for the negotiation process within the framework of the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group.
The parties also discussed a number of other issues related to the international agenda, including the processes taking place in the region.
Marianna Mkrtchyan. The decision to suspend the 907th amendment has not yet been made. This was announced by US presidential adviser on national security John Bolton, commenting on the possible cancellation of the 907th amendment by Donald Trump and the sale of weapons to Azerbaijan on October 25 in Yerevan.
“The decision to suspend action has not yet been made, and I cannot predict what it will be in terms of increasing the sale of weapons. But the situation is such that Armenia buys most of its weapons from Russia, Azerbaijan also buys more than 80% from the Russian Federation. This Of course, the circumstance does not contribute to the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, “Bolton said.
At the same time, he stressed that this fact provides a serious tool for influencing the parties and does not lead to peace. According to him, the Americans believe that competitiveness is the driving force. “And our weapons are in any case better than the Russian. And I believe that we should study this issue within the framework of our laws,” said Bolton.
Earlier, Bolton, referring to the possibility of repealing Amendment 907, the assistant did not rule out that Donald Trump could use his powers to suspend the 907th Amendment to the Freedom Support Act, which limits US assistance to Azerbaijan at the state level, as it did predecessors. “This provision was approved by the Congress. The executive branch of government does not necessarily follow the same political line and, according to our constitution, in fact it is the president who determines foreign policy. In many cases, different presidents suspended this provision in order to conduct procurement, and we constantly consider this opportunity to decide whether this is necessary “, – concluded Bolton.
Amendment 907 was adopted by the Congress in 1992 and prohibited the provision of assistance to Baku through the government line by the US administration in connection with the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia. For many years, Azerbaijani diplomacy has sought to repeal the 907th Amendment, but so far without success.