Category: 2022

 19:10, 4 February, 2022

YEREVAN, 4 FEBRUARY, ARMENPRESS. The Minister of Justice of the Republic of Armenia, Chairman of the Council of Constitutional Reforms Karen Andreasyan wants balance of powers of the government branches, balancing the so-called system of “super-prime minister” within the framework of the reforms, ARMENPRESS reports Andreasyan told the reporters after the first sitting of the Council.

“Our current Constitution has not given any significant levers and capabilities to the President of the Republic. We see that we are often blamed that the Prime Minister has too much influence, the current constitution has given leverage to the Prime Minister. It is true that it will take some power away from us, but we are ready to discuss and balance the powers of the branches. And what happened in 2015 in connection with the creation of a real parliamentary state, unfortunately, the balance turned out to be violated. And that is what I think should be discussed and corrected first of all”, Andreasyan said.

According to the Minister, at the same time the powers of the government, the prime minister should not be just taken away and given to the president or the parliament.

He noted that there is a discussion to return to the presidential, semi-presidential system. He is personally against the change of the governing system, but he can not say for sure what the government’s approach will be, as neither the government nor the party have a final decision. “And it is normal that there is no final decision, because we have not come to dictate to the people gathered here, we do not place orders on what to do. We came to listen to them, then to the professional commission,” he said, not ruling out that he might change his opinion.

Referring to Armen Sarkissian’s resignation from the post of the President, Minister Andreasyan noted that if the reason for the President’s resignation was the lack of certain powers, then he hurried. “Why do I say he hurried, because this Council and this process will solve those problems,” Andreasyan said.

 19:47, 4 February, 2022

YEREVAN, 4 FEBRUARY, ARMENPRESS. Official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova has no information yet on the construction of an alternative road to the Lachin corridor, ARMENPRESS reports Zakharova said in a briefing, referring to the remark that a photo of a construction of a bridge has appeared in the Azerbaijani media, which, according to the reports, will become part of the alternative road to Lachin corridor. Zakharova was asked if the allegations that the construction was initiated by the Russian side are true.

“I do not have any information on this issue at the moment. I saw the message, we will keep that topic in focus. When there is information, I will share it. But at the moment they do not exist,” Zakharova said.

The trilateral declaration on November 9, 2020, stated that by the agreement of the parties, a project for the construction of a new route along the Lachin corridor would be decided within the next three years, which will provide a link between Nagorno Karabakh and Armenia.

 14:44, 3 February, 2022

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 2, ARMENPRESS. A citizen of Armenia was found guilty of making “grave insults” by a Yerevan court, the first verdict under the new paragraph 137,1 of the Criminal Code since it took effect.

The Armenian parliament criminalized “Grave Insults” in 2021.

The person who was found guilty was charged on November 5,2021, after calling the Yerevan Police Department and verbally abusing and voicing grave insults towards Prime Minister Pashinyan and the Minister of High-Tech Industry and their families over “improper organizing the public transport’s operations of Yerevan”.

The caller confessed in making the insults during questioning.

Under the verdict the defendant is fined 500,000 drams.

The prosecution further said that a total of 263 criminal cases were opened by 2022 under the same article, with 25 being dropped, 5 being suspended and 11 others merging into other criminal cases.

214 other criminal cases are being probed and 31 persons face criminal charges.

 20:37, 4 February, 2022

YEREVAN, 4 FEBRUARY, ARMENPRESS. On February 4, a remote meeting between the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan and the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev took place with the mediation of the President of France, a Minsk Group Co-Chair country, Emmanuel Macron and the President of the European Council Charles Michel, ARMENPRESS was infomred from the Office of the Prime Minister.

The parties exchanged views on the solution of the existing humanitarian problems, the unblocking of regional infrastructures under the sovereignty and jurisdiction of the two countries, the reduction of tensions on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, the demarcation, access of international organizations to Nagorno Karabakh, as well as a wide range of issues.

Prime Minister Pashinyan stressed the need for a lasting settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and the signing of a peace treaty under the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairmanship.

 20:53, 4 February, 2022

YEREVAN, 4 FEBRUARY, ARMENPRESS. A bipartisan group of over 50 U.S. Representatives joined Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Hellenic Caucus Co-Chair Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) in pressing the U.S. Departments of State and Defense to block the sale of next-generation U.S. F-16 fighter jets and upgrade kits to Turkey President Erdogan’s increasingly hostile regime, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Armenian National Committee of America.

“We strongly urge you to reject Turkey’s request for new F-16s and modernization kits and take immediate action to hold the Erdogan regime accountable,” states the February 4th Congressional letter addressed to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. “The United States must not provide any further support to Turkey’s military until President Erdogan takes tangible steps to halt his destabilizing actions and violations of international law at home and abroad. Precedent shows that he will not change his behavior until the United States uses all its diplomatic tools, including targeted economic sanctions.”

Since rumors of Turkey’s request to purchase 40 F-16 fighters and 80 F-16 modernization kits surfaced in October 2021, a number of Congressional initiatives have called for clarification of the White House position on the sale and announced efforts to block the effort. In November, over 40 U.S. House members cosigned a letter led by Representatives Chris Pappas (D-NH), and Congressional Hellenic Caucus Co-Chairs Bilirakis and Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), concerned that such a sale would be in violation of CAATSA laws. “We share your goal of a Turkey that is rooted to the West, but we will not achieve that goal if the Erdogan government escapes accountability for violating U.S. law and the standards of the NATO alliance,” argued the Representatives. The House members requested “a formal notification of any Turkish Letter of Request (LOR), the specifics of such an LOR, the Administration’s position on such an LOR, and responses to our specific objections.”

A separate letter led by Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) and cosigned by 10 House colleagues last October also urged President Biden and Secretary Blinken to refuse Turkey’s request. “As long as President Erdogan advances his expansionist project in the Eastern Mediterranean, Turkey will continue to threaten our national security and the security of our closest allies in the region – Greece, Israel, and Cyprus. We urge you to act in our national interest and for the sake of stability in the Eastern Mediterranean by refusing to reinforce Turkey’s aging arsenal of fighter jets, and we look forward to receiving your response,” stated the Malliotakis letter.

PM Pashinyan hosts Loris Tjeknavorian

 21:14, 4 February, 2022

YEREVAN, 4 FEBRUARY, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan hosted composer, conductor Loris Tjeknavorian, ARMENPRESS wa sinformed from the Office of the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister assessed Mr. Tjeknavorian’s contribution to the art of music as invaluable. Nikol Pashinyan inquired about the current activities of the composer and expressed hope that he will continue to enrich Armenian music with new works.

During the meeting, the opportunities and perspectives of presenting the maestro’s new works in the homeland were discussed.