Author: Babken Chilingarian

Germany is an important and successful model of p parliamentarism for Armenia – Pashinyan

Babken Chilingarian

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 18:43,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 13, ARMENPRESS. Armenia switched to parliamentary system of government in 2018 and Germany is a very important and successful model for Armenia in terms of parlaimentarism, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan announced during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the correspondent of ARMENPRESS informs from Berlin.

“I want to emphasize another aspect of relations with Germany which is of great importance for us. You know, Armenia switched to parliamentary system of government in 2018 and Germany is a very important and successful model for Armenia in terms of parlaimentarism. Being an effective and powerful country, the mechanisms of restraint and counterbalances operate precisely, where democracy is not doubted and it’s irreversible. In this sense we attach great importance to relations with Germany and we will talk about the current developments and the reform agenda in Armenia with Mrs. Chancellor”, Pashinyan emphasized.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

Asbarez: Syria’s Parliament Recognizes Armenian Genocide

Babken Chilingarian

Syrial lawmakers voter to recognize the Armenian Genocide on Feb, 13

The Parliament of Syria on Thursday voted unanimously to recognize and condemn the Armenian Genocide.

The resolution was introduced by the Syria-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Commission.

Parliament Speaker Rami Saleh said that while the parliament had previously commemorated the victims of the Armenian Genocide, the resolution needed to be adopted.

Turkey was quick to condemn Thursday’s vote, calling it “hypocrisy.”

“This is a picture of hypocrisy on the part of a regime which has for years committed any kind of massacre on its own people… which has displaced millions and which is well known for its use of chemical weapons,” the foreign ministry says in a statement.

Syria’s Ambassador to Armenia Mohammad Haj Ibrahim attached importance to the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, saying that the successors of those who committed the Genocide are committing the same crime today against the Syrian people through terrorists.

“Recognition is important, because only Lebanon from Arab countries has recognized the Armenian Genocide so far.” he said.

“Today’s terrorist organizations, who are committing horrifying acts against the Syrian people, are the grandchildren of those who committed genocide against the Armenians and others in the past,” said Ibrahim during a press conference in Yerevan on Thursday.

“When during the Armenian Genocide the Armenians reached Syria, they became an integral part of the Syrian society, they safely resumed their life in Syria – preserving their identity, religion, studying in Armenian schools. There are numerous churches which are eternalizing the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide, most importantly the Armenian Genocide Memorial Church in Deir ez-Zor, the Forty Martyrs’ Church in Aleppo, as well as the Holy Martyrs of Armenian Genocide square in Damascus,” added Ibrahim.

Speaking about the Syrian parliament’s unanimous adoption of the Armenian Genocide resolution, the Ambassador said that Syria has always commemorated the memory of the victims of the massacres against the Armenians.

“This issue has been studied long time ago, and the Syrian Government has treated with utmost respect the Syrians who have Armenian roots. They have always been an integral part of the Syrian society. The Armenian pogroms have always been commemorated in Syria, through the events held in the Armenian-populated regions,” explained Ibrahim.

Chair of the Syrian Parliament’s Arab and Foreign Affairs Committee Boutros Morjana emphasized that the Armenian Genocide is a historical fact, which was followed by the massacres of Assyrians and Arameans in northern Syria.

“It is time to recognize and condemn these inhumane actions and prevent their repetition, especially that many countries have recognized the Armenian Genocide,” said Morjana.

The adoption of the resolution recognizing and condemning the Armenian Genocide by the People’s Council of Syria is clear evidence of the centuries-old friendship between the Armenian and Syrian peoples. It’s an important contribution to the restoration of historical justice and prevention of genocides, said a statement issued by Armenia’s Foreign Ministry.

Below is the text of the ministry’s announcement.

We highly appreciate the adoption of the resolution recognizing and condemning the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire by the People’s Council of the Syrian Arab Republic.

The genocide unleashed by the government of the Young Turks a major part of which was carried out in the territory of Syria that was under the Ottoman rule at that time, is a part of the shared memories of the Armenian and Syrian peoples.

The Syrian people, witnessing the calamity facing the Armenian people, were one of the 1st to extend a helping hand to the genocide survivors. Thousands of survivors re-found their new motherland in Syria, establishing one of the most flourishing Armenian communities and had their contribution to the development of Syria.

This resolution is a brilliant evidence of the centuries-old friendship and reciprocal sympathy between the Armenian and Syrian peoples. It’s an important contribution to the restoration of historical justice and prevention of genocides.

President Sarkissian meets with representatives of IT companies

Babken Chilingarian

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 14:19, 7 February, 2020

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 7, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian met with the representatives of IT companies, the Presidential Office told Armenpress.

President Sarkissian highlighted the development of new technologies, stating that it’s necessary to unite efforts to make Armenia a country of modern technologies. In this context he introduced the presidential initiative ATOM (Advanced Tomorrow) on science and technology development in Armenia, noting that this project, consisting of three parts, aims at bringing leading IT companies to Armenia to engage them in the implementation of programs in artificial intelligence, math modeling, educational programs. The President informed that there are already preliminary agreements with two dozen companies.

Armen Sarkissian also touched upon the Armenian Summit of Minds which will take place in Armenia this year and will be dedicated to artificial intelligence and geopolitics. He also introduced the Horasis-China international conference within the frames of which several dozens of Chinese companies will visit Armenia.

The IT representatives attached importance to the meeting with the President, his support to Armenia’s technological development and stated that they are ready to cooperate and come up with proposals.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




Venice Commission President calls for restraint to de-escalate the worrying situation around Armenia’s Constitutional Court

Babken Chilingarian
Panorama, Armenia
Feb 3 2020

President of the Venice Commission Gianni Buquicchio issued a statement over the current situation around Armenia’s Constitutional Court. "Following my statement of 29 October 2019, I remain preoccupied about the open conflict involving the Constitutional Court of Armenia. I share the concerns of the rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in this respect,” the President said in a statement, published in the Commission’s website.

G. Buquicchio recalled the recommendations made in the opinion of the Venice Commission adopted in October 2019 that any early retirement scheme at the Constitutional Court has to remain truly voluntary, exclude any undue political or personal pressure on the judges concerned and must be designed not to influence the outcome of pending cases.

“Recent public statements and acts do not meet these criteria and will not be conducive to deescalating the situation. Democratic culture and maturity require institutional restraint, good faith and mutual respect between State institutions,” the statement said.

“I call again on all sides to exercise restraint and to de-escalate this worrying situation in order to ensure the normal operation of the constitution of Armenia," the statement concluded.

France ratifies protocol on readmission agreement signed with Armenia

Babken Chilingarian

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 13:30,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 30, ARMENPRESS. France has ratified the protocol on implementing the agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Armenia on the readmission of persons residing without authorization, the French migration service said.

“France has ratified the protocol signed between the French and Armenian governments in Paris on October 27, 2016 on implementing the “Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Armenia on the readmission of persons residing without authorization” signed in Brussels on April 19, 2013”, the statement says.

Armenia’s Migration Service said the protocol defines the technical details, timeframes of the readmission process and the cooperation format. Armenia has ratified that protocol on September 14, 2017.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




Ruling My Step faction holds meeting with acting Police Chief

Babken Chilingarian

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 14:35,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 30, ARMENPRESS. The ruling My Step faction of the Armenian parliament is holding a meeting with acting Police Chief Arman Sargsyan.

The closed-format meeting has kicked off at the headquarters of Civil Contract party.

Before the start of the meeting Arman Sargsyan promised the reporters to talk to them after the meeting.

On January 16 the My Step faction had a meeting with foreign minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan. That time faction head Lilit Makunts announced about their plans to hold such a meeting also with the acting Police Chief.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




UK welcomes Armenian government’s commitment to wide-ranging reforms

Babken Chilingarian

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 10:31,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 30, ARMENPRESS. The United Kingdom welcomes Armenia’s positive progress since its 2015 review, and the Government’s commitment to wide-ranging reforms, the UK government said in a statement delivered at the 35th Session of Universal Periodic Review (UPR).

“In particular, we acknowledge Armenia’s conduct of elections in December 2018. We also welcome Armenia’s advances in media freedom. The UK welcomes Armenia’s progress in adopting legislative reforms towards gender equality and combating violence against women”, the statement says.

The UK recommended Armenia to ratify the 2014 protocol to the ILO Forced Labour Convention of 1930 (P029); adopt an open, merit-based process when selecting national candidates for UN Treaty Body elections; sign the Global Pledge on Media Freedom, and commit to international efforts to create a safer environment for journalists worldwide as a member of the Media Freedom Coalition.

Yerevan City Council member from My Step faction agrees to step down

Babken Chilingarian

 14:44,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. The My Step faction of the Yerevan City Council urged its member Henrik Hartenyan to step down, faction head Suren Eyramjyan told reporters after the urgent session of the faction convened today.

“During today’s discussion the faction members reaffirmed that it is against our value system and principles. Remained committed to these principles we urged Mr. Hartenyan to refuse from his mandate, and he agreed”, the faction head said.

Earlier today the My Step faction of the Yerevan City Council convened an urgent session regarding its member Henrik Hartenyan’s recent post of the photo of niece of Constitutional Court President Hrayr Tovmasyan on his social account.

On January 26 My Step faction member of the Yerevan City Council Henrik Hartenyan posted the photo of Sara Tovmasyan user on his Facebook story and wrote that this page belongs to the daughter of CC President Hrayr Tovmasyan.

Following this the My Step faction of the City Council issued a statement strongly condemning any manifestation of hate speech and apologizing for the incident.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




Armenia’s PM reiterates his call to open road to Amulsar

Babken Chilingarian
News.am, Armenia
Jan 25 2020

Lydian will supposedly apply to arbitrary which will create legal issues for the country, Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told the reporters today in Kapan.

“Today too I urge to open the road and consider the actions of our dear compatriots illogical as because of them the issue has entered a deadlock. The issue will not be solved unless the road is opened,” Armenia’s PM said.

He stressed that he is interested in exploitation of the mine.

“I can say both yes and no. I am interested in the exploitation of Amulsar mine as it is related to Armenia’s security environment. If Amulsar was exploited this year we would have had not 7,5 but much bigger economic growth and thousands of jobs,” the head of the government stated.

“On the other hand in no case I will agree to exploitation of Amulsar if it harms the health of the people of Armenia, Jermuk and nearby communities and causes not restorable harms to the country’s nature,” Pashinyan said.

The PM said as far as the road to the mine is closed we cannot conclude whether the exploitation will harm or not.

“I consider such actions illogical, disrespectful, not stemming from Armenia’s interests,” the head of the government said.


Prince Charles visits Armenian church in Bethlehem

Babken Chilingarian

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 15:36,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 24, ARMENPRESS. Charles, Prince of Wales has visited the Armenian Church of Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity on January 24, Chancellor of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem Hovnan Baghdasaryan said on Facebook.

Grand Sacristan of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem Archbishop Sevan Gharibian greeted Prince Charles at the church. On behalf of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the archbishop thanked Prince Charles for the visit and gifted him an Armenian ceramic plate.

The archbishop also presented to Prince Charles the history of Armenian presence in the Holy Land.

“His Eminence also remembered the famous sentence of Hitler “Who after all remembers the Armenian Genocide?” And hoped that instead of might the justice will become right”, Baghdasaryan said.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan