Thursday,
Ter-Petrosian Urges Multi-Party Talks On Snap Elections
Armenia - Former President Levon Ter-Petrosian casts a ballot at a polling
station in Yerevan 2 April, 2017.
Former President Levon Ter-Petrosian urged Armenia’s leading political groups
on Thursday to reach an agreement on fresh general elections, saying that they
are vital for ending what he sees as a continuing political crisis.
Ter-Petrosian said the newly appointed Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian will have
trouble governing the country because the Armenian parliament is still
controlled by Serzh Sarkisian’s Republican Party (HHK).
“Until now Pashinian has imposed his will on the parliament through the popular
protests and revolt, something which the international community understood as
a manifestation of democracy,” he said in written remarks posted on Ilur.am.
“But can he keep influencing the parliament with the same method? It’s obvious
that he can’t because that resource has been exhausted.”
Ter-Petrosian said foreign powers “will not tolerate” similar pressure on the
National Assembly that could be exerted by Pashinian in his new capacity not
least because they recognized the legitimacy of the last Armenian parliamentary
elections held in April 2017.
The only way to end “this situation extremely dangerous for the country” is to
“radically” amend the Armenian Electoral Code and hold snap elections, said the
73-year-old ex-president whose Armenian National Congress (HAK) party has been
in opposition to the Sarkisian government.
“Let’s hope that in order to overcome legal obstacles to pre-term parliamentary
elections resulting from the current complicated constitution, influential
political forces will … find a way out of this difficult situation threatening
our statehood through negotiations, dialogue and mutual understandings,” he
added.
Pashinian and parliamentary minority factions supporting him have also
repeatedly called for such elections since massive protests led by Pashinian
forced Sarkisian to resign as prime minister on April 23. But they have so far
avoided speculating about possible election dates.
It remains unclear whether Sarkisian’s HHK will agree to the parliament’s
dissolution and the conduct of snap polls in the coming months. Ter-Petrosian
suggested that HHK lawmakers fear they would not be reelected in that case.
Pashinian, 42, was a prominent and influential member of Ter-Petrosian’s
opposition movement until falling out bitterly with the latter in 2012. This
might explain why the ex-president did not congratulate his erstwhile ally on
being elected prime minister by the parliament on May 8.
On May 6, Ter-Petrosian issued a stern warning that seemed primarily addressed
to Pashinian. He claimed that the ongoing political transition in Armenia may
be marred by a violation of the country’s constitution. Ter-Petrosian pointed
to the resignations of two lawmakers who broke ranks during an earlier
parliament vote on Pashinian’s bid to become premier.
EU Leaders Congratulate New Armenian PM
• Emil Danielyan
BELGIUM -- European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker (L) and EU Council
President Donald Tusk hold a joint news conference during a European Union
leaders summit meeting in Brussels, October 20, 2017
Top representatives of the European Union have congratulated Nikol Pashinian on
becoming Armenia’s prime minister and pledged to work with his government in
implementing a landmark EU-Armenia agreement signed last November.
The EU foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, also invited Pashinian to
visit Brussels “at the earliest opportunity” when she telephoned him on
Wednesday.
“They agreed on the importance of the partnership between the European Union
and Armenia and looked forward to meeting in person,” a spokesperson for
Mogherini said in a statement.
“They discussed the next steps following the Prime Minister's election by the
Armenian Parliament, including the future formation of a government, and
touched on further opportunities to strengthen links between European Union and
Armenia,” added the statement.
On Thursday, Pashinian received a congratulatory message from EU Council
President Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.
“We look forward to cooperating with you in your new position to further
strengthen the relations between the European Union and Armenia, particularly
through the implementation of the EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced
Partnership Agreement (CEPA),” read the telegram posted on the Armenian
premier’s website.
ARMENIA - Newly elected Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinian (L) greets
supporters during a meeting in Republic Square in Yerevan, Armenia May 8, 2018
Tusk and Juncker also renewed EU calls for a “comprehensive dialogue among all
political stakeholders in Armenia” following the resignation of Prime Minister
Serzh Sarkisian. The latter stepped down on April 23 amid massive
anti-government protests led by Pashinian.
Pashinian called for a quick ratification of the CEPA by all EU member states
when he addressed Armenian lawmakers shortly before they voted to elect him
prime minister on Tuesday. He also said his government will strive for the
lifting of the EU’s visa requirements for Armenian nationals.
The CEPA, which was ratified by Armenia’s parliament last month, commits the
Armenian authorities to carrying out political reforms that will democratize
the country’s political system and boost human rights protection. They must
also gradually “approximate” Armenian economic laws and regulations to those of
the EU.
Armenia - Serzh Sarkisian, Edward Nalbandian, Federica Mogherini and Donald
Tusk at the signing ceremony of the CEPA in Brussels.
The 350-page accord came as a less ambitious substitute for an Association
Agreement which was nearly finalized by Armenian and EU negotiators in 2013.
Sarkisian, who was Armenia’s president at the time, precluded the signing of
that agreement by unexpectedly deciding to seek his country’s accession to the
Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU).
Pashinian criticized that volte face and called for Armenia’s withdrawal from
the EEU as recently as last October. However, he made clear right after
Sarkisian’s resignation that he will not pull the country out of the trade bloc
comprising five ex-Soviet states.
Pashinian is due to attend an EEU summit that will be hosted by Russian
President Vladimir Putin in Sochi next week. The two men spoke by phone on
Tuesday.
Armenian Police, Security Service Chiefs Sacked (UPDATED)
• Ruzanna Stepanian
Armenia - The Armenia police chief Vladimir Gasparian (L) and National Security
Service Director Georgi Kutoyan.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian initiated on Thursday the dismissal of the heads
of Armenia’s police and National Security Service (NSS) who had been appointed
by his predecessor Serzh Sarkisian.
The police chief, Vladimir Gasparian, and the NSS director, Georgi Kutoyan,
were formally relieved of their duties by President Armen Sarkissian. The
presidential decrees were requested by Pashinian earlier in the day.
Gasparian, 59, has headed the national police service since 2011, while the
36-year-old Kutoyan was named to run the NSS in 2016. Kutoyan previously worked
as an assistant to Serzh Sarkisian, who was Armenia’s president from 2008-2018.
The NSS is the successor agency to the former Armenian branch of the KGB, the
Soviet secret police.
Pashinian gave no reasons when he announced the impending dismissal of the two
men in the morning. He named their replacements later in the day.
The new NSS chief, Artur Vanetsian, is a 38-year-old officer who has worked for
the powerful security agency for the last 15 or so years. Vanetsian has the
rank of NSS colonel.
Armenia - President Serzh Sarkisian awards a medal to Yerevan's deputy police
chief, Valery Osipian, 21Sep2015.
Gasparian will be succeeded as police chief by Valeri Osipian, until now a
deputy head of Yerevan’s police department responsible for public order and
crowd control. Osipian has been a fixture at just about every major
anti-government rally staged in the Armenian capital in the past decade.
He frequently warned and argued with Pashinian during the anti-government
protests which the former opposition leader launched on April 13 in a
successful attempt to topple Serzh Sarkisian. Osipian publicly congratulated
and hugged Pashinian after the latter was appointed as prime minister on
Tuesday.
Pashinian emphasized the “symbolic significance” of Osipian’s unexpected
appointment. “It’s a good symbol for us to try to eliminate that culture of
barbed wire in Armenia,” he wrote on Facebook.
Pashinian has yet to appoint any members of his cabinet. He has promised to
form a “government of accord” as a result of consultations with political
forces represented in the Armenian parliament. He met on Thursday with Vahram
Baghdasarian, the parliamentary leader of Serzh Sarkisian’s Republican Party
(HHK).
Baghdasarian said after the meeting that the HHK, which holds the majority of
seats in the parliament, will not propose any ministerial candidates. He made
clear at the same time that it will not prevent HHK members, among them several
acting ministers, from joining Pashinian’s cabinet. They would only be ordered
to suspend their membership in the party, Baghdasarian told RFE/RL’s Armenian
service (Azatutyun.am).
Baghdasarian also indicated that the parliament majority is ready to vote for
the new government’s policy program which Pashinian is expected to submit to
lawmakers later this month. “I don’t think that the newly elected prime
minister could bring a program containing provisions that will lead us to vote
against it,” he said.
The HHK majority reluctantly agreed to Pashinian’s becoming prime minister on
Tuesday after weeks of massive protests organized by the opposition leader in
Yerevan and other parts of the country. The protests forced Serzh Sarkisian to
resign as prime minister on April 23.
Press Review
“Haykakan Zhamanak” reacts to statements made by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian
during a visit to Nagorno-Karabakh on Wednesday. He said in particular that
from now on Armenia will only represent itself, and not Karabakh, in peace
talks with Azerbaijan. The paper describes this as a “very important” policy
change.
“168 Zham” also reports on Pashinian’s calls for Karabakh’s direct involvement
in Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiations. “This is an absolutely correct position,”
Denis Dvornikov, a Russian political analyst, is quoted by the paper as saying.
“You can’t decide the fate of a republic without the participation of its
representatives in negotiations.”
According to “Zhoghovurd,” Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharian said on
Wednesday that Armenian foreign policy will become “more dignified” under
Pashinian even if the latter is unlikely to change Armenia’s geopolitical
orientation. The paper says Kocharian thus admitted what opposition politicians
and other critics of Serzh Sarkisian have been saying for years.
“It is now time to get down to business and forget a little the frantic days
when we all poured into the streets to passionately reject Serzh and demand the
election of a prime minister close to our hearts,” writes “Hraparak.” The paper
says that this euphoria must give way to “much more serious thoughts and
programs.” “We need to understand that the main function of the person
occupying the post of prime minister is not to go live on air on Facebook,
appoint ministers, hold news conferences or pay friendly visits,” it says.
“There is a lot that needs to be done in our country.”
(Tigran Avetisian)
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
Category: 2018
Armenia ready for dialogue with Turkey without pre-conditions – PM
TASS, Russia
May 9 2018
Armenia ready for dialogue with Turkey without pre-conditions – PM
YEREVAN May 9
YEREVAN May 9
HIGHLIGHT: Armenia is ready to begin diplomatic relations with Turkey without preliminary conditions, but expects that Ankara will not put forward similar conditions, Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at a news conference in Nagorno-Karabakh’s capital of Stepanakert on Wednesday.
YEREVAN, May 9. /TASS/. Armenia is ready to begin diplomatic relations with Turkey without preliminary conditions, but expects that Ankara will not put forward similar conditions, Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at a news conference in Nagorno-Karabakh’s capital of Stepanakert on Wednesday.
“We are ready to begin diplomatic relations with Turkey without any preliminary conditions, but Ankara should not set pre-conditions concerning Nagorno-Karabakh, either,” he said.
“Along with this, we are set to push for recognition of the Armenian genocide at the global level,” he added.
Military solution to Karabakh conflict should be ruled out – Armenia’s PM
TASS, Russia
Armenia thinks it necessary to rule out a military solution for the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, the country’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told reporters at a news conference in the Nagorno-Karabakh capital of Stepanakert.
YEREVAN, May 9. /TASS/. Armenia thinks it necessary to rule out a military solution for the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, the country’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told reporters at a news conference in the Nagorno-Karabakh capital of Stepanakert.
“We need to exclude a chance for a military solution to the conflict, but Azerbaijan is still engaged in military adventure in the line of fire,” Pashinyan said.
“We must give a clear answer to one question whether we want a solution to the Karabakh crisis or not,” he continued. “We are for a peace solution to the issue.”
Armenia’s newly elected Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan arrived in the unrecognized republic of Nagorno-Karabakh earlier on Wednesday.
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
The highland region of Nagorno-Karabakh (Mountainous Karabakh) is a mostly Armenian-populated enclave inside the sovereign territory of Azerbaijan. It was the first zone of inter-ethnic tensions and violence to appear on the map of the former USSR.
Even almost a quarter of a century after the breakup of the Soviet Union, Karabakh remains a so-called ‘frozen conflict’ on the post-Soviet space, as the region is the subject of a dispute between Azerbaijan and the local Armenian population that draws on strong support from fellow-countrymen in neighboring Armenia.
In 1988, hostilities broke out there between the forces reporting to the government in Baku and Armenian residents, which resulted in the region’s de facto independence. In 1994, a ceasefire was reached but the relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia remain strained ever since then.
Russia, France and the U.S. co-chair the Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which attempts to broker an end to hostilities and the conflict. –0-mil/
Baku hopes Armenia’s new government pursues sound policy on Karabakh
TASS, Russia
Baku hopes Armenia’s new government pursues sound policy on Karabakh
BAKU May 10
BAKU May 10
Azerbaijan hopes that Armenia’s new leadership will not repeat errors of their predecessors and will carry out a sound policy concerning Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hikmet Gadjiev said on Wednesday commenting on Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s remarks about the Karabakh settlement.
BAKU, May 10. /TASS/. Azerbaijan hopes that Armenia’s new leadership will not repeat errors of their predecessors and will carry out a sound policy concerning Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hikmet Gadjiev said on Wednesday commenting on Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s remarks about the Karabakh settlement.
“We are still hoping that Armenia’s new political leadership will not repeat their predecessors’ mistakes, will pursue a sound policy and will try to get along in a civilized way with neighboring states so as to live in peace with us,” the spokesman said.
Gadjiev pointed out that a solution to the Karabakh conflict “might help ensure a sustainable peace and security in the region and to create conditions for overwhelming regional cooperation.”
In his opinion, “first of all, Armenia’s population will benefit from this.”
Highlighting Pashinyan’s stance that a compromise on Karabakh is possible with regard to its people’s right to self-determination, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry’s official said that “people of Nagorno-Karabakh could enjoy their right to self-determination within Azerbaijan’s boundaries.”
“This includes co-existence of Armenian and Azeri communities amid peace, dignity and prosperity within the framework of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and sovereignty,” Gadjiev said.
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
The highland region of Nagorno-Karabakh (Mountainous Karabakh) is a mostly Armenian-populated enclave inside the sovereign territory of Azerbaijan. It was the first zone of inter-ethnic tensions and violence to appear on the map of the former USSR.
Even almost a quarter of a century after the breakup of the Soviet Union, Karabakh remains a so-called ‘frozen conflict’ on the post-Soviet space, as the region is the subject of a dispute between Azerbaijan and the local Armenian population that draws on strong support from fellow-countrymen in neighboring Armenia.
In 1988, hostilities broke out there between the forces reporting to the government in Baku and Armenian residents, which resulted in the region’s de facto independence. In 1994, a ceasefire was reached but the relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia remain strained ever since then.
Russia, France and the U.S. co-chair the Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which attempts to broker an end to hostilities and the conflict. –0-mil/
Armenia’s new PM Pashinyan flies to unrecognized Karabakh aboard helicopter – source
TASS, Armenia
Armenia’s newly-elected Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan arrived on Wednesday in the unrecognized republic of Nagorno-Karabakh aboard a helicopter, a source in Pashinyan’s inner circles told TASS.YEREVAN, May 9. /TASS/. Armenia’s newly-elected Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan arrived on Wednesday in the unrecognized republic of Nagorno-Karabakh aboard a helicopter, a source in Pashinyan’s inner circles told TASS.
“Prime Minister Pashinyan arrived aboard the helicopter and was received by Karabakh’s top leadership,” the source said.
According to the source, Pashinyan is expected to hold meetings with the unrecognized republic’s political and military leadership and a press conference in Karabakh’s capital of Stepanakert.
The parliament of Armenia elected opposition leader Pashinyan as the country’s new prime minister on Tuesday.
Pashinyan, who was the sole candidate for the prime minister’s seat, was elected by the majority of 59 votes in the parliament, while 42 votes were cast against his candidacy.
The predecessor of the new prime minister, Serzh Sargsyan, resigned earlier in the month amid mass protests of the opposition supporters across the country.
Chess: Haik Martirosyan wins rapid tournament dedicated to triple-holiday
Panorama, Armenia
Rapid chess tournament dedicated to triple-holiday took place yesterday at Chess House after Tigran Petrosian. As the Chess Federation of Armenia reports, 144 chess players participated in the tournament. Reigning chess champion of Armenia GM Haik M. Martirosyan and 2016 Armenian champion, GM Zaven Andriasyan were among participants of the tournament. Young and talented chess player Anna M. Sargsyan was participating in the tournament too. The battle for the first place was among above mentioned players. Eventually, GM Martirosyan scored 6.5 points out 7 and became the sole winner of the tournament. Zaven Andriasyan came second with 6 points and Haik Vardanyan was third.
WFM Anna Sargsyan was leading the table with Martirosyan and Andriasyan after 5 rounds with perfect score but lost last two games and finished the tournament on 11th place but won special prize for women.
Play dedicated to April War heroes premieres at Gyumri Drama Theatre
Panorama, Armenia
A new play dedicated to the heroes of the 2016 April War premiered at Gyumri Drama Theatre named after Vardan Ajemyan, with the premiere of a video based on the play’s music held on Wednesday.
The video is directed by filmmaker, Honored Art Workder Hrachya Keshishyan, with its music written by People’s Artist of Armenia Hayko.
As Panorama.am learnt earlier from the theatre, based on the novel by Anahit Aghasaryan, the play, entitled “Wedding in the Rear” is directed by Lyudvig Harutyunyan, music is written by Hayko. The play features Susanna Baghdasaryan, Anahit Harutyunyan, Hovhannes Hovhannisyan, Tigran Gaboyan and other well-known actors.
The play centers around a story of a family symbolizing the Armenian people with its past, present, and future. The family is about to mark a wedding ceremony of the son, as the April war in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) starts, crushing the hopes for a new beginning, a new family and generation. People get together and go to the frontline to fight for their future and the right to life.
‘I will do everything for new defense minister to succeed’, says Vigen Sargsyan
Category
Politics
Any person, who has dedicated some part of his life to the country’s defense organization, must be at least inadequate of not dreaming of his next being more effective, Vigen Sargsyan, who announced stepping down from the post of acting defense minister of Armenia on May 8, told reporters at a press conference in the defense ministry, in response to the question what will be the fate of the programs they have launched, and whether there are agreements with the new government to continue them.
“Now together with the staff of the defense ministry we are doing an exercise which has not been done before. We are going to hold a 10-hour briefing for the new minister and his team according to directions, issues and programs. We know the existing legal regulations and actions of each program, the financial sources and their further right use directions, we understand quite well the leadership needed for implementing the programs and will do everything for the new team, the new minister to succeed as it will be our common victory”, Vigen Sargsyan said.
According to him, any person, who dedicated perhaps a day, a week, a month or a year to the country’s defense organization, must be at least inadequate of not dreaming of his next being more effective. “It’s absolutely not a matter of personal ambition, it’s a matter of the security of our society, country, state, as well as that of my family, children and etc. I will do everything regardless of political views for the next minister to definitely succeed. I don’t know to what extent my advice will be needed, but will always be ready to give that advice to all future ministers for not that I know the Army better than they will know while heading the structure a year later, but for the fact that it’s always accumulative information which we need to share”, he said.
Vigen Sargsyan expressed hope that the programs initiated by them will continue. “They are important programs. They are not a result of demonstration of our party or political views, they are programs introduced by more creative approach to have a big army in the small country. I didn’t speak about them during the pre-election programs for a reason, in order not to manipulate them. I have announced about these programs in April, 2017, during the Nation-Army conference after the elections, and this has been done for a reason since I considered them as non-party programs. I have discussed the programs in-detail with all parliamentary factions since I don’t think that the country’s defense must be the parliamentary function of only one party or the majority. And I was expecting a non-partisan approach on this matter, but I didn’t always receive support in the Parliament over which I publicly expressed my opinion and remain in the same opinion – there must be issues in the country at war where society has a consensus aimed at reaching a positive result, rather than searching for a problem”, Sargsyan said.
USA congratulates Nikol Pashinyan as new PM of Armenia
Categories
Politics
World
The United States extended congratulations to Nikol Pashinyan as the new Prime Minister of Armenia.
“The United States congratulates Nikol Pashinyan as the new Prime Minister of Armenia. We look forward to working closely with the new government and with the people of Armenia on the many areas of shared interest between our countries, including increasing trade, working in support of democracy and rule of law, and safeguarding regional and global security”, US State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said in a press statement.
Acting defense minister reveals future plans
Category
Politics
Acting defense minister Vigen Sargsyan says he will continue serving Armenia and the people. Speaking to reporters, Sargsyan said he will serve in the most various ways.
“I believe professional work based on knowledge and experience is always needed, be it in public or political sectors, or [academic]. I promise that my service will be diverse. I will remain in the political arena, I think I will provide a little time to restoring my academic activity, because I have been unable to deal with it in the recent years due to busy workload,” Sargsyan said.
The acting minister said he will also spend more time with his family. Sargsyan says he will be able to plan a full holiday, something he didn’t have the chance to do in the last 23 years.
“I think I will spend more time for my favorite hobby – reading, spending time with my friends. This contains positive things. Serving the country means being engaged in specialized activity. By the say, public administration is my profession, therefore whatever it is that I will do will be connected with my profession,” he said.
Sargsyan, who serves as defense minister from 2016, announced May 8 – after the election of Nikol Pashinyan as Prime Minister, that he rules out working in the new government which is due to be formed.