Category: 2020

Armen Sarkissian: “Turning to the people is not a drastic measure”

Eduard Nalbandian
MediaMax, Armenia
Feb 7 2020

President Sarkissian has made these remarks in the interview to Mediamax, Shant TV Company and Aravot newspaper today.

 According to the President, he has not yet received the decision of the referendum, which the National Assembly of Armenia made on February 6.

 “Once it is referred to me, I will inform the public about my opinion. It is not simply a matter of signing or not signing the document. I will try to make a contribution,” said Armen Sarkissian. He has underlined that the president should not be considered an “interpreter” of the Constitution.

 “The President observes implementation of the Constitution but does not guarantee it. The President must not interfere in the work of the branches of power or publicly share opinions about the work of executive or legislative powers. However, the President can give advice and support. The tools I have at my disposal to express opinion are quite limited, but this is not about craving more authorities. We shifted towards the parliamentary form of governance, which means that the less authorities the President has, the better,” said Armen Sarkissian.

 He believes that the institution of presidency should not be limited to observing compliance with the Constitution or detecting incompliance with it.

“The President should have a broader view on issues – consider how the given law, action or decision can affect the society. Let’s assume that I receive a bill, which the experts believe complies with the Constitution. They say there is no need to apply to the Constitutional Court. The President either signs the document or refuses to sign it, which means that the National Assembly will enforce it anyway some time later. However, even if the bill does not contradict the Constitution, the President could believe that the bill might have negative impact in certain areas. In some countries the President can veto the bill in such a case, showing the society that he or she disagrees with the proposed law and suggests executive and legislative powers to consider it again. There are countries where the President has the right to refer the law back to the parliament,” said Armen Sarkissian.

 President Sarkissian has noted that he followed the events of recent days closely.

 “I agree that the phenomenon of turning to the people should be established in our culture. Turning to the people is not a drastic measure. It can be done through referendum or plebiscite, and it is very valuable in the 21st century. Today we live two lives – real and virtual. There can be heated discussions, clash of opinions and huge amount of fake accounts in the virtual world. It prevents people from differentiating between real and unreal, true and false. In these circumstances, it is very important to face reality, so to say, communicate with the people and hear real opinions. Plebiscite does not have to be connected with the Constitution or a law. For instance, in Switzerland, making the people a party to the decision-making process is a success and a part of everyday life. We should not be afraid to try it here in Armenia. It is a necessity in the “double lives” we live in the 21st century,” said President Sarkissian. 



Sports: Armenia allocates AMD 121bn to preparations for Tokyo Olympics

Mike Maghakian
MediaMax, Armenia
Feb 7 2020
Armenia allocates AMD 121bn to preparations for Tokyo Olympics

Armenia currently has Olympic quotas for three Greco-Roman wrestlers: Artur Aleksanyan (World, Europe and Olympic champion) in 97 kg weight category, Karapet Chalyan (silver medalist of European Games) in 77 kg and another athlete in the same category, who will be revealed later.

In the gymnastics team, silver medalist of European Games and European Championship Artur Davtyan has qualified for the Olympics.

Weightlifters are also competing for Olympic quotas. Their qualification will be clear in May.

Tourism: Hobbit that? Armenian hotel offers guests taste of Middle Earth

Bedik Zaminian
Dunya News
Feb 6 2020
  Last Updated On 07 February,2020 04:23 pm
Despite its theme, the rooms are not hobbit-size.

DILIJAN (Reuters) – Located at the foot of one of Armenia’s mountain ranges is "Cozy House" – a small hobbit-themed hotel that attracts hiking enthusiasts and Lord of the Rings fans alike.

Not surprisingly, its owner, Edgar Gulanyan is a fan of hobbits.

Hobbits are fictional characters created by English writer John Tolkien. They are best known for their love of comfort and good food. And they prefer living in small but snug underground houses built into the side of the hills.

The hotel, which opened in 2019, has six houses built into the side of the Caucasus mountains and can accommodate up to 16 guests.

Despite its theme, the rooms are not hobbit-size.

The ceiling is 2.5 metres high so guests will not need to stoop like Gandalf – one of the main characters in "The Lord of the Rings."

With prices ranging from 25,000 to 40,000 Armenian drams (52-83 USD) per night, "Cozy House" is well above the local average price.

But this has not prevented people from coming. Off-season guests are around and all houses are already booked for the entire summer.

For these guests, a line from Tolkien’s famous poem rings true: "home is behind, the world ahead." 

Armenian President receives Ambassador of Italy

Emil Lazarian

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 15:05, 6 February, 2020

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 6, ARMENPRESS. President Armen Sarkissian received today Ambassador of Italy to Armenia Vincenzo del Monaco, the Presidential Office told Armenpress.

The Armenian President and the Ambassador discussed issues relating to the upcoming official visit of President Sarkissian to Italy in September 2020.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




Artsakh Ombudsman comments on statement of Azerbaijani Central Election Commission

Edgar Tavakalian

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 15:48, 6 February, 2020

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 6, ARMENPRESS. Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Artsakh Artak Beglaryan commented on the statement of the Azerbaijani Central Election Commission according to which the people of Artsakh can take part in the upcoming elections in Azerbaijan.

“The Azerbaijani CEC stated that the people of Karabakh can take part in the elections of Azerbaijan. I’m excited with this magnanimity. Instead of this, think of Armenophobia, domestic human rights and your democracy level. I am sure that the Azerbaijani people will be allowed to take part in the Artsakh elections if they get our citizenship”, the Artsakh Ombudsman said on Twitter.

Artsakh will hold parliamentary and presidential elections in April 2020.

Snap parliamentary elections will be held in Azerbaijan on February 9, 2020.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




Anti-Armenian pogroms of Baku discussed in European Parliament

Emil Lazarian

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 16:19, 6 February, 2020

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 6, ARMENPRESS. On Wednesday 5 February 2020, MEP Costas Mavrides (S&D Group, Cyprus) hosted a conference with the title “The forgotten refugees: What Happened to the Armenians of Baku?” in the European Parliament. The conference was co-organized by the European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy (EAFJD) and the Mission of the Republic of Armenia to the European Union, the EAFJD told Armenpress.

The keynote speakers were the British humanitarian, Life Peer and former deputy speaker of the House of Lords the Baroness Caroline Cox and eye-witnesses Anna Astvatsaturian Turcotte, an American-Armenian author and human rights advocate as well as David Babaev, a lecturer at “Université Libre de Bruxelles”. The latter are both survivors of the Baku pogroms.

Members of the European Parliament, EP advisers, students, representatives of the civil society and missions of various EU member states as well as Belgian citizens who are survivors of Baku pogroms, were present.

In his opening remark, the EAFJD President Kaspar Karampetian welcomed the participants and emphasized the importance of addressing the issue of the anti-Armenian pogroms, in particular in the premises of the house of European democracy. “In its resolutions of 1990 the European Parliament unequivocally condemned the pogroms perpetrated against the Armenians by the Azerbaijani authorities, namely in Sumgait, Kirovabad and Baku,” stated Karampetian.

MEP Costas Mavrides announced that he had decided to host the event, among other reasons, because of his own experience as a child who had to flee for his life after the Turkish invasion in Northern Cyprus in 1974. He emphasized: “Remembrance is not about revenge but forgetting is unforgivable because it would lead us to the same crimes”.

His Excellency the Ambassador of Armenia Tatoul Markarian reminded that the anti-Armenian massacres in Azerbaijan were the first mass killings and ethnic cleansings in the post-Cold War Europe.

During their testimonies, Ms. Astvatsaturian Turcotte and Mr. Babaev shared their personal stories and what they witnessed as refugees fleeing Baku. “We spent months hiding in our apartment, hoping that the violence against Armenians would end. But it never ended. We left everything behind and fled. We barely escaped but we survived. Many of our neighbors and family friends were not so lucky”, said Astvatsaturian Turcotte. Babaev underlined that the killings and pogroms in Sumgait and Baku had not come from nowhere and the ground was already fertile. He noted: “These atrocities: violence, intimidation, rape, murder and burning people alive should not stay unpunished.”

The Baroness Caroline Cox pointed out that the genocide of Armenians continued in Baku, Sumgait and Nagorno Karabakh-Artsakh and needs to be recognized so that it does not continue with impunity.

The guest speakers stressed that the Azerbaijani authorities still systematically incite and perpetuate Armenophobia as a state policy in Azerbaijan, a policy witnessed by the victims of Baku pogroms. They concluded by acknowledging the important role of the European Union as a soft power promoting dialog, peace and human rights.

The speeches were followed by a lively question and answer session, where the guest-speakers addressed the questions asked among others by Azerbaijani participants.

Prime Minister to attend parliamentary debates of constitutional amendments bill on high court

Vanyan Gary

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 17:05, 6 February, 2020

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 6, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will participate in parliamentary debates of the ruling bloc’s bill that envisages the termination of powers of Constitutional Court Chairman Hrayr Tovmasyan and some other justices.

Deputy Speaker Alen Simonyan told ARMENPRESS that the procedure enables the PM to deliver remarks at the debates.

“If it is a Constitutional amendment, the Prime Minister is allowed to have a speech before the vote,” Simonyan said.

On February 6, the parliament convened a special session with one item on the agenda, the bill introduced by the ruling My Step bloc which seeks Constitutional amendments aimed at resolving the crisis around the Constitutional Court.

The parliamentary majority’s bill on making constitutional amendments seeks to enable replacing the Constitutional Court justices who were appointed under the previous constitution.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan




Majority can’t call referendum on high court bill without first reading approval, argues opposition

Arsine Chaltikian

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 16:45, 6 February, 2020

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 6, ARMENPRESS. Lawmaker Taron Simonyan from the opposition Bright Armenia (LHK) party argues that the parliament cannot call for a referendum around the ruling bloc’s bill regarding the high court without passing it through the first reading.

Earlier the ruling bloc, the My Step faction, itself said they will not pass their own bill in order for it to go for a vote in a referendum.

But Simonyan claims the move is impossible. “We must confirm it at first reading, and then it must go to the Constitutional Court. After the Constitutional Court’s positive conclusion you can vote it down at the second reading, and then only you can raise the issue of referendum,” the opposition lawmaker said.

He did however note that the goal is understandable, but he asked whether the measures and methods used aren’t superficial. “In my deepest belief they are superficial. As a result of this you are ignoring many legal clauses, violating them, and in the future this entire process will have to bear these violations,” he said.

The parliament majority, the My Step bloc, will not pass its own bill on replacing the high court judges at first reading in a technical maneuver to propose to call a referendum on the matter, lawmaker Vahagn Hovakimyan from the ruling party said in parliament earlier today.

“The My Step faction will not adopt this bill on first reading and by virtue of the powers vested in parliament under paragraph 3 of Article 202 of the Constitution it will recommend putting up for vote the decision on presenting this bill for referendum. This is the application of direct democracy, this is the conviction and belief of our political force. We have faith in our people, and we have to listen to our people,” he said.

The MP said that during this period of time the parliament and the Cabinet have done their best to resolve the crisis around the Constitutional Court.

He recalled the parliament’s earlier motion that was sent to the Constitutional Court requesting to terminate the powers of chief justice Hrayr Tovmasyan, which however was denied. He also recalled the voluntary early retirement plan for justices, which was approved by the Venice Commission.

The parliamentary majority’s bill on making constitutional amendments seeks to enable replacing the Constitutional Court justices who were appointed under the previous constitution.

 

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan




World Bank’s team is in Armenia to discuss business climate reforms agenda

Suren Karakhanian

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 17:36, 6 February, 2020

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 6, ARMENPRESS. Armenian minister of economy Tigran Khachatryan received member of the World Bank Group’s Doing Business reform team Alejandro Espinosa-Wang to discuss the methodological issues of the report, as well as the Bank’s support to Armenia’s future business climate reforms, the ministry told Armenpress.

The minister thanked for the consulting report that is a useful guideline to address the existing resources to solve the current issues, as well as to organize future works.

The minister said the Bank’s annual assessment is important not only in terms of making comparisons with other countries, but also from environment perspective to get a right and real picture on the existing problems, taking into account the respective regulations accepted in the world.

Alejandro Espinosa-Wang thanked the minister for the meeting and productive discussions, and outlined the issues that are on the agenda of this stage.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan