Category: 2018

The Seimas of Lithuania ratified the RA-EU Comprehensive and Extended Partnership Agreement in the 2nd reading. Armen Ashotyan, chairman of the RA NA Standing Committee on Foreign Relations, wrote about this on his Facebook page.

“Actually, 3 out of 27 already. We are waiting for other EU countries and will continue to work in this direction with the full potential of parliamentary diplomacy,” he wrote.

It should be noted that on April 11, the National Assembly unanimously ratified the “Comprehensive and extended partnership agreement between the Republic of Armenia, on the one hand, and the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their member states, on the other hand.” It expresses the depth of RA-EU bilateral relations and regulates political and economic relations.

The agreement also has a special reference to the peaceful and comprehensive settlement of the Karabakh conflict and emphasizes the need to support the efforts and approaches of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, based on the norms and principles of international law, in particular the non-application of the principle of force, the equality of rights and self-determination and territorial integrity of peoples.

On May 23-25, Yulia Lyovochkina and Giuseppe Galati, co-rapporteurs of the PACE Monitoring Commission on Armenia, are in Armenia on a fact-finding mission.

On May 24, they were hosted in the Armenian Parliament and had separate meetings with the representatives of the RA NA ARF, “Yelk”, “Tsarukyan” and RPA factions.

During the meetings, the parties discussed the latest political developments in Armenia, the process of implementation of reforms, and issues related to the protection of human rights. 

Issues related to the amendment of the Electoral Code, the holding of extraordinary parliamentary elections in Armenia, and the priorities of the new government’s program were also discussed.

The website armtimes.com of the newspaper “Haykakan Zhamanak” owned by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinan’s family reports that the first deputy chief of the General Staff, Major General Onik Gasparyan, will be appointed to the position of Chief of the General Staff of the RA Armed Forces.

That appointment will take place tomorrow, as the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia announced today at the session of the Government of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, writes the website.

At the meeting, Nikol Pashinyan announced that Movses Hakobyan will be released from the post of Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces. Pashinyan said that the decision was reached as a result of mutual agreement. Pashinyan said that tomorrow he will appoint a new head of the State Security Service.

In the new position of the head of the General Staff, the commander of the Artsakh Armed Forces, lieutenant general, is also in circulation Levon Mnatsakanyan the name

The appointment of Major General Artak Davtyan as the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Armenia was definitely not accepted by the public. There are already complaints. In particular, Artur Aghabekyan, former Deputy Minister of Defense, Lieutenant General of the RA Armed Forces, Hero of Artsakh, ARF member, is dissatisfied with the appointment.

Having known Davtyan for a long time, Aghabekyan is worried and warns about his unprepared general.

“It’s been more than 10 years since I left the Armed Forces, but, unlike many generals who left the army, I was never indifferent to both the reforms and the personnel policy implemented in the Armed Forces, I always had a clear opinion, which was taken into account by all the ministers and big and small chiefs of all time,” he says. Arthur Aghabekyan and emphasizes that he is obliged to publicly voice his opinion regarding the appointment of the newly appointed Chief of the General Staff.

“I have known him since 1994, when he was still the chief of staff of the Meghri regiment, a brave captain. I played a big role in his further career. I am obliged to raise the alarm, the most unprepared general has been appointed to the most responsible position. I am sincerely worried,” Aghabekyan warned.

Edik Baghdasaryan, a journalist covering the military sphere and the editor-in-chief of the online media “Hetk”, at least expresses confusion about Pashinyan’s personnel selection. He is sure that the best candidate for the General Staff of the Armed Forces is Onik Gasparyan, who currently holds the position of Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces.

It is noteworthy that right from the beginning Onik Gasparyan the name was circulated as the most likely candidate for the chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces. There are rumors that Pashinyan wanted to appoint him to that position, but the latter refused the offer. 

“Onik Gasparyan was the best candidate for the chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces. And in general, the appointment of Artak Davtyan, the commander of the 5th corps, to the position of chief of staff is at least puzzling after what happened in the Nakhijevan region of the border in recent days. The Azerbaijanis managed to advance their positions in the neutral zone, and a huge area came under their control,” Edik Baghdasaryan expresses surprise.

Let’s remind that earlier RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that the new chief of the General Staff of the RA Armed Forces, Major General Artak Davtyan is

VERELQ presents the most notable publications of the Armenian press.

“Publication” the newspaper writes. “According to our information, the Goa after one month Serzh Sargsyan will allocate the special guest house in the Monument, which was once built by Serzh Sargsyan himself for high-ranking KGB guests. It used to rest there Vladimir Putin, when he arrived in Armenia. After a month actually Nikol Pashinyan and Serzh Sargsyan will no longer be neighbors.”

“People” the newspaper writes. “Nikol Pashinyan The government headed by On May 19, the director of the RA NSS Artur Vanetsyanduring a meeting with media leaders, he announced that in the near future the corrupt and illegally enriched people will be brought to justice. The NSS director also promised that clear steps in that direction will start from May 23. “Zhoghovurd” daily learned that there are already more than 20 people detained. Moreover, these people are employees of large companies. However, according to the news that has reached us, the number of those detained will not end there, because the number of people is increasing. However, the NSS news service did not elaborate on who exactly were the detainees. They only informed that it was happening investigation, there are already people detained, and other details of the case will be presented in the near future.”

“time” the newspaper writes. “Everyone is eagerly waiting for the Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan when will the topic of governors be addressed, when will the current RPA governors be released and when will new ones be appointed to represent the new government? But the appointments of the governors are delayed because the new government is facing a very serious problem, it cannot decide who can be entrusted with such important positions. Now the new government is looking for people who can really destroy the old system, can do what Nikol Pashinyan did in the fight against the central government.”

“Realist” the newspaper writes. “They say that PAP has been busy for a long time with the strengthening of its structures, with the serious involvement of young people and is preparing for the upcoming elections in a very “institutional” way, because it thinks that when two “fight”, the third is always lucky. PAP is also trying to strengthen their political bloc. According to our information, PAP will return again Vahe Hovhannisyan, Stepan Margaryan, Elinar Vardanyan “trio”, which recently, at Vigen Sargsyan’s urging, was engaged in public activities. Although individual members of the “trio” do not confirm this yet, let’s remember that Vahe Hovhannisyan has always been a “sayer” in PAP and enjoyed Gagik Tsarukyan high support. Moreover, Vahe Hovhannisyan’s “arrangement” at this stage From Khachatur Sukiasyan is more interesting. he Աշոտ Բլեյանի is the son-in-law who is Nikol Pashinyan’s godfather and “teacher” at all times. 

“time” the newspaper writes. According to “Zhamanak”, the head of the staff of the State Revenue Committee may be appointed Edgar Gevorgyan: The latter is currently the head of the staff of the Ministry of Finance, and since the SRC president David Ananyan The SRC came from Finland and decided to bring the chief of staff with him.” 

“time” the newspaper writes. «Խոսակցություններն այն մասին, որ վարչապետ Nikol Pashinyanis going to participate in the extraordinary parliamentary elections only with the “Civil Agreement” party, they are not confirmed. In private conversations, Pashinyan stated that he intends to preserve the “Exit” alliance and go to the elections with the alliance. Pashinyan explained this by the fact that with the support of other parties of “Exit” it was possible to ensure the victory of the popular movement.”

“Fourth Power” the newspaper writes. “Former police chief Vladimir Gasparyanteammates leave the system one by one. He wrote a resignation letter through his post: Alik Margaryan, who is the first deputy head of the main department for combating organized crime (the 6th department). Gasparyan brought him from the military police. It should be noted that Alik Margaryan is a member of the National Assembly Samvel Aleksanyan is his aunt’s son, he is no less active in the police force than bodyguard Arshak. If the latter was in control of the traffic police system, Vladimir Gasparyan’s son-in-law was curating the criminal sector, appointing and firing millpets and department heads. Now, in fact, Alik Margaryan’s air is closed, that’s why he decided to write an application.”

“Publication” the newspaper writes. “Yelk” faction of the parliament still has no leader. The “debate” is ongoing Edmon Marukyan-Lena Nazaryan տանդեմում։ Decisions in “Yalk” are made by consensus. if someone does not agree, no decision is made. The team is waiting Aram Sargsyan, սակայն մինչ այդ եւս մեկ դիսկուրս է սկսվել «Ելք»-ում․ Edmon Marukyan was offered to become one party and go to the elections that way, he did not agree, “KP” said that they will go alone. Are there really serious disagreements in “Yelk”, we asked Lena Nazaryan. “There are always disagreements in “Yalk”, there have been and there will be, and that is normal. we have always had pluralism.” As the leader of the faction, do you find yourself more suitable or Edmon Marukyan? “If you ask me, of course, me.” Ոչ Էդմոնի՞ն։ “Well, that option can also be discussed, I think that all members of the faction have the right to apply for that position. we will sit around the table and decide.” Will there be a vote, by consensus or by political decision? “We never followed the path of numerical majority, we made all decisions by consensus. we will go that way.”

“Fact” the newspaper writes. “Chairman of the Armenian Administrative Court Agassi DarbinyanHe presented his 2018 report to the Ethics Committee of High-Ranking Officials. declaration of assumption of office.  According to the declaration, Darbinyan owns five immovable properties: a private house, an apartment, an apartment building, a plot of land and a production building. There are three cars: “GAZ 24”, “GAZ 322132” and “RANGE ROVER SPORT Supercharged 5.0”.  As of the day of assuming office, the funds amounted to 52 million drams, and the incomes – 1 million 849 thousand drams, of which 1 million 71 thousand drams are salaries, and 777 thousand 950 drams received loans. In addition to all this, the official also had loans that amounted to 30 million 817 thousand 200 drams. Wife: Gayane Darbinyan, declared only monetary funds, which amounted to 44 million 200 thousand drams.”

We can record another positive shift for the economy and transport sectors. RA Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan wrote about this on his Facebook page, pointing out that yesterday the representatives of the Russian Federation and Georgia met in Prague and discussed details of the implementation of the agreement “On the Basic Principles of the Customs Administration and Product Trade Monitoring Mechanism” signed in 2011.

According to Avinyan, the parties have agreed that a tripartite commission should be formed for the customs control of cargo in the territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, consisting of representatives of Georgia, Russia and the Swiss company SGS.

“In the case of the implementation of the agreement, we will have alternative ways of cargo transportation in cases when the Upper Lars highway is closed.

We also talked about the implementation of the agreement with the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin during the meeting held in Sochi on May 14. We highly appreciate the willingness and efforts of the parties towards the implementation of this extremely important contract for us,” he wrote.

The other day, VERELQ informed that the special representative of the Prime Minister of Georgia Zurab Abashidze reported that the possibility of reaching a final agreement on the operation of “trade corridors” appeared after Russia recently signed a special contract with the Swiss company SGS on the monitoring of cargo transportation through Abkhazia and South Ossetia by Swiss observers. And Georgia signed a similar contract with the same company back in December.