Category: 2022

Armenian PM congratulates Yazidi community on New Year – Melek Taûs

Adrine Hakobian
Public Radio of Armenia
, 10:54

 1 minute read

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan sent a congratulatory message to the representatives of the Yazidi community of Armenia on the occasion of the Yazidi New Year, Melek Taûs.

The message reads:

“Dear representatives of the Yazidi community of Armenia,

I warmly congratulate you on the occasion of the New Year – Melek Taûs.

I wish the New Year for the Yazidis of our country to be a year of success, happiness and abundance, and that our Yazidi compatriots preserve and develop their national language and cultural traditions.

We have common pain and happiness. Today we share your happiness, and be sure that we are ready to share your troubles as brothers, that your community’s issues are in our focus.

Melek Taûs brings with it a new hope and dream, so I wish our region to be peaceful, secure in the new year and that the severe trials remain in the past.

All the best to you, dear compatriots.”

Banners in Burbank mark 107th anniversary of Armenian Genocide

Lilit Nahapetian
Public Radio of Armenia
, 14:15

 Less than a minute

In commemoration of the 107th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, a banner, designed by ANCA Burbank, went up yesterday in the City of Burbank, at the intersection of Magnolia Blvd & Hollywood Way.

The double-sided banner features artworks from the winners of the ANCA-Burbank’s April 24th Armenian Genocide Commemoration Artwork Competition – “From The Roots We Grow” by Pauline Hacopian, and “Blood Tears” by Alla Gomstyan.

The messages “April 24 – Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day” and “Never Forget – Never Again – Commemorating The Armenian Genocide” on the banner alongside the ANCA emblem and artworks, will remain on display for the next two weeks, until May 2nd, 2022.

Armenia improves democracy score in Nations in Transit 2022 report

Kajoyan Gevork
Public Radio of Armenia
, 16:20

 1 minute read

Armenia has improved the democracy score from 2.96 to 3.04 in the Nations in Transit 2022 report published by the Freedom House.

Nations in Transit 2022 evaluates the state of democracy in the region stretching from Central Europe to Central Asia. The 24th edition of this annual study covers events from January 1 through December 31, 2021. In consultation with country report authors, a panel of expert advisers, and a group of regional expert reviewers, Freedom House provides numerical ratings for each country on seven indicators: national democratic governance, electoral process, civil society, independent media, local democratic governance, judicial framework and independence, corruption.

According to the report, “three authoritarian regimes made democratic strides and joined the ranks of hybrid regimes: Moldova, Kosovo, and now Armenia.”

The Freedom House notes that countries that have moved from authoritarian to hybrid forms of governance present a somewhat more promising picture, though they still fall short of democratic standards. “In Armenia, for example, citizens used a protest movement in 2018 and a series of competitive elections, most recently in 2021, to decisively end the Republican Party’s multidecade
reign. The incumbents were replaced with a new generation of politicians who, despite notable flaws, possess a basic commitment to democracy and the public interest.”

Armenian Ambassador briefs UK House Speaker on Armenia’s foreign policy priorities

Aram Torosian
Public Radio of Armenia
, 14:33

 Less than a minute

Armenia’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom Varuzhan Nersesyan was received today by Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons.

“I presented to Mr. Speaker my vision of further deepening of Armenia-UK relations as well as the current priorities of Armenia’s foreign policy,” Ambassador Nersesyan said in a Twitter post.

Armenia, China FMs attach importance to unblocking of transport and economic infrastructure

Hagop Kamalian
Public Radio of Armenia
, 16:48

 1 minute read

 Foreign Minister of the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan held a phone conversation with the Foreign Minister of People’s Republic of China Wang Yi.

The interlocutors referred to the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and China, emphasizing the tangible world carried out through that period for the establishment and development of bilateral relations in political, trade and economic, humanitarian and other directions. The sides expressed their readiness to resolutely strengthen and deepen the Armenian-Chinese relations.

The utilization of the potential in the field of economic cooperation, the promotion of investments, development of infrastructures and addressing of logistic challenges was underlined. In this regard. The need for the process of unblocking transport and economic infrastructures was highlighted.

Presenting Armenia’s position on the establishment of peace and stability in the region, Ararat Mirzoyan stressed the importance of negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan in different directions, as well as the role of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship in the settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The viability of the internationally accepted existing format, as well as promotion of the peace process was emphasized.

The interlocutors exchanged views on the issues of mutual interest within international and regional agenda.

Beirut: AUB students receive two awards at Harvard World MUN 2022 4/13/2022

Garnik Zakarian
American University of Beirut, Lebanon
April 13 2022
Sally Abou Melhem, Office of Communications

Marina Markarian


AUB students participated in the prominent Harvard World Model United Nations 2022 conference that was held on Zoom this March, debating the world’s most pressing global matters, simulating roles of representatives of UN agencies and bodies.

Harvard World Model United Nations (WorldMUN) is the world’s most internationally diverse college-level MUN conference, and the largest outside of the United States and Canada. Every year, 2,000+ currently enrolled university students from over 110 countries attend WorldMUN in a different location around the world.

At this event that brought together delegates from the world’s most prominent universities, three students represented AUBMUN, a student organization that organizes simulations of United Nations conferences and sends delegations representing AUB to international conferences. Two out of those three students received awards for their distinguished participation and skills. Diplomacy Award (outstanding delegate), which is the highest possible prize based on diplomacy and lobbying skills, was presented to AUB student Elie El Hajj. And AUB student Marina Markarian was presented with Verbal Commendations, an honorable mention granted based on eloquent language and well researched topics.

“Having the chance to attend Harvard WorldMUN was one of the most challenging conferences I have ever had the pleasure of attending,” commented Marina Markarian. “The ongoing debate in the Human Rights Council were heated and fast-paced with incredible delegates taking the initiative to get their point across. It was a tough four days of ongoing work starting with debating and then moving on to resolution discussions but the week ended on a high note.”

Markarian added that despite it being a virtual conference, “we had the opportunity to meet people from all over the world present to deliberate and resolve the conflict at hand. We represented AUB to the best of our abilities and brought home our awards, Diplomacy Award and Verbal Commendation, making us proud to be part of the AUBMUN traveling team.”

“As head delegate, I had to set the bar very high and motivate our representatives by leading by example. The odds weren’t in our favor as we were only three about to participate in the biggest and most prestigious MUN conference in the world,” said Elie El Hajj. “However, life taught me when something is important enough, you do it even if the odds are not in your favor. We competed against students of the pedigree of Harvard, Stanford and MIT and we were still able to win two distinguished awards.”

Analyst: Russia no longer has any plans for Pashinyan

Markos Nalchajian
Panorama 
Armenia –

Political analyst Hrant Melik-Shahnazaryan has commented on Tuesday’s meeting of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow and their joint statement following it.

“During the long-prepared and now loudly-trumpeted meeting, Nikol Pashinyan managed to solve only one problem: Nagorno-Karabakh was referred to only once in the 30-clause statement,” he wrote on Facebook on Wednesday.

Whereas, Pashinyan said before the meeting that the talks would focus on the Artsakh issue, the analyst underscored.

“Have you read the joint statement of the two leaders? If so, it should have been clear to you that the Russian Federation no longer has any plans concerning Nikol. This resource for the Russians is already used up.

“Nikol is leaving. That’s the good news. The bad news is that Armenian society did not manage to save anything. Nikol handed over everything he was planning to surrender. They took exactly what they wanted from us,” he said.

Electricity supply to Artsakh to be suspended due to repair work

Manouk Vasilian
Panorama 
Armenia –

Electricity supply to (Artsakh) Nagorno-Karabakh will be suspended due to maintenance work, ArtsakhEnergo reports

“The power supply to the Artsakh Republic will be suspended on 22 April, from 10am to 2pm, in order to repair the 110 kV overhead line Shinuhayr,” the statement says.

The company assures that the repair work will be completed in time.

‘We have reached the red line of our dignity,’ says hunger striker in Yerevan square

Kajoyan Gevork
Panorama 
Armenia –

Nver Kirakosyan, a participant in the 44-day war who has gone on a hunger strike in Yerevan’s Liberty Square along with another war participant Artur Avagyan to protest against the Armenian authorities’ policies on Artsakh, urged all to put aside their political differences and join the struggle for the homeland.

The young men announced an indefinite hunger strike on Monday morning, joining an open-ended sit-in started by opposition leader Artur Vanetsyan and other activists in downtown Yerevan on Sunday evening.

“Our hunger strike indicates whether the generation of independence is ready to get together at a critical moment and stand up for its values. We have reached the red line of our dignity, we are in a critical situation. The hunger strike is aimed at conveying this message,” he said in a Facebook live video on Wednesday.

The protester denied affiliation with any political party or individual, saying they are fighting for the “absolute values”.

Kirakosyan says that many young men have expressed readiness to join the hunger strike, but he and Artur Avagyan do not allow them to do so. However, he urged young people to come to Liberty Square on Wednesday evening to take part in public discussions.

The protest comes after Pashinyan’s latest statements on the need to “lower the bar” on Artsakh’s status and recognize Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.

Pashinyan: A large part of the agenda of my visit to Russia concerns the settlement of the Nagorno- Karabakh conflict

Emil Lazarian
ARMINFO
Armenia –
Alina Hovhannisyan

ArmInfo.A large part of the agenda of the visit of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to Russia concerns the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.   According to TASS, this was announced during the meeting of Armenian  Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan with Russian President Vladimir Putin  in Novo-Ogayevo.

In particular, he noted that this visit has not only practical, but  also symbolic significance, since it is timed to coincide with the  30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.  Pointing to the high level of bilateral relations, the Prime Minister  of Armenia stressed that their agenda is quite full, starting with  the economy, ending with cultural, military-technical cooperation.

At the same time, Nikol Pashinyan said that Russia and President  Putin personally played a key role in ending hostilities in  Nagorno-Karabakh in the fall of 2020, and the Russian peacekeeping  contingent ensures the safety of the local population.

“Russia plays a key role in ensuring stability and security in our  region. I must again note your exceptional role in the establishment  of ceasefire and cessation of hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh in  2020. After which Russian peacekeepers began their peacekeeping  activities there, which generally ensure security”,  he said. At the  same time, the head of the RA government noted that there is a need  to increase the effectiveness of the peacekeepers’ activities.

It should be noted that earlier press secretary of the President of  the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov said that during the visit of  the Prime Minister of Armenia to the Russian Federation, it is  planned to sign a package of documents on cooperation. According to  the Armenian Cabinet of Ministers, in addition to meeting with the  Russian leader, Pashinyan will hold meetings with his Russian  counterpart Mikhail Mishustin, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin  and Speaker  of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko.