The former head of the Sargsyan Military University, retired general Armen Kagramanyan expresses his support for the General Staff of the Armed Forces and joins in the demand for Nikol Pashinyan’s resignation, hraparak.am reported.
“I express my support unequivocally. What the chief of the General Staff and the members of the officer corps who signed the statement said is definitely correct,” he said.
The Office of the Prime Minister considers it unfounded and does not accept the objections received from the Office of the President, regarding which it will present its justifications in the manner prescribed by law, Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister Arsen Torosyan wrote on his Facebook.
“The Office of the Prime Minister received objections from the Office of the President regarding the draft decree on dismissing the Chief of the General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces.
The Office of the Prime Minister considers it unfounded and does not accept the objections received from the Office of the President, regarding which it will present its justifications in the manner prescribed by law.
According to the 2nd paragraph of the 14th article of the RA Constitution, the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia should remain neutral in political matters and are under civilian control.”
Saturday, Armenian President Refuses To Sack Army Chief Armenia -- President Armen Sarkissian addresses the nation, November 16, 2020. President Armen Sarkissian on Saturday refused to fire Armenia’s top army general who has demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and his government. He said the sacking of Colonel-General Onik Gasparian sought by Pashinian would be unconstitutional and would not address the “unprecedented” political crisis in the country. Pashinian petitioned Sarkissian on Thursday to sign a decree relieving Gasparian of his duties shortly after the chief of the Armenian army’s General Staff and 40 other high-ranking officers issued a joint statement that accused the government of misrule and demanded its resignation. Pashinian rejected the demand as a “military coup attempt.” By contrast, Armenian opposition groups trying to oust him over his handling of the autumn war in Nagorno-Karabakh voiced support for the military’s top brass. Sarkissian held a series of talks with senior representatives of the ruling My Step bloc, opposition leaders and Gasparian before announcing his decision not to sign a relevant presidential decree drafted by Pashinian’s office. ARMENIA -- Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and his supporters march during a rally in Yerevan, February 25, 2021 Citing “leading lawyers and independent experts,” the president suggested that the proposed decree runs counter to the Armenian constitution. He also noted that Pashinian demanded Gasparian’s sacking after the military’s unprecedented statement and amid a “political crisis” and “serious security challenges” facing Armenia. “There is no doubt that the armed forces must maintain neutrality on political issues,” Sarkissian said in a statement. “It is also evident that because of the war the military personnel now need our support and attention more than ever before. Solving problems of the army and its personnel is a top priority that cannot be ignored in any way.” “The existing situation is unprecedented, requires systemic and comprehensive solutions, and cannot be resolved with frequent personnel changes that do not take into account the state of affairs in the country,” added the statement. It insisted that the head of state, who has largely ceremonial powers, “does not support any political force.” The Armenian constitution allows the prime minister to again demand that Sarkissian sack Gasparian. In that case, the president can sign the relevant decree or ask the Constitutional Court to rule on its legality. Armenia -- Opposition supporters demonstrate in Yerevan to demand Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian's resignation, . Pashinian was quick to criticize Sarkissian’s decision not to sack the army chief. “This decision does not help at all to settle the current situation,” he wrote on Facebook, adding that he is resending the draft decree to the president. Sarkissian's move was swiftly welcomed by an alliance of Armenian parties that continued to stage demonstrations in Yerevan aimed at forcing Pashinian to step down. One of the alliance leaders, Vazgen Manukian, described it as a “great victory” when he addressed supporters of the Homeland Salvation Movement before they again marched through the city center. Manukian again called on Armenia’s police and the National Security Service to join the military in demanding Pashinian’s resignation. The opposition alliance holds Pashinian responsible for the Armenian side’s defeat in the six-week war with Azerbaijan stopped by a Russian-brokered ceasefire on November 10. Sarkissian has likewise called on the prime minister to hand over power to an interim government tasked with holding snap parliamentary elections. Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL Copyright (c) 2021 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc. 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
17:39,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 26, ARMENPRESS. Armenia’s economic activity index has declined by 7.5% in January 2021 compared to January 2020, according to the data released by the Statistical Committee.
Industrial production volume declined 10.8%. Construction volume increased by 0.8% in January 2021 compared to January 2020. The decline in trade turnover comprised 15.1%, and in the services volume (trade excluded) – 10.3%.
In January 2021 consumer price index increased by 4.5%, the index of the industrial production prices – 5.5%. Electricity production volume increased by 2.2%.
Average monthly nominal salary in January 2021 compared to January 2020 declined 3.8%, comprising 183,760 drams.
Decline was also registered in the external trade turnover volumes by 16.8%. Moreover, the export declined by 11.3% and the import by 20%.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
17:29,
YEREVAN, 26 FEBUARY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 26 February, USD exchange rate up by 0.99 drams to 527.96 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 3.76 drams to 640.20 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.08 drams to 7.08 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 10.90 drams to 736.03 drams.
The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.
Gold price down by 84.83 drams to 30208.32 drams. Silver price up by 3.94 drams to 474.01 drams. Platinum price up by 141.37 drams to 21183.93 drams.
17:21,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 26, ARMENPRESS. Bernard Kouchner, co-founder of Médecins Sans Frontières, former French Foreign Minister and member of the Aurora Prize Selection Committee, who arrived in Armenia at the invitation of the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative and also paid a visit to Artsakh, expresses his solidarity to the victims of the recent Artsakh war.
Sharing his impressions from his visit to Artsakh, the former French FM told Armenpress that the goal of his visit was first of all to show support to the war victims and the wounded.
During the visit internationally renowned humanitarian and physician Bernard Kouchner was accompanied by humanitarians Alain Boinet, Founder of Solidarités International, and Patrice Franceschi, former Chairman of the Société des Explorateurs Français. Together, they had a chance to take a closer look at the regional humanitarian projects supported by Aurora and focused on promoting micro and small enterprises, restoring infrastructure, and boosting economy.
In Stepanakert, the capital of the Republic of Artsakh, Mr. Kouchner and others visited the Lady Cox Rehabilitation Center to meet with wounded soldiers in treatment.
Aurora supports the infrastructure improvement of the Center within the framework of the Initiative’s aid program for Artsakh, focused on assisting projects that facilitate the region’s long-term social development.
“I was impressed by the philosophy of the Lady Cox Center to integrate the whole family and environment in the therapeutic process. The whole place had a quiet and positive atmosphere, and I am happy that Aurora supports this institution that is so much needed in Artsakh,” Dr. Kouchner said after the visit.
Mr. Kouchner’s delegation also toured the areas of Stepanakert that had been most affected by the war and talked to the representatives of the projects assisted by Aurora, including The HALO Trust’s operation to clear cluster munitions and other explosives in civilian areas to allow the safe return of displaced people to Artsakh.
17:06,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 26, ARMENPRESS. Chairwoman of the Federation Council of the Russian Federal Assembly Valentina Matviyenko and Speaker of Parliament of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan held a telephone conversation today discussing the latest domestic political developments in Armenia, the Federation Council’s press service reports.
“The Chairwoman of the Federation Council stated that Russia considers the ongoing events an internal affair and hopes that the situation will be solved exclusively in a peaceful way”, the statement says.
The phone conversation took place at the initiative of the Armenian side.
On February 25 the General Staff of the Armenian Forces of Armenia issued a statement, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his Cabinet.
In his turn Pashinyan commented on the statement, calling it as a “military coup attempt”. He invited all his supporters to the Republic Square to discuss the ongoing developments. The meeting was followed by a march across Yerevan.
In turn the opposition also held a rally in the Freedom Square. Thereafter, they moved to the Parliament’s building and blocked the traffic in the Baghramyan street.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
16:58,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 26, ARMENPRESS. The main task of the Russian peacekeeping mission in Nagorno Karabakh is to ensure sustainable peace and restore normal life in the region, Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said at a press briefing, commenting on the reports according to which the Russian peacekeepers do not allow the entry of some journalists, tourists and NGO representatives to Karabakh, reports TASS.
“We need to ask ourselves, what we want – to develop tourism in Artsakh at this stage or to achieve the return of refugees and restore the normal life. The most important is the sustainable peace, the return of the people and the restoration of normal life, including the solution of the problems which exist for a long time”, she said.
Zakharova stated that the peacekeepers are trying to understand each case of entry right together with all parties to the conflict.
“Of course, we all are in favor of journalists being able to work in all corners of the world, and tourists being able to travel. In any case, there is a real problem, and we need to focus on solving it”, she added.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
16:54,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 26, ARMENPRESS. The Homeland Salvation Movement’s candidate for the prime minister Vazgen Manukyan, member of the Republican Party of Armenia Vahram Baghdasaryan and the President of the Fatherland party Artur Vanetsyan are meeting with President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian.
After the meeting the Homeland Salvation Movement will hold a rally outside the Parliament building today at 18:00 during which its representatives will present the results of the meeting with the President and their future steps.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
16:51,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 26, ARMENPRESS. President Armen Sarkissian held separate meetings with representatives of all three parliamentary factions.
Sarkissian’s office said he held meetings with ruling My Step bloc leader Lilit Makunts, opposition Bright Armenia (LHK) leader Edmon Marukyan, and the Secretary of the opposition Prosperous Armenia (BHK) Arman Abovyan.
“During the meetings views were exchanged around the crisis situation in the country. Issues relating to de-escalating the tension and the ways for a peaceful resolution of the situation were discussed. The representatives of the parliamentary forces presented their approaches and viewpoints to the president,” Sarkissian’s office said.
Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan