Category: 2020

Asbarez: Consul General Meets with Glendale Councilmember Brotman

Alex Jidarian
August 28,  2020


Armenia’s Consul General to Los Angeles Ambassador Armen Baibourtian (left) with Glendale City Councilmember Dan Brotman

GLENDALE – Armenia’s Consul General to Los Angeles Ambassador Armen Baibourtian met with the newly-elected member of the Glendale City Council Dan Brotman at the Consulate.

During the meeting, Ambassador Baibourtian congratulated the latter on his election and wished him fruitful activity.

Brotman presented the city’s priorities and his approaches to various issues, among them clean energy and concerns for the environment.

Baibourtian briefed Brotman on the consulate’s plans, including a festival, which was jointly organized by the consulate and the city of Glendale but was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Baibourtian said that the festival will be held in 2021.

The issue of Armenia-based technology companies extending their footprint in Glendale was also discussed. Baibourtian also emphasized the importance of promoting tourism to Armenia, after COVID-19-related travel restrictions are lifted.

Glendale has sister city relations with Armenia’s Gyumri and Kapan. During the meeting Baibourtian also highlighted the need to develop and implement projects within the context of that program.

Pastinfo: Major misuse found during renovation of Armenia government mansions

Jirair Kafian
News.am, Armenia
Aug 28 2020

16:39, 28.08.2020
                  

EU set to sanction Turkey over east Mediterranean

Emil Lazarian
Public Radio of Armenia
Aug 28 2020
The European Union on Friday urged Turkey to halt its drilling activities in contested waters in the Mediterranean and ordered EU officials to speed up work aimed at blacklisting some Turkish officials linked to the energy exploration, western news agencies reported.
 
It is reminded that tensions are mounting to breaking point between Turkey and Greece over Turkey’s drilling work near the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, which like Greece is an EU member country. Turkish and Greek armed forces have been conducting snap war games in the area.
 
Referring to what he called “growing frustration” with Turkey, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said that the sanctions — which include asset freezes and travel bans — could be extended, with Turkish vessels being deprived access to European ports, supplies and equipment. Economic sanctions are also a possibility.
 
EU leaders will discuss whether to impose the additional measures at a summit in Brussels on Sept 24-25 should Turkey fail to stop what the Europeans consider to be “illegal activities” in the eastern Mediterranean near Cyprus.
 
“Turkey has to abstain from unilateral actions. This is a basic element to allow the dialogue to advance,” Borrell told reporters in Berlin after chairing a meeting of EU foreign ministers. He said the EU is keen to establish a “healthier relationship” with Turkey, which is a candidate for membership in the 27-nation trading bloc, although its accession talks are virtually frozen.
 
“We must walk a fine line between preserving a true space for dialogue and at the same time showing collective strength in the defense of our common interests. We want to give a serious chance to dialogue,” Borrell said.

Internal investigation will reveal all circumstances of disappearance of the Armenian officer – defense minister

Boris Nahapetian
Public Radio of Armenia
Aug 28 2020
The exact circumstances of how the Armenian officer occurred in the territory of Azerbaijan will be revealed after an internal investigation, Defense Minister Davit Tonoyan told reporters on Friday.
 
“Our initial assessment is that the Armenian servicemen got lost and occurred in the territory of the adversary. The issue whether our officer was captured or other circumstances were there will be clarified. Based on that, we will work in different formats with international structures,” Tonoyan said.
 
In the minister’s words, for now the only demand of the Armenian side is to organize the visit of the representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to meet the captive which has not happened so far.
 
To remind, Armenian foreign ministry earlier condemned the degrading treatment of the officer Gurgen Alaverdyan, who appeared under the Azerbaijani jurisdiction on August 22. Armenian accused Azerbaijan of a flagrant and gross violation of the international humanitarian law.

Treatment of Armenian Officer in Baku a gross violation of international humanitarian law

Emil Lazarian
Public Radio of Armenia
Aug 28 2020

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Armenia strongly condemns the degrading treatment of the officer Gurgen Alaverdyan, who appeared under the Azerbaijani jurisdiction on August 22.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says “this is a flagrant and gross violation of the international humanitarian law. “

“By publicly violating the dignity of Gurgen Alaverdyan,  Azerbaijan denies the right of the prisoners of war to be “entitled in all circumstances to respect for their persons and their honor” which is asserted by civilized humanity and enshrined in the Third Geneva Convention. Such practice represents a distinctive method of notorious terrorist organizations and, as we can observe, of Azerbaijan as well,” the Ministry said in a statement.  

“The dictatorial regime of Azerbaijan, while feeding its people with disgraceful propaganda and Armenophobia, covers up the serious setbacks of its armed forces in the July battles by coercing the prisoner of war to read out its sham narratives,” it added.

The Foreign Minister reminded that Azerbaijan is one of the few countries to have refused to ratify all the Additional Protocols to the Geneva Conventions also demonstrates their disregard of the international humanitarian law. 

“The continuous violations of international humanitarian law by Azerbaijan seriously undermine the establishment of an environment conducive to peace,” the Ministry concluded.


Another Chance to Address Homophobic Violence in Armenia

Tatoyan Vazgen
Human Rights Watch
Aug 28 2020

Provide Justice for 2018 Attack Against LGBT Activists

Senior Associate, Europe and Central Asia Division

Earlier this month, Armenia’s Criminal Court of Appeal ruled there had not been a proper investigation into a violent homophobic attack two years ago against a group of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) activists.

The court ordered a re-investigation, giving Armenia’s law enforcement agencies a second chance to deliver justice in the case.

In August 2018, a crowd of about 30 men violently assaulted the activists in Shurnoukh, a village in southern Armenia. The crowd shouted homophobic slurs and threats, demanding the activists leave the village. They chased members of the group, hitting, kicking, and throwing stones at them, and shouting “Get rid of those gays!” At least six activists were injured, including one person who sustained a broken nose.

Police questioned several of the attackers. But by November 2018, the government had granted some of the assailants amnesty, and the authorities decided not to prosecute the rest.

The LGBT rights group PINK Armenia challenged the decision not to prosecute the assailants, first in a district court, which found no violation, and then to the Criminal Court of Appeals, which found that the decision was not substantiated. The court also stated that the investigation failed to address the severe psychological pain suffered by the victims.

For years, the Armenian government has failed to effectively investigate anti-LGBT violence in the country, and homophobia remains widespread. A government bill in the works that seeks to address issues of equality has faced criticism because it does not include sexual orientation and gender identity as grounds for protection from discrimination.

The court’s decision offers authorities the opportunity to provide justice for victims of anti-LGBT violence. Even two years later, holding perpetrators accountable for this attack would send a strong message that violence against LGBT people in Armenia will not be tolerated. It would be a step in the right direction in the fight against homophobia in the country.


Tonoyan: IRCS representatives must visit the Armenian captive in Azerbaijan

Emil Lazarian
MediaMax, Armenia
Aug 28 2020

“Our preliminary assessment is that Gurgen Alaverdyan got lost and accidentally crossed the border. We need to find out if he could be kidnapped or if there are previously unknown circumstances. Depending on the results of the investigation, we will work with different international organizations in different formats,” Tonoyan told the press.

 

Davit Tonoyan has added that currently Armenia demands that representatives of the International Red Cross Society visit the captive Armenian officer in Azerbaijan.


Pianist Eva Gevorgyan wins 1st Grand Prize at Chicago International Music Competition

Emil Lazarian

 10:07, 28 August, 2020

YEREVAN, AUGUST 28, ARMENPRESS. Multiple award-winning young pianist Eva Gevorgyan, a soloist at the Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra and participant of its YerazArt program, has won the 1st Grand Prize at the Chicago International Music Competition. She also won the Special Prize for Best performance of a work by Chopin.

The Chicago International Music Competition was held July 25 – August 25, 2020 online.

More than 400 musicians in 22 countries had submitted applications for the competition this year.

“We are very proud that Eva Gevorgyan is recording another victory internationally,” Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra General Producer Arman Padarian said, praising the talented musician’s achievements. 

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs: Over 800 Lebanese-Armenians have arrived in Armenia to date

Kalantarian Kevo
News.am, Armenia
Aug 28 2020

Until now, more than 800 Lebanese-Armenians have arrived in Armenia. This is what High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs of Armenia Zareh Sinanyan told reporters in parliament today.

“Some of them arrived before the blast in Beirut, that is, when the first plane arrived in Yerevan. Currently, there are two flights from Beirut to Armenia every week, and all the planes are full of passengers. The Lebanese-Armenians have various problems, and the Office of the High Commissioner is constantly in contact with them. We’re still working on a package of actions to take, but some of the Lebanese-Armenians don’t need state support.

At this moment, Armenian society is very kind towards the Armenians devastated by the economic crisis and blast in Lebanon and is willing to help. Therefore, you would be surprised to know how many people are offering to host Lebanese-Armenians in their homes. There are people who are offering Lebanese-Armenians to stay in their resorts. In other words, we can take care of everyone’s needs,” he said, adding that the package of actions will be placed into circulation on September 1.


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Universal income declaration mechanisms discussed at Government

Kajoyan Gevork

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 20:30, 27 August, 2020

YEREVAN, AUGUST 27, ARMENPRESS. Issues related to the mechanisms of investing universal declaration of income of citizens were discussed at the Government on August 27 headed by PM Pashinyan.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the office of the Prime Minister, a number of proposals and observations were presented during exchange of ideas.

Nikol Pashinyan highlighted the investment of the culture of income declaration, emphasizing that the aim of this reform is shaping state-oriented mentality and civic responsibility. The PM tasked to continue the works for elaborating mechanisms for universal income declaration and present proposals.