Category: 2020

Artsakh’s CEC can give lecture to Azerbaijani CEC on fair elections – CEC Chairwoman

Lena Karagyozian

Save

Share

 18:53, 7 February, 2020

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 7, ARMENPRESS. the citizens of the Republic of Artsakh, representing non-governmental organizations, can participate in the upcoming elections in Azerbaijan only as international observers with appropriate guarantees for their safety. And members of the Central Electoral Commission of the Republic of Artsakh, in turn, can organize training to share their experience of holding fair and transparent elections with their Azerbaijani counterparts. Only in this format can the citizens of the Republic of Artsakh participate in the upcoming elections in Azerbaijan, Chairwoman of the Central Electoral Committee of Artsakh Srbuhi Arzumanyan said, commenting on the announcement of the Central Electoral Committee of Artsakh, ARMENPRESS was informed from Artsakh’s CEC.

“Comment by Chairwoman of the Central Electoral Commission of the Republic of Artsakh Srbuhi Arzumanyan on the Statement by the Central Electoral Commission of Azerbaijan

Such a statement by Azerbaijan is ridiculous. Just a few years ago, the Azerbaijani authorities tried to annihilate the peaceful population of the Republic of Artsakh, claiming that there were no civilians in Artsakh, and subjected the peaceful settlements of our country to large-scale attacks. And now they are cynically declaring that the citizens of Artsakh can participate in the upcoming elections in Azerbaijan. I would like to stress that there is no legal-political connection between the citizens of the Republic of Artsakh and the state of Azerbaijan. The people of Artsakh declared the establishment of its independent statehood yet at the December 10, 1991 referendum. For 29 years already, the citizens of the Republic of Artsakh have effectively exercised their inalienable right by establishing their own state structures through free and transparent _expression_ of will. And the regular national elections in Artsakh scheduled for March 31 will be another step on the way to the continued strengthening of the democratic statehood in our country. At the same time, I would like to note that the citizens of the Republic of Artsakh, representing non-governmental organizations, can participate in the upcoming elections in Azerbaijan only as international observers with appropriate guarantees for their safety. And members of the Central Electoral Commission of the Republic of Artsakh, in turn, can organize training to share their experience of holding fair and transparent elections with their Azerbaijani counterparts. Only in this format can the citizens of the Republic of Artsakh participate in the upcoming elections in Azerbaijan”, Srbuhi Arzumanyan said.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

Armenian exports rise by 9.4%

Kajoyan Gevork

Save

Share

 19:10, 7 February, 2020

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 7, ARMENPRESS. Armenian exports in 2019 amounted to 2 billion 640 million and 275.1 thousand USD, which is an increase of 9.4% against the previous year, ARMENPRESS was informed from the data published by the National Statistical Committee.

The exports to the EAEU member states amounted to 760 million and 894.5 thousand USD, against 688 million and 473.6 thousand USD of the previous year, an increase of 10.5%.

Armenian exports to the EU in 2019 amounted to 593 million and 170.7 thousand USD against 683 million and 409.2 thousand of the previous year, an increase of 14.7%.

Imports to Armenia in 2019 amounted to 5 billion 513 million and 798.8 thousand USD, an increase of 10.8%.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

Avalanche kills 3 servicemen in Armenia

Greg Madatian

Save

Share

 21:14, 7 February, 2020

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 7, ARMENPRESS. 4 contractual servicemen were left under avalanche in the positions of a military regiment located in Armenia’s Syunik Province at about 16:50, February 6.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Defense Ministry of Armenia, the bodies of 3 servicemen have been found.

The other serviceman was rescued with minor injuries.

The Defense Ministry expresses condolences to the family and friends of the victims.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

FM Mnatsakanyan presents reform process to EU Ambassadors

Lara Antonian

Save

Share

 17:45, 7 February, 2020

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 7, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Minister of Armenia Zohrab Mnatsakanyan held a traditional meeting with the Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia and the Ambassadors of the EU member states accredited in Armenia, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the MFA Armenia.

The interlocutors exchanged views on challenges and ways to solve them in the context of global and regional developments.

In the context of Armenia-EU partnership, the sides referred to the implementation process of the Armenia EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement.

FM Mnatsakanyan presented to the EU partners the reform process in Armenia aimed at the development of democracy, strengthening of rule of law, establishment of independent judicial system, and fight against corruption.

The Armenian Foreign Minister also presented the recent developments over Nagorno Karabakh peace process.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

12 people hospitalized from Armenia airport test negative for coronavirus

Meline Chalian
PanArmenian, Armenia
Feb 7 2020
February 7, 2020 – 13:54 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – 12 passengers who were hospitalized from Armenia's Zvartnots airport tested negative for the coronavirus, a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health revealed in a Facebook post on Friday, February 7.

Alina Nikoghosyan's comments came in response to media publications suggesting that "more than 10 citizens arrived from China with a high temperature and were immediately hospitalized."

"Twenty tests were performed overall, all with a negative result," Nikoghosyan said.

The death toll from the virus was at least 638 as of Thursday evening. All but two of the deaths were in mainland China, with one person succumbing in the Philippines and another in Hong Kong. More than 31,000 people have been infected with the virus worldwide, the vast majority of them in China.

Glendale approves building for Armenian-American health center

Varazdat Torgomian
PanArmenian, Armenia
Feb 7 2020
February 7, 2020 – 14:38 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The City Council of Glendale, California, has unanimously approved the construction of a daringly-designed building for a community health center created by Armenian-American physician, Dr. Noobar Janoian, in 1999, The Architect's Newspaper reports.

The building is authored by Los Angeles-based architecture firm P-A-T-T-E-R-N-S and Santa Monica-based Sharif, Lynch: Architecture.

When complete, the Janoian Building will be the new home of All For Health, Health For All, the local community health center, and will include rentable office space, ground-floor retail, and a small amenity space in the terrace. As approved, Glendale residents can expect to see a 5-story, 70-foot-tall complex rise on the site.

The five-story building’s shifting character on the corner of Broadway and Isabel Street is designed to visually connect the urban promenade of the stylistically-diverse Glendale Civic Center.

The building’s irregularly-striated brise-soleil system and exterior voids along Isabel Street contrast the smooth, unbroken glass facade to break up the structure’s otherwise imposing presence. A series of exterior soffits and cantilevers unify the building’s envelope while adding continuous open balconies accessible via the medical office spaces. The health center will be set back along Isabel Street to make room for a small pocket park, for which Armenian artist Zadik Zadikian was commissioned to create a public mural as a backdrop that reflects the community’s diverse citizenship.

Construction on the Janoian Building will begin this summer and is expected to be completed by late next year.

Armenia’s Urvakan Festival reveals first names for 2020

Emil Lazarian
Resident Advisor
Feb 7 2020
 
 
Armenia's Urvakan Festival reveals first names for 2020
 
Mark Smith
 
Madteo, MSYLMA and Shackleton will feature at the May festival.

Urvakan Festival has revealed its first wave of acts for 2020.

Running May 5th to 9th, the Armenian event's lineup is partly shaped by guests curators, including Rabih Beaini, Club Chai, Gost Zvuk, Brandon Rosenbluth, Klammklang, Synthposium and TKANI.

The bill features a host of experimental artists such as Pierre Bastien, Ellen Arkbro, Ghédalia Tazartès and Rhys Chatham, while electronic acts are represented by the likes of Madteo, MSYLMA, The Bug, Shackleton's Tunes Of Negation project, Buttechno, 8ULENTINA and Slikback. More acts are still TBA.

See the lineup so far on the RA event page.

  • May 05  Urvakan Festival 2020, TBA – Armenia, Armenia
Festival: Urvakan
 

Armenian lawyers, human rights activists issue statement against constitutional referendum

Arsine Chaltikian
News.am, Armenia
Feb 7 2020

16:49, 07.02.2020
                  

After following, with deep concern, the events that unfolded in the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia on February 6, we state that the legislature’s decision to designate a referendum is an overt violation of the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia and constitutional legislation. This is stated in the statement issued by first Human Rights Defender of Armenia Larisa Alaverdyan, President of the Helsinki Committee of Armenia Avetik Ishkhanyan and lawyer Ruben Melikyan.

“We, the undersigned lawyers and human rights activists, after following, with deep concern, the events that took place in the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia on February 6, we state that the decision of the legislature to designate a referendum is an overt violation of the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia and constitutional legislation.

Attaching importance to the mechanisms of direct democracy, we also insist that those mechanisms cannot be applied arbitrarily and illegitimately. This will not only undermine the foundations of a legal state, but will also create a weighty precedent for violation of rights. Our concerns are fully in line with the international commitments that the Republic of Armenia has assumed within the scope of the Council of Europe.

Based on the aforementioned, we call on the President of the Republic of Armenia to refrain from participating in this unconstitutional process and from designating the referendum.

Larisa Alaverdyan, first Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia

Avetik Ishkhanyan, President of the Helsinki Committee of Armenia

Ruben Melikyan, lawyer

Lawyers and human rights activists are free to join the statement. The last day for signatures is February 8 (5 p.m.).

We recommend that the political and non-governmental organizations operating in the Republic of Armenia address the President of the Republic of Armenia with a similar call,” the statement reads.

Newspaper: Armenia Constitutional Court referendum may not take place

Ani Tigranian
News.am, Armenia
Feb 7 2020

09:36, 07.02.2020
                  

YEREVAN. – Zhoghovurd daily of the Republic of Armenia (RA) writes: The National Assembly (NA) yesterday adopted (…) the draft decision on putting the constitutional amendments to a referendum.

As it is known, by the draft constitutional amendments, the MPs propose to terminate the term of office of the CC [Constitutional Court] President and the members elected until April 9, 2018.

Now this decision must be followed by appropriate processes, including by RA President Armen Sarkissian.

RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced yesterday at the NA podium that he had reached an agreement with the RA President during his last meeting, and the latter agreed to settle the issue through a referendum.

But there are some interesting nuances hidden here. In any case, the authorities’ backstage does not rule out the possibility that the referendum will not take place, and that will be the case when the CC judges take advantage of the early retirement plan.

As it is known, the law on voluntary early retirement of CC judges is valid until the end of this month. (…) And, by yesterday's initiative, the authorities made it clear that it’s all the same, they [the serving CC judges] would be dismissed from their positions if the referendum was adopted.

This is certainly one of the options. And with the other option, a referendum is really going to take place. In that case there are clear deadlines, and in fact, the referendum on constitutional amendments will take place in May (…).

And, according to the Law on Referendum, the referendum campaign will last 60 days. Then, according to preliminary calculations, the power will need about 650 thousand "yes" votes.