Author: Bedik Zaminian

Armenia enters very important stage of judicial reforms, PM says

Bedik Zaminian

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 12:26,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 14, ARMENPRESS. Armenia is entering a very important stage of judicial reforms. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at the Cabinet meeting today.

The PM said they will wait firstly for the formation of the patrol police. “We have a certain court staff over issues connected with detention and arrest which will investigate only the pre-trial proceedings. This is a broadly used practice in the world”, Pashinyan said, adding that a new process of electing and appointing judges will launch, where the most important is the integrity checking.

“There can be a case when the Corruption Prevention Commission may give a problematic conclusion connected with the integrity, but it can also have no effect on the appointment of a judge by the Supreme Judicial Council.

We should be guaranteed that the impartiality of judges who appear in this new status will not be questioned in any way, in other words, everyone should take into consideration the decision made, rather than to discuss whether there is any political link with that particular decision or not”, the PM said.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Iranian athlete hands over his gold medal to family of Armenian soldier killed in Artsakh

Bedik Zaminian
Public Radio of Armenia
Jan 14 2021
Iranian champion in Kyokushin karate Ahmad Bagheripoor, the gold medal winner of the 12th open championship in Armenia in 2017, has decided to hand over his gold medal to the family of Arthur Sukiasyan, an Armenian athlete who died during the 2020 Artsakh war, the Armenian Embassy in Iran reports.
 
Arthur Sukiasyan and Ahmad Bagheripoor were friends and participated in many tournaments together.
 
On January 13, the Iranian athlete handed his gold medal to Gor Shahverdyan, third secretary of the Embassy of Armenia in Iran to be presented to Sukiasyan family in Armenia.
 

Artsakh’s Foreign Ministry strongly condemns ceasefire violation by Azerbaijan

Bedik Zaminian

Artsakh's Foreign Ministry strongly condemns ceasefire violation by Azerbaijan

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 19:41,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 13, ARMENPRESS. The Foreign Ministry of Artsakh issued a statement over the violations of the ceasefire regime by Azerbaijan, as a result of which an Armenian serviceman was injured.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the MFA Artsakh, the statement runs as follows,

‘’On January 13, the Azerbaijani armed forces grossly violated the ceasefire regime in the central direction of the contact line. As a result of the incident, a soldier of the Defense Army of the Republic of Artsakh received a gunshot wound.
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh strongly condemns the provocative steps of the Azerbaijani side and qualifies them as an action aimed at destabilizing the situation in the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict zone and disrupting the peacekeeping efforts.
 
This kind of dangerous behavior is unacceptable and is a gross violation of the trilateral statement of the leaders of Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan of November 9, 2020 on a complete cease-fire and cessation of all military operations in the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict zone. We call on Azerbaijan to strictly follow the commitments taken under the trilateral statement and refrain from provocative actions that could undermine the current truce''.

Armenia and Artsakh security chiefs meet near Vorotan and Shurnukh

Bedik Zaminian
News.am, Armenia

Jan 10 2021
The National Security Service of Armenia claims that the information about the planned meeting of the directors of the National Security Service of Armenia and the State Security Service of Azerbaijan in the Tavush region is false.
 
“A meeting in a similar format took place a few days ago in the neutral zone of the Ararat region bordering the village of Yeraskh. A similar meeting was held today in the settlements of Vorotan and Shurnukh in the Syunik province, during which the exchange of prisoners and the search for the missing were discussed," the statement noted. "The Director of the National Security Service acts exclusively within the powers granted by the law."
 
 

Families of missing soldiers protest outside Armenian government

Bedik Zaminian
Panorama, Armenia
Jan 5 2021

Families of Armenian soldiers who went missing during the recent Artsakh war on Tuesday staged a protest outside the government building to again call the authorities’ attention to the problem and to learn about the search efforts.

“My son joined the military two months before the war. He went missing in the Hadrut region. One of his fellow soldiers says that he saw my son killed, another says that he saw him wounded. Now I have no news of him, neither his body has been found, nor his name is on the list of prisoners,” a missing soldier’s mother told reporters.

The mother of another missing serviceman noted that she has not heard from her son for 80 days.

The father of one of the missing soldiers, Roman Gevorgyan, said: “There are parents who have seen photos of their children in intensive care units. They were transported to Yerevan, but cannot be found anywhere, not in a single hospital. The children have gone missing for a week. They are not needles to get lost without a trace.”

He showed a photograph of one of the wounded soldiers taken in the Goris hospital, adding they had not been able to find him for a week. He stated the health minister should be held to account for the failed efforts to find those soldiers, demanding a meeting with Arsen Torosyan.

According to the father, the government does not know that more than 800 Armenian soldiers are being held in a Baku prison. “We talked to 44 repatriated POWs, they say that there were three floors and two buildings, with 6 people kept in each cell. The children got a blood test with their eyes closed, but they saw the numbers. We add up and it turns out to be more than 800,” he said.

He presented the parents' demand: “There is a site where Azerbaijanis buried the dead soldiers. They must find out where they are buried so that we can find and retrieve the remains. In addition, we must be provided with the specific names of the prisoners. I am convinced that there are over 800 children in the Baku prison.

“I don't know what they are doing: what New Year, what Snow Maiden? It's a shame, they are not at work. Everyone must work. I haven't seen my son for three months.”

He also said Azerbaijanis do not allow search operations for the surviving soldiers in some places.

The parent added there will be no meeting with Nikol Pashinyan, as the premier is preparing for a trilateral meeting and avoids contacts not to catch coronavirus.

“We can hold a phone call. We will present our concerns to him over the phone, but the health minister must come here, if he does not come, we will find him," Gevorgyan said.


"The Second War over Nagorno-Karabakh and the Federal Republic of Germany" an online event of the German-Armenian Society

Bedik Zaminian

What:      "The Second War over Nagorno-Karabakh and the Federal
Republic of Germany"

An online event of the German-Armenian Society with H.E. Ashot Smbatyan,
Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia in Berlin, in German


When:     January 14, 7 pm CET

Where:   Zoom

Misc: Interested parties are kindly asked to email the following
information to [email protected] no later than Jan. 13:

- First name,
- Last name
- E-mail address
- Membership in an organization

Only after that they will be sent the link and the meeting ID.

Online Contact: [email protected]

Web:       

Armenian PM discusses early parliamentary elections with the heads of parliamentary factions

Bedik Zaminian
Public Radio of Armenia

Dec 29 2020

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan held meetings with the leaders of the parliamentary factions of the National Assembly.

The Prime Minister separately met with Lilit Makunts, leader of the My Step faction, Gagik Tsarukyan, leader of the Prosperous Armenia faction, and Edmon Marukyan, leader of the Bright Armenia faction.

The issue of holding early parliamentary elections in 2021 was discussed during the meetings. The Prime Minister listened to the opinions and positions of the faction leaders.



Armenian Foreign Ministry issues official position on border demarcation processes in response to ombudsman’s inquiry

Bedik Zaminian
Panorama, Armenia
Dec 30 2020

Armenia’s Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) Arman Tatoyan on Wednesday said following the results of his visit to Syunik Province, he submitted an inquiry to the Foreign Ministry, requesting clarifications over demarcation and delimitation processes along Armenia's border with Azerbaijan, taking into account the direct impact of these processes on human rights in the current situation.

The ministry issued an official position, which the ombudsman published in full on his Facebook page.

“Demarcations are successive bilateral international processes that require the existence of a joint commission and within the framework of which professional discussions and negotiations are held. A prerequisite for the above-mentioned processes is the existence of normal bilateral relations, including diplomatic relations, between the neighboring states.

In international practice, a bilateral intergovernmental commission (chaired by representatives of the foreign ministries of the countries) is formed to carry out demarcation and delimitation processes between neighboring countries, consisting of representatives of state stakeholders (foreign policy, defense, security), experts (particularly in the field of geodesy cartography).

The first stage of the work of such commissions, as a rule, ends with a separate bilateral agreement on the legal basis of the demarcation, and later, after the demarcation, on the joint implementation of the demarcation process.

Upon successful completion of the bilateral process, the commission concludes an agreement on the border between the two countries, which stipulates that all border issues have been resolved.

Prior to the commencement of the above-mentioned processes, "their successful completion, the deployment of armed forces or border troops to conduct combat duty along the state border is a purely defensive" security measure, in areas actually under the control of the parties, negotiated directly or indirectly between representatives of the armed forces."

Therefore, the implementation of the current measures is not related to status issues, can not be interpreted as a final agreement on demarcation, or mechanical approval of existing administrative boundaries”.

Arman Tatoyan has established an effective and reliable cooperation with the Foreign Ministry on the mentioned issues, as well as on various other issues, especially with the country's permanent representatives in international structures and its ambassadors to a number of countries.

Turkish Press: Turkish-Russian joint center to be ready in 2 weeks

Bedik Zaminian
Anadolu Agency, Turkey
Dec 31 2020
Turkish-Russian joint center to be ready in 2 weeks

Ruslan Rehimov   | 31.12.2020

BAKU

The construction of the Turkish-Russian joint monitoring center will be completed in two weeks, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said on Thursday.

“The sooner the Monitoring Center starts operating, the better, because even though about two months have passed since the war ended, there are still threats and dangers,” Aliyev said during a meeting with Turkish National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar and commanders of Turkish Armed Forces.

“The Azerbaijani side is currently constructing a building for this Monitoring Center in Aghdam district. This Monitoring Center will be ready in the next 10 days – a maximum of two weeks,” a statement by the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry quoted him as saying.

“As far as I know, the Turkish side is ready to start operating. You are probably also in contact with the Russian side,” he added.

Aliyev noted the armed forces of Armenia violated the cease-fire and that the Azerbaijani army had martyrs even after the war.

“I can say that according to the information we have, the Armenian armed units that still remain in some of the liberated lands are not subordinated to the Armenian political leadership,” the Azerbaijani president said, adding many of them have been neutralized and many others arrested.

“They cannot be considered prisoners of war – they are terrorists. They were given a chance. In particular, Russian peacekeepers joined the operation and they were allowed the opportunity to leave the area,” Aliyev said.

Highlighting the importance of the formation of the Azerbaijan-Armenia-Turkey transport corridor, Aliyev said that the construction of a railway line that extends to the border with Armenia would take around two years to complete, but without waiting that much transportation can begin via trucks.

For his part, Akar said Turkey and Azerbaijan are working together to help ensure peace in the newly liberated Upper Karabakh region.

“The unity, equality and joint efforts of Azerbaijan and Turkey in ensuring peace and stability here with Azerbaijan’s determination will usher great prospects not only for today but also for the future,” the Turkish defense minister said.

Following the Nov. 10 truce, Turkey and Russia signed a memorandum of understanding to set up a joint center to monitor the peace deal on Azerbaijani territories liberated from Armenia's occupation.


– Liberation of Karabakh


Relations between the former Soviet republics of Armenia and Azerbaijan have been tense since 1991, when the Armenian military occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, internationally recognized as an Azerbaijani territory, and seven adjacent regions.

When new clashes erupted on Sept. 27, the Armenian army launched attacks on civilians and Azerbaijani forces and violated several humanitarian cease-fire agreements.

During the 44-day conflict, Azerbaijan liberated several cities and nearly 300 settlements and villages from the nearly three-decade-long occupation.

Despite the Nov. 10 deal ending the conflict, the Armenian army several times violated the agreement and martyred several Azerbaijani soldiers and a civilian, according to the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

The truce is seen as a victory for Azerbaijan and a defeat for Armenia, whose armed forces have been withdrawing in line with the agreement.



Ukrainian Union of Writers blacklists Armenian, Russian, Belarusian authors

Bedik Zaminian

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 13:12,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 30, ARMENPRESS. Ukraine’s Union of Writers announced it is refusing to publish books of authors from countries who as they described have “acted against the Ukrainian territorial integrity” in the UN and other international organizations.

Armenia, Russia and Belarus are also blacklisted by the writers’ union, according to RIA Novosti.

According to the announcement, the Union of Writers of Ukraine is willing to make an “exception” for the books of late classic authors from these countries, or contemporary writers who will publicly “support Ukraine’s territorial integrity and condemn Russia’s aggression”.

Apart from Armenia, Russia and Belarus, the following countries were also blacklisted: Venezuela, Zimbabwe, Iran, Cambodia, Kyrgyzstan, China, North Korea, Cuba, Laos, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Serbia, Syria and Sudan.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan