2022 – Page 613 – Armenian Directory & News

Armenian government introduces new royalty system replacing state duty for copper,molybdenum concentrate exports

May 8, 2022March 12, 2026 Christine Harutyunian

12:05, 5 May, 2022

YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian government is lifting the state duty for the exports of copper and molybdenum concentrate and molybdenum from January 1, 2023.

Instead, a new royalty system will be introduced.

Finance Minister Tigran Khachatryan said at the Cabinet meeting that the new component of royalty system will be applied when the profits of the companies will exceed a certain threshold. “As a result, the companies paying royalties in conditions of up to 10% profitability will not experience any increase of tax burden in terms of royalties against the royalties that were in place prior to the application of the state duties,” he said.

He said the move is aimed at making the royalty system of the exploitation of metal mines more fair and effective.

The additional royalty will be 15% in conditions of profitability exceeding 10%. The mining companies’ spending in terms of royalty payments in the first and second components, financial expenditures, accountability and transparency will be taken into consideration before taxation.

Russian aviation agency extends restrictions on flights to eleven airports until May 13

May 8, 2022March 12, 2026 Eduard Nalbandian

12:09, 5 May, 2022

YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. The Russian Federal Agency for Air Transport has extended restrictions on flights to 11 airports in the southern and central part of the country until 3:45 am May 13, 2022, TASS reports citing the statement of the agency.

Restrictions will be in force in the airports of Anapa, Belgorod, Bryansk, Voronezh, Gelendzhik, Krasnodar, Kursk, Lipetsk, Rostov-on-Don, Simferopol, and Elista.

“Russian airlines are recommended to carry passengers by alternative routes using the airports of Sochi, Volgograd, Mineralnye Vody, Stavropol, and Moscow. The remaining airports of the Russian Federation operate as normal,” the agency added.

Russia closed part of its airspace in the country’s south for civil aircraft on February 24, 2022, amid the special military operation in Ukraine.

Protesters in Armenia up pressure for PM Pashinyan’s resignation. Video

May 8, 2022March 12, 2026 Alex Jidarian

May 5 2022

JAMnews

Yerevan

A wave of protests of Armenian opposition and its supporters began on May 1. The movement is led by two opposition parliamentary factions – Hayastan (Armenia) and I Have the Honor. Oppositionists are demanding the resignation of the prime minister. They believe that Nikol Pashinyan is pursuing a flawed policy of surrendering the territories of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh”. They claim that the change of power is the only way out of this situation. However, so far the opposition leaders have not communicated their plans on “saving Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.”

Protesters block the streets, hold marches and rallies, but so far there is no critical number of protesters on the streets. Experts believe that the problem of the opposition is that they repeat the methods of street fighting used by the leader of the Velvet Revolution Nikol Pashinyan in 2018. In addition, according to political scientists, a new, alternative content of the movement is needed, which is not yet available.

Another factor that, according to experts, does not allow the opposition to gather more supporters is the unwillingness of the inhabitants of Armenia to return to the past, that is, to allow the return of the “former” authorities. The fact is that behind both parliamentary factions, which call on the people to take to the streets, are politicians from the former governments. These are the ex-presidents of Armenia Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan, who are considered by society as politicians with a pro-Russian orientation.

Watch the video at

Azerbaijan determines checkpoints on its border with Armenia

May 8, 2022March 12, 2026 Jagharian Tania

May 6 2022

JAMnews

Baku

Checkpoints at the Armenian-Azerbaijani border

The authorities of Azerbaijan and Armenia are preparing for negotiations on the delimitation of the border between the two countries within the framework of a bilateral commission. Baku has already decided on the locations of two checkpoints on the border with Armenia. The corresponding decision of the Cabinet was signed by the Prime Minister of the country.

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Azerbaijani Prime Minister Ali Asadov signed a decision, according to which the places of two border checkpoints (BCP) on the border with Armenia were determined.

According to the document, the checkpoints will appear in the settlements of Eyvazly and Ghazanchy, located respectively in Gubadli and Zangilan regions, bordering Armenia.

In addition, the document refers to two more new border checkpoints. They were created at the international airports “Fizuli” and “Zagatala”, located in the regions of the same name.

The Fizuli airport, which opened in October 2021, is one of three air harbors that should appear in the territories returned to Azerbaijan’s control as a result of the second Karabakh war. The opening of the Zangilan airport is scheduled for the end of this year, and the Lachin airport should be put into operation in 2024.

The road between the cities of Goris and Kafan in Armenia passes through the village of Eyvazli in the Gubadli region, where one of the checkpoints on the border with Armenia will be located. The customs post of Azerbaijan already operates there, which serves trucks moving in the direction of Karabakh.

Azerbaijan has established police and customs checkpoints on the section of the road between the Armenian cities of Goris and Kapan, stopping Iranian trucks and requiring them to pay fees in order to pass

Near the village of Gazanchi, Zangilan region, where the second checkpoint will be created on the border with Armenia, there will be a highway to the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic, an exclave of Azerbaijan. Most likely, this border checkpoint will become part of the Zangezur transport corridor. Near Gazanchi there is also the route of the former railway from Azerbaijan to Kapan, which was destroyed after the first Karabakh war.

Zero progress in Turkey-Armenia normalisation talks – columnist

May 8, 2022March 12, 2026 Christine Harutyunian

May 6 2022

04:36 Gmt+3
Last Updated On: 04:37 Gmt+3

The third round of exploratory talks between Turkey and Armenia, aimed at normalising diplomatic relations, have produced zero progress, said columnist Amberin Zaman.

The talks that began early this year, have yet to yield any substantial results, Zaman said in Al-Monitor on Thursday.

“No progress had been made, but the meetings will continue,” Zaman said, citing unidentified diplomatic sources speaking to the news website.

Turkish and Armenian envoys have held three rounds of exploratory talks since January, as part of ongoing efforts to restore diplomatic ties between the two countries, frozen for almost three decades. Special representatives have agreed to proceed with the talks without preconditions, in the third round of the meetings held in Vienna, Austria on Tuesday. The talks, are the first serious initiative to mend relations since a 2009 peace accord that was never ratified by Turkish and Armenian Parliaments.

The third round of talks was held as thousands of Armenians protested against the effort and called for Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s resignation, the columnist said.

In his address to the Armenian Parliament last month, Pashinyan said he was pressured by the international community, “suggesting that Armenia’s options were limited and no matter how bitter a pill, the country’s leaders needed to prioritise peace in the interest of its future generations,” Zaman said.

Pashinyan’s speech who hinted at flexibility over Nagorno-Karabakh, “triggered a maelstrom among his nationalist opponents, who accuse him of selling the country out,” she said.

Azerbaijan, backed by Turkey, began a successful military offensive against Armenian forces in Nagorno-Karabakh in September 2020. The 44-day war ended in November with a Russia-brokered ceasefire. Azerbaijan regained control of much of the disputed territory controlled by ethnic Armenians since the 1990s.

“Turkey has long signalled that an Armenian withdrawal from the occupied territories would be enough for the two countries to normalise relations,” Zaman said. “Turkey is thought be holding back to allow Azerbaijan to press its advantage to extract further concessions from Armenia before signing a final peace treaty.”

They include getting Armenia to shelve all and any claims over the disputed enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, according to Zaman.

“The protest movement, which started in Armenia after Pashinyan’s April 13 speech, proves one thing,” the columnist cited Armenian commentator Benyamin Poghosyan as saying.

“The majority of the politically active part of the Armenian society does not and will not accept any solution that will make Nagorno-Karabakh part of Azerbaijan under any circumstances or guarantees. Any efforts by international actors, be it Russia, the EU, or the United States, to convince the Armenian government to agree to such a solution will inevitably trigger political destabilisation in Armenia,” Poghosyan said.

WHO and Armenia agree on health priorities during Regional Director’s visit

May 8, 2022March 12, 2026 Aram Torosian

May 6 2022

WHO Regional Director for Europe, Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, signed a biennial collaborative agreement (BCA) and presented a special WHO award to health workers in Armenia during a recent country visit.

The BCA signed by Ms Anahit Avanesyan, Minister of Health of Armenia and Dr Kluge focuses on quality health care accessible to everyone, effective protection against health emergencies, and healthy communities as contributors to an economy of well-being – helping shape cooperation between the country and WHO/Europe for the next 2 years.

“Health is a human right, and in its own right is a key contributor to a flourishing economy, peace and security. Today, the Government of Armenia and WHO are putting health at the top of the country’s agenda, by signing a biennial collaborative agreement for 2022–2023,” said Dr Kluge.

“Armenia spearheads several national and regional health projects, with a focus on tobacco control, mental health, emergency preparedness and community resilience – to mention a few. This year, the establishment of a Public Health Emergency Operations Centre and an Armenian Emergency Response Medical Team, as well as the forthcoming global Emergency Medical Teams’ Meeting in October, hosted by your government, all speak to the Armenian authorities’ strong, timely commitment to health,” he added.

Dr Kluge also discussed the country’s health agenda and commitment to reforms with His Excellency Vahagn Khachaturyan, President of the Republic of Armenia, His Excellency Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of Armenia, and the Honourable Alen Simonyan, President of the National Assembly.

The BCA builds on the key achievements made within the 3-decade long partnership between WHO and the Government of Armenia. It is in line with international public health strategic goals and frameworks such as the WHO European Programme of Work and the health-related Sustainable Development Goals.

During a visit to a vaccination clinic at the Surb Grigor Lusavorich Medical Centre, Dr Kluge was accompanied by representatives of the international partners involved in health, including the European Union (EU) Ambassador to Armenia, representatives of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Resident Coordinator. Speaking with EU Ambassador Andrea Wiktorin, Dr Kluge heard about the successful cooperation between the EU Delegation and WHO within the frame of COVID-19 response activities, which will continue and expand beyond COVID-19.

Dr Kluge spoke with health workers and parents of some of Armenia’s youngest citizens, who came for their scheduled routine vaccination – protecting against a range of vaccine-preventable diseases including polio, measles and rubella. He also spent time with older citizens receiving COVID-19 vaccine booster doses.

Recognizing the continued dedication and commitment of health and care workers to improve the health and well-being of people in Armenia and across the WHO European Region, Dr Kluge officially handed over the International Year of Health and Care Workers Award 2021 to Ms Avanesyan and through her to all health workers in Armenia.

Dr Kluge highlighted that the award is a token of appreciation and gratitude for the unwavering dedication of health and care workers, including in response to the COVID-19 pandemic over the past 2 years. He emphasized the urgent need to invest more in health workers for shared dividends in health, jobs, economic development and equity.

https://www.euro.who.int/en/countries/armenia/news/news/2022/5/who-and-armenia-agree-on-health-priorities-during-regional-directors-visit

Karabakh, the Armenian historical province of Artsakh

May 8, 2022March 12, 2026 Ophelia Vardapetian

Argentina – May 6 2022

May 6, 2022

in World

Of course, it may seem strange that the ambassador of another country, in this case Azerbaijan, refers to my reply letter to the Turkish ambassador.

It would be if these two countries had not publicly declared that they are “one nation, two states”, if they had not pursued the same Armenophobic, nationalist and denial policy, if since the independence of Armenia in 1991 they had not kept the border with Armenia closed for three decades and they would not have tried to impose a total blockade, if they did not teach their school children that all Armenians are their enemies…

The conditionals are many. But there are also numerous “how to’s”. The title of the article was: “Azerbaijan is ready to normalize relations with Armenia”. The question immediately arises: how, killing indigenous Armenian civilians in Artsakh, bombing the world’s first Christian temples and committing cultural genocide?

Bringing in hired terrorists from the Middle East and using banned weapons? Deliberately distorting history? Holding Armenian prisoners of war and civilians hostage two years after the war despite the exhortations of all international human rights organizations?

armenian cathedral

Blowing up Artsakh’s only gas pipeline in the dead of winter? Claiming Zangezur and Yerevan in addition to Artsakh? (Photos 1-7) Let me remind you that the capital of Armenia, Yerevan, my hometown, celebrates this year the 2804th anniversary of its foundation, and Azerbaijan, for its part, celebrates 104 years of existence.

However, these data do not prevent the president of Azerbaijan from declaring that Yerevan is a “historic city of Azerbaijan”. As is often said, comments are unnecessary.

But my Azerbaijani colleague is not surprised by his own president’s statements, but by my _expression_ “”. You shouldn’t be surprised, as this is an irrefutable fact, whether you like it or not. Artsakh was already Armenian even though the state of Azerbaijan did not yet exist and the Azerbaijani ethnic group had not yet been formed.

Of course, these facts are also known to our Azerbaijani colleagues, but they are obliged to be “surprised”, according to the philosophy of their country.

However, unlike Azerbaijan, Armenia has always respected the territorial integrity of all countries and is in favor of the implementation of this international principle, especially today, when Azerbaijan itself violates the territorial integrity of Armenia.

The Artsakh issue has nothing to do with the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, as Artsakh has never been a part of independent Azerbaijan. It was annexed to Soviet Azerbaijan during Soviet rule.

I don’t want to overload on data, today it is very easy to check all that, it is enough with a smartphone with an internet connection. But what happened next? The Armenian people simply did not allow a second genocide in the same century, this time in Artsakh.

Yes, the Artsakh conflict is a matter of physical existence and protection of human rights, a matter of the right to life and of being able to live in safety and dignity in one’s hometown, of being able to exercise the right to decide one’s own destiny. .

We have before us some “successful” examples of Azerbaijani coexistence, such as that of Nakhchivan, another historical Armenian province, where not only today there are no Armenians left, but all the monuments that testified to the Armenian presence have been destroyed, and even where the name of the place is misrepresented. The letter also speaks of Armenia’s poverty and economic decline.

All this is far from reality, as much as Azerbaijan wants and tries to do so. Despite the three-decade blockade by Azerbaijan and its older brother, Turkey, Armenia has been successful in many areas. Today it is a dynamically developing country, which is reflected in the indicators of all sectors of the economy.

Of course, we do not have Azerbaijan’s oil and gas, but we have more important wealth, human potential and its components, knowledge, professionalism, values, democracy. And Azerbaijan, unfortunately, is really poor, poor in terms of human rights, freedom of _expression_, historical memory, democracy.

Just open a report on Azerbaijan from any international human rights organization or any state, and it will remind you of a textbook on violations of democracy and human rights, or a “do not do” guide.

An incontrovertible fact is that, since 1969, in the middle of the Soviet era, that country has been governed by the same family, with small interruptions, transferring power by inheritance, with all the consequences that this entails. If the fundamental rights and freedoms of its own citizens are not respected in Azerbaijan, how should the rights of Artsakh Armenians be respected, even though they constitute its original population…?

Armenia aspires to normal relations with all countries without exception, but not at the expense of its national interests. The future must be modeled not only with words, but with concrete actions and steps.

The future is not built with primitive propaganda, fake news and exporting corruption to appear civilized and save face. You can’t hit with one hand while shaking the other.

Letter from the Armenian ambassador to Argentina, Hovhannés Virabyan

New Zealand: ‘Shameful’ suppression of Armenian flag at Ataturk memorial

May 8, 2022March 12, 2026 Greg Madatian

New Zealand – May 6 2022

8:12 pm on 6 May 2022

Hamish Cardwell, senior journalist

A Wellington man who claims police threatened to trespass him from an Anzac Day memorial if he displayed an Armenian flag in memory of genocide victims says it is “shameful”.

He said the exclusion kowtowed to an authoritarian Turkish regime, while a lawyer said it trampled on fundamental human rights.

Meanwhile, the Christchurch City Council has shot down a proposal for a flag pole, citing international relations implications for flying certain contentious flags.

The genocide of a million Armenians by the rulers of the Ottoman empire is one of the terrible chapters of human history. Turkey disputes the number killed and the label genocide, but most scholars on the topic and many countries recognise the events as a genocide.

For a few years, without incident, Richard Noble has gone to Wellington’s Ataturk memorial on Anzac day to silently protest the New Zealand government’s lack of formal recognition of the extermination.

This year he introduced himself to a police officer on site letting him know he was going to hold his Armenian flag, but he was told doing so would be offensive to Turkish officials.

Masses of Armenians were deported from Erzurum during WWI, many into the desert, and few survived. Photo: Viktor Pietschmann.

Noble said the officer told him he had been authorised by the Wellington City Council to trespass anyone with an Armenian flag – on the request of the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Turkish Embassy – something they both deny.

“It was a shameful and expedient move by council to circumvent my freedom of _expression_ guaranteed under … [the] Bill of Rights in order to protect the sensibilities of an authoritarian and repressive regime,” Noble told a council meeting yesterday.

Noble said he left the council owned area that day, but stood out on the public road with his flag.

He said he was an RSA member and his grandfather fought and was wounded at Gallipoli – and his action was in no way to disparage the solemnity of the event.

Richard Noble protesting for recognition of the Armenian genocide, at the Ataturk Memorial in 2017 Photo: Supplied/ Richard Noble

Wellington City Council said it supported the rights of people to protest, and that it delegated trespass authority to Police on Anzac Day.

It denied ever being asked to stop or dissuade those protesting against Turkey.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry and Turkey’s Embassy also denied making any request – and MFAT said no such request was made to it by the Turkish Embassy.

The police said “they were made aware a flag the man intended to display could be offensive to people of Turkish heritage attending the service”.

It said a senior officer told Noble he would be asked to leave if he displayed the flag, and he could be arrested for trespass if he did not comply, but he was welcome to stay if he kept the flag away.

“The man has has then left the service without incident. He was not arrested or issued with a trespass notice.”

Human rights lawyer Douglas Ewen said the officer’s actions were totally inappropriate.

He said it was hard to find rights in the Bill of Rights that were not being impinged upon.

“I find it remarkable to say the least that the police officer thought this was a good idea – that police officer needs some re-training.”

Ewen said it would not hold water in court, and the fact Noble’s protest was at an Anzac event changed nothing.

He said it was a was a terrible idea for the council to devolve power in this way.

University of Auckland senior politics lecturer Maria Armoudian said a large number of her family was wiped out in the genocide and the incident on Anzac day was traumatising.

“It is devastating for us, … deeply disturbed by this.

“Your wounds can’t heal without some kind of acknowledgement that what happened in the past was wrong.

“We just want our history acknowledged and everything that was taken from us, and taken in the most brutal and violating ways – that’s not that much to ask for.”

Armoudian wants an apology from police.

New Zealand has to strike a difficult balance while sticking up for human rights in the face of mass arrests and other human rights abuses by Turkey’s leader President Tayyip Erdogan.

There was a serious falling out between the countries when the New Zealand’s ambassador last year joined nine international diplomats calling for the release of a jailed Turkish businessman and philanthropist.

It has [https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/anzac-alarm-why-commemorations-at-gallipoli-are-under-threat/E7J5C57Y3DJUWA33FE6VFPCBQ4/

raised the spectre] of New Zealand being denied access to the Gallipoli peninsula for official Anzac celebrations.

Meanwhile, authorities in other parts of New Zealand are feeling pressure to avoid offending overseas powers.

The Christchurch City Council has denied permission to a community board to reinstate a flag over a Sumner community centre.

A council memo cites the cost and possible impact to international relations if the flags of Taiwan, Tibet or West Papua were flown.

It said there were no flags managed by the council in other suburbs, besides the city’s airport which displays the city’s sister-city national flags, so there needed to be a strong rationale for installing one in one suburb but not others.

Christchurch has seven sister cities, including two in China.

Christchurch City Council’s head of the office of the mayor and chief executive, Jonathan King, said the memo was not provided to the mayor and councillors prior to it being sent to the community board.

Councillors have informally expressed concern about the protocols and have asked staff to review them, King said.

Justice Department Seeks Forfeiture Of Los Angeles Mega-Mansion Allegedly Purchased With Proceeds Of Armenian Corruption Scheme [multiple links]

May 8, 2022March 12, 2026 Emil Lazarian

May 5 2022

BY U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE PRESS RELEASE

MAY 5, 2022

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE PRESS RELEASES

LOS ANGELES – The United States is seeking the forfeiture of a more than 30,000-square-foot mega-mansion in the Holmby Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, pursuant to a civil forfeiture complaint that alleges the mansion was purchased with bribes paid by an Armenian businessman to the family of Gagik Khachatryan, a former high-ranking Armenian public official.

Khachatryan, 66, who was known as the “Super Minister” because of his significant responsibilities, served as chairman of the State Revenue Committee of the Republic of Armenia from 2008 to 2014 and as minister of finance for the Republic of Armenia from 2014 to 2016. In the complaint, which was filed Monday in federal court in Los Angeles, the United States alleges that businessman Sedrak Arustamyan paid Khachatryan and his family more than $20 million in bribes in exchange for favorable tax treatment of his businesses. The bribe payments allegedly were used to purchase the Holmby Hills property, which had been recently listed for sale for $63.5 million.

Khachatryan and his sons are charged in Armenia with receiving bribes in violation of the criminal code of the Republic of Armenia. Criminal charges are also pending in Armenia against Arustamyan for paying bribes.

This matter was investigated by the FBI’s Eurasian Organized Crime Task Force (EOCTF) and the United States Marshals Service. The Republic of Armenia’s Prosecutor General’s Office and National Security Service provided critical assistance. The EOCTF is composed of multiple law enforcement agencies including the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Glendale Police Department, the Los Angeles Police Department, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Assistant United States Attorney Maxwell Coll of the Asset Forfeiture Section and Justice Department Trial Attorney D. Hunter Smith of the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS) are litigating the forfeiture.

The Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative is led by a team of dedicated prosecutors in MLARS, who work in partnership with federal law enforcement agencies, and often with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, to forfeit the proceeds of foreign official corruption and, where appropriate, to use those recovered assets to benefit the people harmed by these acts of corruption and abuse of office. In 2015, the FBI formed International Corruption Squads across the country to address national and international implications of foreign corruption. Individuals with information about possible proceeds of foreign corruption located in or laundered through the United States should contact federal law enforcement or send an email to [email protected] or visit https://tips.fbi.gov/.

https://www.shorenewsnetwork.com/2022/05/05/justice-department-seeks-forfeiture-of-los-angeles-mega-mansion-allegedly-purchased-with-proceeds-of-armenian-corruption-scheme/

On the Armenian genocide, Ambassador Babakhanian says, “people are still waiting for justice”

May 8, 2022March 12, 2026 Ekmekjian Janet

Bolly Inside, India

May 6 2022

On the 107th anniversary of the tragic piece of history, Armenian ambassador to India Yuri Babakhanian remarked that individuals who lost their lives in the Armenian genocide are still waiting for justice. At the book launch of “Armenian Genocide, The Sin of the Ottoman Empire,” the Armenian envoy to India made these statements. “…It has been more than a century since the Armenian Genocide, when the Armenian people were deprived of their homeland and property. “However, the Armenian people as a whole are still yearning for justice because genocide has no statute of limitations,” he stated. Ambassador Babakhanian emphasized that if the first genocide of the twentieth century had been recognized and condemned sooner, the world would have been a better place.

He lamented that the genocide is a terrible tragedy for the Armenian people as a result of which they lost most of their historical homeland and about half of the population. “It is also the history of survival and struggle,” he said, adding “It was a fight in the name of life, struggle to preserve identity, struggle not to lose the memory of the nation, and the right and the opportunity to pass it on to the next generations.” Babakhanian continued by saying that during the past century, the Armenian people as the subject of the tragedy, raise this problem in various forms and focus the attention of the international community and the Turkish authorities.

According to the Armenian envoy, the issue of recognition that the Armenians raise before the international community and Turkey has several components and that is why Armenia constantly speaks from the rostrum of the United Nation, with an appeal to unite the efforts of all countries to prevent the “crime of genocide”. He noted that the mass extermination of Armenians in accordance with international law was officially recognized as genocide and condemned by many countries. As of 2022, governments and Parliament have 33 countries, including the United States, Russia, Germany, France, Italy, Canada, Uruguay and Brazil, formally recognized the Armenian Genocide.

The European Parliament has been trying for many years to pursue a Turkey to recognize the Armenian Genocide, Babakhanian said. He said the bloc adopted a resolution proclaiming April 24, 2015, in the EU as the day of remembrance of the victims of the Armenian Genocide, and also addressed Ankara with the corresponding appeal. Turkey in response warned that such calls could lead to a deterioration in relations with the European Union, he added. Turkey and Azerbaijan are the only nations in the world actively denying the Armenian Genocide. “We cannot accept such position of the successive governments of Turkey which have avoided and are still avoiding the recognition of the genocide, promoting the policy of denial at the state level,” Babakhanian added.

Some 1.5 million Armenians were estimated to have been killed during the course of the First World War. Rights experts believe it was the systematic destruction of the Armenian people and identity. Separately, Ambassador of India to Armenia KD Dewal paid homage to the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims. “Ambassador KD Dewal paid homage to martyrs of this great tragedy and placed a wreath at the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial,” India in Armenia said in a tweet.