21:57, 5 June, 2020
YEREVAN, JUNE 5, ARMENPRESS. Eduard Hovhannisyan has been appointed Chairman of the State Revenue Committee (SRC) of Armenia, ARMENPRESS reports PM Pashinyan signed the decision.
Eduard Hovhannisyan was the Deputy Chairman of the SRC.
Former SRC Chairman David Ananyan resigned on June 4.
Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan
The challenge of the coronavirus has exposed the weakness of every country. The unexpected pandemic, coupled with the unprepared panorama of response, has only exacerbated the intensity of the crisis. Looking forward, however, there is a widening divergence among countries, marked by an over-confident move to reopen economies versus a more gradual prudence of patience.
For small countries like Armenia, both the intensity of the threat and the implications of the crisis are magnified. And as reported on May 31 by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, he has been infected with COVID-19, along with his wife and three daughters. As of June 5, there are slightly more than 11,200 cases of infection, with just over 170 dead, among a population of under 3 million. More than simply a country whose leader has now become infected, Armenia offers a revealing model of the danger of over-confidence and the risks from the broader implications of this crisis.
Through a long and difficult history, Armenia is known as a nation of survivors. And through a shorter period of statehood, with a founding generation of genocide survivors, Armenia has overcome both devastating earthquake and deadly war. Endowed with that degree of exceptionalism, many Armenians see the current coronavirus crisis as simply yet another test of resolve. Despite that rather impressive determination, such over-confidence only breeds public irresponsibility and ignores personal behaviour.
Erasing Early Gains
Despite a fairly rapid and robust response to the coronavirus pandemic, Armenia has staggered and stumbled over a surge in cases after an overly ambitious decision to ease restrictions and reopen the economy. Attempting to preempt a surge in cases that would overwhelm the country’s health care system, the government moved to limit the number of hospitalised cases but has been unable to ensure proper care at home and maintain significant testing.
Amid a record-setting spike in the daily cases of infections of the COVID-19, the Armenian government defended its decision last month to ease restrictions and reopen the economy, dismissing mounting calls for a renewed “lockdown” to prevent the spread of the virus.
Public Irresponsibility
With more than 400 new cases reported early each day at the end of May, this crisis is far from over, reinforcing expectations of a spike in new cases, mainly due to fresh outbreaks in newly reopened factories and businesses and a general failure by much of the public to adhere to prudent precautions of social distancing, avoid public gatherings and practice self-isolation when needed.
The latter factor of public disobedience is only exacerbated by a general flouting of restrictions and failure to recognize the threat, with weak enforcement. Against that backdrop, the threat of punishment or fines for violations are unlike to be effective at this stage, however, and suggest that only the re-imposition of a stricter “lockdown” and the forced closure of more businesses are necessary responses.
All businesses were allowed to reopen in the first week of May, although under with precautions that include social distancing, compulsory masks and other related preventive measures. This was followed by a sweeping move by the Armenian government to resume public transport, restart kindergartens, and restore access to shopping malls, indoor restaurants and gyms.
Meanwhile, for his part, Health Minister Arsen Torosian prudently warned of the danger that the country’s public health system could be quickly overwhelmed, defending the decision to limit hospitalisation to only the most serious and life-threatening cases. And while the more serious threat is not from the outbreak itself, but the risk of a surge of cases that overwhelm an already strained health care system, as the Health Minister warned. That danger of a collapsing health care system seems greater now, with indications suggesting the start of a “second wave” surge in new infections directly attributed to the ambitious move to reopen the economy that now seems to have been much too soon and far too over-confident.
Longer-Term Implications
There is a significantly longer-term implication for Armenia from the COVID-19 crisis, standing an important lesson for other countries. In what should be more obvious to many, the tendency to under-estimate this pandemic not only intensifies the likelihood of a prolonged crisis but also increases the number of deaths, with many fatalities that could have been saved by a faster response and forceful restrictions.
The rush to restart the economy, reopen businesses, and return to “normal” in this context is irresponsible at best and irreparable at worst. And beyond that culpability, other countries, ranging from Belarus to Brazil, only contribute to the problem by denying the intensity of the virus or delaying an effective response.
Potentially, there are also bound to be profound political consequences, as people in every country will have long memories, noting which leaders acted wisely and which rashly abdicated their responsibility. And for an Armenian leader like Pashinyan, his popular support and political standing will face a new test yet to come. The challenge will be one of dangerously high expectations, from a frustrated and impatient population eager for a “return to normalcy.”
And it is precisely this expectation that can no longer be met. There will be no return to the past, no possibility of regaining the old status quo. Instead, there needs to be a new commitment to adapt and adopt the “new normal,” as the economic damage will only linger, the old ruleset of globalised trade will only be further limited and post-crisis challenges will only loom larger.
16:54,
YEREVAN, MAY 25, ARMENPRESS. The Court of Cassation has approved the General Prosecutor’s motion on overruling the convictions of 9 persons in the March 1 case.
The court overruled the convictions of Armen Avagyan, Masis Ayvazyan, Karen Tarkhanyan, Davit Aghayan, Vardan Jhangiryan, Armen Shahinyan, Davit Matevosyan, Khachik Gasparyan and Samvel Harutyunyan and found them not guilty of the crimes they were accused of and the criminal proceedings against them were dropped, General Prosecution spokesperson Gor Abrahamyan said on social media. All nine were protesters during the 2008 March 1 post-election unrest.
One more defendant, Aram Bareghamyan, had his conviction partly overruled and the case was sent back to the court of first instance for a new examination.
Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
Solving Constitutional Court crisis with any formula in Parliament being discussed – Pashinyan
15:59,
YEREVAN, MAY 16, ARMENPRESS. Due to the current situation caused by the novel coronavirus in Armenia it wouldn’t be possible to hold the constitutional amendments referendum for at least a year, but the state is discussing of solving this issue in the parliament, with any option, partially or completely, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said during an online press conference today, asked whether it is possible to solve the Constitutional Court crisis through Parliament, not through a referendum.
The reporter also said that the Armenian government has also sent inquiries to the Venice Commission over the CC crisis and asked why this option was chosen.
“As part of the referendum, we also planned to apply to the Venice Commission as a result of our discussions. But our prediction is that the coronavirus will exist in our reality for at least a year, which means that we cannot hold a referendum for at least a year because we have stated that for us the interest of public health is higher from any political interest. Thus, it’s impossible to hold a referendum during the coronavirus pandemic. But on the other hand, we cannot wait for the solution of the situation around the Constitutional Court, until the end of the coronavirus. Even if we wait, we have formed a commission on Constitutional amendments: constitutional amendments should take place in the future, and in this context we will solve, which, according to the preliminary calculations, may be put up to referendum in June 2021”, the PM said.
“But now we have applied to the Venice Commission, and the issue of solving the CC crisis in the parliament with any formula, partially or completely, is being currently discussed”, the PM said.
He said nothing hinders the work with the international partners aimed at receiving effective and also consensus-based solutions as much as possible.
Armenia was planning to hold a referendum on constitutional amendments on April 5, 2020. The referendum was proposing to suspend the powers of president of the Constitutional Court Hrayr Tovmasyan and 6 judges. However, the referendum didn’t take place as the country declared a state of emergency to fight the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
Reporting by Anna Grigoryan; Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
11:11,
YEREVAN, MAY 12, ARMENPRESS. 146 new cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) have been confirmed in Armenia in the past one day, bringing the total number of cases to 3,538.
71 more patients have recovered. The total number of recovered people has reached 1,430, the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention said today.
1 more patient (82-year-old woman) has died, rising the death toll to 47.
At the moment the active cases are 2,042.
Reporting by Lilit Demuryan; Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
“The real goal of Azerbaijan is not only to retake the territories, it lost as a result of defeat sustained in the war it started itself, to reinstate control over the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region, but strange as it may seem, to seize also Armenia's regions of Syunik, Gegharkunik, the capital Yerevan, the entire Republic of Armenia,” former Director of Armenia’s national Security Service (NSS) Davit Shahnazaryan said in a statement. Shahnazaryan added that such aggressive anti-Armenian programs and goals have been officially and repeatedly voiced by the President of Azerbaijan and other high-ranking officials.
“The Republic of Azerbaijan uses various manipulations and lies in bilateral relations with various countries, as well as in the UN, the OSCE, the Council of Europe, the European Union, the CIS, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Cooperation Council of Turkic-Speaking States, other international platforms and local self-government bodies to press for adoption of resolutions, declarations, and formulas, denouncing Armenia and presenting it as an aggressor, an occupier, and a genocidal state,” said Shahnazaryan.
The former NSS director next cites Article 299 §1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia stating High treason – siding with the enemy, … or providing other assistance by a citizen of Armenia for carrying out hostile activities to the detriment of the sovereignty, territorial inviolability or external security of the Republic of Armenia is punishable by imprisonment for a term of ten to fifteen years with or without seizure of property.
“The statement made by Prime Minister N. Pashinyan ex officio at the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia on May 6, 2020, that Azerbaijan is 'constructive' is an open political and moral assistance to Azerbaijan's hostile activity against the territorial inviolability and external security of the Republic of Armenia, as well as international assistance to Azerbaijan's efforts to substantiate and promote its plans and goals across the international community for starting a new war,” Shahnazaryan said.
In his words, Prime Minister Pashinyan's statement prima facie constitutes a crime envisaged by Article 299 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia. This statement is a crime report to the Office of Prosecutor General of the Republic of Armenia, which is obliged to immediately initiate inquiry, launch a criminal case in the manner prescribed by law, and to institute a criminal prosecution against Prime Minister Pashinyan under Article 299 of the Criminal Code – “High Treason”.
By Emilio Luciano Cricchio
A number of international organizations, foreign nations, and philanthropists have donated, lent funds, or sent resources to assist Armenia’s response to the pandemic.
1. International Monetary Fund
The IMF announced that it would increase its financial support to Armenia by $175 million in the form of a loan.
The increase will be used to mitigate short-term economic and social risks caused by the pandemic, as well as to assist the business community.
2. The European Union
The EU will donate $99.9 million to Armenia. Contributions will come from member states, EU institutions, the European Investment Bank, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
The money will be used to supply medical equipment, train medical staff, support businesses, and provide humanitarian assistance for vulnerable social groups.
3. United States
The U.S. State Department has confirmed that $25 million dollars of pledged aid will be redirected to Armenia’s coronavirus response.
$1.1 million of aid had already been promised by the State Department, in addition to $600,000 by USAID. The money will be used to improve laboratories and support technical experts who are tracking infected people and conducting surveillance.
4. World Bank
Three million dollars has been promised by the World Bank, which will be used to acquire medical equipment, including 50 ventilators and protective gear for medical staff.
5. China
In early April, China delivered shipments to Armenia that included 120 ventilators, two oxygen supply stations, 60,000 test kits, 60,000 facial masks, 280,000 protective masks, 20,000 protective gloves and 100,000 protective gowns.
6. Russia
Russia has sent military medical specialists, as well as a mobile laboratory, which is capable of conducting 100 tests a day.
Russia also promised to provide 20,000 test kits to Armenia.
7. UN World Food Program
Following a meeting with President Armen Sarkissian, the United Nations WFP Country Director in Armenia said the organization would work to deliver a large number of ventilators to Armenia.
8. United Arab Emirates
The UAE has sent a cargo plane to Armenia with seven tons of medical supplies. These supplies will be distributed amongst 7,000 health workers in Armenia.
9. Eduardo Eurnekian
Argentine-Armenian billionaire, businessman, and philanthropist Eduardo Eurnekian has pledged to donate $250,000 to the coronavirus response.
10. My Step Foundation
The Armenia-based My Step Foundation has donated $200,000 for the purchase of medical supplies and equipment.
11. Aurora Humanitarian Initiative
Aurora’s Ararat Challenge Initiative, a crowdfunding campaign initiative, has donated $120,000 to Armenia’s Health Ministry. The money will be used to purchase ten ventilators.
12. Izmirlian Foundation
The Izmirlian Foundation, which funds philanthropic initiatives, donated $100,000 to purchase protective gear for medical staff.
13. All Armenian Fund
The Hayastan All-Armenian Fund has raised $63,000 for Armenia’s coronavirus response after setting up an online fundraiser. On top of this, the organization already delivered seven respirators, 1,000 facial masks, oxygen concentrators and other medical supplies to the Armenian Health Ministry.
Artsakh's Army retaliation was painful for official Baku – Defense Ministry
20:07, 4 May, 2020
YEREVAN, MAY 4, ARMENPRESS. The retaliation of the Defense Army of Artsakh to the recent cease-fire violations of Azerbaijani army in the contact line seemed to be quite painful for the military-political leadership of official Baku, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the defense ministry of Artsakh.
''The retaliation of the Artsakh Army to the ceasefire violations of the recent weeks by the Azerbaijani side in different sections of the contact line seemed to be rather painful for the military-political leadership of official Baku.
In all probability this is the reason why the leadership of the armed forces of Azerbaijan and particularly the defense minister visits different sections of the front line during the last few days, trying to somehow encourage their demoralized and disabled soldiers.
The defense minister of Azerbaijan paid a similar visit to the north-eastern and eastern sections of the contact line on May 4, which was detected by relevant services of the Defense Army of Artsakh.
The Command Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Artsakh, remaining faithful to the commitments to preserve ceasefire during the pandemic in line with the call of the UN Secretary-General, informs that any movement of the adversary at the front line, including at the top level, is monitored by the relevant bodies of the Defense Army, while the border-guards are ready to take necessary measures at any time based on the situation of the given period'', reads the statement.
Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan
15:12,
YEREVAN, APRIL 27, ARMENPRESS. A drastic drop of nitrogen dioxide air pollution has been recorded in Armenia from April 1 to 16 compared to March 1 to 15 amid the coronavirus lockdown, the Environmental Monitoring and Information Center reported.
While the decrease in Yerevan is only 4%, the drop was 48% in Tsakhkadzor and 42% in Alaverdi. The biggest decrease in nitrogen dioxide pollution was recorded in Vanadzor with 49%.
The pollution dropped 12% in Kajaran, 36% in Hrazdan and 32% in Alaverdi.
Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
iLivemap.com is an Interactive Live Map for wars and conflicts in the Mediterranean and surrounding region. It provides the latest updates and news from the region, and is one of the most reliable sources out there on the Syrian and Libyan conflicts.
Although usually focusing on the conflicts in Syria and Libya, it has now broadened its range to include the conflicts in Donbass and Artsakh.
However, most interestingly is that iLiveMap has included Donbass, a region internationally recognised as part of Eastern Ukraine, as a part of Russia.
New Russia added on map#NewRussia #map #Donetsk #Luhansk #Donbass #Novorossiya
https://t.co/UGftBQog05
— Live Map (@ilivemap)
In another surprising move, the interactive map website has recognised the Armenian-majority region of Artsakh, or more commonly known as Nagorno-Karabakh, as a part of Armenia, despite being internationally recognised as a part of Azerbaijan.
Artsakh Armenia added on map #map #Artsakh #Armenia #Azerbaijan #LiveMaphttps://t.co/v9RHzyI899
— Live Map (@ilivemap)
Although neither Donbass or Artsakh have claimed to be a part of Russia or Armenia respectively, they are both unrecognised republics independent of Ukraine and Azerbaijan respectively.
Although Donbass has the backing of Russia, meaning it has huge support with weapons and financial needs, Artsakh affords no advantages like this.
In one of the many questionable moves by Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, he had given the Armenian-majority province of Artsakh to Azerbaijan to appease Turkey in the hope one day Turkey too would join the Soviet Union. The Azerbaijaini’s are Turkic people with a near identical language and culture to Turks – the only major difference being that they are majority Shiite Muslims instead of Sunni.
As the transfer of Artsakh to Azerbaijan was not a major issue because the Soviet Union was like the European Union with movement between the different republics, the fall of the Soviet Union meant that there would be a hard border between Armenia and Azerbaijani-controlled Artsakh, which could not, and should not, be tolerated.
The Armenians against all odds, receiving assistance in weapons and finance from only Greece, and to a lesser extent Russia (who also supported Azerbaijan), prevailed against the Azeri Turks and won their liberation in 1994.
Despite their well earned independence and liberty, they have not been able to unite Artsakh with Armenia, and the Republic of Artsakh remains unrecognised and as a part of Azerbaijan.
Currently only a few individual states in the United States and the state of New South Wales in Australia recognises the Republic of Artsakh as an independent country – nowhere else in the world recognises their independence, including the Federal government’s of the USA and Australia, despite the reality that it operates independently with no Azerbaijani interference.
There is also one Greek village in Artsakh named Mehmana (Μεχμανά, Armenian: Մեհմանա) with just a few residents.
Is the world slowly waking up and realising that Artsakh is not a part of Azerbaijan and rather Armenian?