Thursday,
Pashinian Again Defends Government’s Record
• Astghik Bedevian
Armenia -- Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian holds a booklet listing his
government's achievements during a parliament session in Yerevan, .
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian insisted on Thursday that his government
performed “brilliantly” after taking office as a result of last spring’s
“velvet revolution” in Armenia.
Pashinian argued that despite political upheavals in the country the Armenian
economy grew by 5.2 percent last year and beat a 4.5 percent growth forecast
that had been set by the former government. He also said the new government
managed to meet revenue and spending targets set by the 2018 state budget.
“Macroeconomic stability was ensured in full,” Pashinian told the Armenian
government. “If we look at things in this sense, we can say that the government
did its job brilliantly because in the context of these political shocks it
fully ensured the normal life of the Republic of Armenia.”
He spoke as the parliament dominated by the ruling My Step alliance debated and
approved a government report on the execution of the 2018 budget.
Pashinian similarly defended his and his government’s track record at a May 8
news conference held on the first anniversary of his election as prime
minister. In particular, he claimed to be already delivering on his repeated
pledges to carry out an “economic revolution” that will significantly boost
living standards in Armenia.
Pashinian’s political opponents and other critics take a dim view of his
tenure, however. They say that he has failed to improve the socioeconomic
situation in the country.
Deputies from the opposition Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) voted against the
government report. One of them, Gevorg Petrosian, criticized the government’s
economic policies.
Bright Armenia (LHK), the other opposition party represented in the National
Assembly, voted for the document presented by Pashinian. Still, LHK leader
Edmon Marukian said that the government has not fulfilled some of its promises.
“Could the [government’s] results have been much better?” said Marukian. “I do
think that they could if the government had been a bit more responsive and
cooperative.”
In his speech, Pashinian also put an optimistic spin on ongoing economic
developments in Armenia. “I think that everyone’s mood must be good because
issues are being solved in Armenia,” he said.
Government Wants Much Higher Pay For Armenian Judges
• Astghik Bedevian
Armenia - A courtroom in Yerevan, 8Jun2017.
International donors have agreed to finance a sharp increase in the salaries of
Armenia’s judges sought by the Armenian government, Prime Minister Nikol
Pashinian said on Thursday.
Pashinian said that a roughly fivefold pay rise is vital for reforming Armenian
courts and making them independent and free from corruption.
He argued that judges are no longer able to take bribes or engage in business
en masse and have to live off their current salaries ranging from 400,000 to
600,000 drams ($830-$1,250) per month. These wages also discourage well-paid
lawyers working for private firms from seeking to take the bench, he said.
“Our partners, international donors will support Armenia on this issue,”
Pashinian told the parliament. “For two or three years we will be able to keep
these high salaries of the current judges and new judges at between 2.5 million
and 3 million drams ($5,200-$6,200). That will have no direct impact on our
state budget.”
“In the meantime, the opposition, government, civil society and the public will
see that it’s good to have an independent judicial system,” he said, adding
that the favorable public opinion will then allow the government to finance the
much higher wages from the state budget.
Pashinian did not specify which international organizations or foreign
governments are ready to allocate such funding for the 229 judges of various
Armenian courts.
Both the European Union and the Council of Europe have expressed readiness to
assist in sweeping judicial reforms planned by Pashinian’s government. They
have stressed that the reforms must conform to Armenia’s constitution and
international commitments.
Pashinian last month called for a mandatory vetting of all judges after a court
in Yerevan released from prison his bitter foe and former President Robert
Kocharian, who is facing serious criminal charges. The premier insisted that he
wants to make the judicial system “truly independent.” His critics claim he is
on the contrary seeking to gain control over the courts.
New Judge Stakes Claim To Constitutional Court Chairmanship
• Gayane Saribekian
Armenia -- Constitutional Court nominee Vahe Grigorian speaks in the Armenian
parliament, Yerevan, June 18, 2019.
Vahe Grigorian, a newly elected Constitutional Court judge, declared on
Thursday that he can now also act as chairman of Armenia’s highest court.
Grigorian challenged the legitimacy of Hrayr Tovmasian, the court chairman
since March 2018, and six other members of the nine-strong body as he was sworn
in during a session of the Armenian parliament, which elected him on Tuesday.
Addressing lawmakers, Grigorian argued that under constitutional amendments
which took effect last year the Constitutional Court now consists of “judges,”
rather than “members,” as was the case until then. He said that only he and
Arman Dilanian, who was elected by the parliament last year, can therefore
serve as judges and make decisions.
“The Constitutional Court comprises solely judges and only judges take part in
its decision making,” Grigorian said, suggesting that the six other officials
have no such authority.
Grigorian added that since Dilanian is absent from Armenia at the moment he is
single-handedly “taking over the powers and duties of the Constitutional Court
chairman.”
The statement clearly took many lawmakers by surprise. Vladimir Hakobian, the
chairman of the parliament committee on legal affairs, pointedly declined to
comment on it.
But Nikolay Baghdasarian, another pro-government parliamentarian, effectively
backed Grigorian’s claims.
“My view is that after hearing Vahe Grigorian’s speech Hrayr Tovmasian must not
go to work tomorrow morning because he realized that he is no longer the
chairman of the Constitutional Court,” said Baghdasarian.
But Edmon Marukian, the leader of the opposition Bright Armenia Party,
disagreed with this interpretation of the amended constitution. He said the
amendments cannot have a retroactive impact on Tovmasian and the six other
court members.
The latter did not immediately react to Grigorian’s declaration. The
Constitutional Court’s updated website on Thursday continued to refer to
Tovmasian as the chairman of the court.
Grigorian’s appointment to a vacant seat in the court was backed by 99
lawmakers and opposed by 22 others in secret ballot. Some opposition lawmakers
questioned Grigorian’s impartiality, citing his warm relations with the
country’s current leadership. The nominee admitted having “friends” in the
ruling My Step alliance but insisted that this fact will not influence his
judicial activities.
Press Review
According to “Zhamanak,” Finance Minister Atom Janjughazian has revealed that
the Armenian government can borrow as much as $1.5 billion in fresh foreign
loans.
“Zhoghovurd” says that the current Armenian government has already managed to
solve problems that had for decades been ignored by the previous authorities.
In particular, the paper says, the government has made it mandatory for all gas
stations operating in Armenia to open public toilets for travellers. “There are
many thorny issues in other areas which need a solution,” it says. “For many
years they were not solved because of logistical ineptness or inactivity.”
“Aravot” says that the head of Russia’s External Intelligence Service, Sergey
Naryshkin, has spoken out against LGBT rights and called for a strong defense
of “traditional values” at a meeting of fellow security officials from various
parts of the world. “This means that it is a reflection of the country’s
policy, rather the opinion of a private individual or an organization,” writes
the paper. “Russia’s concern is not about those phenomena but a resulting
decline of the state’s authority and the danger of color revolutions which
Naryshkin talked about … The state’s authority declines not because of
conspiracies hatched by [U.S. billionaire George] Soros or LGBT people but
because of the abusive behavior and extreme corruption of rulers. Color and
other revolutions happen for the same reason.”
According to “Zhamanak,” Finance Minister Atom Janjughazian has revealed that
the Armenian government can borrow as much as $1.5 billion in fresh foreign
loans. “Janjughazian sees nothing tragic about the fact that Armenia’s foreign
debt could reach 60 percent of GDP,” writes the paper. “The question is how
efficiently the state uses and spends loans and to what extent that contributes
to development, instead of merely ensuring subsistence.” It notes that
Armenia’s foreign debt has already doubled in the past decade.
(Lilit Harutiunian)
Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
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