Category: 2022

Bilateral relations, security and regional issues. Meeting of Presidents of Armenia and Georgia

Emma Jilavian

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YEREVAN, MAY 30, ARMENPRESS. The official welcoming ceremony of the President of the Republic of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan, who arrived in Georgia on an official visit, took place on May 30 at the Orbeliani Palace of the President of Georgia.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Armenian President’s Office, the military orchestra performed the anthems of Armenia and Georgia.

After the official welcoming ceremony, the President of Armenia made a note in the book of honorary guests of the Presidential Palace of Georgia. “I am glad to state that I am paying my first official visit in the status of the President to fraternal Georgia. I am convinced that as presidents of good-neighborly states, we will make a significant contribution to the further strengthening and deepening of relations between the two countries,” the Armenian President wrote.

Afterwards, the private conversation between the Presidents of Armenia and Georgia Vahagn Khachaturyan and Salome Zourabichvili took place, which was followed by a meeting of the delegations in an expanded format.

Welcoming the official delegation of Armenia, Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili said that it is very appreciated that the visit takes place on the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Georgia, which have been 30 years of close friendly relations between the two countries and will continue in the same way.

President Khachaturyan thanked for the warm reception and noted that Armenia attaches great importance to the continuous development and strengthening of relations with neighboring Georgia, for which there are all preconditions.

Issues related to Armenian-Georgian relations and development prospects were discussed at the meeting. The sides stressed that there is a great potential for expanding cooperation in various fields, including the fields of transport, communications and information technologies.

Security and political issues, as well as other issues of regional significance were touched upon, and it was noted that the high level of relations between Armenia and Georgia is one of the important factors ensuring security in the South Caucasus.

RFE/RL Armenian Report – 05/30/2022

Jane Topchian 
                                        Monday, 
Scores Arrested At Continuing Protests In Armenia
        • Marine Khachatrian
Armenia - Police clash with opposition protesters outside a government buiolding 
in Yerevan, .
Riot police clashed with protesters and made more than 100 arrests on Monday as 
daily anti-government demonstrations organized by Armenia’s main opposition 
groups entered their fifth week.
Scuffles broke out after security forces did not allow opposition lawmakers 
leading hundreds of supporters to enter a government building in Yerevan that 
houses four ministries. Several protesters suffered visible injuries or felt 
unwell in the melee.
Others claimed to have been beaten up by police officers after being dragged 
away and forced into the sprawling building.
“We didn’t do anything,” one of them, Artur Azizian told RFE/RL’s Armenian 
Service. “We were handcuffed and lay on the floor, and many of the policemen 
approached and hit us.”
Azizian said he was taken to hospital from a police station in Yerevan a few 
hours later. He said doctors there told him that he suffered rib fractures.
Armenia - Riot police clash with protesters outside a government building in 
Yerevan, .
A police statement said that three officers were also injured and required 
medical aid. It put the total number of arrests at 111. It was not immediately 
clear whether any of those detainees risked criminal charges.
The police also used force against some of the opposition lawmakers who wanted 
to enter the building to talk to the Armenian ministries of environment, local 
government, social security and health about the status of Nagorno-Karabakh 
acceptable to them.
One of those lawmakers, deputy parliament speaker Ishkhan Saghatelian, condemned 
the police actions but said the protest leaders are undaunted by the use of 
force and will stage similar marches to other government buildings in the coming 
days. He said every government member must publicly speak up on the issue raised 
by the opposition.
Armenia - Police officers use force against opposition lawmaker Aghvan Vartanian 
during an anti-government protest in Yerevan, .
The opposition accused Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian of helping Azerbaijan 
regain full control over Karabakh when it launched the street protests in 
Yerevan on May 1. It drafted late last week a parliamentary resolution that 
rejects Azerbaijani control over the Armenian-populated territory and says 
Pashinian’s government cannot make any territorial concessions to Baku as a 
result of a planned demarcation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.
The two opposition alliances represented in the National Assembly challenged its 
pro-government majority to dispel its concerns by voting for the resolution 
during an emergency session slated for June 3.
Artur Hovannisian, a senior lawmaker from Pashinian’s Civil Contract party, made 
clear on Friday it will boycott and thereby block the session. He accused the 
opposition of blackmailing the country’s leadership and exploiting the Karabakh 
conflict for political purposes.
Turkey’s Airspace ‘Reopened’ To Armenian Airline
Armenia - A FlyOne Armenia plane takes off from Yerevan's Zvartnots airport, 
March 17, 2022.
An Armenian airline announced on Monday that Turkish authorities have allowed it 
to resume regular flights to Europe through Turkey’s airspace.
The private carrier, FlyOne Armenia, cancelled the flights to Paris and another 
French city, Lyon, about a month ago, saying that its aircraft were banned from 
flying over Turkey without any explanation. The continuing war in Ukraine left 
it without alternative, commercially viable overflight routes.
In a statement, FlyOne Armenia said both twice-weekly flight services will 
resume on June 17. The company did not say whether it has taken any action in 
response to the Turkish ban.
The airline earlier asked the Armenian government’s Civil Aviation Committee to 
help lift the ban. Citing the absence of diplomatic relations between Armenia 
and Turkey, the committee in turn appealed to the Armenian foreign ministry and 
the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to deal with the issue.
The ban did not apply to FlyOne Armenia’s Yerevan-Istanbul flights that were 
launched in February following the start of Turkish-Armenian negotiations on 
normalizing bilateral relations.
Turkey had banned all Armenian aircraft from its airspace in September 2020 
three weeks before the outbreak of the Armenian-Azerbaijani war over 
Nagorno-Karabakh. Although Armenia did not retaliate against the move, Turkish 
planes reportedly stopped flying over Armenia during the six-week war.
FlyOne Armenia was set up last year by Armenian and Moldovan investors. 
According to Armenian media reports, it is controlled by individuals linked to 
Khachatur Sukiasian, a wealthy businessman and pro-government parliamentarian.
Sukiasian has been a vocal advocate of Armenia’s rapprochement with Turkey and 
Azerbaijan.
Convicted Militants Sent Back To Jail
        • Narine Ghalechian
Armenia - A general view of Erebuni police station seized by gunmen and 
supporters of fringe jailed opposition leader Zhirair Sefilian, in Yerevan, July 
30, 2016
Key members of an armed anti-government group that seized a police base in 
Yerevan in July 2016 were sent back to jail over the weekend after Armenia’s 
highest court upheld prison sentences handed down to them.
The seven men and two dozen other gunmen stormed the base to demand that then 
President Serzh Sarkisian free Zhirayr Sefilian, the jailed leader of their 
radical opposition movement, and step down.
The gunmen, who took police officers and medical personnel hostage, laid down 
their weapons after a two-week standoff with security forces which left three 
police officers dead.
All but two members of the armed group called Sasna Tsrer were released from 
custody shortly after Sarkisian was toppled in the 2018 “velvet revolution” led 
by Nikol Pashinian.
Armenia - The funeral in Yerevan of Yuri Tepanosian, an Armenian police officer 
killed in a standoff between security forces and opposition gunmen, 1Aug2016.
The two other members remained behind bars because of facing murder charges 
denied by them. A district court in Yerevan sentenced one of them to 25 years in 
prison in February 2021. The other, Armen Bilian, was given the same jail term 
by the Court of Appeals in December.
The court also upheld prison sentences of between six and eight years given to 
the seven other defendants. They continued to deny any wrongdoing, appealing to 
the Court of Cassation, Armenia’s highest body of criminal justice.
Armenia - Varuzhan Avetisian (L), the leader an armed opposition group that 
seized a police station in July 2016, at the start of his trial in Yerevan, 
8Jun2017.
The Court of Cassation rejected the appeals, a decision which judicial 
authorities announced only after the seven men, including Sasna Tsrer leader 
Varuzhan Avetisian, were arrested and transported to jail on Saturday. One of 
their lawyers, Arayik Papikian, condemned the “political decision.”
Avetisian, who was sentenced to seven years in prison, has repeatedly defended 
the armed attack on the police facility located in Yerevan’s southern Erebuni 
district. But he has denied responsibility for the killing of the three police 
officers: Colonel Artur Vanoyan and Warrant Officers Yuri Tepanosian and Gagik 
Mkrtchian.
Armenia - Relatives of police officers killed in a standoff with opposition 
gunmen attend a remembrance ceremony in Yerevan, 28Sep2016.
Relatives of the slain officers are also unhappy with the guilty verdicts in the 
case. Tepanosian’s wife and Mkrtchian’s mother insisted on Saturday that all 
members of the armed group should have been sentence to life imprisonment.
Avetisian has also faced in recent months embarrassing accusations from Bilian, 
the man convicted of committing one of the three murders. Bilian claimed that 
the Sasna Tsrer leader as well as Sefilian knew that he did not kill the 
policeman but still helped to jail him as part of a secret deal with the 
Armenian authorities.
Avetisian categorically denied the allegations, arguing that he and Sefilian are 
also in opposition to the current government.
Yerevan Rejects Aliyev’s ‘False’ Claims
Armenia - The building of the Armenian Foreign Ministry.
Armenia has accused Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev of misrepresenting 
understandings reached by the leaders of the two states, threatening to seize 
Armenian territory and torpedoing Nagorno-Karabakh peace efforts.
Official Yerevan also linked Aliyev’s latest statements with a weekend skirmish 
on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border which left one Armenian soldier dead.
The Armenian Defense Ministry said the soldier, Davit Vartanian, was fatally 
wounded on Saturday when his military unit deployed in southeastern Syunik 
province came under cross-border fire from nearby Azerbaijani positions. Baku 
claimed that its troops did not violate the ceasefire.
The incident happened one day after Aliyev’s visit to the Zangelan district 
bordering Syunik. Speaking there, Aliyev ruled out any negotiations with Armenia 
on the status of Nagorno-Karabakh. He said Yerevan has agreed to exclude the 
issue from the agenda of planned negotiations on an Armenian-Azerbaijani peace 
treaty.
Aliyev at the same time warned the Armenian side against insisting on an 
agreement on Karabakh’s status. He said Baku could respond by laying claim to 
Armenian territory. In that regard, he again referred to Syunik as an “ancient 
land” of Azerbaijan.
The Armenian Foreign Ministry deplored Aliyev’s “bellicose” statements and 
“arbitrary and false interpretations” of his agreements reached with Prime 
Minister Nikol Pashinian.
In a statement, the ministry said that “negotiations on the normalization of 
relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan should be held on the basis of 
proposals of both sides.”
The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry dismissed the criticism later on Saturday. It 
said Yerevan should come to terms with “new realities in the region.”
In March this year, Azerbaijan presented Armenia with five elements which it 
wants to be at the heart of the peace treaty. They include a mutual recognition 
of each other’s territorial integrity. Yerevan said they should be complemented 
by other issues relating to Karabakh’s future status and the security of its 
population.
Speaking after his latest talks with Aliyev held in Brussels on May 22, 
Pashinian indicated that the two sides continue to disagree on the agenda of the 
talks on the peace accord.
Aliyev on Friday also repeated his claims that he and Pashinian agreed to open a 
“Zangezur corridor” that will connect Azerbaijan to its Nakhichevan exclave 
through Syunik. The Armenian government denied them as well, with Foreign 
Minister Ararat Mirzoyan insisting that Yerevan and Baku have been discussing 
only conventional transport links.
“The existence of any corridor in the territory of Armenia is out of the 
question,” Mirzoyan said in written comments. “This is not even debatable.”
Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2022 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

The California Courier Online, June 2, 2022

Emil Lazarian

1-         Erdogan Hires his Cousin as Lobbyist

            To Obtain Votes of Turkish Americans

            By Harut Sassounian

            Publisher, The California Courier

            www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com

2-         Armenian’s First Satellite Reaches Orbit

3-         Homenetmen Celebrates 2022 Navasartian Games

4-         GALAS Queernissage Pop-Up Market

            to Celebrate Creativity, Artistry of LGBTQ+

5-         Armenia Continues Fight Against COVID-19

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1-         Erdogan Hires his Cousin as Lobbyist

            To Obtain Votes of Turkish Americans

            By Harut Sassounian

            Publisher, The California Courier

            www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com

Pres. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has been President since 2014, is
planning to run for reelection in 2023. He previously served as Prime
Minister from 2003 to 2014. Before that, he was elected Mayor of
Istanbul in 1994 as a candidate from the Islamist Welfare Party.
However, he was forced out of office in 1998, banned from holding
political office, and imprisoned for four months after reciting a poem
which was viewed as an incitement to violence, religious or racial
hatred. Here is an ominous line from that poem: “The mosques are our
barracks, the domes our helmets, the minarets our bayonets and the
faithful our soldiers.” In 2001, he co-founded the Justice and
Development Party (AKP). Hence, Erdogan has been a continuous presence
at the highest echelons of Turkish government for almost 30 years.

Pres. Erdogan has now enlisted the help of his U.S.-based cousin, Dr.
Halil Mutlu, a citizen of Turkey, to obtain the votes of Turkish
citizens living in the United States during the 2023 presidential
election, to boost his slim chances for reelection.

According to the Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA) filings of the
U.S. Department of Justice, Dr. Mutlu registered as a political
lobbyist on May 11, 2022, on behalf of the Turkish ruling party (AKP)
in the United States, as its sole representative. Dr. Mutlu is a
resident of Windsor, Connecticut. The AKP representation office,
officially registered as a U.S. corporation on May 2, 2022, is
headquartered in Washington, D.C.

The FARA registration, signed by Mutlu, states that the “AK Party
representation to the United States represents the Justice and
Development Party of Turkey in the United States. Its responsibilities
include organizing political, social and cultural activities among the
Turkish citizens in the United States. It also aims to contribute to
furthering the cooperation and historical friendship between the
United States and Turkey….” The FARA registration form reveals the
true aim of this elaborate lobbying scheme: “It will also prepare and
disseminate AK Party material in the United States for the political
support of the Turkish citizens during elections.”

The FARA registration indicates that the U.S. office of AKP represents
the AKP’s principal office located at Pres. Erdogan’s presidential
palace in Cankaya, Ankara, Turkey. It is stated that AKP’s U.S. office
“does not have a budget established or a specified sum of money
allocated” to finance its activities. Dr. Mutlu is said to work
without any pay.

The completed FARA registration application also states that AKP’s
U.S. office will disseminate information through magazines,
newspapers, advertising campaigns, press releases, pamphlets, other
publications, lectures, speeches, radio and TV broadcasts, motion
picture films, letters, telegrams, email, websites, and social media.

The U.S. office of the AKP stated that it will publicize the above
mentioned information to public officials, civic groups, associations,
legislators, libraries, government agencies, educational groups,
newspapers, and nationality groups.

It is not credible that Dr. Mutlu will be able to carry out such an
enormous amount of work “on a part time basis,” without any staff and
without pay. I hope the U.S. Justice Department will keep a close eye
on the trail of funds used for such massive expenditures.

The Turkish government has permitted its citizens who live outside the
country to vote in domestic elections ever since 2014. The vote of
Turkish citizens in the Diaspora is important because around 1.5
million or over 50% of Turks residing abroad voted in the 2018
presidential election, including 811,000 in Germany, 186,000 in
France, 145,000 in the Netherlands, 60,000 in Austria, and 46,000 in
the United States. Erdogan received close to 60% of all votes cast
abroad.

The U.S.-based AL-MONITOR news website, reported that “Turkish
opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu has explosively claimed that
millions of dollars have been siphoned off to allow President Recep
Tayyip Erdogan to flee the country if he loses the upcoming election….
Kilicdaroglu said the equivalent of $61 million was being transferred
‘all of a sudden,’ to the United States through education foundations
close to the President.” The New York-based Turken Foundation’s 2017
tax return shows that its assets were over $43 million. Erdogan’s two
children, son Bilal and daughter Esra, served on the Foundation’s
board. In 2014, Halil Mutlu was appointed chairman of the Turken
Foundation. He was also a board member of the Washington-based Turkish
American National Steering Committee, until his wife, Lynn Mutlu,
replaced him on the board.

It remains to be seen if Dr. Mutlu will be able to persuade a large
number of Turkish Americans to vote for Erdogan in next year’s
election. More importantly, should Erdogan not be reelected and stays
in Turkey, what legal troubles await him for violating a myriad of
Turkish laws for several decades.

************************************************************************************************************************************************
2-         Armenian’s First Satellite Reaches Orbit

(RFE/RL)—Armenia’s first satellite reached Earth’s orbit on May 27
after launching on May 25 aboard a SpaceX rocket from Cape Canaveral
in Florida. The satellite, will have multiple uses. “Photographs to be
taken by the satellite will be used in Armenia for border control,
emergency prevention and management, environmental protection,
including climate-change monitoring, urban planning, road
construction, geology, and other purposes,” Prime Minister Nikol
Pashinyan told a weekly cabinet meeting.

SpaceX released photos of the launch of its Transporter-5 mission on
Twitter. The mission carried 59 payloads as part of what the company
calls a small satellite “rideshare” program.

SpaceX has done three such missions so far this year and plans another
in October.

Pashinyan said the satellite launch was the result of “cooperation”
between the state-run Armenian company Geocosmos and Satlantis, a
Spanish company that specializes in the production of small satellites
and cameras for them.

He did not reveal financial terms of the deal; the Armenian
government’s press office released photographs of it.

Armenia first announced satellite launch plans in 2012 after talks
with Russia’s Federal Space Agency. A year later, a senior government
official said Yerevan hoped to attract private investments in the
project worth $250 million. The project never materialized. Pashinyan
did not explain why a smaller-scale project was launched with a
Western rather than Russian company to implement it.

************************************************************************************************************************************************
3-         Homenetmen Celebrates 2022 Navasartian Games

By Katy Simonian

This year’s 45th Navasartian Games and Festival, which will take place
on the campus of Los Angeles City College, will culminate on Fourth of
July weekend. Athletic competitions and Finals will convene from June
29 to July 3.

The Festival, featuring live entertainment, food and fun booths will
begin on Friday, July 1st at 4 pm and continue through Sunday, July
3rd.

The Closing Ceremonies will commence on Sunday, July 3rd at 6 pm, the
highlight of which will be the Parade of Champions, saluting the young
athletes and volunteers.

“We are so proud of all of our athletes. They are our greatest
achievement, as they inspire us to elevate one another through the
values of kindness, sportsmanship and humility. The Festival is our
way of saying thank you,” says Varant Melkonian, Homenetmen’s 2022
Exemplary Member.

“Elevate Yourself and Others with You.” This is the motto for
Homenetmen and serves as a guiding principle for the global Armenian
organization that has honored a passionate tradition of public service
for over a century.

In the Western United States, Homenetmen’s Scouting Program offers
over 2,000 Armenian-American Scouts the opportunity to earn medals and
badges for their unique areas of interest. The program features
regular troop activities such as field trips, outdoor scouting
exhibitions and camping excursions, all supervised by devoted
volunteers comprising parents, members and Scout leaders.

“Scouting brings us so much joy. It has made a positive impact on
shaping who I am today. So many people invested in me not only as a
Scout, but as a person. It is an honor to carry on the cycle of
giving. Watching them grow and preserve our beautiful Armenian culture
is a gift. Sharing intellectual conversations about our past, present
and future—our challenges and are successes, is what inspires me as a
Scout leader,” says Dr. Sharlene Gozalians, Regional Scout Master for
Homenetmen Western US.

The Scouts have the honor of representing our community and their
Armenian heritage at world jamborees, carrying the flag.

Most recently on April 24, Scouts from Homenetmen’s Western US Region
participated in annual commemorations, standing guard, presenting the
colors and placing a wreath at the Armenian Genocide Monument in
Montebello, honoring the victims and survivors of the Armenian
Genocide of 1915.

Homenetmen’s tradition of scouting is matched only by its legacy of
athletics, dating back to the vision of founder, Shavarsh Krissian,
whose prowess as an athlete inspired his vision for the organization.
Homenetmen’s Athletic Program includes basketball, volleyball, soccer,
tennis and table tennis to track and field, swimming, gymnastics and
karate. The cornerstone of the Athletic Program is sportsmanship and
teamwork—to instill  a sense of confidence, kindness and humility.

Homenetmen’s Western US Region has over 6,000 athletic members. These
athletes compete locally and in regional tournaments, most notably the
Navasartian Games.

“This year’s 45th Navasartian Games includes events kicking off in San
Diego, Fresno, Orange County and across the greater Los Angeles area.
The 2022 Navasartian Games are proving to be the experience of a
lifetime for our youth and their families” said Sevag Garabetian, Vice
Chairman of Homenetmen’s Western Region.

The achievements of Homenetmen’s Scouting and Athletic Programs will
be celebrated at the 45th Navasartian Victory Ball, which will take
place on Sunday, June 26 at The Beverly Hilton. Los Angeles City
College is located at 855 North Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles CA 90029.
Accessible parking is available, as well as Metro and Bus Stops for
convenience.

“We honor all of our athletes and volunteers, as they represent the
very best of our Armenian community. Homenetmen stands as a beacon of
hope to inspire all people. Our unity and strength will lead to our
greatest victory which is the happiness and success of our future
generations,” said Hagop Tufenkjian, Chairman of Homenetmen’s Western
Regional Executive Committee.

For more information about the Navasartian Games, Festival and 45th
Navasartian Victory Ball, visit NavasartianGames.com or call (323)
344-4300; see page 8 for details.

**********************************************************************************************************************************************
4-         GALAS Queernissage Pop-Up Market

            to Celebrate Creativity, Artistry of LGBTQ+

LOS ANGELES—Gay and Lesbian Armenian LGBTQ+ Armenian Society (GALAS)
will host its second annual Queernissage: an open air market featuring
LGBTQ+ creatives from South West Asia & North Africa (SWANA).

The market will take place on June 4, from 10 AM to 6 PM at the Studio
City Pop-Up: 4354 Tujunga Avenue, Studio City, CA 91604.

Queernissage is an homage to “Vernissage”, the open air market in
Armenia that has been a gathering place for artists and merchants for
decades. Through Queernissage, GALAS aims to create a space for their
community members to express and share their creativity with each
other and with the public. With an eclectic array of vendors,
attendees can expect to find artwork, freshly made baked goods,
interactive booths, and jewelry.

GALAS, now in its 24th year, also hosts programs including therapeutic
support groups, known as Soorj Sessions, as well as a scholarship fund
for college students of Armenian descent who have demonstrated LGBTQ+
activism.

***********************************************************************************************************************************************

5-         Armenia Continues Fight Against COVID-19

Armenia continues the fight against COVID-19. The government continues
to promote vaccinations. There were 2,075 active COVID-19 cases in
Armenia as of May 30. Armenia has recorded 422,939 coronavirus cases.
Armenia has recorded 8,624 deaths; this marks the second week where no
new deaths were recorded. 412,240 have recovered.

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California Courier Online provides readers of the Armenian News News Service
with a few of the articles in this week’s issue of The California
Courier. Letters to the editor are encouraged through our e-mail
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the author’s name and location; authors are required to disclose their
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California Courier subscribers can change or modify mailing addresses
by emailing .

CivilNet: Sasna Tsrer party members detained over Yerevan hostage crisis

Liana Toganian
CIVILNET.AM

10:05

  • Security forces detained seven members of the extremist Sasna Tsrer party.
  • Clashes broke out between anti-government protesters and police in front of a government building in central Yerevan, leaving two officers hospitalized and over 100 protesters detained.
  • The Armenian Foreign Ministry released a statement condemning the death of an Armenian soldier in a shoot-out on the border with Azerbaijan.
  • The Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction has begun proceedings to confiscate assets allegedly owned by lawmaker Seyran Ohanyan, who previously served as Defense Minister.

Sports: FAI monitor civil unrest in Yerevan in advance of Republic’s clash with Armenia

Vorskanian Yeghisabet
The Irish Times, Ireland
By Gavin CummiskeyMon – 23:00

The FAI await a security update on civil unrest in Yerevan ahead of the Republic of Ireland’s opening Nations League fixture in the Armenian capital this Saturday.

“We’ve not been briefed on that at the moment but I know there is a security delegation going over in advance,” said Ireland manager Stephen Kenny. “So they will brief us, I am sure, between now and then.

“Three or four are going to be on the ground, headed by Joe McGlue, the [FAI] head of security.”

McGlue’s advance party is followed by Kenny’s 26-man panel, minus the suspended Josh Cullen, on a chartered flight on Wednesday despite weeks of mass demonstrations focusing on the Armenian government’s peace treaty negotiations with Azerbaijan, which turned violent on Monday.

Local media reported two police officers were hospitalised and 111 people were arrested for protesting prime minister Nikol Pashinian handling of talks with Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev, following the 2020 war in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

As the Irish players, management and media observed during the 3-0 win in Baku last October, Azerbaijan openly claims victory in a conflict that was only concluded when Russian president Vladimir Putin signed a ceasefire agreement. Further anti-government gatherings are planned in Yerevan this week.

  
Learn more

Ireland are due to land around the same time Ukraine and Scotland contest the World Cup play-off semi-final at Hampden Park.

“We may get to see it in Armenia,” said Kenny of the other two opponents in June. “It’s a game I’d love to be at. It’s interesting that they became direct opponents in the World Cup play-off and the Nations League.

“It is unusual [but] I think we’ve to focus on our own matches. There’s nothing we can do about it. If Ukraine win, for example, they play Sunday [against Wales in Cardiff] and then they play ourselves on the Wednesday. If Scotland win, then Ukraine have a week to prepare for us, and we’re in Yerevan.”

Travel is guaranteed to influence Kenny’s team selection with the 7,000 mile round trip and four games in 10 days concluding against Ukraine in Lodz, Poland on June 14th. Ireland and Everton captain Séamus Coleman, for example, is expected to be used sparingly and with Matt Doherty injured, Udinese-bound Festy Ebosele might get an opportunity at right wing back.

“We know we will be playing in 28 or 29 degrees, at five o’clock,” Kenny continued. “That is a challenge. So we need to make sure that we are ready and we are not thinking of matches in advance of that. Armenia is a big challenge for us and one we are looking forward to.”

Kenny raised expectations of Irish supporters and the FAI board when stating last year that the management’s ambition is to win this mini-tournament and thereby gain promotion to the elite level of European competition.

“We know the incentive that is there – the possibility of getting second seed for the European Championship draw, the fact that you can actually get into the top table of the Nations League or a possible play-off for the European Championships [2024]. So there is a lot of motivation there but we realise we have been drawn in a tough group; Ukraine, quarter-finalists at the Euros, a really exceptional team, Scotland are on a high as a nation at the moment and Armenia are improving of course.

“So, we have a tough group but it is certainly our ambition to win the group. That is what we are trying to achieve.”

Kenny bristled at the suggestion that such words could come back to haunt his team.

“Listen, I’ve always set targets. I’ve set the bar high in dressing rooms I’ve been in. I’ve always done that. There’s no guarantees. If we don’t win the group, it won’t be for the want of trying. We’re not favourites. We’re third favourites. I could easily just play it down. We’re on a good run of form. We’ve improved a lot. We’ve only one defeat in 12.

“It’s an emerging team. You feel the team is going to get better. We’ve the capacity to score goals. We’re defending better. We’re on a run of good defensive performances as well. So I feel that the team is getting better and there is a good connection between the experienced players and the younger players. You can really feel that in the group.”

Sports: Ireland face potential security scare in Armenia

Parkev Tvankchian
Irish Examiner, Ireland
Stephen Kenny expects to be briefed on any potential concerns 
MON, 30 MAY, 2022 – 23:02
JOHN FALLON

Stephen Kenny is expecting to be briefed on any security concerns his Ireland squad could face when they arrive in politically unstable Armenia on Wednesday.

Organised mass protests have been rife on the streets of Yerevan since mid-April, resulting in scores of dissenters being arrested by local police. Ireland open their Uefa Nations League campaign on Saturday at the capital’s Republic Stadium.

Acts of civil disobedience have been encouraged by the opposition party at Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan for what they deem as unacceptable concessions made in negotiations with Azerbaijan over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.

“We’ve not been briefed on it at the moment but a delegation led by our security chief Joe McGlue flew out to Yerevan in the early hours of Monday,” the Ireland manager explained.

“The delegation of four people travelled out in advance of us and I’m sure I’ll be briefed in due course.”

Sports: Security plan in place as Ireland head east to Yerevan

George Mamian
RTE, Ireland
Updated / Monday,  23:24


By Ed Leahy

RTÉ Sport journalist

The FAI will send a security delegation to Yerevan ahead of Stephen Kenny and his squad as the Republic of Ireland face Armenia in Saturday’s UEFA Nations League fixture.

The Armenian capital city has seen escalating protests in recent weeks with regular protesting of the government’s approach to their relationship with Azerbaijan, which appears unresolved since the six-week war in 2020.

And police clashed with protesters in Yerevan on Monday amid a wave of demonstrations against the prime minister that has seen thousands of people block government buildings, close roads and shut down the metro system.

Pressure against Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has increased since he moved closer to normalising relations with Azerbaijan, which defeated Armenia in a six-week war in 2020.

The war, which centred around the status of the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave, ended with a Russia-brokered peace deal that led to a significant loss of territory for Armenia.

Ireland manager Kenny confirmed that head of security Joe McGlue would travel out with a security team ahead of the team’s departure.

“We’ve not been briefed on that at the moment,” said Kenny, when asked was there any concern regarding the demonstrations in the city.

“But there is a delegation going over, in the early hours. Going ahead in advance. Three or four going over, headed by Joe McGlue.

“I’m sure they will brief us in due course.”

Protests have been regularly taking place throughout May

It must be noted that the FAI would have a security plan in place for every away game, and the manager actually appeared more concerned with the fact that he might miss out on watching the vital World Cup qualification play-off between two of Ireland’s Nations League opponents, Scotland and Ukraine.

Kenny admitted that he was delighted to see Ukraine are actually getting to play their matches despite the ongoing Russian aggression in their country, and he admitted that it was a game that he would love to be at.

“We may get to see it in Armenia,” said Kenny. “It’s a game I’d love to be at. It’s interesting that they became direct opponents in the World Cup play-off, and the Nations League. It is unusual.

“I think we’ve to focus on our own matches. There’s nothing we can do about it. If Ukraine win, for example, they play Sunday and then they play ourselves on the Wednesday. If Scotland win, then they (Ukraine) have a week to prepare for us, and we’re in Yerevan. That’s immaterial.

“In the big scheme of things, it’s amazing that Ukraine are playing at all. It’s great that they are representing their country at this tough time. I’m sure they’ll want to get to the World Cup.”

Looking ahead to the four fixtures that Ireland will play over the next two weeks, the manager will, no doubt, be looking to put an existing and unwanted record to bed, the fact that Ireland are yet to win a Nations League game in ten attempts.

“I didn’t realise it until our analyst Ger Dunne made the point that if we beat Armenia, it will be the first time we have won three away competitive games since 2001,” said Kenny.

“I’m not 100 percent sure if that’s accurate but that’s what he said.

Callum Robinson’s goals have been key for Ireland over the past 12 months

“It’s an opportunity to do that (win) because we’ve been scoring goals since last March. We had two good 3-0 wins away against Azerbaijan and Luxembourg.

“We’ll have to earn it against Armenia because it will be hot. They’ll be determined to do well. They previously won their group to qualify for Group B. We won’t be given anything, we’ll have to earn victory out here.”

The addition of new faces into the squad like CJ Hamilton, Festy Ebosele and Michael Obafemi give the manager options throughout the summer schedule, however, Kenny urged caution about changing thinks too much and referenced the fact that the team has been in good form.

As a result, we can expect to see a familiar line-up in the opening games and the new recruits may have to make do with a watching brief or perhaps secure a cameo or two over the four games.

“It’s not like players will come in and come into the team straight away,” said Kenny.

“We are on a good run of form and players have done well in previous internationals and have scored goals, and that’s important.

“I think it would be naïve to suggest that, bringing players in who have not been capped before and just put them out, and expect the opposition not to be able to live with it,” said Kenny, when asked was the addition of real pace to the squad the best way to play.

“Pace is an important component, but it’s not the only component.

“You have to have the right balance in your team, with creativity, the physical attributes that you need and speed.

“It certainly is good to have the option, and that’s important. We’re not fixated on speed, we do think it’s an important attribute but it’s only one attribute.”

Additional reporting by Reuters

Follow Armenia v Republic of Ireland (Saturday, 2pm) via our live blog on rte.ie/sport or on the RTÉ News app. Watch live coverage on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player commencing at 1pm.



Iran to set up IHIT office in Armenia

Chakrian Hovsep
MEHR News Agency, Iran


TEHRAN, May 31 (MNA) – Iran’s Vice Presidency of Science and Technology announced that the Iran House of Innovation and Technology (iHiT) will be established in Armenia.

The Vice-Presidency has set up IHIT offices in other countries some years ago to develop the global market for knowledge-based products of Iran.

The offices have been already launched in countries such as Russia, Turkey, China, Syria as well as Kenya.

Soon, Armenia and Iraq will host the offices to this end, the Vice-Presidency added.

Earlier, VP Sattari had expressed hope that the inauguration of the Iran House of Innovation and Technology (iHiT) would become a turning point in bilateral economic cooperation between Iran and Kenya in the East African region.

AMK/5502645

Fresno: Armenian Church celebrates 125th anniversary on Memorial Day

Boris Nahapetian
Your Central Valley, CA
May30 2022

by: Esteban Reynos


FRESNO, Calif. (KGPE/KSEE) – A church that’s a staple in the Fresno community celebrated 125 years on the Memorial Day Holiday.

The First Armenian Presbyterian Church was founded on May 30, 1897. It’s the oldest church of its kind in California.

The church put on not only a celebration for the church’s anniversary but for the Memorial Day holiday, that their anniversary landed on.

“What this picnic represents is not only coming out after COVID, but its huge arms welcoming the community,” said Lead Pastor at First Presbyterian Church, Greg Haroutunian.

He and his team put together this Memorial Day and anniversary event filled with food, activities for children and the train at Hillcrest Farms.

He says this event isn’t just to celebrate the Armenian community.

“Also the valley community,” he said. “We’re really excited about it. The church started 124 years ago and we came in as immigrants, and now it’s open for everybody.”

“I’ve been a part of the church forever. I worked for the church for 22 years as the music director. Then I worked in the office back in the 70s in the church so it is close to my heart,” said Jane, an event attendee, and church go-er.

On this Memorial Day, those enjoying the event are not forgetting why they celebrate.

“What goes through my mind is those who have sacrificed their lives for the freedom of our country, and mind you, freedom isn’t free,” added Jane.

This day meant a lot to many, especially those who hold it so close to their hearts.

“We want to honor them. My own son is a cadet at West Point right now,” said Haroutunian.

“Having a son who is [serving] makes the reality of that sacrifice or that potential sacrifice… boy it hits home, it hits home,” he concluded.

There are a total of seven churches in all of Fresno.

The event was completely free including all the food, drinks, and activities.

Armenia is in need of America’s help right now

Vanyan Gary
Daily Breeze
May 23 2022
By SAUL ANUZIS |
PUBLISHED: May 23, 2022

We need to talk about Armenia.

It’s another country forced into Russia’s sphere of influence where the majority of citizens want out and into the West’s embrace. They need America’s help.

If we don’t provide it, the country may be locked into Russia’s grip for good. While the Kremlin is distracted and overstretched in Ukraine, the time to act is now.

Today in Armenia there is a fight between pro-Russian and pro-Western forces. Who prevails will decide the future of a place from where over one and a half million Americans claim descent. America can help tilt the balance.

From parliament to the streets, this battle of words and fists over the future direction of the country has intensified since the nation’s 2020 defeat to neighbor Azerbaijan over control of the lands of Karabakh — a reversal of Armenia’s victory 30 years ago in a war over the same territory, despite being internationally recognised as Azerbaijan.

Does Armenia now make a peace deal with Azerbaijan, opening a path to economic recovery away from Russia with the support of her richer neighbor? Or does the opposition’s extremist position prevail, with no deal locking her out of the region and into Russia’s embrace?

In what is starting to smell like a Kremlin-sponsored, slow-motion coup masquerading as a protest movement, the opposition appears to be gaining the upper hand. A five-point peace plan proposed by the Azerbaijanis has been accepted in principle by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. That, or indeed any concession, is totally rejected by the leader of the opposition, and former president, Robert Kocharyan. The irony is he seems happy to prostrate his country before Kremlin domination, even proposing his country merge with Russia. Fighting in parliament, parading in the streets, the semi-militarized opposition is forcing the government, violently, away from a future settlement.

Undeniably, peace with Azerbaijan is in the long-term interests of Armenia. The country’s economy is in ruins and various land and border disputes render trade with any of its neighbors bar Iran impossible. Peace with its oil-and-gas-rich neighbor Azerbaijan is a clear solution to Armenia’s economic quagmire: but that can’t happen until an agreement on Karabakh is reached. However, while “conflict” with Azerbaijan continues, Armenia remains economically dependent on Russia and must house Russian “peace-keeping” forces within its borders, projecting and protecting the Kremlin’s influence in the region.

It doesn’t have to be this way. As a Lithuanian American I understand the immense tug-of-war that is required to free your country from under Russia’s control. It took a decades-long campaign with congressional funding led by the Lithuanian American diaspora to support first the independence of Lithuania from the Soviet Union. Then, for two decades, interference from a revanchist Russia in the country’s internal political affairs had to be quashed.

In the 1980s and early ‘90s, support and funds were piled into the pro-Western “Sajudis” movement. No truck was given to any politician who even suggested accommodation with Russia. It was freedom or nothing.

But that’s not what’s happening in Armenia. Over the last two decades, American taxpayer’s money has sloshed into the country regardless of leadership. In the wake of Crimea, as the pro-Russian leadership drew Moscow and Yerevan ever closer together, the U.S. government continued writing checks for Armenian development. More recently and shockingly, Democrats like Rep. Adam Schiff have been asking Congress for funding to the tune of $50 million for the pro-Russian pseudo-Armenian government of Karabakh. That this government hailed Russian recognition and enforced “independence” of the Ukrainian territories of Luhansk and Donetsk only weeks before seemed unproblematic to him.

America must instead act with clarity today in Armenia, just like we did when the U.S, support ended Soviet control over Lithuania. Those Armenian leaders, like Pashinyan, who back the West and long-term peace and economic prosperity with their neighbors deserve iron-clad support. Those siding with Putin and his megalomaniac visions of a Tsarist empire 2.0 must be decisively rejected. There can be no middle ground.

To see how it might play out in practice, you don’t need to look far. Neighboring Azerbaijan has already been down this path with the support of the British. Energy major BP signed the “Contract of the Century” with the country in the early 1990s, with the pipelines today supplying gas to Europe as it diversifies away from Russian dependency. Azerbaijan’s economic transformation gave it the self-assurance to quit Russia’s Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) military alliance and join NATO’s Partnership for Peace. They rejected the pressure to join the EAEU, Russia’s economic club.

Armenia, on the other hand, is today trapped in both. Tragically, Pashinyan currently holds the chairmanship of CSTO at the very time Russia invades Ukraine. At the beginning of this year and at the Kremlin’s behest, he was forced to order the alliance’s troops — including Armenians — into Kazakhstan, another former Soviet state trapped under the Kremlin’s thumb of  influence to put down democratic demonstrations in the country that threatened Russia’s interests.

Pashinyan surely knows these alliances hobble the hopes most Armenians have for their nation’s future. As he tries to wrestle his country free, the U.S. must ensure he has the help he needs, while not inadvertently supporting those that oppose Armenia’s liberation.

Saul Anuzis is a Lithuanian-American who campaigned in Washington for U.S. support for Lithuania’s pro-West “Sajudis” independence movement in the 1980s and ‘90s. He is a former chairman of the Michigan Republican Party, and today president of the 60 Plus Association, the American Association of Senior Citizens.