Category: 2018

National Progress Party: Election campaign in Armenia turns into a process of mutual accusations

Anna Tamamian
News.am, Armenia
Dec 5 2018
National Progress Party: Election campaign in Armenia turns into a process of mutual accusations National Progress Party: Election campaign in Armenia turns into a process of mutual accusations

23:52, 05.12.2018
                  

This election campaign has become a process of mutual accusations and slander.  Lusine Haroyan, who heads the list of the National Progress party, said during the live debates between 11 political forces.

“In April, when we closed the streets, we hoped that we would finally form a political field in which there would be no clash of personalities, clans, but a truly healthy ideological struggle. Our party is trying to introduce this culture, ”said Lusine Haroyan.

ATP Continues to Make a Difference on the Landscape of Armenia, One Tree at a Time

Kanayan Tamar 
ARMENIA TREE PROJECT
400 W Cummings Park, Suite 3900
Woburn, MA 01801
Tel: (617) 926-TREE 
Web: www.ArmeniaTree.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 5, 2018
ATP Continues to Make a Difference on the Landscape of Armenia, One Tree at a 
Time
By Ani Melkonian
STEPANAVAN, Armenia--The deadly fires in California force us to think about our 
forests and what we're doing to keep Armenia's precious natural resources safe. 
Though the cause of the fires is still under investigation, initial evidence 
points to manmade causes.
How safe are Armenia's forests? Let's just say that as long as there are 
individuals anywhere in the world who don't believe that their action or 
inaction can make a difference, nothing is ever safe. 
While firefighting efforts may prove beneficial, too often wildfires in rural 
areas are ignored and can be left burning for days in Armenia due to lack of 
resources and infrastructure. Even the smallest fires cause huge damage as 
Armenia has a forest cover of just 11 percent, according to official statistics.
That is why Armenia Tree Project (ATP) gives great importance to preventative 
measures. On the education front, ATP is raising awareness and teaching young 
Armenians across the country about forest fires prevention, especially in 
targeted areas like Lori, Kotayk, Shirak, Tavush, and Gegharkunik.
Tchalo, the firefighting gampr shepherd dog who is the face of ATP's campaign, 
is actively involved in the process through an animated PSA and educational 
posters (visit www.tinyurl.com/tchalo to view the PSA). 
Miles from California on the outskirts of Stepanavan, 19-year-old Angela 
Mkrtchyan is planting trees in ATP's afforestation plot with her mother and 
older brother. For the next 11 days, the Mkrtchyan family's livelihood will 
depend on the little seedlings of ash, apple, beech, maple, oak, and pear 
trees. ATP hires more than 150 workers each year to help with planting and 
maintenance. 
It's a short-term job but for the Mkrtchyan family, who have no permanent work, 
it is vital. It is Angela's second season with ATP but her family has been part 
of the planting brigade for the past four years. 
"Many things we do in our daily lives have a negative impact on the environment 
and on the lives of future generations. Planting trees is one of the few things 
the next generations will thank us for, so I'm happy to be doing it," says 
Angela.
Angela is planting close to 200 saplings each day. By the end of the 11-day 
journey she will earn about $180, which is slightly over the average monthly 
salary in rural Armenia. 
"Our cause becomes theirs. During this time they form a special relationship 
with the forest, and so they encourage others to preserve and protect it as 
well," says ATP Forester Vahe Martirosyan.
Similarly, over 40 men and women, young and old are working in Tashir on ATP's 
forestry plots and on a joint forestry project with GIZ in Aparan, Arayi, and 
Vardenut. 
In total, ATP has planted another 187,845 trees this fall, bringing the total 
for 2018 to 257,910 trees. The overall total of trees planted in Armenia and 
Artsakh since 1994 is 5,722,562.
"We're proud of our results, of our positive impact on the land and the 
livelihoods we are helping to improve," explains Executive Director Jeanmarie 
Papelian. "Many of the trees we planted this year are fruit trees, or 6,640 to 
be exact. And the total harvest from ATP's trees was more than 1,600,000 pounds 
of fruit this year, which was distributed in the communities all for the 
benefit of local people."
Two hundred families in Lori's Ghursali Village received coppiced wood for the 
winter from ATP. The wood comes from a project done in the village on 10 
hectares with HayAntar. Locals were hired and trained to cut tree stems which 
grow close together or from one stump to near ground level so the trees may 
grow to their full potential and thrive. 
"To get 5.7 million trees planted, ATP needed a lot of helping hands from 
people like Angela and her family. The organization's soon-to-be 25 year 
history shows us that not only are trees indispensable to our wellbeing but 
that there are ways you can afford a living through them as well," adds 
Papelian.
"Today, more than ever, there is a renewed opportunity to create an Armenia 
where the people and the environment can coexist in harmony. ATP's work to help 
create an Armenia that is clean and green, with a healthy respect for people 
and the planet, continues stronger than ever as Armenia maps out its new 
future," concludes Papelian.

Armenia did not make a proposal to postpone the CSTO summit. Yegoyan to Ushakov

Khondkarian Raffi
  • 04.12.2018

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Armenia did not make a proposal to postpone the CSTO summit. Arman Yeghoyan, the spokesperson of the Acting Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, announced this.


This is how he responded to the statement of Yuri Ushakov, assistant to Russian President Vladimir Putin, that the CSTO summit scheduled for December 6 was postponed at the request of Armenia.


According to Yeghoyan, everything happened as Pashinyan presented on December 2 in a conversation with journalists.


Earlier, Acting Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin had suggested postponing the summit to be held on December 6 in St. Petersburg in a telephone conversation with him.


“During our last phone conversation, the President of the Russian Federation suggested that since the situation is like this, we should not hold the CSTO summit on the 6th of the month in order to discuss the solutions in a working order, and then go with new ready-made solutions, and I agreed, because I think it is more correct to solve the issue through working procedures,” Pashinyan said.

Armenian acting FM meets with Belgian Deputy Prime Minister – Foreign Minister

Jagharian Tania

Armenian acting FM meets with Belgian Deputy Prime Minister – Foreign Minister

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18:58, 4 December, 2018

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 4, ARMENPRESS. Acting Prime Minister of Armenia Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, who is in Belgium on a working visit, met on December 4 with Belgian Deputy Prime Minister – Foreign Minister Didier Reynders.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the MFA Armenia, highly assessing the traditionally high level of bilateral and multilateral close cooperation, the Foreign Ministers of the two countries reaffirmed the readiness to take measures to further deepen and develop the cooperation in different spheres, particularly in the sphere of trade and economy. The interlocutors exchanged views on further enhancing partnership agenda, pointing out innovation, high technologies and creative education as priority directions.

Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Didier Reynders expressed satisfaction over the cooperation between the two countries and mutual support in international institutions. Armenia-EU relations were also touched upon during the meeting. Acting FM Mnatsakanyan emphasized that the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement opens new opportunities for Armenia-EU cooperation.

Mnatsakanyan presented to his counterpart the recent domestic political developments in Armenia. Referring to the upcoming parliamentary elections, Zohrab Mnatsakanyan emphasized the commitment of the Government of Armenia to hold them free and fair that will meet the international standards.

A number of regional and international issues were also touched upon during the meeting, including the situation in Syria and the recent developments over Iran’s nuclear program.

The acting Foreign Minister of Armenia presented the approaches and position of Armenia on Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement. In this context the sides highlighted that the conflict should be settled through exclusively peaceful means in the sidelines of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chair format, which is the only internationally authorized format.   

At the end of the meeting Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Didier Reynders signed the “Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Armenia and the Kingdom of Belgium on the remunerated work of family members of diplomatic missions and consular officers”.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan




Baku is building hills. Shahnazaryan reveals the “secret” of the Dushanbe meeting

Ekmekjian Janet
  • 04.12.2018

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There have been changes in the line of contact between Azerbaijan and Artsakh. The Azerbaijani side is building hills of offensive significance, and an agreement was reached in Dushanbe for the uninterrupted implementation of construction works. Davit Shahnazaryan, nominated by the RPA proportional list, announced this at the press conference called today.


“Since May, an attempt was made to build some hills there, but due to the constant blocking fire, those construction works were stopped. They are hills at a distance of 1300-1700 meters from the contact line, up to 5 km apart and practically along the entire contact line. After September 27, these construction works are being carried out with great momentum, one part of the hills is already ready, the other part is under construction.”


Davit Shahnazaryan showed the pictures of those hills, said that there is a greater density where the relief is completely flat, in the part of the attack that is very dangerous for armored vehicles. The height of the hills is from 11 to 15 meters. He urged to go to Artsakh and see all that with his own eyes. Shahnazaryan presented the opinion of military experts about these hills and what they are for.


“Buildings of this type generally have a double meaning for both defense and attack. Taking into account both the policy of the Armenian parties in the sense that no attack is planned and the policy of Azerbaijan, which talks about a new war day and night, such costly hills have an absolutely offensive significance.


The curt man, as the current prime minister called Aliyev, continues his same rhetoric, continues his “constructive” and “building” policies, and if these hills in Nakhichevan will hit us at the ixth moment, then in Artsakh they are absolutely for preparing for an attack. Our prime minister did not make any statement regarding Kirt man, he did not speak at all. After his meeting in the elevator on September 27, he does not say any critical words about the politics of Azerbaijan.”


According to Shahnazaryan, Aliyev is preparing an attack on Artsakh from his side, and Pashinyan has launched a political attack on the military leadership of Artsakh from this side. “I am far from thinking that this is a consequence of so-called inexperience. This is a policy, for which some forces contributed to him coming to power.”


He said that the Dushanbe agreement was for Azerbaijan to continue these works.

The established partnership between Armenia and NATO is important

Eduard Nalbandian
  • 05.12.2018

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On December 4, the meeting of RA Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Zohrab Mnatsakanyan with NATO Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoller took place at the NATO headquarters.


Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Rose Gottemoller valued the partnership relations established between Armenia and NATO in various fields within the framework of the NATO-led Alliance. The Deputy Secretary General of NATO highly appreciated Armenia’s active participation in peace-making operations in Afghanistan and Kosovo. Acting Minister Mnatsakanyan highlighted Armenia’s contribution to international peacekeeping efforts.


At the request of NATO’s deputy head of state, the head of the Armenian foreign policy department presented the priorities of the Armenian side in the settlement of the Karabakh problem, emphasizing that the main beneficiaries of the solution are the people, and the core of the problem lies in ensuring their vital security.


The interlocutors also exchanged ideas on increasing the role of women in establishing peace within the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and finalizing Armenia’s national action plan for the implementation of the resolution.

Armenia: New wiretapped phone conversation leaks online

Arbi Tashjian
PanArmenian, Armenia
Dec 5 2018
December 5, 2018 – 17:58 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – A wiretapped phone conversation between Armenia’s National Security Service director, Artur Vanetsyan, and acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan landed online on Wednesday, December 5.

The two appear to be discussing the situation surrounding the Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization as well as individuals – particularly former President Robert Kocharyan – tied to the March 1, 2008 post-election crackdown, during which eight civilians and two police officers were killed after a standoff with security officials..

Vanetsyan then discusses the question with his SIS counterpart, Sasun Khachatryan.

On September 11, a recording of a conversation Vanetsyan had with Khachatryan, was leaked on social media and went viral. The conversation, the authenticity of which was confirmed by both, centered on the arrests and prosecution of individuals tied to the March 1, 2008 post-election crackdown. The two were discussing the arrest and the possibility of remand for Yuri Khachaturov, the secretary general of the CSTO who was Armenia’s deputy defense minister during the March 1 events. Khachaturov was charged with breaching Armenia’s constitutional order as was former president Robert Kocharian, who was remanded after official charges were filed. A higher court later reversed the remand decision. Khachaturov was set free on bail and was allowed to return to Moscow to continue his duties as CSTO secretary-general.

A video below offers the translated version of all the conversations.

The audio can be listened to at the link:

Italy Senate deputy speaker on Armenia: We are in a country which goes on democratic way

Hovik Karapetian
News.am, Armenia
Dec 5 2018
Italy Senate deputy speaker on Armenia: We are in a country which goes on democratic way Italy Senate deputy speaker on Armenia: We are in a country which goes on democratic way

17:23, 05.12.2018
                  

YEREVAN. – President of the National Assembly (NA), Ara Babloyan, on Wednesday received a delegation, led by Vice President Paola Taverna of the Italian Senate. The delegation is in Armenia within the framework of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly observers’ mission on the occasion of Sunday’s snap parliamentary election in the country.

Babloyan stressed that Armenia lauds the activities of observation missions in the preparations for and holding of elections, and which is indispensable in the development of democracy.

Touching upon Armenian-Italian relations, the speaker of Armenia’s parliament noted that the country highlights the dynamically developing relations with Italy, and based on the historical connections between the two peoples.

Babloyan recorded that the Italian Armenian community as well as the common historical, cultural, civilizational, and democratic values unite the two countries and further strengthen their relations. The NA chairman expressed his gratitude to the authorities and people of Italy for their warm disposition towards the Armenian community in their country.

Taverna, for her part, stated that this visit of theirs to Armenia will promote the further deepening of age-old friendly relations between Italy and Armenia.

“Now, we are in a country which goes on democratic way,” the deputy speaker of the Italian Senate added, “and we wish to help in strengthening that process.”

At the guests’ request, Ara Babloyan reflected also on the events unrolling in Armenia, the forthcoming early parliamentary election in the country, and the regional matters.

Acting deputy PM says he hasn’t heard hate speech by any political force during pre-election campaign

Nahapetian Samvel

Acting deputy PM says he hasn’t heard hate speech by any political force during pre-election campaign

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12:25, 3 December, 2018

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 3, ARMENPRESS. Acting deputy prime minister of Armenia Tigran Avinyan says he has heard sharp, drastic criticism, but not hate speech during the pre-election campaign, reports Armenpress.

“In general, I think that only one political force is talking about the presence of hate speech during the campaign, and this force mainly voices such remarks. I haven’t heard any hate speech from the representatives of any other political force, including Im Kayl (My Step) alliance. I have heard very sharp, perhaps drastic criticisms which should be understandable during each election campaign”, he told reporters.

According to Avinyan, the election campaign is being held in a quite dynamic manner. He says the citizens have a good chance to hear the programs of different political forces and compare as an unprecedented culture of debates has been formed during this campaigning. “It is attended also by the representatives of the political force in power at the highest level. I think this as well is a cultural change”, Avinyan said.

Early parliamentary elections in Armenia will take place on December 9. The election campaign launched on November 26 and will end on December 7. 11 political forces are participating in the elections.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




The EU will provide 36 million euros to Armenia

Ophelia Vardapetian
  • 03.12.2018

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According to the 2018 budget, the EU will provide 36 million euros to Armenia. This is stated on the government’s Twitter page.


It is noted that with this funding, projects in the field of environmental protection, education, energy will be implemented, as well as funds will be directed to the improvement of the investment environment and the support of the SME sector. 5.5 million euros will be transferred by the end of this year.