Author: Arpi Talalian

PM Pashinyan congratulates Russian counterpart on birthday

Arpi Talalian

 

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 10:59, 3 March, 2020

YEREVAN, MARCH 3, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan sent a congratulatory letter to Prime Minister of Russia Mikhail Mishustin on his birthday, the PM’s Office told Armenpress.

“Dear Mr. Prime Minister,

Please accept my sincere congratulations and wishes on your birthday anniversary.

I remember warmly our meeting in Almaty which was held in an atmosphere of mutual trust that is typical to our traditional bilateral relations. I hope our constructive and reliable dialogue will continue.

I also want to praise the fact that the Armenian-Russian allied cooperation continues strengthening, as well as developing in new directions. I am confident that in this respect we still have a non-utilized potential. This in particular relates to the cooperation within the Eurasian integration space.

I wish you good health, happiness, prosperity and new achievements in your responsible state activity”, the Armenian PM said in his letter.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




CIVILNET.Coronavirus: Armenian Government Introduces School Closures, Establishes Quarantine Center in Tsaghkadzor

Arpi Talalian
CIVILNET.AM

2 March, 2020 12:20

By Mark Dovich

On March 1, soon after confirming the country’s first case of the novel coronavirus, the Armenian government introduced a weeklong closure of all kindergartens, schools, universities, and other educational institutions in an attempt to prevent the further spread of the virus, officially called COVID-19.

Earlier that day, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced in a post on his public Facebook page that a 29-year-old man, who returned to Yerevan by plane from the Iranian capital of Tehran on February 28, tested positive for the virus. According to Pashinyan, the man, an Armenian citizen, is currently in the hospital receiving treatment and is in good condition. 32 other passengers from the same flight have been placed in quarantine at the Golden Palace Hotel, an abandoned luxury hotel, in the resort town of Tsaghkadzor.

In the ongoing global outbreak, Iran has become the hardest hit country outside of China, where the virus originated late last year. The virus was first detected in Iran on February 19, when officials announced two coronavirus-related deaths in the holy city of Qom. As of March 2, the Iranian government has confirmed nearly 1,000 coronavirus infections in the country, though experts have expressed fears that the government is purposefully underreporting the true number of cases. Experts have also expressed concerns over the Iranian government’s ability to contain the outbreak, given the country’s ongoing economic crisis, due in part to crippling U.S. sanctions.

In response, the Armenian government previously announced a partial closure of its land border with Iran and a partial suspension in air traffic between the two countries. Under the temporary measures, nearly all passenger traffic is restricted between Armenia and Iran, with an exception provided for Armenian nationals in Iran who wish to return to Armenia. The February 28 Tehran-Yerevan flight, which resulted in the introduction of coronavirus to Armenia, had been specially chartered to return Armenian citizens in Iran to Armenia. 

Neighboring Azerbaijan and Georgia have each reported three coronavirus infections. Nearly all the cases in both countries are linked to recent travel to Iran by Azerbaijani and Georgian nationals, respectively. The ongoing global outbreak has caused nearly 90,000 infections and more than 3,000 deaths in more than 60 countries so far.

Asbarez: Civic Organizations Endorse Elen Asatryan for Democratic County Central Committee

Arpi Talalian

Elen Asatryan

LOS ANGELES—Elen Asatryan’s campaign for Democratic County Central Committee continues to receive resounding support from organizations, elected officials, and community leaders.

Joining the coalition of supporters are the East Area Progressive Democrats, the largest Democratic club both in California and Los Angeles County, the Southern California Armenian Democrats, the first and largest regional Armenian-American Democratic Club in Southern California, Glendale Democratic Club, an organization that promotes the candidates and values of the Democratic Party locally, and the Armenian Rights Council of America, championing the causes and concerns of the Armenian-American community.

“We are proud that Elen is stepping up to be a local leader in our Democratic Party, which stands for women’s rights and respect for immigrants, decency, and diversity. She is among dozens of members of EAPD who showcase the skills of a new generation of grassroots leaders while building an inclusive party,” stated EAPD President Hans Johnson.

“Elen’s roots run deep in Glendale. She’s a proven, tenacious leader with a strong track record of activating voters, standing up for and giving a voice to the most underrepresented, and bringing diverse people, organizations, and interests together to work towards a common goal. The GDC is proud to endorse one of its own, Elen Asatryan for DCCC,” stated GDC President Caro Avanessian.

“Elen is a trusted community leader and public servant who advocates for issues of concern relating to the Armenian-American community. Her work aligns with the mission of ARCA and our efforts in championing the causes and concerns of the Armenian-American community within local, state, and federal governments. We are excited to endorse Elen Asatryan in the upcoming elections for the Democratic County Central Committee,” stated Raffi Balian, Chair of ARCA.

Asatryan was recently endorsed by the EAPD, the SCAD, the GDC, and the ARCA

“I am grateful for the confidence and support of EAPD, Glendale Democratic Club, SCAD, and ARCA. I take great pride in our shared vision of a nation that serves the people,” stated Asatryan.

Dedicated to advancing progressive values, Elen has been a long time member of EAPD, SCAD, California Armenian American Democrats, Glendale Democratic Club, and San Fernando Valley Democrats. She currently serves as a delegate for the CA Democratic Party, where she continues to be involved in shaping the party platform and advocates for issues of importance in protecting the rights and advancing the interests of underrepresented and underserved communities including women, minorities, and the working class.

As an advocate for women’s rights and social justice, in 2010 Elen founded the Glendale Domestic Violence Task Force—bringing together Glendale based nonprofits to help identify areas of cooperation and assistance in matters relating to domestic violence.
In her mission to ensure that all voters have equal access to the democratic process, Asatryan developed and implemented voter registration and ‘Get Out the Vote’ initiatives, resulting in over 50,000 newly registered voters and record-breaking voter turnout in some of the most competitive and heated local, state, and national elections.

“Elen Asatryan is both a friend of the Armenian community as well as a proven leader and activist with a successful track record of serving her community. SCAD unequivocally endorses her for Democratic County Central Committee,” said SCAD Political Director Manuel Magpapian.

Some of her proudest accomplishments include leading the struggle to achieve equal representation in government entities, Armenian Genocide recognition in every state in the region, incorporating Genocide education in the statewide high school curriculum, mobilizing 166,000 participants in the historic March for Justice for the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, and championing to gain recognition for Artsakh’s right to self-determination for which she was presented the Artsakh “Gratitude” Award by the President of the Republic of Artsakh.

These endorsements follow endorsements from Senator Anthony Portantino, former CA Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson, the Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region and its local chapters Glendale, Burbank, Crescenta Valley, and Hollywood, Los Angeles City College Board of Trustees President Andra Hoffman, Vice President Steve Veres, and Trustee Mike Fong, Glendale Unified School District Board of Education President Jennifer Freemon and members Shant Sahakian and Nayiri Nahabedian, Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education Member Scott Schmerelson, Glendale Community College Board Trustee Ann Ransford and Former GCC Board of Trustees President Anita Gabrielian, Burbank Board of Education President Armond Aghakhanian and member Steve Ferguson, Burbank Teachers Association President Diana Abasta, and others. The full list of endorsements is available online.

The election for the Democratic County Central Committee will take place between February 22 and March 3 at 1,000 vote centers across L.A. County. Registered Democrats residing in State Assembly District 43, and those who have declined to state a political party but have requested a Democratic ballot, will see Asatryan’s name on their ballot.

For voters who have selected the option to vote by mail, ballots started arriving in mailboxes as of February 4. Elen Asatryan’s name may be found on page 3 or 4 of the ballot.

In order to vote by mail, you must be registered by February 18. Same-day voter registration is available in person at any vote center between February 22 and March 3. To register to vote, update voter information and political party preference, request a vote by mail ballot or find your nearest vote center.

The DCCC is the official governing body of the Democratic Party in Los Angeles County. It is also the largest local Democratic Party entity in the United States, representing nearly 2.7 million Democrats in the 88 cities and the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County – a population larger than 42 individual states.

The 43rd State Assembly District encompasses the cities of Burbank, Glendale, La Cañada Flintridge, La Crescenta-Montrose, and parts of Los Angeles including Hollywood Hills, East Hollywood, Little Armenia, Franklin Hills, Los Feliz, Silver Lake, and Atwater Village (90027, 90029, 90068 and most of 90039).

To learn more about, get involved in, and contribute to Asatryan’s campaign, visit the website. For up to the minute updates, follow the campaign’s social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @ElectElen.

Justice minister, USAID Armenia Mission Director discuss cooperation development directions

Arpi Talalian

Justice minister, USAID Armenia Mission Director discuss cooperation development directions

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 16:10,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 18, ARMENPRESS. Justice Minister Rustam Badasyan today received USAID Armenia Mission Director Deborah Grieser and her delegation, the ministry told Armenpress.

Minister Badasyan thanked for the productive cooperation and highlighted the operation of the ministry’s fund “Center for Development of Legislation and Legal Research” through the support of the USAID.

Deborah Grieser also highly valued the activity of the Fund, the cooperation with the justice ministry in the anti-corruption fight and reaffirmed the readiness to support the Armenian government in this fight.

During the meeting the Armenian minister introduced the ministry’s priorities, such as the creation of an Anti-Corruption Committee and Anti-Corruption Court, reforms in the Police and discussed the cooperation opportunities with the USAID partners in these areas.

The meeting also touched upon issues relating to supporting the activities of the Corruption Prevention Commission and raising public trust towards the judiciary as a result of the anti-corruption fight.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




Ilham Aliyev lies – claims reporter who interviewed former Azerbaijani president on Khojaly events

Arpi Talalian

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 19:59,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 17, ARMENPRESS. Reporter Dana Mazalova who interviewed former president of Azerbaijan Ayaz Mutalibov and published the article in “Nezavisimaya Gazeta” reaffirms that irrespective of the efforts of the incumbent president of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to distort the reality, her article is in full compliance with what former Azerbaijani president Ayaz Mutalibov said during the interview which took place in April, 1992.

The reporter regrets that she was unable to preserve the recording due to technical reasons.

“There was no internet, there were no computers, but I reaffirm that what I wrote back then are what Ayaz Mutalibov said, I have not added anything. Now he can deny it as he wants, but he said it the way it is printed in “Nezavisimaya Gazeta” newspaper. I have the copy of that newspaper and its available on the net, Ayaz Mutalibov has said it”, Dana Mazalova said in an exclusive interview with ARMENPRESS. Mutalibov gave an interview to Dana Mazalova after 1 month following his resignation.

Mazalova heard about the tragic events of Khojaly from the video recordings of cameraman Chingiz Mustafayev, who had personally made exclusive records. “Chingiz, whom I met in Kislovodsk, told me in his apartment how those people were killed, they were hurting their knees so they couldn't go. The knees… the most vulnerable place on human’s body. I was scheduled to take an interview from Ayaz Mutalibov the next day. I could not help asking him what I had seen in the records made by Chingiz. Of course, I did not say the name of my friend Chingiz not to harm him. After 2 months Chingiz was killed”, the reporter recalls with grief.

Dana Mazalova told also about another recording of Chingiz Mustafayev. The bodies of the victims of Khojaly events were seen in a video recording done on February 28 in front of the military positions of the “Popular Front” of Azerbaijani troops. According to Muslim traditions, the bodies should have been buried within two days, but Chingiz Mustafayev could record them also on March 2, but this time the bodies were taken to another place and were vandalized. In the video recording of February 28 it could be seen that Azerbaijani soldiers were walking near the bodies.

“I feel very guilty for not taking and copying those recordings. I feel so sorry up till now. I think you understand that my interview with Mutalibov was the result of those video recordings and my conversations with Chingiz”, Mazalova said.

To the remark of the reporter of ARMENPRESS that incumbent president of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev used the public platform of Munich Security Conference on February 15 to deny the words of Mutalibov, Mazalova emphasized, “I will put this way. We know that Turkey denies the Armenian Genocide up till now”.

One month after the Khojaly tragedy Azerbaijani president Ayaz Mutalibov was interviewed by Czech reporter Dana Mazalova.
– What would you say about the Khojaly events, after which you resigned? At the time, bodies of people from Khojaly were discovered not far from Aghdam. Someone had shot them in the legs beforehand to prevent them from running away. Afterwards they were axed. On February 29th my colleagues filmed them. When we next filmed on March 2 these corpses had been scalped. What kind of strange game was that?

– As the rescued residents of Khojaly say, all that was organized to create grounds for my resignation. I don’t think that the Armenians, who had manifested a clear and knowledgeable approach to such situations, would have allowed Azerbaijanis to obtain evidence that tied them to fascist acts. If I declare that it was the fault of the Azerbaijani opposition I could be blamed for slander. But the overall picture of the conclusions is as follows: the Armenians had, in any case, provided a corridor to let the civilians escape. Why then would they shoot? As soon as Khojaly was surrounded by tanks it was necessary to immediately lead the civilians out. Earlier I had given similar orders regarding Shushi – to evacuate women and children and to leave only men in the city. It’s one of the laws of war – civilians must be rescued. My conduct was appropriate and unambiguous – I gave such orders, but why they weren’t followed in Khojaly is not clear to me.

Photo from “Novoe Vremya”

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

Armenia analyst: Karabakh independence from Azerbaijan was established 3 times in 20th century

Arpi Talalian
News.am, Armenia
Feb 17 2020

14:54, 17.02.2020
                  

YEREVAN. – Discussion behind closed doors is one thing, but when there is an actual press conference during which the two leaders are battling, it is quite another. In the first case, it is not clear what exactly is being discussed, but one can guess, and the press conference is like a rally. But this is not a rally in Yerevan, and one needs properly prepared for it. Political scientist Aleksandr Manasyan stated this during a meeting with journalists today.

According to him, during the Munich debate between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, the statements of the Armenian side, represented by Pashinyan, were not very convincing. "The historical arguments put forward by Pashinyan about Tigranes the Great and the revolution in Armenia were weak," the analyst said, noting that even the announcer was somewhat skeptical.

As per Manasyan, if the head of the Armenian government decided to go this way, these arguments should have been presented wisely and more carefully so as not to cause a negative reaction.

Referring to the Khojaly tragedy, the analyst noted that the Armenian side has its position on this issue, and he reminded that the Popular Front of Azerbaijan, which carried out the massacre of the peaceful Azerbaijani population in Khojaly, is entirely responsible for what happened.

The political scientist reminded that in the legal sense, Karabakh's independence from Azerbaijan was established three times in the 20th century: in 1918, 1920, and 1991.

“Karabakh is in the negotiation process; it’s us who is pushing it out,” Manasyan said. "When representatives of the OSCE Minsk Group visit Karabakh, it actually means that they admit that it is a party to the conflict."

He added that Karabakh should not wait for Baku's demands, but must posit its own conditions. Moreover, according to Aleksandr Manasyan, Azerbaijan still has to apologize to Armenians for the massacre of the Armenian population in Azerbaijan and Karabakh. Otherwise, there can be no negotiations.

Famous photographer-documentarian German Avagyan passed away

Arpi Talalian
Arminfo, Armenia
Feb 17 2020

ArmInfo. Famous photographer-documentarian German Avagyan passed away. The famous photographer-documentarian was also known for his reports during the  Karabakh war.

German Avagyan was born on December 12, 1962 in the city of  Tsulukidze (Khoni) in Georgia. In 1980- 1985 studied at the Yerevan  Polytechnic Institute. Since 1989, his career as a photojournalist  began: he, in particular, collaborated with the "Republic of Armenia"  and <Takoma Voice> newspapers, as well as other local and foreign  media.

Among the achievements and awards – <Best Photographer of the Year>  of the American "Amainatapker" magazine (2000, Los Angeles, USA); < For achievements in the press> award from Versus studio and the Open  Society Institute (2001, Yerevan, Armenia); laureate of the "Fifty  Raven" competition of the International Foundation for Documentary  Photography (founded by the <Mother Jones> magazine, San Francisco,  USA. 2002); Yerevan Press Club Annual Award (2005, for the series of  "Deadly Toys" photographs).

Council of Europe supports Armenia’s reforms: PM meets with CoE Secretary General

Arpi Talalian

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 15:32,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 15, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan met today with Secretary General of the Council of Europe Marija Pejčinović Burić in Munich, the PM’s Office told Armenpress.

The Armenian PM highlighted the meeting and stated that it is a good opportunity to discuss the current issues. “As you know, Armenia currently is in the process of large-scale democratic reforms which accelerated especially after the 2018 peaceful, Velvet, democratic Revolution. It soon was revealed that the Constitutional system of our country was occupied before the Revolution, moreover, it was covered with mines. And now we are making efforts to demine the democracy and the judicial system in Armenia. I am glad for this opportunity to make you informed about the ongoing developments because recently we made a decision to hold a referendum on the Constitutional Court. I am happy to inform what is happening and why, and what will happen later”, the PM said.

“Dear Mr. Prime Minister, thank you for this opportunity, which, as you said, is very important in terms of being informed about the ongoing developments. Let me remind that we have already started the intensive cooperation between Armenia and the Council of Europe after the visit of the CoE high-level working group last May. I know that you asked the CoE to engage in this process. And the CoE started closely following what is taking place. There are some concerns, and it would be interesting to listen from you how you see the future developments and how we can continue assisting your country”, the CoE Secretary General said.

Pashinyan introduced the ongoing democratic reforms in Armenia, including those in the judiciary. He stated that last year Armenia recorded a great progress in international rankings on democracy, human rights and freedom of speech. He thoroughly introduced the details of the upcoming referendum scheduled on April 5.

Marija Pejčinović Burić expressed the full support of the Council of Europe to Armenia’s reforms, including in the judicial field, and stated that they will continue the discussions with the Armenian government regarding the cooperation on this path.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




Armenia and Artsakh ready to contribute to global security and lasting peace – PM Pashinyan

Arpi Talalian

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 21:28,

MUNICH, FEBRUARY 15, ARMENPRESS. Armenia and Artsakh are ready to make real efforts to form lasting peace in the region, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at a panel discussion on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. The discussion was attended by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.

“As a Prime Minister of Armenia I consider this situation not only my responsibility for the security of our country, but also I perceive my responsibility for the security of the region, for the global security, and I propose President Aliyev to perceive this situation as our mutual task, action, that is to form a lasting peace and stability and not view this situation only as an issue of our national agenda, but an issue of a global and regional security agenda, and our duty is to make efforts and contribute to the global security, and I assure you that Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh are ready for that”, PM Pashinyan said.

Pashinyan said that the international community should state very clearly that there is no military solution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. “If someone thinks otherwise and says that there is a military solution to the conflict, I think the people of Nagorno Karabakh will answer that in that case we can state that this conflict is already resolved. However, I think that we need a lasting peace”, he added.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan