Category: 2020

Armenia boxers visit world boxing champion on hunger strike

Alex Nanijanian
news.am, Armenia
Aug 17 2020

15:58, 17.08.2020                           

YEREVAN. – Israyel Hakobkokhyan, Armenia’s world boxing champion who has been on hunger strike in downtown Yerevan for five days now, was visited Monday by his fellow boxer friends who had come to be by his side, as well as to persuade him to end his hunger strike, as, according to them, it will harm his health.

The fellow boxers, however, could not persuade Hakobkokhyan to end his hunger strike.

World boxing champion Israel Hakobkokhyan has been on a hunger strike since August 12, and against the incumbent authorities’ policy, which, according to him, violates Armenian national values. He is protesting against the Istanbul and the Lanzarote Conventions, the Amulsar gold mine project, and some other matters.

Armenia MP: We must diplomatically “annoy” the Turks

Babken Chilingarian
news.am, Armenia
Aug 17 2020

17:27, 17.08.2020
                  

Armenia Ambassador to Israel: No alternative to humanitarian projects and interactions

Emil Lazarian
news.am, Armenia
Aug 17 2020

18:44, 17.08.2020
                  

Visitors to Armenia may choose to either self-isolate for 14 days or take a PCR test

Hagop Kamalian
Panorama, Armenia
Aug 17 2020
From now on, if a person entering into the territory of the Republic of Armenia doesn’t have symptoms of the coronavirus and hasn’t been hospitalized, he or she may choose to either self-isolate for 14 days or take a PCR test during self-isolation and, if the person tests negative, he or she won’t have to self-isolate anymore. The new rule has been shared by Zvartnots airport. 
 
The Airport has also shared the list of COVID-19 testing laboratories in the country. Sampling for PCR testing for the causative agent of coronavirus is performed in almost all private medical centers in Yerevan, said the source. 
It should be noted that during self- isolation, PCR sampling should be performed exclusively by a laboratory specialists executed at the individual’s self- isolation location.
 
A person has no right to leave the place of self-isolation, until he or she receives a negative test result, the source said. 

Putin, Erdogan discuss conflicts in Libya, Syria in phone call

Emil Lazarian
Panorama, Armenia
Aug 17 2020

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan discussed the conflicts in Libya and Syria in a telephone call on Monday, Reuters reported. 
 
The Kremlin said that the two leaders, focused mainly on the crisis in Libya, where they back opposing sides, highlighting the need to make real steps towards a sustainable ceasefire.
 
The Turkish presidency said Putin and Erdogan also discussed a dispute between Turkey and Greece over energy exploration in the eastern Mediterranean, saying they “emphasised the importance of continuing close cooperation and dialogue”.
 
The Kremlin said they agreed to step up anti-terrorism efforts in Syria, after reports on Monday that a Turkish-Russian joint patrol was hit by a blast in the Idlib region. The Turkish presidency said Putin and Erdogan agreed to continue dialogue through diplomatic and military channel on Syria.

Music: Loris Tjeknavorian wins Books for Peace Awards 2020

Tambiyan Samvel
Public Radio of Armenia
Aug 17 2020

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Iranian Armenian composer Loris Tjeknavorian, 82, has been selected as the winner of the Books for Peace Awards 2020, Tehran Times reports.

He had first received the nomination in May from Iran’s Art for Peace Festival, which had nominated him for the 2019 edition of the awards.

The winners will be honored during a special ceremony on September 12 in Rome, Italy. 

The Books for Peace Awards was launched in 2017 in a project by FUNVIC (Fundação Universitária Vida Cristã), UNESCO BFUCA-WFUCA Brazil club, Section Europe, and ANASPOL (Local Police) to honor works promoting peace through culture and words, not only as a concept between nations at war, but also among all individuals living in the world.

The Art for Peace Festival, which is held every year in Tehran, is concerned with world peace and environmental issues such as the water crisis in the country. 

The festival showcases a variety of artworks by Iranian and international artists in the media of painting, photo, sculpture, graphic design, installation, video art, cinema and theater to promote the culture of peace and a world without violence.

Every year the organizers also honor an individual who has made a significant contribution to peace with a medal.

Tjeknavorian has created one of the most memorable pieces of his life during the home quarantine.

He said that he has worked on a special piece over the past four months for which he has not selected a name as yet.

“It is the outcome of contemplation and mediation during the home quarantine. I believe it will be one of the most memorable works of my professional life,” he had said.
 
“The pandemic has caused great losses for musicians, however, it has also provided great opportunities for them to create new and innovative works in their solitude during the home quarantine,” he noted. 

Earlier in April Tjeknavorian released a 12-minute composition named “Corona”. The piece was composed in three movements named “Assault”, “Death” and “Life”.

“The first step to fight the coronavirus is to observe all the health tips to get rid of this new disease soon, but as long as this situation continues we should try to do our best. If we are artists or musicians we need to work harder, and if not, we need to increase our personal knowledge,” he said at that time. 

Turkey pulls fight with Armenia, as more countries voice East Med concerns

Mary Lazarian
The Arab Weekly
Aug 17 2020

Armenia reaffirmed on Saturday “its unconditional support” to Greece and Cyprus.
Monday 17/08/2020

ANKARA –Turkey on Monday slammed Armenia’s remarks on the Eastern Mediterranean, two days after Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan held talks with Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias and Cypriot Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides.

During the talks, held via phone, Armenia reaffirmed “its unconditional support” to Greece and Cyprus, expressing concerns over Turkey’s activities in the Aegean-Eastern Mediterranean region.

Armenia also said it was “closely following the latest developments and naval mobilisation in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean caused by the Turkish illegal and provocative actions.”

Tensions between NATO members Greece and Turkey have risen over the past week after Turkey sent the Oruc Reis survey vessel, escorted by warships, to map out possible oil and gas drilling in territory both countries claim jurisdiction over.

The Oruc Reis, which is between Cyprus and the Greek island of Crete, will continue work until August 23, Turkey said.

The vessel has been shadowed by Greek frigates and on Wednesday warships from the two sides were involved in a mild collision.

“This destabilising posturing in the Eastern Mediterranean manifests continued aggressive and expansionist policy that Turkey has been pursuing in its neighbouring regions,” the Armenian foreign ministry said in a statement.

“We reiterate Armenia’s unequivocal support and solidarity with Greece and Cyprus and call on Turkey to de-escalate the situation, respect the International Law and cease all actions within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Greece and Cyprus,” the ministry added.

In 1920, Armenia and Turkey signed the landmark peace accord to restore ties and open their shared border after a century of hostility stemming from the mass killing of Armenians by Ottoman forces during the first world war.

The deal needed parliamentary approval in both countries, but was never ratified, and the Armenian and Turkish governments have since accused each other of trying to change the deal.

Turkey accepts that many Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire were killed in clashes with Ottoman forces during the first world war, but contests the figures and denies that the killings were systematically orchestrated and constitute a genocide.

Saturday’s Armenian statements drew the ire of Turkey, prompting Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy to condemn what he called “a new example of irresponsibility.”

“After Armenia’s provocative statement about the Treaty of Sevres, its opinion on the Eastern Mediterranean is “a new example of irresponsibility and without limits,” Aksoy said.

“We see that Armenia, which attempts to present an opinion on the Eastern Mediterranean, is in fundamental error about world geography and its place in this geography. The issue here is not Lake Sevan, but the Eastern Mediterranean,” he added.

The Turkish foreign ministry spokesman also said that Turkey will defend its “rights,” likely escalating tensions that could have far-reaching strategic consequences for the entire European Union, well beyond the Eastern Mediterranean.

“No matter what happens, Turkey will defend its rights and the rights of Turkish Cypriots in the eastern Mediterranean stemming from international law. No alliance of evil can afford to prevent that. Those who think otherwise have not learned anything from history,” Aksoy said.

Earlier on Saturday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country will not back down to threats of sanctions nor to incursions on its claimed territory in the Mediterranean Sea, where it is in a standoff with EU member Greece over oil and gas exploration rights.

European Union foreign ministers on Friday said Ankara’s actions were antagonistic and dangerous after a meeting requested by Athens.

“We will never bow to banditry on our continental shelf. We will not back down against the language of sanctions and threats,” Erdogan said in the north-eastern city of Rize.

EU foreign ministers met via video conference on Friday and said Turkey’s naval movements would lead to a “heightened risk of dangerous incidents.”

Relations between Greece and Turkey have long been fraught with tension. Disputes have ranged from boundaries of offshore continental shelves and airspace to the ethnically split island of Cyprus. In 1996 they almost went to war over ownership of uninhabited islets in the Aegean Sea.


Turkish Press: Turkey slams Armenia’s remarks on Eastern Mediterranean

Antonian Lara
Anadolu Agency, Turkey
Aug 17 2020
Turkey slams Armenia’s remarks on Eastern Mediterranean

Erdoğan Çağatay Zontur   | 17.08.2020

ANKARA

Turkey on Monday slammed Armenia’s remarks on the Eastern Mediterranean.

“We see that Armenia, which attempts to present an opinion on the Eastern Mediterranean, is in fundamental error about world geography and its place in this geography. The issue here is not Lake Sevan, but the Eastern Mediterranean,” said Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy.

After Armenia’s provocative statement about the Treaty of Sevres, its opinion on the Eastern Mediterranean is “a new example of irresponsibility and without limits,” Aksoy added.

Aksoy said it reveals “the insidious alliance against Turkey that landlocked Armenia thinks it has the right to speak on the region,” after the United Arab Emirates and France.

“No matter what happens, Turkey will protect its rights and the rights of Turkish Cypriots in the eastern Mediterranean stemming from international law. No alliance of evil can afford to prevent that. Those who think otherwise have not learned anything from history,” he added.

He also stressed that Turkey stands by its brother Azerbaijan by all means.

Azerbaijan Upset As Russia Deliveres S-300 Missile Defence Systems To Armenia – Reports

Bedik Zaminian
Eurasian Times
Aug 16 2020

 August 16, 2020

by Tim Edwards                    

        

As the tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia soured after the intense border clash, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev had reportedly expressed apprehension to Russian President Vladimir Putin about Moscow’s arms sales to Armenia.

Aliyev and Putin spoke by phone and the Azerbaijan leader up expressed anxiety over enormous arms shipments from Russia to Armenia, which the Azerbaijani president said: “raises concerns and serious questions in the Azerbaijani society.”

“The main goal of the conversation was to clarify this question,” Aliyev’s press service said in an August 13 release.

Aliyev was commenting to reports the week before in Azerbaijani media that several tons of weapons were dispatched from Russia to Armenia between July 17 and August 4. (Aliyev told Putin it was 400 tons, though other reports said it was 280 tons.)

The flights, using an IL76 military cargo plane, reportedly took a roundabout route from the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don to Armenia, avoiding the direct route – over Georgia.

Russian arms for Armenia are not unusual: The two countries are allies via the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and Russia has long provided Armenia with weapons. But Azerbaijanis protested to the scale and timing of these consignments.

Aliyev’s message to Putin was a slightly different one; he said that “the main purpose of Armenia’s military attack was to draw third countries into the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict,” though he didn’t elaborate which third countries he was referring to.

According to the Russian publication, Avia.Pro, Azerbaijan is more concerned because of the arms shipment included the latest weapons like air defense, electronic warfare systems, short, medium, and long-range radars, electronic suppression systems, artillery weapons, and S-300 air defense system.





Turkey unhappy with Armenia’s remarks on Eastern Mediterranean

George Mamian
Public Radio of Armenia
Aug 17 2020

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Turkey on Monday slammed Armenia’s remarks on the Eastern Mediterranean.

“We see that Armenia, which attempts to present an opinion on the Eastern Mediterranean, is in fundamental error about world geography and its place in this geography. The issue here is not Lake Sevan, but the Eastern Mediterranean,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy was quoted by Turkish media as saying.

“After Armenia’s provocative statement about the Treaty of Sevres, its opinion on the Eastern Mediterranean is a new example of irresponsibility and without limits,” Aksoy added.

“No matter what happens, Turkey will protect its rights and the rights of Turkish Cypriots in the eastern Mediterranean stemming from international law. No alliance of evil can afford to prevent that. Those who think otherwise have not learned anything from history,” he added.

He also stressed that Turkey stands by its brother Azerbaijan by all means.

On weekend the Armenian Foreign Ministry issued a statement, expressing unequivocal support and solidarity with Greece and Cyprus and calling on Turkey to de-escalate the situation, respect the International Law and cease all actions within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Greece and Cyprus.

“This destabilizing posturing in the Eastern Mediterranean manifests continued aggressive and expansionist policy that Turkey has been pursuing in its neighboring regions,” the Armenian Foreign Ministry said.