Category: 2020

‘Azerbaijan will speak to Artsakh on one condition’: Aliyev gives Pashinyan his condition and Pashinyan responds

Alex Jidarian
Aravot, Armenia
Feb 16 2020

                                                       
February 16,2020 15:32 487

                                                        

During the discussion panel on the Artsakh conflict at the Munich Security Conference, a participant asked why Armenia and Azerbaijan do not appeal to the International Court of Justice over the Artsakh conflict. The President of Azerbaijan responded, “Azerbaijan remains loyal to the negotiations process. We have not lost hope that we will be able to recover our territorial integrity through negotiations. Since we still have hope, that will not be the best option. The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, had stated earlier that “Artsakh is a part of Azerbaijan,” which Nikol Pashinyan had responded to.

Aliyev continued, “But if the Armenian side ruins the negotiations process with a new approach, then we may have to consider that option.” The Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, responded that the Armenian side is also loyal to the negotiations process for peace. “I believe that negotiations need to take place within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs’ standards. We are prepared to make a huge effort to ensure that changes are made and to reach a resolution to the Artsakh conflict.”

Pashinyan emphasized that he also sent a message to the people of Azerbaijan in another way and he would not be against Aliyev sending a message to the Armenian people. “It would be very strange if Mr. Aliyev refuses to speak with representatives from Artsakh. How is it possible to resolve the conflict without speaking to them? Artsakh is a recognized side in the negotiations process according to the OSCE.”

Regarding the small revolutions and the aforementioned suggestion, Aliyev said, “When Pashinyan says that the resolution to the conflict also needs to be acceptable for Azerbaijan, I must say that the people of Azerbaijan, who have suffered from Armenian aggression, want to return to their homes. They have been deprived of that fundamental right. Pashinyan knows well that more than 80 percent of the Artsakh army is comprised of Armenian citizens. Therefore, there is no Artsakh army. There are only two sides in the conflict- Armenia and Azerbaijan. Artsakh is not a side. We will not speak to them. We will speak to the aggressor.”

Then, Aliyev announced that Azerbaijan is ready to speak with Artsakh on one condition: that Armenia ceases financing that, in his words, illegal subject. “If Armenia takes its troops out of Artsakh and completely withdraws from that territory, we will have reasons to speak to those people. I believe that they will keep those territories occupied forever, though.

Nikol Pashinyan responded, “Aliyev is speaking about those territories from an Azeri point of view. According to him, they are territories, but for Artsakh, they are security. It is not possible to concede security. Aliyev spoke about the Armed Forces of Artsakh. My son is serving in Artsakh as a volunteer. He went to defend his compatriots because he knows history.”

Luiza Sukiasyan

Pashinyan indicates to Aliyev, ‘Regard that as a mutual task, Armenia and Artsakh are prepared’

Ani Kharatian
Aravot, Armenia
Feb 16 2020

                                                       
February 16,2020 16:55 43

                                                        

“It has been thirty years that the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia are repeating the same thing. I don’t think that’s right. We repeat the same things every time. I am worried that the international community will grow tired of hearing the same things. I believe that it is important for us to push new ideas forward,” Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said during the discussion panel on the Artsakh conflict at the Munich Security Conference. President of Azerbaijan had repeated the “Artsakh is Azerbaijan” statement, which Nikol Pashinyan had responded to.

“When I became Prime Minister as a result of the Velvet Revolution, I understood that it is not possible to resolve a conflict that lasted for thirty years in one or two steps. I thought that revolutions need to take place in order for the issue to be resolved, so I carried out small revolutions,” Nikol Pashinyan said. As far as what Pashinyan expects from the international community for the Artsakh issue, he emphasized, “I expect that the international community will say that the Artsakh conflict does not have a military resolution. If anyone thinks and says otherwise, I think that the people of Artsakh will respond that the conflict has already been resolved. I, however, think that we need lasting peace. Armenia does not represent Artsakh in the negotiations process, but Armenia and Artsakh are prepared to make efforts in order to ensure lasting peace in the region. This is not only my responsibility to my country, but to the region. I suggest that Aliyev regard this as a mutual task.”

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, in regards to the possible role of the international community, initially claimed that his earlier statements were 100 percent factual and he called upon people to find that information in the appropriate documents on the Internet. “Armenia, unfortunately, is trying to find justification for what they did in Khojaly. Mutallibov said many times that he was not the one who said Khojaly was organized by Azeris.”

Speaking about his expectations of the international community, Aliyev gave the following message, “They need to explain to Armenia that Karabakh is Azerbaijan and it is not an independent country. Secondly, there needs to be more pressure against Armenia to carry out the resolution of the UN Security Council.”

Luiza Sukiasyan

Music: Tigran Mansurian’s film scores to be performed in Gyumri

Ara Felekian
Panorama, Armenia
Feb 17 2020
Culture 18:16 17/02/2020 Armenia

On April 1, renowned Armenian composer Tigran Mansurian's film scores will be performed again at the State Drama Theater of Gyumri.

The maestro's works with new instrumentation and approach will be performed by the State Symphony Orchestra of Armenia, led by its artistic director and principal conductor Sergey Smbatyan.

All proceeds will go to the Gyumri theater’s support fund.

Art: Iranahayer Exhibition: Iranian-Armenian artists display works in Tehran

Karlen Baghdasarian
Payvand, Iran
Feb 17 2020
02/16/20

Report by Tehran Times; photos by Sara Abdollahi, Borna News

The Mehrsun Art Gallery in Tehran is showcasing a collection of works by a group of prominent Iranian Armenian artists in an exhibition entitled "Iranahayer".  Armenian Ambassador Artashes Tumanyan, Music Museum of Iran Managing Director Ali Moradkhani and Iranian Artists Forum director Majid Rajabi-Memar attended the opening ceremony of the exhibit on Friday.

Speaking at the ceremony, Tumanyan said that the exhibit features the deep relations between the two nations of Iran and Armenia. 

Armenian Archbishop of Tehran Sebouh Sarkissian, also attending the ceremony, said that the exhibit shows that people of Iran and Armenia have long been friends, and added that the exhibit is a dialogue of the two nations through art.

Setrak Nazarian, Sirak Melkounian, Vahik Hartounian Levon Haftvan and Loris Tjeknavorian are among the artists whose works have been put on display at the exhibit.

The exhibit will be running until April 5 at the gallery located on North Karegar St., near Forsat St. 

See more photos by Sara Abdollahi, Borna News

Sports: Armenian women’s national football team to face Lithuania in friendly

Lilit Nahapetian
Panorama, Armenia
Feb 17 2020
Sport 19:49 17/02/2020 Armenia

The Armenian women's national football team will hold a training camp at Football Federation of Armenia’s (FFA) Technical Centre-Football Academy from February 28 to March 6.

In the frames of the training camp, the Armenian women's team will face the team of Lithuania in an international friendly twice, the FFA official website reported.

The friendly matches will take place at FC Pyunik stadium on March 4 and 6. 

Sports: Armenian divers win synchro silver at FINA Grand Prix

Ara Felekian
PanArmenian, Armenia
Feb 17 2020
– 12:43 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenian divers Vladimir Harutyunyan and Vartan Bayanduryan took silver in the men's 10-metre synchro of the FINA Grand Prix on Sunday, February 16.

FINA is the international swimming federation recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for administering international competition in water sports.

The Armenian duo scored 332.76 points in the competition, CBC reports.

Laurent Gosselin-Paradis of Montreal and Ethan Pitman of Edmonton won the gold medal, while Maicol Verzotto and Julian Verzotto of Italy took bronze.

The first leg of the FINA Diving Grand Prix began on February 14 in Madrid, Spain, the first of eight stops in total. The series will visit five continents and will conclude in Australia in November.

The next leg of the FINA Diving Grand Prix will take place in Rostock in Germany on February 20.

Sports: Armenian wrestler Arsen Harutyunyan wins bronze at European Championships

George Mamian
Panorama, Armenia
Feb 17 2020
Sport 13:45 17/02/2020 Armenia

Armenian freestyle wrestler Arsen Harutyunyan (61 kg) has captured a bronze medal at the 2020 European Championships in Rome on Sunday.

The Armenian athlete took a 10-0 win over his Greek opponent Georgios Pilidis in the fight for the third place.

At the end of a bout, the Greek wrestler suffered a knee injury, after which Arsen Harutyunyan stopped putting pressure on him and offered him his help.

“Arsen deserves respect for his move," Wrestling-Armenia said on Facebook, posting a video from the fight. 

Council of Europe supports Armenia’s reforms: PM meets with CoE Secretary General

Arpi Talalian

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 15:32,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 15, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan met today with Secretary General of the Council of Europe Marija Pejčinović Burić in Munich, the PM’s Office told Armenpress.

The Armenian PM highlighted the meeting and stated that it is a good opportunity to discuss the current issues. “As you know, Armenia currently is in the process of large-scale democratic reforms which accelerated especially after the 2018 peaceful, Velvet, democratic Revolution. It soon was revealed that the Constitutional system of our country was occupied before the Revolution, moreover, it was covered with mines. And now we are making efforts to demine the democracy and the judicial system in Armenia. I am glad for this opportunity to make you informed about the ongoing developments because recently we made a decision to hold a referendum on the Constitutional Court. I am happy to inform what is happening and why, and what will happen later”, the PM said.

“Dear Mr. Prime Minister, thank you for this opportunity, which, as you said, is very important in terms of being informed about the ongoing developments. Let me remind that we have already started the intensive cooperation between Armenia and the Council of Europe after the visit of the CoE high-level working group last May. I know that you asked the CoE to engage in this process. And the CoE started closely following what is taking place. There are some concerns, and it would be interesting to listen from you how you see the future developments and how we can continue assisting your country”, the CoE Secretary General said.

Pashinyan introduced the ongoing democratic reforms in Armenia, including those in the judiciary. He stated that last year Armenia recorded a great progress in international rankings on democracy, human rights and freedom of speech. He thoroughly introduced the details of the upcoming referendum scheduled on April 5.

Marija Pejčinović Burić expressed the full support of the Council of Europe to Armenia’s reforms, including in the judicial field, and stated that they will continue the discussions with the Armenian government regarding the cooperation on this path.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




Armenia works on expanding its diplomatic representation in Iraq

George Mamian

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 16:03,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 15, ARMENPRESS. Armenian foreign minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan met today with his Iraqi counterpart Mohamed A. Alhakim on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, the Armenian MFA told Armenpress.

The Armenian and Iraqi FMs stated that the bilateral relations are recording a positive dynamics. In this context FM Mnatsakanyan said Armenia is taking actions to expand its diplomatic representation in Iraq which will bring contribution to further enriching the bilateral agenda.

They highlighted the role of the Armenian community in Iraq’s public-political life and strengthening the friendship between the two countries.

The ministers exchanged views on international and regional issues. FM Mnatsakanyan said Armenia always closely follows the developments taking place in the Middle East.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




Chinese tourist dies in France from novel coronavirus

Talar Tumanian

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 16:45,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 15, ARMENPRESS. The first lethal case of the novel coronavirus has been identified in Europe – a Chinese tourist who contracted the disease died in France, Agence France-Presse said citing the French health minister, reports TASS.

According to the official, the 80-year-old Chinese citizen was rushed to hospitals with novel coronavirus symptoms in late January.

A pneumonia outbreak caused by the COVID-19 virus (previously called 2019-nCoV) was reported in China’s city of Wuhan – a large trade and industrial center in central China populated by 11 million people – in late December. The WHO declared it a global emergency, describing the outbreak as an epidemic with multiple foci.

The virus spread to 25 more countries, apart from China: Australia, Belgium, Cambodia, Canada, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, India, Italy, Malaysia, Nepal, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States and Vietnam. Chinese authorities have confirmed more than 66,400 cases of the disease, over 1,520 people died, while more than 8,000 people are reported to have recovered.