Category: 2022

CIVILNET.AM

 11:03,

YEREVAN, JUNE 21, ARMENPRESS. A documentary book on Armenian Genocide has been published in Spain for the first time. Author of the book “Armenian Genocide” (El Genocidio Armenio), Ricardo Ruiz de la Serna, Associate Lecturer of Current World History at the international degrees of San Pablo CEU-University Madrid, has been studying the 1915 Armenian Genocide for years and advocating the Spanish recognition of the Genocide.

In an interview to ARMENPRESS, Ricardo Ruiz de la Serna said he wrote the book for justice aimed at raising awareness on the Armenian Genocide within the Spanish society.

“This book is just a modest contribution to set the facts and pave the way for a better understanding of the Armenian Genocide among the Spanish general public”, he says.

Ricardo Ruiz de la Serna has no Armenian roots. He says he has been interested in Armenian culture since childhood thanks to his father who loved Armenian music. “After I visited the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute in 2012, I decided to focus on the Armenian Genocide and have been reading and researching since then. After 10 years, it was high time to write something targeting the Spanish audience. I wrote something about my personal progress some years ago”, he says.

The author says that the book is a short history of the Genocide. It is covering the road to the Genocide – the Hamidian Massacres, the destruction of the Armenians in Cilicia, the ideological and political roots of political violence against Armenians in the Ottoman Empire, how it was perpetrated (legal framework, military and paramilitary units, etc) and the different stages of the genocide (massive arrests, deportations, confiscations, death marches through the dessert, etc).

“However, I am also interested in the Armenian attempts to resist and fight. Sometimes people think that Armenians remained “silent like a lamb being led to the butcher” and accepted their terrible fate. It was not so. Wherever they could fight and resist, they did it. Probably the most famous example was the Armenian resistance in the Musa Dagh in July 1915”, he added.

In his book Ricardo Ruiz de la Serna has also touched upon the material destruction and confiscation of Armenian-owned estate (houses, churches, businesses) and the unjust laws that made it possible.

He says he summed up some other issues like the evidence of the genocide including some Spanish sources, scholarship and authors. “The epilogue deals with the issue of impunity of the Genocide”, he adds.

“The Armenian people suffered a genocide before the eyes of the world (we shouldn´t forget the journalists and diplomats reporting from many places like Constantinople, Aleppo, etc).
Later it was denied and went basically unpunished. This impunity is one of the great injustices in the XX century”, he says.

He thinks there are valuable lessons to learn from the current time: the importance of international commitment, the need to resist and fight wherever possible, the importance of memory, the need of justice… “We need to talk about the non-Armenians who tried to help and, in some cases, save Armenians. They shouldn´t be forgotten. They should rather become examples of what is right and decent beyond cultural, ethnical or religious differences”, he adds.

Ricardo Ruiz de la Serna says many people welcomed such a book for the Spanish audience. He hopes it will also help to raise the level of Armenian studies in Spain and foster cooperation with scholars and researchers from other countries

“I have been advocating for a very long time for the Spanish recognition of the Armenian Genocide. This is a general knowledge book geered toward the general public. I would like my fellow citizens to hear and read, including some Spanish sources, the history of the genocide, yes, but also the stories of heroism, resistance and humanity by Armenians. Definitely I’d like to raise awareness of the need of recognition, but also of the suffering and dignity of the Armenians confronting this terrible fate”, he says.

Asked what perspectives he sees for the recognition of Armenian Genocide by Spain on a state level, Ricardo Ruiz de la Serna said he is optimistic over the recognition. “I am mostly confident and optimistic regarding the recognition. Perhaps it will take some time but Armenians know the value of patience, perseverance and hope. I remember the story of how Armenian books were tore apart in order to be saved during the Genocide. They were not saved for the present generation but for generations to come. That action was not out of desperation but out of faith and hope in the future. I would like to honor that confidence in the future, although I would prefer my book not to be tore apart unless necessary to save it”, he stated.

 

Interview by Aram Sargsyan

 11:44,

YEREVAN, JUNE 21, ARMENPRESS. The Golden Apricot Yerevan International Film Festival 2022 will introduce movie fans on a special program during which films touching upon the 2020 Artsakh War will be presented, Artistic Director of the Festival Karen Avetisyan said, adding that one of the films has been shot by Greeks, the other by Argentines and the next one by Egyptians. There are also two films relating to the topic by director from Armenia and Artsakh.

“The accusations that the Festival ignores Artsakh or avoids this topic under the influence of some forces are at least nonsense as those who accuse have not even seen the program of the Festival which is not published yet. Any festival selection supposes selected and unfortunately, non-selected films on any topic. Golden Apricot is not an exception, and the fact that this Festival pays special attention to the most important topic for its country is not an exception as well. That is the war and post-war period. Moreover, the closing film of the 19th Golden Apricot is an Armenian reference to the 44-Day War”, he said.

Earlier reports were spread that the Golden Apricot Yerevan International Film Festival has denied the documentary about Artsakh “The Desire To Live”.

Golden Apricot Yerevan International Film Festival will take place from July 10 to 17, 2022. Around 100 films will be screened during the Festival.

 12:39,

YEREVAN, JUNE 21, ARMENPRESS. European Union Ambassador to Russia Markus Ederer arrived at the Russian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday, where he had been summoned over Lithuania’s restrictions on transits to the Russian region of Kaliningrad, TASS reports.

Lithuania informed Kaliningrad that transit of some goods from Russia to the region would be limited from June 18 due to EU sanctions, Kaliningrad Region Governor Anton Alikhanov said on June 17.

 13:50,

YEREVAN, JUNE 21, ARMENPRESS. Head of the opposition “I Have the Honor” faction of the Armenian Parliament Artur Vanetsyan announced that he is stepping down as an MP.

In a statement on social media, he said that the “I Have the Honor” bloc formed with the Republican Party of Armenia stops to exist according to the decision of the Homeland party.

“Today I submitted an appeal on stepping down as a Member of Parliament. For many of you my decision is not a surprise as I have repeatedly and publicly announced that I no longer see myself in this parliament”, he said, adding that the Homeland party’s board made a decision to continue activities out of parliament.

 15:02,

YEREVAN, JUNE 21, ARMENPRESS. The member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) are ready to boost the activities on developing the Eurasian transportation corridors and routes, Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) Mikhail Myasnikovich told reporters summing up the results of the session of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council held in Minsk, Belarus.

“A decision was adopted aimed at boosting the work on developing the transportation infrastructure, including the Eurasian transportation corridors and routes”, he said.

He said that there is a proposal to “build a Southern railway in Armenia, reconstruct the M-1 highway for the development of Europe-Western China highway branching to Belarus, build Europe-Western China railway and China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway”.

 15:34,

YEREVAN, JUNE 21, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan participated in the expanded-format session of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council in Minsk. Firstly, the Prime Minister of Belarus Roman Golovchenko met the Heads of Government of the EAEU member states, and then the video-shooting ceremony took place, the PM’s Office said.

Prime Minister Pashinyan delivered a speech at the session of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council, in which, in particular, he noted,

“Distinguished members of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council,

Dear participants of the session,

First of all, let me thank the Belarusian side and personally the Prime Minister of Belarus Roman Golovchenko for organizing the session of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council and, of course, for the warm reception and the traditional hospitality.

Taking this opportunity, I would like to thank the presiding party, personally the Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan, Akylbek Japarov, for his efforts to develop the issues to be discussed.

I sincerely welcome the representatives of the member and observer states of the Eurasian Economic Union.

The Eurasian Economic Union is gradually completing the stage of accomplishment, and is passing to the stage of revealing its integration potential for the benefit of creating a common economic space, sustainable economic growth of our countries, strengthening competitiveness, effective promotion of its economic interests in the international arena.

Given the new realities, the need to strengthen the close coordination of our actions increases as a basis for the member states to adapt to the modern conditions of the world economy.

In the context of modern economic challenges, one of the most important issues remains to ensure food security of our countries. At present, for objective reasons, some restrictions on the supply of certain types of agricultural products arise in the common agricultural market, which can negatively affect the sustainable agricultural activities in our countries, in general, the food security of the Union.

In this regard, I believe that the member states of the Union should respond to the risks first of all on a collective basis, using the potential of developing consolidated, mutually acceptable solutions, minimizing the possibility of food shortages.

Dear participants of the meeting,

As the continuation of the discussion of the key issues on our agenda that started yesterday, I would like to dwell on some aspects that are relevant for the Union.

Cooperation within the Union is a priority for our countries, which allows to strengthen the traditional cooperation, to establish new partnerships in order to realize the economic potential of the Union.

In this context, for the purpose of the operation of the Union’s common market, I consider the removal of barriers to mutual trade, the formation of new export-import logistics chains, the development of import substitution, and the further improvement of conditions for doing business important.

The experience of the recent years shows that most of the obstacles faced by businesses arise due to the lack of unified, coordinated, consented rules of activity. Only the readiness for constructive dialogue, openness and transparency can help maintain positive dynamics in this issue.

I attach importance to solving the issue of the alcoholic beverages market. The establishment of common goals and principles, common regulatory measures can contribute to the creation of a common market without discriminatory restrictions or exceptions in mutual trade. This is a priority direction for Armenia, which has wide export opportunities.

Colleagues,

We are witnessing a digital transformation of the world economy. Without advanced digital tools and technologies, it is difficult to compete in the world arena.

Since the formation of the digital agenda of the Union, a number of large-scale projects have already been launched, due to which the economic relations between our countries have become more simple and more transparent in terms of assessing their effectiveness.

I consider the development of the system for tracking cargo through navigation seals important, mutual recognition of digital signatures, as well as the discussion of cross-border e-commerce, the growth of which poses new challenges for us, requiring effective solution to issues related to product security, consumer protection, as well as ensuring the integrity of taxes and customs revenues.

Given the lack of shared borders with the EAEU member states, the digitalization of processes will save time and material resources for Armenia.

Logistics is another field that requires digital solutions. In this context, I would like to emphasize the need for the member states to work out agreed proposals for cooperation on creation and development of transport infrastructure, multi-module logistics centers and Eurasian transport corridors. The Armenian side attaches great importance to the development of dialogue and cooperation with the People’s Republic of China in the implementation of the “Belt and Road” strategic initiative.

Distinguished Heads of Delegations,

In the end, I would like to note that despite the objective difficulties that arise on the way to reaching compromises, we continue to move towards building an effective union that will work successfully in today’s difficult realities.

Thank you for your productive work and constructive discussion”.

The Prime Ministers of the Eurasian Economic Union member states discussed and adopted decisions related to the strengthening of the internal market, the development of transport infrastructure, and the regulation of customs tariffs. Reference was also made to cooperation on digital agenda.

By the decision adopted at the meeting, the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission was instructed to ensure, together with the governments of the EAEU member states, the preparation of indicative balances on wheat, barley, corn, sunflower seeds, sugar and other products.

Tigran Sargsyan, Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Development Bank, made a presentation on the forthcoming joint programs and steps in the direction of the digitalization process.

The agreed documents and protocols were signed at the session.

It was decided to hold the next session of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council in Kyrgyzstan at the end of August.

After the session, the Prime Ministers visited the Victory Square in Minsk, laying wreaths at the monument to the victory in the Great Patriotic War, paying tribute to the memory of all the victims.

 17:22,

YEREVAN, JUNE 21, ARMENPRESS. 6 billion 342 million 503 thousand drams will be allocated from the 2022 budget of Yerevan for the purchase of 15 trolleybuses and 150 buses, Mayor of Yerevan Hrachya Sargsyan said at the Yerevan City Council session today.

“By the end of 2023, the problems in the transportation system will be solved by 70-80%. Now we are making legislative amendments in order to engage private companies in the process of transport operation. The draft is ready, and that amendment will happen this year. It will allow us to announce tender for acquiring new, additional rolling stock”, the Mayor said, adding that 87 12-meter buses will be in Yerevan in March-April 2023.

 17:57,

YERERVAN, JUNE 21, ARMENPRESS. According to the agreement reached between the Republic of Armenia and the Russian Federation as a result of working discussions, on June 20, the Russian government adopted a decision to provide additional space 3-4 km away from Upper Lars checkpoint, where it will be possible to carry out operations related to customs control of about 250 cars, ARMENPRESS reports the State Revenue Committee and the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure informed.

The mentioned regulation will have a positive impact in terms of increasing the capacity of the checkpoint, eliminating traffic jams and proper management of the queues.

 18:10,

YERERVAN, JUNE 21, ARMENPRESS. The Heads of Government of the Eurasian Economic Union member states discussed both urgent and pending issues of Eurasian integration during the narrow and extended sessions of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council in Minsk, the correspondent of ARMENPRESS reports official representative of the Eurasian Economic Commission Iya Malkina said during the “Minsk-Yerevan-Bishkek-Nur-Sultan” video bridge organized by “Sputnik Armenia” multimedia press center.

According to Malkina, the discussions did not pass without heated debates, but at the same time, positive, agreed decisions were reached on all issues.

“During the two days, the Heads of Government of the EEU countries were very active in discussing both urgent and pending issues of Eurasian integration. Naturally, it was impossible to avoid heated debates. At the same time, we managed to reach positive, agreed decisions on practically all issues. I want to emphasize that all the issues directly touch upon the most important aspects of our common life, our integration,” she said.

The session of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council took place on June 20-21, which was also attended by Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan.