2020 – Page 565 – Armenian Directory & News

Opposition Bright Armenia faction MP: Everyone will pay the price for ruling bloc’s mistake

July 13, 2020March 12, 2026 Torgomian Varazdat

News.am, Armenia

July 8 2020

Opposition Bright Armenia faction MP: Everyone will pay the price for ruling bloc’s mistake Opposition Bright Armenia faction MP: Everyone will pay the price for ruling bloc’s mistake

22:08, 08.07.2020

Karabakh MFA responds to Azerbaijan President’s statements

July 13, 2020March 12, 2026 David Nargizian

News.am, Armenia

July 8 2020

Karabakh MFA responds to Azerbaijan President’s statements Karabakh MFA responds to Azerbaijan President’s statements

21:37, 08.07.2020

Head of the Information and Public Relations Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic) Artak Nersisyan has responded to the statements of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. The comment reads as follows:

“On July 6, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev gave an interview to local TV channels, the tone and vocabulary of which, in parts regarding the settlement of the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict, go beyond the elementary diplomatic ethics. Through peremptory accusations against the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmen of their inaction, the President of Azerbaijan tries to shift his own blame on them for the lack of results in the negotiation process. By hindering the restoration of the full-format trilateral negotiations, regularly challenging the principle of peaceful settlement of disputes and threatening by the use of force, trying to distort the essence of the conflict, encouraging racist and anti-human views and behavior patterns in their country, Azerbaijani authorities deliberately create additional obstacles in the process of peaceful settlement of the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict. And the aforementioned interview serves as another vivid confirmation of this.

In this regard, the attitude of Azerbaijan towards the restoration of the full-format trilateral negotiations is indicative. At various stages of the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict settlement, the negotiations were conducted in various formats. However, the most effective negotiations were the ones with the direct participation of Artsakh in them: both on the Artsakh-Azerbaijan bilateral and the Artsakh-Azerbaijan-Armenia trilateral basis. It was in the trilateral format with the full participation of Artsakh that the most significant result in the process of the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict settlement was achieved – the conclusion of the termless agreement on the cessation of fire and hostilities in May 1994. Therefore, trying to postpone the restoration of the trilateral negotiations, Azerbaijan artificially delays the process of peaceful settlement of the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict.

Both the historical and legal arguments cited in the interview do not withstand any criticism. However, while the Azerbaijani President’s ignorance of the history of the region makes just a harmless background, his misconceptions of international law can pose a serious threat to peace and security in the South Caucasus.

In the context of the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict settlement, Azerbaijan’s reference to Article 51 of the UN Charter is completely groundless and is an unsuccessful attempt to mask its aggressive and militaristic policy. Firstly, Azerbaijan was not subjected to aggression for the Article 51 of the UN Charter to apply. On the contrary, it was precisely Azerbaijan that transformed the political problem into an armed conflict by its own actions, trying to suppress the right of the people of Artsakh to self-determination by force, and after gaining independence unleashed a full-scale war against the Republic of Artsakh. Secondly, in May 1994, Artsakh, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a trilateral ceasefire agreement, thereby putting an end to the military phase of the conflict and committing themselves to the peaceful settlement, in accordance with the UN Charter. In this regard, we consider it necessary to remind the Azerbaijani side that the resolution of international disputes by exclusively peaceful means is one of the fundamental principles of international law enshrined in the UN Charter.

All the speculations of Baku that Article 51 of the UN Charter gives it the right to use force in the context of the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict were rejected by the international community in April 2016, when Azerbaijan launched a large-scale attack on Artsakh. The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing states – the United States, Russia, and France, as well as the United Nations Secretary General, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and the Council of Europe Secretary General were unanimous on the need to strictly comply with the 1994 agreement on ceasefire and the 1995 agreement on it strengthening. Against the background of the consolidated position of the international community on the need for an exclusively peaceful settlement of the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict, the threats to launch a new war cannot be regarded otherwise than an attempt by Azerbaijan to put itself out of the international community and international law.

Instead of senseless and unpromising accusations of others for its own mistakes and miscalculations, Azerbaijan should strictly observe its commitments to a peaceful settlement of the conflict and conduct full-format negotiations in good faith.”

Parliamentary committee approves Hovhannes Khachatryan’s candidacy for CBA Council member

July 13, 2020March 12, 2026 Markos Nalchajian

10:33, 8 July, 2020

YEREVAN, JULY 8, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian parliamentary standing committee on financial-credit and budgetary affairs unanimously approved the candidacy of Hovhannes Khachatryan for the vacant position of the member of the Central Bank’s Council.

Khachatryan’s candidacy has been nominated by the ruling My Step faction.

“I think there is really no problem with the CB mandate now. What is put on the CB today in terms of ensuring price and financial stability, is in accordance with the latest trends and the practice of successful central banks. In this sense I assess the CB as one of the best successful central banks in developing countries”, Hovhannes Khachatryan said in his remarks.

During the session the lawmakers asked various questions to the candidate.

Khachatryan’s candidacy will be debated at the Parliament’s plenary session.

Reporting by Anna Grigoryan; Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Mkhitar Hayrapetyan elected head of Armenia-Iran parliamentary friendship group

July 13, 2020March 12, 2026 Antonian Lara

10:06, 8 July, 2020

YEREVAN, JULY 8, ARMENPRESS. By the decision of the Council of Parliament of Armenia, chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on science, education, culture, Diaspora, youth and sport affairs Mkhitar Hayrapetyan has been elected as head of the Armenia-Iran friendship group, his Office told Armenpress.

“The Armenia-Iran brotherly relations have a great historical share. Today the economic component in the firm bilateral ties between our states is quite great. Iran is 6^th in the list of Armenia’s foreign trade partners. However, the close educational, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two countries can also play a vital role in these relations. And of course, we should not forget about the Armenian community of Iran which is one of the richest centers of the Armenian Diaspora and is at best represented in the Iranian parliament”, Mkhitar Hayrapetyan said at the session of the Parliament Council.

Hayrapetyan is also heading the Armenia-Cyprus inter-parliamentary commission, as well as the Armenia-Greece friendship group.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

COVID-19: Armenia reports 535 new cases, 520 recoveries in one day

July 13, 2020March 12, 2026 Emil Lazarian

11:10, 8 July, 2020

YEREVAN, JULY 8, ARMENPRESS. 535 new cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) have been registered in Armenia in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 29,820, the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention said today.

520 more patients have recovered. The total number of recoveries has reached 17,427.

18 people have died in one day, raising the death toll to 521.

The number of active cases stands at 11,708.

The number of people who had a coronavirus but died from other disease stands at 164.

So far, 127,171 people have passed COVID-19 testing.

Reporting by Lilit Demuryan; Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Armenian MP recovers from coronavirus

July 13, 2020March 12, 2026 Nahapetian Zhanna

11:17, 8 July, 2020

YEREVAN, JULY 8, ARMENPRESS. Lawmaker from the ruling My Step faction of the Armenian Parliament Kristine Poghosyan has recovered from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Speaker of Parliament Ararat Mirzoyan said during today’s extraordinary session.

“16 days have already passed since Mrs. Poghosyan got infected, she tested negative, recovered, for which we congratulate her”, the Speaker said.

MP Kristine Poghosyan got infected with COVID-19 on June 24.

There are also other lawmakers in the Armenian Parliament who tested positive for the coronavirus.

Reporting by Norayr Shoghikyan; Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

The Times: Armenian red wine among the 100 best wines for summer 2020

July 13, 2020March 12, 2026 Karakhanian Suren

Public Radio of Armenia

July 8 2020

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The Times has listed the Armenian Zorah Karasi Areni Noir wine among the top 100 summer wines of 2020.

“Six thousand years of winemaking tradition lie behind this quirky but utterly delicious Armenian red, made from areni noir grapes grown in vineyards overlooked by Mount Ararat,” award-winning wine and drink writer Jane MacQuitty writes.

“With extraordinary oomph and elegance, this violet-perfumed, tannic, herby, truffley wallop of a wine is a hit,” she adds.

Russia and China veto draft resolution on Syria at UN Security Council

July 13, 2020March 12, 2026 Manouk Vasilian

11:21, 8 July, 2020

YEREVAN, JULY 8, ARMENPRESS. Russia considers it necessary to gradually curtail the cross-border assistance mechanism for Syria and suggests adopting a resolution providing for the extension of supplies through only one checkpoint on the border with Turkey, said Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, in a statement published on Tuesday, following the vote to extend the cross-border humanitarian assistance to Syria, reports TASS news agency.

Russia and China vetoed the draft resolution by Germany and Belgium, which proposed leaving two checkpoints open for the UN.

“The time has come to phase out this mechanism in order to replace it with humanitarian supplies that will be implemented in accordance with the principles outlined in UN General Assembly resolution 46/182”, the statement said. “However, we are aware of the need to meet the humanitarian needs of all Syrians”, Nebenzya added. “We will present our draft resolution, which implies a six-month extension of the mechanism, while limiting the number of existing checkpoints to one at the Bab al-Hawa checkpoint on the Turkish border”.

Due to the UN remote mode of operation, voting took place in written form to the head of the Security Council, a source in the organization told TASS.

“Russia and China voted against the document. 13 members of the council voted in favor. The draft resolution was not adopted because of a vote against it by the permanent members of the Security Council”, the source said.

The UN Security Council made the decision to start cross-border humanitarian operations in Syria in July 2014. In January of 2020, it extended the relevant resolution for six months, but the number of checkpoints was reduced from four to two on the border with Turkey.

Armenia’s deputy defense minister infected with COVID-19

July 13, 2020March 12, 2026 Jhanna Virabian

11:27, 8 July, 2020

YEREVAN, JULY 8, ARMENPRESS. Deputy defense minister of Armenia Gabriel Balayan has been infected with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on defense and security affairs Andranik Kocharyan said at the committee session.

“Today deputy defense minister Gabriel Balayan was also going to attend the session, but he is sick. Let’s wish a good health to our colleague”, he said.

535 new cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) have been registered in Armenia in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 29,820, the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention said today.

520 more patients have recovered. The total number of recoveries has reached 17,427.

18 people have died in one day, raising the death toll to 521.

The number of active cases stands at 11,708.

Reporting by Norayr Shoghikyan; Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

US administration’s policy on Meds Yeghern issue has not changed – WhiteHouse

July 13, 2020March 12, 2026 Maghakian Mike

US administration’s policy on Meds Yeghern issue has not changed – White House

12:07, 8 July, 2020

YEREVAN, JULY 8, ARMENPRESS. The US administration’s policy on the issue of the Meds Yeghern has not changed, the White House told the Armenian service of Voice of America, commenting on the reference to the Armenian Genocide by White House spokesperson Kayleigh McEnany during a press briefing.

The White House said the administration’s policy on this matter has not changed, adding that the US President has reaffirmed that the Meds Yeghern is a historical crime and tragedy, and the US stands by the Armenian people.

On July 6 White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany referred to the vandalism on the Armenian Genocide Memorial during her daily press briefing.

In the course of decrying protesters desecrating memorials across the country, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany referred to a memorial to the genocide by its proper name, Massis Post reports.

“There seems to be a lack of understanding and historical knowledge when the Armenian Genocide Memorial, remembering victims of all crimes against humanity including slavery, is vandalized”, Kayleigh McEnany said.

McEnany appeared to be referring to the Armenian Genocide Memorial outside the Colorado state Capitol in Denver, which was vandalized several weeks ago.

The White House spokesperson’s reference to the Armenian Genocide has been actively discussed in the press. Turkey also commented on McEnany’s remarks, stating that the position of the Trump administration on this matter is widely known.

Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), also commented, stating: “We may be witnessing, in this one-off statement, the first steps toward an all-of-government recognition of the Armenian Genocide”.

While the two chambers of the US Congress – the Senate and the House of Representatives, have adopted resolutions recognizing and condemning the Armenian Genocide in 2019, the US government still refers to the 1915 killings as “Meds Yeghern”, refusing to call them genocide.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan