Category: 2023

Asbarez: Mirzoyan to Take Part in ‘3+3’ Meeting in Tehran Tomorrow

Greg Madatian
by Asbarez Staff

 

 

 

in Armenia, Artsakh, Featured Story, Latest, News, Top Stories

The first so-called "3+3" talks took place in Moscow on Dec. 10, 2021


Foreign minister Ararat Mirzoyan will take part in a meeting of multilateral regional talks in Tehran on Monday.

The talks are being held within the framework of the so-called “Consultative Regional Platform 3+3,” a scheme advanced by Ankara—and supported by Baku—that envisions the creation of an economic and security regional bloc involving Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, as well as Russia, Iran and Turkey.

In announcing the meeting in Tehran, Armenia’s foreign ministry said that bi-lateral talks may be held on the margins of the gathering.

According to media reports Georgia will not take part in the talks on Monday. Official Tbilisi has rejected participation in the scheme, presumably due to its long-standing enmity with Moscow.

Armenia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan said Friday that Armenia had received an invitation from Iran, but signaled that the government had not yet decided whether it would participate.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke with his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov by phone on Friday. According to a Russian readout of the call, they discussed, among other things, their countries’ “approaches to the activities of the Consultative Regional Platform 3+3.”

Azerbaijan’s foreign ministry said Friday that it was important to not miss “the historic opportunity” created in the region to advance “efforts aimed at ensuring peace and stability in the region.”

The first “3+3” talk were convened in December 2021 in Moscow.

Asbarez: Armenia and France Are Expected to Sign Military Agreement

Garnik Tadevosian
by Asbarez Staff

 

 

 

in Armenia, Artsakh, Featured Story, Latest, News, Top Stories

Defense Minister Suren Papikyan (right) with his French counterpart, Sébastien Lecornu in Paris in Sept. 2022


Armenia and France are expected to sign a military agreement on Monday for Yerevan to acquire weapons from Paris, France’s Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu said in an interview with Le Parisien newspaper on Sunday.

“Tomorrow we will officially formalize Armenia’s acquisition of a certain types of weapons from French manufacturers, in particular, we will sign an agreement that will allow Armenia to protect its skies,” Lecornu said, adding that his Armenian counterpart Suren Papikyan was expected in Paris on Monday for the signing of the agreement.

“It is important to provide opportunities to Armenia to defend its peaceful residents and secure its border defense,” Lecornu added.

Lecornu told a French Senate commission earlier this week that France will sell solely defensive weapons to Armenia.

Lecornu emphasized that the weapons that are being considered for sale are only defensive and not offensive and meant to assist Armenia in defending lives and the security of its territory.

Lecornu told the senators this week that France already has a working permanent defense mission in Armenia. Its attache, the minster said, is an experienced general and is overseeing “an important effort.”

During a visit to Armenia earlier this month, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said Armenia needed to be able to defend itself weeks after Azerbaijani forces invaded Nagorno-Karabakh despite the presence of Russian peacekeepers.

She said Paris has agreed to deliver military equipment to Armenia.

After visiting displaced Artsakh residents, including burn patients injured in a Stepanakert fuel depot station explosion, the minister pledged military support.

“I would like to publicly state that France has agreed on future contracts with Armenia which will allow the delivery of military equipment to Armenia so that it can ensure its defense. You’ll understand that I can’t go into more detail at the moment,” Colonna said on October 3.

Colonna’s pledge of military support to Armenia has further angered Baku, with President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan complaining to European Council President Charles Michel about what he called the “anti-Azerbaijan” posturing by Paris and the EU.

AW: ARS International Convention elects new Central Executive Board

Maral Chavushian
 Armenian Relief Society International Inc. Nonprofit News, Announcements 0

The 73rd International Convention of the Armenian Relief Society (ARS) was held in Yerevan, Armenia, from October 16 to 20, 2023, with the participation of 51 delegates, outgoing members of the Central Executive Board, guests, representatives of sister organizations and committees, staff members and 66 observers. 

The Convention concluded with the election of the Society’s new Central Executive Board (CEB). The CEB’s function is to govern the international organization’s administrative and organizational aspects. The following members were elected to serve for the 2023-2027 term: 

Arousyak Melkonian (Western USA) – Chairperson
Talin Daghlian (Eastern USA) – Vice-Chairperson
Nayiri Balanian (Eastern USA) – Secretary
Annie Kechichian (Western USA) – Treasurer
Irma Kassabian (Eastern USA) – Accountant
Zharmen Mirzakhanyan (Western USA) – Advisor
Arminee Karabetian (Canada) – Advisor
Zoya Kocharyan (Armenia) – Advisor
Siran Ambarjian (Middle East, SOKH) – Advisor
Liza Tchalikian Gillibert (Europe, France) – Advisor
Nora Sevagian (Australia) – Advisor

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Armenian Relief Society, Inc. (ARS) is an independent, non-governmental and non-sectarian organization which serves the humanitarian needs of the Armenian people and seeks to preserve the cultural identity of the Armenian nation. It mobilizes communities to advance the goals of all sectors of humanity. For well over a century, it has pioneered solutions to address the challenges that impact our society.


Iran earthquake felt in Armenia’s south

Alex Nanijanian

 10:38,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 23, ARMENPRESS. A magnitude 4,3 earthquake that struck Iran 31km south-east from the city of Khoy on October 23 was felt across the Armenian province of Syunik at a low intensity.

The quake was felt in the towns of Kapan, Kajaran, Meghri and Agarak in Syunik Province at an intensity of 2-3 on the MSK scale, the interior ministry’s rescue service said in a statement.

Bundestag Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael Roth visits Armenia

Aram Torosian

 11:29,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 23, ARMENPRESS. German lawmaker, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Bundestag (German parliament) Michael Roth is visiting Armenia.

In a statement on X, Roth said he will have meetings with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Speaker of Parliament Alen Simonyan and the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs Sargis Khandanyan.

Armenian, French defense ministers to discuss military cooperation – MP

Alex Nanijanian

 12:00,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 23, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan and his French counterpart Sébastien Lecornu will discuss numerous issues, including issues pertaining to military cooperation, during their meeting in France, a senior Member of Parliament has said.

“The Defense Minister is on an official visit in France and will have a meeting with his colleague,” Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Defense and Security Affairs Andranik Kocharyan told reporters when asked on Papikyan’s visit and the possible signing of an arms supplies agreement.

“Numerous issues will be discussed, and certain elements of military cooperation will be covered during this meeting,” Kocharyan added.

Asked whether this means that Armenia is expanding its military cooperation circle, Kocharyan said : “This is so obvious, that any state should increase its cooperation circle, and should have greater involvement of friends also in political issues. The 44-Day-War was a hint that seemingly we must do serious work in all those platforms and not only have friends, but also the kind of relations that would first of all be aimed at making our security environment more inclusive, in order for all issues pertaining to our country’s stability to receive proper solutions,” the MP said.

Armenia’s Defense Minister Suren Papikyan is visiting France. The French Defense Minister earlier told Le Parisien newspaper that Armenia and France will sign an agreement on military supplies. French defense minister Sébastien Lecornu said the agreement would allow Armenia to ensure the protection of its airspace.

Violation of timeframes envisages sanctions – MP on Russia delaying arms supplies to Armenia

Emil Lazarian

 12:38,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 23, ARMENPRESS. Armenia has paid Russia for new weapons and is still waiting for the supplies, Member of Parliament Andranik Kocharyan told reporters when asked what happened to the weaponry worth 400,000,000 dollars ordered from Russia.

“We’ve given those millions to have weapons, and we are now waiting for the weapons. I believe that any contract envisages timeframes, and sanctions in the event of violating these timeframes,” Kocharyan, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Defense and Security Affairs told reporters.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had earlier said that Armenia paid hundreds of million of dollars to one of its allies for new weapons, but the supplies never took place. Pashinyan did not explicitly name Russia in his comments.

Armenia tests newly supplied weaponry, results are ‘very satisfactory’, says senior MP

Bedik Zaminian

 12:33,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 23, ARMENPRESS. New weapons brought to Armenia are currently being tested by the Armenian military and the results are ‘very satisfactory’, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Defense and Security Affairs Andranik Kocharyan told reporters. He did not disclose where the weapons are being brought from.

“Our news media, our people are discussing all day long what weapons were brought, from what country, where it was tested. The relevant division of the defense ministry is also testing these weaponry, and the tests are very satisfactory. The list of the countries is that which is being discussed, perhaps a bit more or less. That’s not what matters, what matters is that the work in that direction is proceeding successfully,” Kocharyan said.

Armenia becomes 45th member state to abolish the death penalty in all circumstances

Babken Chilingarian
Council of Europe
Oct 19 2023

The Permanent Representative of Armenia to the Council of Europe, Ambassador Arman Khachatryan, in the presence of Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić, has deposited the ratification instrument, thereby completing the process of ratification by Armenia of Protocol No. 13 to the European Convention on Human Rights, which represents the abolition of the death penalty in all circumstances.

Armenia is the 45th member state of the Council of Europe to have ratified this Protocol (for details, see signatures and ratifications). The Protocol bans the death penalty in all circumstances, including for crimes committed in times of war and imminent threat of war. No derogation or reservation is allowed to Protocol No. 13.

The treaty complements Protocol No. 6 to the ECHR (abolition of the death penalty in all cases except in time of war), which has been ratified by all member states. Accession to both Protocols is optional and signifies the states’ commitment to the overall abolition of the death penalty in law and practice.

2023 marks the 20th anniversary of the entry into force of Protocol No. 13. In its recent joint statement on the European and World Day against the Death Penalty marked on 10 October, the Secretary General and the High Representative, on behalf of the European Union, welcomed the ratification of Protocol No. 13 by the National Assembly of Armenia and its signature by Azerbaijan, and encouraged both member states to swiftly complete the ratification process.


https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/-/armenia-becomes-45th-member-state-to-abolish-the-death-penalty-in-all-circumstances