Category: 2020

CoE: Armenia: Conference on Political Integrity and Ethics in Local Governance

Tambiyan Samvel
Council of Europe
March 2 2020
CO-OPERATION YEREVAN, ARMENIA 2 MARCH 2020

The Congress is organising a conference on “Political integrity and ethics in local governance” on 4 March 2020 in Yerevan, Armenia. This event will gather together representatives of 23 local authorities to launch Community of practice on political integrity and ethics in local governance, aimed at implementing relevant European standards and Congress recommendations at local level in Armenia.

The discussions will be structured around two sessions “Accountability, transparency and fighting corruption” and “Challenges for Armenia: building integrity” in order to examine the risks related to corruption, open government and transparency in public procurement, practical mechanisms for their implementation, as well as performance management and citizen participation at the local level.

The Congress’ thematic spokesperson on promoting public ethics and preventing corruption at local and regional levels, Andrew Dawson (United Kingdom, ECR) will present the European Code of Conduct for all Persons involved in Local and Regional Governance, as well as the strategy adopted by the Congress. It comprises six reports compiled in the Public Ethics series: conflict of interest, transparency and open government, transparent public procurement, administrative resources and fair elections, combating nepotism and protecting whistleblowers.

The conference will be opened by Vache Terteryan, Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, Srbuhi Galyan, Deputy Minister of Justice, Sergey Hovhannisyan, National Programme Officer, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Emin Yeritsyan, President of the Communities Association of Armenia (CAA), and Natalia Voutova, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Yerevan. The participants will also include representatives of other national stakeholders in this initiative, including the Ministry of Finance, the Secretariat of Open Government Partnership, Anti-corruption Coalition of Armenia and Transparency International Armenia.

The conference will be followed by the working meeting of the Community of practice Core Group, on 5 March, which will establish thematic working groups and elaborate necessary tools with experts’ support, in order to pursue better consultation between national and local authorities.

This event is organised in the framework of the project “Strengthening the Communities Association of Armenia and Transparent, Participatory Local Governance in Armenia”.  It is implemented by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, with the financial support of the Swiss government, in the framework of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Armenia 2019-2022.


Australia’s Greek, Armenian and Assyrian communities push for recognition of Turkish-committed Genocide

Emil Lazarian
Neos Kosmos, Greek Community of Australia
March 3 2020

The “Joint Justice Initiative” was launched in a special event at Australia’s Parliament House

(L) Haig Kayserian, Hermiz Shahen and Dr. Panayiotis Diamantis. (R) Representatives of the joint initiative from Australia’s Greek, Armenian and Assyrian communities at the Parliament House in Canberrra. Photos: Supplied

3 March 2020 2:49pm

The affirmation of a joint commitment to advocate for the recognition of Turkish-committed Genocide against Greek, Armenian and Assyrian citizens of the Ottoman Empire and the Republic of Turkey between 1914 and 1924, was witnessed by around 100 parliamentarians, diplomats, political staffers, academics, media and community leaders.

READ MORE: Genocide history resources go online

In attendance from the Greek community were Canberra’s St. Nicholas’ parish priest Rev. Peter Kipouros, representing Archbishop Makarios, Mrs Martha Mavrommati, High Commissioner for Cyprus, Mrs Gokhan Papakosta representing Greece’s new ambassador to Australia George Papakostas, Mr Panayiotis Stefanidis and Ms Maria Anthony Nicolaides, president and treasurer respectively of the Federation of Pontian Associations of Australia and president of the Greek community of Canberra John Loukadellis among others.

The Australian Hellenic Council, the Armenian National Committee of Australia and the Assyrian Universal Alliance, as signing parties of the MoU, have agreed to undertake joint advocacy and public education initiatives to promote the demand for international recognition and condemnation of the genocide that was suffered by their respective communities and collaborate to secure the support of Australia’s government and lawmakers to their cause.

They are also determined to “advocate against any attempt by the Turkish Government to use the sacred ANZAC graves in Gallipoli (and access by Australians to those graves and memorials) as ‘hostages’ or bargaining chips in coercing or persuading the Australian Government in being complicit in the Turkish State’s denial campaign with respect to the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Genocides.”

Closing the event, historian specialising in genocide Dr. Panayiotis Diamantis spoke of Australia’s humanity and generosity in having offered assistance to those who had been persecuted and expressed the collective hope of the descendants from these communities to see these past stories of suffering and survival get the recognition they deserve.

Azerbaijani oress: US Ambassador to OSCE: There has to be diplomatic solution to Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

Kajoyan Gevork
NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT3 March 2020 10:51 (UTC+04:00)

BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 3

By Leman Zeynalova – Trend:

There has to be diplomatic solution to Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, US Ambassador to OSCE James Gilmore said during a special briefing, Trend reports citing the US State Department.

“Well, as you know, there is a process in place, a group that – a Minsk Group that is trying to find some answers and solutions into this. I have met with both the ambassadors from Azerbaijan and the ambassadors from Armenia, each of whom have talked to me about – separately about this conflict and how they see it in the big picture of both of their respective countries,” he said.

Gilmore noted that the United States has taken the position that there just simply is not going to be a military solution to this.

“So there has to be a diplomatic solution. The Minsk Group is represented by Russia, the United States, and France. I have met with them previously. I think we’ll meet with them again. But as long as they continue to be engaged in a diplomatic conversation, at least we’re not seeing a further shooting conflict there. And so our position is to keep it steady, to keep the sides talking, and to see if we can’t find a diplomatic solution, not a military one,” he added.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno Karabakh and the surrounding districts.

—

Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn

Azerbaijani press: Russian authorities restrict entry for Karabakh separatists to Russia

Emil Lazarian
NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT3 March 2020 14:17 (UTC+04:00)

BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 3

Trend:

Russian authorities decided to restrict entry for Karabakh separatists Masis Mayilyan and Samvel Babayan to Russia for five years, Trend reports on March 3 referring to the Armenian media.

“This information was disseminated in the evening of March 2,” the message said. “This information was not officially confirmed or refuted for the media outlets due to the late time.”

“The decision is based on political and, perhaps, legal grounds,” the report said.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno Karabakh and the surrounding districts.

Azerbaijani press: Armenia to collapse if it closes all state boundaries: Russian expert

Emil Lazarian
POLITICS3 March 2020 15:14 (UTC+04:00)

BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 3

By Huseyn Safarov – Trend:

If Armenia completely closes borders with its neighbors, then it will collapse, well-known Russian expert and TV presenter Yevgeny Mikhailov told Trend, commenting on the Armenian authorities’ decision not to close the land borders with Iran and Georgia.

In this case, it is obvious that Yerevan chooses the lesser of two evils, Mikhailov said.

“Armenia made such a decision because closing the border with Iran means blocking access to the economic space for its citizens,” he added.

Regarding the threat of coronavirus, there is no pandemic or any epidemic yet, said the expert.

“Specialists are now working at checkpoints in many countries to identify signs of the disease among visitors. So, the specialists with necessary equipment also work at the Baku airport and Russian harbors. The infection cases have been revealed in many countries.”

Mikhailov noted that if Armenia does not control the epidemiological situation, this will pose a regional threat in terms of the coronavirus spread.

“Now the question is only responsibility, in particular of Yerevan. We do not know how seriously Yerevan is ready to fight coronavirus, and this is a matter of concern. But in a situation of economic blockade, Armenia cannot afford to completely close the borders,” the expert stressed

As for Russia, it is unlikely at the moment to expect that the country stops communication with Yerevan, he added.

“However, Moscow can take such drastic measures, if the coronavirus spreads throughout Armenia. Then Russia will be forced to stop the traffic between two countries,” concluded Mikhailov.

Armenia has not closed the land border with Iran. Earlier, Armenian Health Minister Arsen Torosyan said that he also did not consider it necessary to close the border with Georgia.

Follow the author on Twitter: @C8NTINENT

Azerbaijani press: Economy minister appointed co-chair of Azerbaijan-Israel Joint Commission

Alex Jidarian

Mon 02 Mar 2020 15:47 GMT | 19:47 Local Time

Text size:   
President Ilham Aliyev has signed an order on Amendments to the Presidential Decree No. 2999 dated June 16, 2017 “On Approval of the composition of representatives from the Republic of Azerbaijan at the Joint Commission between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of Israel”, APA reports.

According to the Order, the co-chair of the Joint Commission between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of Israel has been changed.

Based on the change, the Minister of Economy has been appointed co-chair of the commission.

So far, the Minister of Taxes has acted as co-chair of the commission.

The members of the commission have been approved in the following composition:

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Republic

Deputy Minister of Defense Industry of Azerbaijan Republic

Deputy Minister of Energy of Azerbaijan Republic

Deputy Minister of Transport, Communication and High Technologies of Azerbaijan Republic

Deputy Minister of Agriculture of Azerbaijan Republic

Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan Republic

Deputy Minister of Health of Azerbaijan Republic

Deputy Minister of Education of Azerbaijan Republic

Deputy Minister of Culture of Azerbaijan Republic

Chairman of State Tourism Agency of Azerbaijan Republic

Deputy chairman of State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan Republic

Deputy chairman of State Committee on Work with Diaspora of Azerbaijan Republic

General director of Central Bank of Azerbaijan Republic

Vice President of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences

Armenpress: Nearly 3.1 trillion AMD deposits in Armenia’s banks: 1 trillion AMD are non-resident deposits

Jagharian Tania

Nearly 3.1 trillion AMD deposits in Armenia’s banks: 1 trillion AMD are non-resident deposits

Save

Share

 11:32, 3 March, 2020

YEREVAN, MARCH 3, ARMENPRESS. The volume of deposits in Armenia continues growing, last year it increased 19%. Moreover, this year 1 trillion from the nearly 3.1 trillion AMD loans are non-resident deposits, Andranik Grigoryan – head of the department of financial stability and development at the Central Bank, told Armenpress.

“We have approximately 3.1 trillion drams in deposits, of which nearly 1trillion drams are non-resident deposits. Only in 2019 we had a nearly 19% growth in deposits which is quite a good dynamics. Even during the deep economic crisis we haven’t had decline in deposits, we also had growth, even in 2009, 2014 and during the political processes in 2018”, he said.

There was a nearly 10.7% growth in deposits in late 2018.

Commenting on the reports according to which during the 2018 Revolution days some people withdrew their deposits from banks, Girgoryan said in the beginning of 2018 when the political movements started there was a certain outflow. “But these could have been the deposits of non-residents. These deposits were not withdrawn and taken to other place, they again returned back in 3-4 months. And at that time we even had a 10% growth. This was quite a good figure and speaks about the trust towards the financial system and the banking sector”, Grigoryan said.

The CBA official said everything can have an effect on the financial stability, but it doesn’t mean that Armenia has a financial instability. “Our feature is that we had quite a good capitalized financial system, and the banks were enjoying trust among investors and clients. And this trust helped our financial system to easily overcome the year of 2018, and not only that year, in 2009 we had a nearly 23% devaluation, in 2014 nearly 15% devaluation”, he said.

Grigoryan said the financial system’s average capital adequacy ratio in Armenia is approximately 17% which is quite high. The minimum is set at 12%. The minimum level in Europe is 8%. The CBA official assures that Armenia’s financial system is quite liquid to serve every demand of clients, at the same time in case of losses it has quite a big capital to absorb potential losses.

Interview by Anna Grigoryan

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




Armenpress: Pope Francis tests negative for coronavirus – report

Boshkezenian Garik

Pope Francis tests negative for coronavirus – report

Save

Share

 12:04, 3 March, 2020

YEREVAN, MARCH 3, ARMENPRESS. Pope Francis has tested negative for the novel coronavirus after having canceled a Lent retreat for the first time in his papacy because he is suffering from a cold, Reuters reported citing the Italian newspaper Il Messaggero.

The Vatican hasn’t immediately commented on the report.

Pope Francis was scheduled to take part in the week-long retreat with senior Vatican officials that began on Sunday night at a Church residence south of Rome. But in a surprise announcement hours earlier, he said he would be following it from his residence in a Vatican guest house, at a time when Italy is battling the novel coronavirus outbreak.

Armenpress: Our notions of ties with Georgia are strategic – PM Pashinyan says in Tbilisi

Jirair Kafian

Our notions of ties with Georgia are strategic – PM Pashinyan says in Tbilisi

Save

Share

 11:47, 3 March, 2020

YEREVAN, MARCH 3, ARMENPRESS. Armenia and Georgia have deep cultural, political, economic and historic ties, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told his Georgian counterpart Giorgi Gakharia at a meeting in Tbilisi.

“We have lived side by side for millennia and I think it is time to think about jointly developing this region at least for the coming centuries, if not millennia. Our notions of the relationship with Georgia are strategic. Our countries have both common and differing areas of wider cooperation, but we are viewing our regional relations with our neighboring, with friends, with Georgia on a completely different level. Another factor strengthening our relationship has emerged: it is our people’s clear dedication to democracy and the vision of democratic development. This circumstance, in my belief, is adding one more important cornerstone on the very solid foundation that existed up to now,” the Armenian PM said.

Pashinyan noted that the sides have truly succeeded in the last 1,5 years to receive a new quality and level of cooperation. “By putting special emphasis on this result I would like to add that I am sure that this visit and its results will strengthen it even more. We are succeeding in realizing all our agreements with very clear steps,” Pashinyan said.

PM Gakharia added that the Armenian and Georgian governments are working on a daily regime to further deepen the friendly relations between the two countries.

“I remember our meeting in Yerevan, it went very productive and I think that today’s meeting will also become the foundation for further deepening the relations between our peoples. We live in a difficult region and we realize that regional stability is the inevitable way for our countries’ development. First, we must care about the peace of our countries, then only about the economic, political, cultural and all other issues that are being mentioned,” Gakharia said, expressing certainty that Armenia and Georgia are both seeking the deepening of friendship.  

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan




Armenian family repatriates to homeland from Australia

Toneyan Mark

Save

Share

 12:38, 3 March, 2020

YEREVAN, MARCH 3, ARMENPRESS. The Chahrozyan family repatriated from Australia to Armenia for permanent residence.

The family was welcomed by Armenia’s High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs Zareh Sinanyan at the Zvartnots airport.

“I came to the Zvartnots airport to personally welcome them to Armenia”, Sinanyan said on Facebook, releasing a video.

Gregory and Zepyur Chahrozyan repatriated to Armenia with their four sons – Areg, Masis, Sevan and Paylak. They are very excited and returned back to their homeland with great expectations.

“For many years we were thinking of moving to Armenia. The Revolution gave us strength to make a concrete decision. The only way to preserve the Armenian identity is return back to Armenia. We are visiting Armenia for the first time, those who we know and who came here are just in love with our country. We will do everything for our kids to feel by the end of the year that they were born in Armenia”, Zepyur Chahrozyan said.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan