Category: News

“On the occasion of the Victory and Peace Day from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, we bring our Patriarchal blessing to our people in Armenia and the Diaspora. May 9 is a day of precious memories for us, when we commemorate the feats of our people’s children in the Second World War and the heroic struggle in Artsakh.

The glorious victory achieved in the Great Patriotic War is the testimony of the united and united struggle of the peoples against fascism, against injustice and evil. Our people made an important contribution to this victory.

For decades, this day has also been marked for us by the victory of the Artsakh struggle for survival. Today, when Artsakh is occupied and depopulated, we are obliged to continue pursuing the protection of the rights of the depatriated Artsakh Armenians. These events of the past should keep us firm and steadfast in the way of realizing our visions of building a strong and safe state.

The Day of Victory and Peace should remind us of the unity, brave spirit and sacrifice of our heroes for the sake of the nation and homeland, for the sake of peace, demonstrated by our people in those difficult days. This sacred day should also strengthen our zeal and commitment to care for war veterans, the families of the dead and the missing.

We pray for the souls of the Armenians who gave their lives in the Great Patriotic War and the Artsakh War, whose patriotism is still an inspiring example for generations to live, create and fight for the love of our native country with the same responsibility and dedication.

We pray to the Most High to ask for peace for the world and prosperity for the peoples. May the Risen Lord, under the auspices of His Right Hand, keep our homeland and all people safe and secure, strong in hope and faith and united in love.

Grace, love and peace to our Lord Jesus Christ and all of us. Amen,” the message reads.

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Despite the heavy losses, the Armenian people can straighten their spine and move forward. Today, in a conversation with journalists at the “Erablur” military pantheon, the head of the Armenia faction of the National Assembly, former minister of defense Seyran Ohanyan said, referring to the May holidays.

Ohanyan reminded that the victory in the Great Patriotic War became the basis for the further stable development of the Armenian people.

“Our contemporaries multiplied that victory holiday in 1992, turning it into a three-day holiday, but at the hands of today’s corrupt RA authorities, that holiday turned into just one holiday again. The enemy has appeared within the borders of the Republic of Armenia, but the fight is ahead, because the Armenian people have proven that they have the spirit of struggle and can straighten their spine and move forward,” said the opposition figure.

However, the head of the faction stressed that they continue to pay tribute to both the representatives of the older generation and the modern heroes sleeping in the “Yerablur” military pantheon. Speaking about the current realities, Ohanyan noted that today’s visits are also a kind of “sad report” in front of the memory of the victims, because Artsakh was completely depopulated.

To the question of how he will interpret the statement of the leader of the ruling political force, Nikol Pashinyan, that “Artsakh was never ours to lose,” Ohanyan answered, recalling that on May 9, 2018, the same Nikol Pashinyan gave a speech in Artsakh, saying that “Artsakh is Armenia, and that’s it.”

“He said that the Velvet Revolution not only does not threaten the self-determination of Artsakh, but also opens perspectives for determining the Armenian fate of Artsakh and recording it de jure.

Later, however, he did nothing or contributed to Azerbaijan’s attack on Artsakh. During the war, he did nothing to protect Artsakh and keep the RA borders strong,” said Ohanyan.

He emphasized that Artsakh was self-determined before Nikol Pashinyan and was able to ensure its safe and stable development together with Armenian and RA.

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If people consider that Artsakh was not theirs, perhaps there is some truth in it. The former president of Artsakh, Samvel Shahramanian, made this statement in the “Yerablur” military pantheon.

Nikol Pashinyan, the prime ministerial candidate of the “Civil Agreement” party, announced yesterday in Syunik, speaking about Artsakh. “Those territories were never ours.”

“Yes, we also consider that this behavior shown by the current government, of course, Artsakh was not theirs. Nikol Pashinyan declares that they are a very effective government, because they brought Armenia out of the clutches it was in as a result of the Artsakh movement.

In order to be effective, the government must have a plan, implementers of that plan, perhaps this is what Pashinyan means when he declares, “We are an effective government,” because they implement such a plan without deviation,” said Shahramanian.

The former Minister of Artsakh emphasized that they also want peace with their neighbors, but it is a different question, what quality and at what price will this peace be achieved. According to Shahramanyan, peace can be in a degraded status, which is also a matter of choice. He believes that this election will be decided in about 1 month in the parliamentary elections.

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The Republic of Artsakh did not have a customs service, so all import and export taxes were paid to the RA state budget, a part of which was later transferred to Artsakh as an interstate loan. Samvel Shahramanian, the former president of Artsakh, said this at the “Yerablur” military pantheon, referring to Nikol Pashinyan’s statements.

Nikol Pashinyan, the prime ministerial candidate of the “Civil Agreement” party, announced yesterday during the pre-election meetings in Syunik that we were deceived that we live badly for Karabakh. He also said: “At the expense of Armenia, pensions and salaries in Karabakh have been high, and those people who forget this are renegades and are grateful.”

Shahramanyan emphasized that the Republic of Armenia, as the guarantor of the security of the Republic of Artsakh, also supported financially, but it is not as if financial resources were not generated within Artsakh. The money from RA was given to Artsakh as an interstate loan.

“It does not mean that we were sitting there like freeloaders and benefited only from the money provided by the taxpayers of Armenia or the state budget. The Republic of Artsakh did not have a customs border with the Republic of Armenia and did not have a customs service, and in that direction all taxes were paid to the state budget of the Republic of Armenia. What was leaving Artsakh, what was entering Artsakh, the only way was through the Republic of Armenia, and quite a lot of taxes were accumulated in the state budget of the Republic of Armenia.

We had mining, agriculture, various productions, which during export and import, these taxes were generated to the RA state budget, a part of which was paid as an interstate loan,” said Shahramanyan.

At the same time, he reminded that Artsakh was a protective shield for Armenia, and it is clear that everything should be done to make that shield strong.

“How can we say that we kept you, you lived well there, it has nothing to do with reality,” said Shahramanyan.

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There are problems in the Armenian-Russian relations, but Armenia should never forget the age-old friendship between the two peoples, the ties in cultural and other fields.

Arman Tatoyan, the leader of the Wings of Unity party and candidate for the prime minister, said this in a conversation with journalists in the “Haghtanak” park.

“We have tens of thousands of citizens who go and earn their daily bread in Russia, we have compatriots living there. There are problems in relations with Russia, they are not easy, and we should never look at them as easy relations, we should understand them in all their complexities. Were the problems caused by the policies of these authorities? Yes, they happened because of them, but we also have questions for the Russian side,” Tatoyan said.

According to him, there are still pending questions, the answers to which are necessary, but they are the result of the failed policy of the Armenian government.

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The goal of the movement that started in the 90s was to protect the people of Artsakh from expulsion and destruction from their homeland. Today, ANC Vice-Chairman, Prime Minister candidate Levon Zurabyan told journalists in “Haghtanak” park, congratulating all on the occasion of Victory Day.

“We were not fighting to occupy some territories or against Azerbaijan, we were fighting for our freedom, independence and the right to manage our own destiny. Nikol Pashinyan dragged us into 2020 and 2023 with his criminal policy. in the wars, a whole part of our people was subjected to genocide and expulsion, but we must keep those victories alive, because they first of all symbolize our will to freedom, independence, and sovereignty,” Zurabyan said.

Commenting on Pashinyan’s statements yesterday regarding the Artsakh movement, that it was a “fatal mistake”, “the Republic of Armenia was trapped from the first day of its creation”, Zurabyan noted that Pashinyan is trying to present that we had territorial ambitions towards Azerbaijan, committed aggression, while we only protected the people of Artsakh.

“So that we don’t let those people be driven from their historical land, from their cradle. And Nikol Pashinyan left, at some stage he encouraged that same genocide,” said Zurabyan.

ANC vice-president also reminded that in 2008 Pashinyan supported Levon Ter-Petrosyan, the first president of RA, praised his policy on the Artsakh issue, but now he says it is a “fatal mistake” and a “trap”. According to Zurabyan, the reason is that Pashinyan destroyed Artsakh, he knows that this historical guilt is on his shoulders, he is trying to lighten the burden by putting it on his predecessors.

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in Russia of Armenia Republic Ambassador Gurgen Arsenyan, according to 168.am–in:` RA: external affairs to the Ministry approx standing sources, consultations purposekwho coming back is Armenia.

To remind, after the 8th summit of the European Political Community platform held in Yerevan on May 4, Ambassador Gurgen Arsenyan was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry on May 7. He met with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin.

“The head of the diplomatic mission was informed about the categorical inadmissibility of providing a pulpit to Vladimir Zelensky, the leader of the Nazi regime in Armenia, to issue terrorist threats against Russia, within the framework of the latest events under the auspices of the EU,” said the message of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

The statement issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry also stated that during the meeting with the RA ambassador, it was emphasized that Moscow is justly upset in this regard and considers the lack of a proper negative assessment by the official Yerevan to be inconsistent with the partnership nature of Russian-Armenian relations.

According to the report, the ambassador promised to report to Yerevan about the complaint presented by the Russian side.

168․am-in: sources by transfer, Gurgen Արսենյանի՝ Russia: MFA from the visit after, of consultations purpose It is RA to come  ambassador Gurgen Arsenyanthe։

RA: MFA speaker Ani Badalyan 168․am-in: with in the conversation said, that this moment as of that the news  no match to reality.

However, if he receives such a diplomatic formulation during this upcoming visit, from the same diplomatic sources let us know, that active to the ambassador the capital city calling diplomatic in practice considered is on that country of pressure serious means. It traditionally perceived is՝ as hospitable of the state certain of actions towards extreme dissatisfaction to express form. Consultations for to the ambassador calling bilateral of relations leveln: for the time being to lower an excuse is. 

So, ambassador Arsenyan coming back is Yerevan` MFA to management or exactly Nicole Pashinyan of the situation about to report and: of Armenia further the steps to discuss purpose. This case, no excluded, that of the ambassador responsibilities be put temporary fiduciary on. Probably, in the near future witness we will be Armenian and Russian parties further skirmish to heating.

Let’s remind that the leader of Ukraine, which is at war with Russia, Vladimir Zelensky, announced in Yerevan that Ukrainian drones can “visit” the military parade in Moscow.

“This year, on May 9, Russia does not plan to show military equipment during the parade. However, Ukrainian drones can “visit” it. This summer, Putin will decide what to do next: whether to expand the war or to follow the diplomatic path. We should push him to diplomacy,” said the President of Ukraine.

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The annual Victory Day parade, dedicated to the 81st anniversary of the victory in World War II, was held in Moscow’s Red Square, which lasted about 45 minutes, and during which there were no columns of military equipment due to the current operational situation, also taking into account the risk factor of terrorism.

However, there were demonstration flights with the participation of the Russian “Strizhi” and “Ruskie Vityaz” aviation groups.

Note that this is official was famous became still at the end of April.

And it was only after this decision that President of Ukraine Zelensky threatened, stating:

“Russia will hold a parade with military equipment on May 9 in Moscow. If this happens, it will be the first time that they will not be able to show their military equipment, fear-mongering UAVs will be buzzing over Red Square. This shows that they are not strong and we must continue our sanctions against them.”

In other words, Zelensky lied in Yerevan when he announced that Moscow was going to hold a festive parade with a display of military equipment, in fact, to create the impression that such a decision was made after his Yerevan threat, which is not the case.

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These days, RA Minister of Defense Suren Papikyan was on an official visit to Poland, during which he participated in the “Defence24 Days” conference, toured the forum’s pavilions and got acquainted with the displayed samples of military equipment and weapons.

In addition, he met with the Deputy Prime Minister of Slovakia, Minister of Defense Robert Kaliniak in Warsaw, to which we have touched on.

Later, RA Minister of Defense Suren Papikyan also had a private meeting with Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defense Władysław Kośniak-Kamiś, during which the importance of implementing military-technical cooperation within the framework of the agreement on military-technical cooperation signed in February of this year was discussed, and military education, exchange of experience and together to the exercises participation.

In addition, an agreement was reached regarding the opening of an attaché office for defense issues at the RA Embassy in Warsaw in the near future. This is according to the official statement of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia.

And after the negotiations, Władysław Kosyniak-Kamish and Suren Papikyan announced from the Polish side that Poland and Armenia have agreed to conduct joint military exercises.

“Countries striving for stability, security and cooperation are our dialogue partners. That’s why we’re interested with joint military exercises, with the cooperation between military universities and the exchange of experience between the Polish and Armenian defense industries,” the Polish Defense Minister said during a joint press conference, according to Polish sources.

The involvement of the RA armed forces in international and joint military exercises certainly contributes to the increase of the combat capability of our army, in general, we should work to cooperate with everyone.

He is also of this opinion Shiraz Khachatryan, expert of “Henaket” analytical center, but, according to him, it is important in what format and with what tone, that is, it should be taken into account to what extent it contains a geopolitical component, in this case it refers to Poland.

“It is important to understand what is on the ground and how risky the information tone is, taking into account the rhetoric of global actors towards Russia. In other words, we need to understand whether we are getting involved in something more than what will be the result on the real ground.

Accordingly, it is better to cooperate silently in such cases, as in many cases with India, with France, of course, not counting the leakages related to the purchase of weapons, but this does not happen from the Armenian side either. And the deepening of Armenia-Poland cooperation, especially the subject of joint military exercises, is not only a bilateral defense agenda, but it has a wider geopolitical context.

It is no secret that Poland is a hostile country for Russia, which is one of NATO’s toughest anti-Russian positions, moreover, it actively participates in the process of military support to Ukraine, so Moscow will not perceive this only as a stage or step of reorientation of the RA security system in the western direction, but against the background of active military cooperation with the USA, India, France, this will lead to a new deterioration of Armenian-Russian relations, which may turn into a more considerate policy towards Yerevan in the region.

I am sure that Turkey and Azerbaijan are closely following such processes, that Armenia wants to create a new military partnership network with the Western Pole, they will advance their agenda in parallel, intensifying the pressure so that such ties do not become institutionalized. What I am saying is that if something is done, at least silence should be maintained, even in the conditions of active military exercises against the Russian Federation in various places,” explained our interlocutor.

It should be noted that in his speech within the framework of Defense 24 Days, Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Władysław Kosyniak-Kamisz proposed to NATO to accelerate the growth of defense expenditures, taking into account security threats. In particular, according to him, the NATO member countries should reach the level of defense expenditures of 5 percent of the GDP 5 years earlier than planned (until 2030).

And in the context of Armenia-Poland relations, let’s remind that after the change of power in 2018, the company “Lyubava-Armenia” stopped its activities. in 2019 from the Ministry of High-tech Industry 168.amto had reported that “the decision to stop the activity of “Lyubava-Armenia” in the Republic of Armenia is determined solely by economic circumstances.”

Later NEWS.amIn a conversation with the former Ambassador of Poland to Armenia Jerzy Nowakowski presented other reasons for the liquidation of the Armenian enterprise of the Polish company Lubawa SA.

“The Armenian revolution of 2018 inspired hope for activation of “Lyubava” and strengthening of business cooperation.

In the end, “Lyubavan” decided to leave Armenia after a meeting with Pashinyan, during which he accused the company of cooperating with the previous government, and said that the company cannot expect the trust of the new, “revolutionary” team,” Yezhi Nowakovsky told the media.

 

It should be noted that “Lyubava-Armenia”, the first joint Armenian-Polish military-industrial enterprise, has been operating in Armenia since 2014 and was engaged in the production of modern multifunctional camouflage technologies, producing such products of military and technical significance as: fake targets, technical and other tents, helmets, body armor, camouflage nets, etc., and all this according to NATO standards.

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