Top anti-mafia cop appointed deputy head of Investigative Committee
15:46,
YEREVAN, AUGUST 14, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has appointed Arsen Ayvazyan to be the new Vice President of the Investigative Committee of Armenia.
Since August, 2018 Ayvazyan was serving as Director of the General Department of Anti-Organized Crime of Police.
Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
Armenia soldier wounded by Azerbaijani cross-border gunfire
16:51,
YEREVAN, AUGUST 14, ARMENPRESS. A soldier has been wounded by cross-border gunfire from Azerbaijan at the Armenia border, Ministry of Defense spokesperson Artsrun Hovhannisyan told ARMENPRESS.
“The incident took place on August 13th. The serviceman is now in Yerevan,” he said.
Hovhannisyan did not give further details other than the victim being a voluntary serviceman.
Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
Armenian company baffled after getting included in United States BIS Entity List
16:56,
YEREVAN, AUGUST 14, ARMENPRESS. Two Armenian companies – Markel Closed Joint Stock Company (Markel CJSC) and Yerevan Telecommunications Research Institute (YETRI) Closed Joint Stock Company (CJSC) have been added to the United States Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security’s Entity List “because YETRI CJSC has obtained CCL items that were reexported without the required BIS licenses, and the person who is both Executive Director of YETRI CJSC and President of Markel CJSC has been engaged in a business relationship with a sanctioned Iranian organization”.
However, YETRI CJSC director Mher Markosyan told ARMENPRESS they are trying to clarify why they’ve appeared in the list because they haven’t done any business with Iran since 2009. He said he plans to invite American embassy staffers and present documents in order to understand why it happened, “perhaps it is a mistake”.
In turn, the Ministry of Economy of Armenia said they are clarifying the report.
“We will issue an additional clarification in case of having other information,” spokesperson for the Ministry of Economy Anna Ohanyan told ARMENPRESS.
Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 14-08-19
17:09,
YEREVAN, 14 AUGUST, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 14 August, USD exchange rate down by 0.20 drams to 475.74 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 1.43 drams to 531.79 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.04 drams to 7.29 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 0.33 drams to 574.76 drams.
The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.
Gold price down by 106.04 drams to 22918.62 drams. Silver price вup by 7.39 drams to 266.83 drams. Platinum price down by 5.51 drams to 13108.15 drams.
Independent audit concludes minimal probability of Amulsar mine impacting Jermuk springs
17:25,
YEREVAN, AUGUST 14, ARMENPRESS. The Investigative Committee of Armenia has released the full report of the audit in the Amulsar Gold Mine which was carried out by Advanced Resources Development (ELARD).
The studies concluded that there are very low risks that the Amulsar mine’s polluted waters can impact Jermuk springs, because “groundwater flow and contaminant transport pathways between the Project Area and the Jermuk thermal springs do not exist”.
“Due to the hydraulic and physical setting, the Mine water will not impact Jermuk springs.”
The 190-page “Independent 3rd Party Assessment of the Impacts on Water Resources and Geology, Biodiversity and Air Quality” audit of the Amulsar Mine has been posted online by the Investigative Committee.
Newly appointed Ambassador of India to Armenia presents copies of credentials to Deputy FM
18:07,
YEREVAN, AUGUST 14, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Avet Adonts received newly appointed Ambassador of India to Armenia Kishan Dan Dewal on August 14, who presented the copies of his credentials to the Deputy FM.
As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Foreign Ministry of Armenia, congratulating the Ambassador on the appointment, Avet Adonts wished him success in his mission and expressed confidence that the Ambassador will have his important contribution in the further deepening of the friendly relations between Armenia and India.
Thanking for the reception and good wishes, the Indian Ambassador emphasized that his country is greatly interested in deepening relations with Armenia and development of cooperation in the spheres of politics, economy and culture and assured that during his tenure he will spare no efforts for reaching that goal.
Avet Adonts and Kishan Dan Dewal referred to a number of bilateral issues, highlighted the organization of high level mutual visits.
The interlocutors also exchanged views on a number of international and regional issues.
Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan
There are no grounds to proceed with Amulsar criminal case – Investigative Committee
19:06,
YEREVAN, AUGUST 14, ARMENPRESS. After receiving the results of the independent audit on the possible risks of exploiting Amulsar mine, the body conducting the proceeding thinks there are no grounds to continue with the criminal case, ARMENPRESS reports head of the investigative group on Amulsar case Yura Ivanyan said on August 14.
Earlier, the Investigative Committee had published the results of the research done by Advanced Resources Development (ELARD).
The studies concluded that there are very low risks that the Amulsar mine’s polluted waters can impact Jermuk springs, because “groundwater flow and contaminant transport pathways between the Project Area and the Jermuk thermal springs do not exist”.
“Due to the hydraulic and physical setting, the Mine water will not impact Jermuk springs.”
The 190-page “Independent 3rd Party Assessment of the Impacts on Water Resources and Geology, Biodiversity and Air Quality” audit of the Amulsar Mine has been posted online by the Investigative Committee.
Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan
PM Pashinyan acts as a tour guide, presents city to tourists
19:31,
YEREVAN, AUGUST 14, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan presents Yerevan and its history to tourists in a touristic bus. ARMENPRESS reports the PM is speaking in English.
Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan
Armenian PM, Uruguay’s FM discuss development of cooperation
20:40,
YEREVAN, AUGUST 14, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan received on August 14 Foreign Minister of Uruguay Rodolfo Nin Novoa, who is in Armenia on an official visit, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister of Armenia.
Greeting the guest, PM Pashinyan emphasized that warm and friendly relations exist between Armenia and Uruguay, which is reflected not only by the high level official visits, but the warm attitude towards each other between the peoples of the two countries. Nikol Pashinyan expressed confidence that the visit of the Foreign Minister of Uruguay will foster the development of bilateral relations and the establishment of Consulate General of Uruguay in Yerevan the opening of which will take place during this week, speaks about the high level of political dialogue between Armenia and Uruguay.
Pashinyan noted that the Armenian people is deeply grateful to Uruguay for being the 1st country to officially recognize the Armenian Genocide in 1965 and having a unique contribution to the recognition process.
Rodolfo Nin Novoa noted that he is glad to visit friendly Armenia and for the opportunity to discuss issues of bilateral cooperation. According to the Foreign Minister of Uruguay, they highlight the establishment of the Consulate General in Armenia, which will foster the future development of inter-state relations. He emphasized that Uruguay stands with Armenia in its efforts to reach international recognition and condemnation of the genocide. Uruguay’s FM noted that the Armenian community in his country has a great contribution to the development of the country and strengthening the friendly relations between the two countries.
Referring to his today’s meeting with the Armenian FM, Rodolfo Nin Novoa noted that they discussed issues of deepening partnership, including in the sphere of trade and economy.
Nikol pashinyan noted that it’s necessary to make joint efforts to bring the level of economic relations in line with the high level of political relations. Uruguay’s FM shared Pashinyan’s opinion, noting that there are numerous directions with cooperation potential.
The Armenian PM noted that Armenia is fully committed to the process of peaceful settlement of Nagorno Karabakah conflict and highly assessed the impartial and neutral position of Uruguay on the issue and its support to the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs. Rodolfo Nin Novoa noted that his country supports the peaceful settlement of the conflict.
The interlocutors also exchanged views on a number of international issues.
Nikol Pashinyan conveyed warm greetings to the friendly people of Uruguay and asked Rodolfo Nin Novoa to convey his invitation to the President of Uruguay to pay a visit to Armenia.
Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan
The rally called by RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Stepanakert brought some clarity to the internal political situation of Artsakh. Փաշինյանը հասկացրեց, որ Հայաստանը կդառնա 2020թ. guarantor of Artsakh free elections. In addition, he clearly implied that forceful methods of struggle are not allowed. This could not but affect the ongoing political “expertise” of retired general Samvel Babayan in Artsakh. Before that, the general did not really hope that he would be able to reach the referendum on the amendments to the Constitution. It was noticeable from his last statements that a bet is already being made on the elections of local self-government bodies and the subsequent parliamentary elections. For this purpose, the idea of the resignation of the current president Bako Sahakyan was modernized. Babayan presented his plan as follows. Rallies will be held in order to first remove the illegal government from state administration bodies and hold legal elections. In his turn, acting president Bako Sahakyan made a statement, where he made it clear that he will bring to justice before the law all those who choose the path of illegality. And here too, Prime Minister Pashinyan let us know who is the “master” here and who is allowed what.
Time will tell how this confrontation will develop. In this article, we are interested in another, broader aspect of the created situation. Both sides, Babayan and Sahakyan, accuse each other of encroaching on the foundations of the constitutional order. Everyone is right in their own way. In 2017, Sahakyan made legal manipulations with personal political ambitions, and Babayan is trying to do it now. Ընդորում` երկու կողմն էլ նշում է իր գործողությունների համապատասխանությունը օրենքի տառին: This is the whole complexity of the situation, because it is the imperfection of the legislation, rather, the legal confusion of the state-legislative acts adopted in the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Artsakh during a quarter of a century that regularly brings the country to crisis situations. Each time, this legal confusion provided an opportunity to implement the dubious political plans of one or another figure aspiring to power.
1996-98 can be an example. period. After the controversial election results of 1996, Levon Ter-Petrosyan, who retained the presidency, appointed Armen Sargsyan to the post of Prime Minister, hoping that this new face of the ruling echelon would help him maintain the shaken power. However, the military elite did not accept the “foreign” figure and forced him to leave his post. The position of Prime Minister of Armenia was occupied by the President of Nagorno-Karabakh, Robert Kocharian, and Ter-Petrosyan, not long after, resigned.
1998 RA presidential elections were scheduled for March 16. Robert Kocharyan nominated his candidacy, which caused a wave of protests from the opposition. He was accused of violating the Constitution, according to which non-citizens of Armenia are prohibited from voting for the post of president. At that time, Kocharyan’s supporters justified his right to be voted for the position of president by the Supreme Council of Armenia and the National Council of Nagorno-Karabakh in 1990. by the decision of the joint session of December 1, by which Nagorno Karabakh is part of Armenia. This provision was established in 1990. Declaration of Independence of Armenia.
Kocharyan’s opponents testified to two other facts. First: in 1991 On September 2, Nagorno Karabakh formed its own Republic (NKR), which in 1991 declared its independence according to the results of the December 10 referendum (the NKR Declaration of Independence was adopted by the first Supreme Council of the NKR on January 6, 1992). And secondly, in 1991 In September, the independence referendum of Armenia was held in the territory of former Soviet Armenia. In other words, Kocharyan did not have the right to be a citizen of Armenia. The population of Nagorno Karabakh did not have the right to vote or be elected in the elections of the Republic of Armenia. The fact that Armenia did not recognize the independence of NKR deepened the legal confusion of Armenian statehood. As a result, according to the results of the second round of presidential elections held on March 30, Robert Kocharyan became the president of Armenia. This was the first stage of the collapse of the Armenian political system. 1999 After the terrorist attack on the Armenian parliament on October 27, that collapse took its final form. An oligarchic regime was established in the country.
Until now, nothing has changed in the legal and political model of Armenia. Disputes about the place of NKR in this system do not stop. The NKR population has Armenian passports, but is deprived of the right to participate in elections in the territory of the Republic of Armenia. NKR territory is fixed by the NKR Constitution adopted in 2006. Presidential, parliamentary and local self-government elections are held in that area, in which only citizens registered in the NKR participate. Persons who do not have a certain censure of permanent residence do not get the right to nominate their candidacy in the national elections.
However, the legal confusion does not stop maintaining the possibilities of further manipulations and side effects on the political system of the two Armenian republics. As a result of the “velvet” revolution in Armenia, the weakening of the foundations of the current NKR government again created conditions for outside encroachments in the legal and political system. As before, the legal basis for the realization of the goal of obtaining the right to nominate the candidate for the NKR president is the 1990 resolution of the Supreme Council of Armenia and the National Council of Nagorno-Karabakh. December 1 is the decision of the joint session. It is proposed to put into legal and political use the statute on the right of RA citizens to participate in Artsakh elections for elective positions. Everything else in the legislation of Armenia and NKR remains the same. In the conditions, when a significant part of the population of Artsakh shows a very negative attitude towards the current authorities, people are very little interested in the destructive meaning of such a proposal.
But what could it actually mean? It can only mean that the degree of insecurity of the political system of Armenia and NKR is rising by another scale. There is no mechanism left to protect the political system from external influences. Any power that wants to assert its dictates over the state administration system can get a legal loophole if the idea proposed by Samvel Babayan to introduce that change into the NKR Constitution is implemented. It is not difficult to imagine what kind of political adventures can be planned under such conditions.
Armenia’s political class has always treated the concept of rights with disdain. Legal and political acts were adopted based on the expediency of the moment. As a result, these acts turned into a tool of multi-program machinations in the hands of politicians. This will continue until a serious revision of state constitutions is carried out.
Manvel Sargsyan