A court of general jurisdiction of Yerevan has denied the motion by investigators requesting to arrest Armen Gevorgyan, a former Secretary of Security Council and a former Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia.
“The court rejected the arrest motion,” Gevorgyan told reporters outside a courtroom.
Noting that a fair decision has been made, he nevertheless said that he ‘will continue proving his innocence’.
The presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan should find a common solution to the settlement of the Karabakh conflict by making compromises. This was announced by the President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, during a press conference with the Russian media.
He noted that Belarus and Russia have adopted a consolidated position, promising to introduce a military unit if necessary in order to provide certain guarantees. According to Lukashenko, this issue was discussed back in Yerevan, during one of the CSTO summits, when he was the president. Serzh Sargsyan:
“Then I honestly said: listen, as they say, 7 districts have been occupied. And we adopted a consolidated position with Putin (this happened in Yerevan at the CSTO meeting). Serge, give me those 5 laps. What’s the point of keeping them when they’re empty? He said if I return, they will block the road, blockade Karabakh, etc. And we, together with Putin, clearly promised that we will introduce troops and will not allow it (it was said in the presence of Azerbaijanis). However, Sargsyan said. “No, we won’t go for it, we don’t want it,” Lukashenko said.
The President of Belarus said that Serzh Sargsyan’s behavior surprised him and raised questions.
“Why don’t they want to? Those five regions are empty. That’s the first step. In that case, both Azerbaijan and Armenia would be in CSTO, EAEU. That was the condition under which Azerbaijan can join the organization. Why do you refuse? Well, let’s leave Belarus, Russia acted as a guarantor that there will never be a war there, if those regions, which you recognize as Azerbaijani, are liberated. It’s not about Karabakh,” the Belarusian president added.
Therapists at the Baroness Cox Rehabilitation Center in Artsakh work with this young girl, teaching her how to walk on crutches, giving her hope of one day playing with friends in the neighborhood.
In an email interview last week with Asbarez, Armenian National Committee of America’s Communications Director Elizabeth Chouldjian discussed the work the organization is doing to promote the work of the Baroness Cox Rehabilitation Center in Artsakh. Below is the interview.
Asbarez: The ANCA has backed direct U.S. funding for Artsakh for over 20 years, securing aid for everything from clean water, maternal health and, currently, de-mining. What is the ANCA’s new initiative with the Baroness Cox Rehabilitation Center in Stepanakert all about?
Elizabeth Chouldjian: The short answer to your question is that we are seeking funding – for the 2019 federal fiscal year – from Congress for the U.S. Agency for International Development to continue de-mining efforts through HALO Trust and expand its support to the Baroness Cox Rehabilitation Center.
Asbarez: Why the focus on the Baroness Cox Rehabilitation Center?
E.C.: Without a doubt, among the most urgent humanitarian priorities in Artsakh today is the need to help children and adults with disabilities. In the face of rapidly growing local and regional demands for rehabilitation services, the Center lacks sufficient infrastructure and modern facilities to meet its pressing humanitarian mission.
Asbarez: And what is the quick 411 on the Baroness Cox Rehabilitation Center?
E.C.: The Baroness Cox Rehabilitation Center was first established in 1998 through a partnership of local health officials and then-Speaker of the United Kingdom’s House of Lords, Baroness Caroline Cox. A nurse by training, Lady Cox is respected for her leadership on rehabilitation efforts around the world.
More than 15,000 patients have received treatment from the Baroness Cox Rehabilitation Center since it first opened. It’s currently treating over 1,000 patients in-house and offering an additional 24,000 out-patient treatments annually. Despite that, the Center only meets 20% of the needs of the local population, leaving as many as 60,000 regional patients without adequate rehabilitation services.
Asbarez: Who are the people who receive treatment at the Center?
E.C.: Among those receiving treatment include patients – from Artsakh, Armenia, Russia, and Georgia – with spinal cord injuries, elderly stroke victims, and infants and children born with disabilities, such as cerebral palsy and spina bifida. They are also doing cutting-edge work with children with autism and other cognitive disabilities, helping them integrate into local schools.
Asbarez: What is the ANCA doing on Capitol Hill and with the Executive Branch on this issue?
E.C.: Specifically, we are lobbying the House and Senate and speaking to officials at the U.S. Department of State to ensure that federal funds are allocated to the Baroness Cox Rehabilitation this federal fiscal year. This involves a lot of teamwork – from our ANCA office here in Washington, DC, our ANCA Regional Offices in the Eastern and Western regions, and with over 50 local ANCA chapters – all working together towards this same worthwhile goal.
Asbarez: When is Congress going to finalize their Fiscal Year 2019 budget and priorities?
E.C.: While much work has already been done on this score, including by Senator Van Hollen and other legislators committed to prioritizing Artsakh rehabilitation programs in the Senate foreign aid measure, the decisions are being made right now and in the upcoming weeks.
VERELQ presents the most notable publications of the Armenian press.
“Publication” the newspaper writes. “Since yesterday, conflicting news has been spreading about the Artsakh power bloc, including the fact that the former Prime Minister of Nagorno-Karabakh Araik Harutyunyan will replace Bako Sahakyan and that is why he is in Moscow these days. In response to our question, Araik Harutyunyan said: “I am in Moscow with my family, only on personal matters, as far as your indications are concerned, there is no such thing, nor the need to discuss such issues here.” In all cases, it is said that you will replace Bako Sahakyan. “It’s nonsense. There should be elections to replace Bako Sahakyan, and the people will decide who will replace him, based on the results of the elections.” Is early resignation of Bako Sahakyan possible? “No!” And how do you feel about the news? Levon Mnatsakanyan, Vitaly Balasanyan resignations. “To be honest, I’m not aware, I’m detached from the reality there, I understand what you mean, but I’m still not aware.” He will return to Artsakh in 3 days.”
“People” the daily writes. “The NKR president visited Yerevan yesterday Bako Sahakyan: He met the RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan with According to the official report, a number of issues related to the internal and external policy of RA and NKR, security, formation of state budgets of NKR and RA for 2019 were discussed at the meeting. However, according to the sources of “Zhoghovurd” daily, the reasons for Bako Sahakyan’s coming to Yerevan and meeting with Nikol Pashinyan are actually different. As you remember, during the pre-election campaign of the RA NA elections, there was a “shootout” of words between Artsakh officials and RA Prime Minister Pashinyan several times. Artsakh officials made harsh comments at the beginning Sasun Mikayelyan, then regarding Nikol Pashinyan’s statements, without getting to know their content in full, but contenting themselves only with excerpts of words, cut out of context, that many websites put as headlines. Pashinyan responded in both cases, urging for the second time the President of Artsakh, Bako Sahakyan, to call the representatives of his government to order. And here, according to “Zhoghovurd” daily newspaper, the tension between RA and NKR has worried many representatives of the Artsakh government, and discussions have been held in Stepanakert for days, trying to find ways to alleviate the situation. At the same time, the opinions in the government of Artsakh were not uniform. a part said that Armenia should take the first step of reconciliation, but many insisted that Armenia is their big brother, they have no right to oppose, moreover, they were wrong both from a human and legal point of view, therefore they should apologize and reconcile. It was also decided that NKR President Bako Sahakyan, who was sent to Yerevan, can do it. And this meeting may be followed by a series of dismissals in Artsakh.
“Publication” the newspaper writes. “Although the commander of the Artsakh Defense Army Lyova Mnatsakanyan The official release order did not happen yesterday, but according to our sources in Artsakh, yesterday the future commander of the Defense Forces, Major General Karen Abrahamyan He met with the officers in the PA building. He is the chief of the general staff of the army. And he will be replaced by the commander of the military unit in the position of the chief of staff Jalal Harutyunyan. Karen Abrahamyan is a former commander of NSS border guard troops Armen Abrahamyan is his brother. It is noteworthy that both the new commander and the chief of staff are from Artsakh, they have held various positions in the armed forces and are respected in the army. Before that, there was information that most likely they will be appointed from RA. Basically, the RA-Artsakh military-political balance will not be broken.”
“People” the daily writes. Accused in the March 1 case Robert Kocharyanthe issue of detention has become a cause of internal discord in the judicial system. Of the judges of the Court of Appeal Alexander Azaryan, by whose decision Kocharyan was released, publicly announced that there is brutal pressure on the judicial system. This is after Kocharian was detained later by the decision of another judge of the appeal court, Rubik Mkhitaryan. Yesterday, “Zhoghovurd” daily turned to judge Rubik Mkhitaryan for comments in this regard, to find out whether he was pressured or not. He conveyed the following answer through his assistant. “Mkhitaryan only considered it necessary to emphasize that he did not have any discussion with anyone outside the court session regarding the case that interests you, there was no interference or attempt to interfere in his activity as a judge, otherwise it would undoubtedly have received an adequate response as provided by law.”
“time” the newspaper writes. “President of PAP Gagik Tsarukyan decided that the position of NA vice-president available to the PAP, as the opposition, should be occupied by the third number on the PAP list, the Minister of Energy Infrastructures and Natural Resources Artur Grigoryan: With this move, Tsarukyan is trying to bow to the current government and the Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, because Grigoryan has a close relationship with the director of the National Security Service Artur Vanetsyan with The vice president of PAP is also fighting for the position of NA vice president Vahe Enfiajyan and leader of the “Alliance” party Tigran Urikhanyan, but Gagik Tsarukyan’s decision is final.”
“time” the newspaper writes. “According to the information of “Zhamanak”, he will be elected as the chairman of the National Economic Affairs Committee Hayk Gevorgyan. Gevorgyan worked for many years in the daily “Haykakan Zhamanak” edited by economic journalist Nikol Pashinyan, constantly criticizing the economic policy of the authorities of the day. Now it is necessary to see how he will implement the country’s economic policy as part of the new government and what results he will record.”
“Fact” the newspaper writes. “It is natural that the most discussed topic these days is the issue of positions: who will be the Speaker of the National Assembly, Vice Speakers, Standing Committee Chairmen, Deputy Prime Ministers, Ministers, etc. In all this, the issue of governors is not secondary either. The point is that eight out of ten regional governors were nominated on the territorial lists of the “My Step” alliance, and seven of them were elected deputies of the National Assembly.
However, according to the information we have, no governor will receive a deputy’s mandate. A decision was made at the meeting of the KP board that all ten governors will retain their positions. Thus, instead of marz governors in the ranked election system, the next numbers on the regional electoral lists will become deputies (those with the third result in Aragatsotn and Tavush, fourth in Gegharkunik, Shirak and Syunik-Vayots Dzor constituency, and fifth in Ararat and Kotayk).
By the way, it is noteworthy that four of the seven elected marz governors achieved the best results in their constituencies, the Shirak marz governor was second only to the Minister of Internal Affairs. Felix Tsolakyan,Governor of Gegharkunik, adviser to the Prime Minister Varazdat Karapetyan, and the Governor of Tavush Sipan Pashinyan: Only the governor of Lori was not selected from among those nominated.”
“Publication” the daily writes. “The newly elected government is going to optimize the state system, mitigating certain complaints about the increase in the number of deputies. There are reports that the newly formed government will not have three deputy prime ministers, which was the requirement of the law, but one, and the 18 ministries will be reduced to 11. According to that, the draft of the RA law on the activity and structure of the government will probably be the first of the drafts to be discussed in the newly formed National Assembly.
“People” the newspaper writes. “Deputy of the RPA faction of the Armenian National Assembly Arkady Hambardzumyan“Slavmed” medical center belonging to Arkady’s family in Derzhava was blacklisted by the Ministry of Finance. “Zhoghovurd” daily newspaper learned that the Yerevan Municipality applied to the procurement appeal board with the request to include this company in the list of participants who do not have the right to participate in the procurement process. “Zhoghovurd” daily newspaper learned that “Slavmed” medical center participated in the quotation request procedure organized by Yerevan Municipality and was recognized as the first place participant. But after some time, it was found that the medical center did not meet the requirements of the qualification standards set by the invitation. financial liabilities are more than the company’s assets. Meanwhile, the medical center claims to have taken loans to buy modern medical equipment. And now this story is gradually getting new developments. MC until 2020. will not be allowed to participate in the public procurement process.
“Publication” the newspaper writes. “Do you notice that the soldier of the 102nd base committed a terrible crime again, he was arrested, and he, like Permyakov once, is in the Russian military base, but no one is talking about it, the political society of Gyumri is silent, no one raises a voice, they do not throw stones in the direction of the military base, there is no protest action, which is not at all due to the scale of the committed crime, but is the result of a purely political approach. At that time, the power of the day was needed, Serzh Sargsyan to rebel against, to emphasize its vassal dependence on Russia, today there is no such “order” against the authorities,” said a former government official involved in the Permyakov case. To remind, a Russian serviceman of the 102nd Russian military base was arrested in the case of beating a 57-year-old woman to death on December 3 in Gyumri. The location of the latter is not discussed, confidentiality is maintained by the relevant authorities. In response to our inquiry regarding the problem, Arevik Khachatryan, the spokesperson of the General Prosecutor’s Office, said: “At the moment, we are not reporting any other details, we are only reporting that he has been arrested.”
“time” the newspaper writes. “President of PAP Gagik Tsarukyan has been refusing to pay the builders of the BMW car showroom for a long time. We are talking about one million dollars, or more precisely, 465 million drams. Zaruhi Sargsyan, the director of the “Smart Construction” company that did the construction, reported to the police that the “Euromotors” company has been refusing to pay for the construction of the BMW showroom for a long time. Until now, Sargsyan tried to get the money by persuasion, but seeing that Tsarukyan decided to cheat them, he turned to the law enforcement agencies. If the circumstances mentioned in Zaruhi Sargsyan’s application are confirmed, Tsarukyan can be accused of fraud.”
Senator Menendez on the Armenian Genocide
Commits to Continued Dialogue with U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan on Reducing Aliyev Threats
WASHINGTON—Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Democrat Robert Menendez (D-NJ) committed to continue working with U.S. Ambassador to Armenia-designate Lynne Tracy and U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan-designate Earle Litzenberger on a range of concerns raised during their confirmation hearings, including honest U.S. affirmation of the Armenian Genocide and countering Azerbaijani threats to peace, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
In statements during the Committee’s December 13th business meeting, which approved both nominees and set the stage for full Senate votes, Sen. Menendez noted his support for both candidates, but also shared his clear expectations.
“Throughout my time in the Senate, I have advocated for an honest accounting of the Armenian genocide. I believe we have a moral imperative to recognize the atrocities that were committed against the Armenian people,” stated Sen. Menendez. He went on to note, “I support this nomination, but expect to work closely with Ms. Tracy on how she will encourage an honest acknowledgment of the Armenian Genocide, support Armenia’s ongoing efforts to ensure accountable, citizen-responsive governance, and support efforts to reach a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.”
During Ms. Tracy’s December 4th confirmation hearing, Sen. Menendez offered a rapid-fire series of questions regarding the Armenian Genocide, and commenting on by Ms. Tracy’s reticence to properly reference crime, stated: “This is the problem with nominees who come before us, and it’s not you particularly. In fact, we have a historical reality: 1.5 million people were massacred. That’s Genocide. And yet, we send an Ambassador to a country and have them go to a memorial of a holocaust of the Armenian people and they won’t be able to call it genocide. It’s pretty ironic. If we are not able to acknowledge the past, we are destined to relive it.”
During the December 13th Committee vote, Senator Menendez also commended Armenia on its recent parliamentary elections. “Armenia and the Caucasus region will continue to be vital to regional and global security,” stated Senator Menendez. “According to the OSCE, Armenia’s elections over the weekend met international standards. I look forward to supporting the government’s efforts to build strong democratic institutions, a vibrant Armenian economy, and oppose any efforts to violate Armenia’s sovereignty.”
Sen. Menendez on Azerbaijan
With regard to the U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan nominee, Sen. Menendez stated, “I support Mr. Litzenberger’s nomination and expect to have close and continuing dialogue with him on how he will urge the Azeris to step back from any threatening behavior that could disrupt the line of contact in Nagorno-Karabakh, support respect for human rights, and support efforts to reach a peaceful settlement of the N-K [Nagorno Karabakh/Artsakh] conflict.”
During the October 4th confirmation hearing, Senator Menendez grilled Mr. Litzenberger about President Aliyev’s “bellicose rhetoric and sporadic outbursts of violence,” securing from the nominee a commitment that he would urge the Azerbaijani government to step back from any threatening behavior that disrupts the line of contact.
Following the hearing, both Senator Menendez and Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) submitted written questions to Mr. Litzenberger. At Senator Menendez’ urging, the Committee consideration of his nomination for two weeks, to allow for additional inquiries regarding controversial statements by National Security Advisor John Bolton calling for arms sales to Azerbaijan and Armenia.
“We want to thank Senator Menendez for his robust exercise of the Senate’s ‘advise and consent’ responsibilities regarding both nominees, and also for his commitment moving forward to serious and sustained Congressional oversight of Ambassador-designate Tracy’s effort to end U.S. complicity in Turkey’s denial of the Armenian Genocide, and Ambassador-designate Litzenberger’s willingness to forcefully confront Azerbaijan’s threats to regional peace,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.
The Senate is expected to confirm Ms. Tracy and Mr. Litzenberger as early as next week. A delay of the Senate vote to 2019 would mean starting the nomination process from square one, leaving the ambassadorial posts to the two countries vacant.
The first ever-exhibition dedicated to Sergei Parajanov, a world-renowned Armenian director, artist and scriptwriter, has opened in Istanbul, Turkey.
Titled “Parajanov with Sarkis’, the exhibition opened in Pera Museum in the city’s Beyoglu district on Thursday, December 13, to run through March 17, 2019, Ermenihaber reports.
Coordinated by the director of the Sergei Parajanov Museum in Yerevan, Zaven Sargsyan, the event exhibits various works by the artist, including paintings, collages, trimmings, sketches themed after his movies, stage costumes, mosaics, photos, etc.
The exhibition is organized by Pera Museum in collaboration with the Parajanov Museum. It marks the 95th birthday anniversary of the great artist.
Sergei Parajanov or Paradjanov (born Sarkis Paradjanian; 1924-1990) was one of the best known directors of Soviet films. Born in Tbilisi, Georgia, to an Armenian family, his work reflected the ethnic diversity of the Caucusus where he was raised.
His first major work was Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors (1964), which earned him an international reputation for its rich use of costume and color, and its whimsical portrayal of rural life. Possibly his greatest work, The Color of Pomegranates (1969), described the life of the Armenian poet Sayat Nova. The film angered the Soviet authorities, who claimed that it evoked nationalist sentiment.
Claiming that Parajanov promoted homosexuality, the government arrested him in 1973 and sentenced him to five years in a labor camp. A large number of prominent artists, writers and filmmakers protested his sentence, but Parajanov was only released four years later, in large part due to the efforts of the French surrealist Louis Aragon. He was banned for making films for many years afterwards, when he was living in Tbilisi, but he was allowed to make The Legend of Suram Fortress (1984), which captured much of the color of his earlier work.
He managed to direct three more films before he died of cancer in Yerevan, Armenia, in 1990. A house was built for him in Yerevan which was completed shortly after his death, but which now houses all his belongings and has been turned into the Parajanov Museum.
ArmInfo. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that he felt the sincere disposition of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to resume talks on the Karabakh conflict with Armenia, RIA Novosti reports.
“Yesterday we had a very detailed, long conversation with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Heydarovich Aliyev. We felt his sincere disposition to resume negotiations, to look for constructive solutions”, Lavrov told reporters. “We, as a country that is a close partner of both Azerbaijan and Armenia, and as co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, will do everything to formed the necessary conditions for reaching a compromise”, Lavrov said.