Author: Edgar Tavakalian

 14:37,

YEREVAN, JUNE 27, ARMENPRESS. Former member of Parliament of Armenia Ruben Hakobyan has been invited to the National Security Service.

Hakobyan told reporters that he has been invited to the NSS for his yesterday’s calls made outside the Constitutional Court.

“They almost said that I have made calls over the Constitutional order, the main emphasis is put on this”, Hakobyan said.

On June 26 Ruben Hakobyan was outside the Constitutional Court expressing his protest over the recent law according to which the powers of three judges of the Constitutional Court have been suspended, and President of the Court Hrayr Tovmasyan continues serving as CC member.

Reporting by Norayr Shoghikyan; Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 20:08,

YEREVAN, JUNE 22, ARMENPRESS. The next group of French doctors will arrive in Armenia on June 24 together with the representatives of the Armenian Diaspora, Head of the French medical team Alexandre Mignon said at an online briefing in Yerevan.

“It was a great honor to be hosted in Armenia and be able to assist Armenia in the context of the coronavirus pandemic. We managed to assist as much as possible, help and share our knowledge, and to what extent it was appropriate, we are very satisfied for that. Moreover, in my delegation, which consisted of 10 people, no one was Armenian, but I think that all approached the issue in an Armenian way. The next mission will arrive in Yerevan on Wednesday. This time the mission will include representatives from the Diaspora who were very happy for coming to Armenia to provide support”, the French doctor said.

The first group of French doctors arrived in Armenia via a special flight on June 15 to help the healthcare system to battle the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The French doctors conduct their mission in the St. Gregory the Illuminator hospital, the Scientific Center for Traumatology and Orthopaedy and the infection department of the St. Mary medical center.

Reporting by Anna Grigoryan; Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 20:10,

YEREVAN, JUNE 18, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan participated in the video conference of Eastern Partnership summit, which was also attended by European Council President Charles Michel, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, leaders of the Eastern Partnership participant countries Belarus, Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova and Azerbaijan, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emanuel Macron, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, as well as other European leaders.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister of Armenia, PM Pashinyan said in his speech,

‘’ Distinguished Presidents,

Dear Colleagues,

I am glad to meet you during this video conference. I hope that next time, at the beginning of 2021, we will be able to personally meet at the summit of the Eastern Partnership.

During the last two years Armenia implemented comprehensive reforms for establishing firm democratic institutions based on rule of law and accountability of the Government. Fight against corruption and reforms of the judicial system are included in our agenda.

But our efforts confront the tough resistance of the previous oligarchic and corrupt circles. Those who are afraid of lose their illegally obtained property rely on media manipulations and spread false information aimed at sowing distrust towards the government and blur the efforts aimed at struggling against the coronavirus pandemic.

Despite all those obstacles, we will confidently continue reforms for making democracy irreversible in Armenia.

Dear partners,

In each stage of reforms we have felt the unconditional support of our European partners. The EU is Armenia’s main partner is the efforts to develop state structures. In this context, the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement is of exceptional importance.

Armenia is committed to developing partnership with the EU based on shared democratic values and cultural similarities. The Eastern Partnership is the driving force of our cooperation. It’s a platform for dialogue and cooperation with the EU and regional countries.

Maintaining its integrity and continuity is of paramount importance. Any attempt to create internal divisions will distort the philosophy and influence of the Partnership.

Armenia welcomes the joint policy communiqué to be implemented after 2020. The five goals outlined in the document are in line with our priorities. We believe that the goals set for post-2020 should provide strong ability of resistance and tangible results. The best way to ensure visible results for Armenian citizens would be to start a long-awaited visa liberalization dialogue. The measures taken to combat coronavirus are another piece of evidence of solidarity and cooperation policy encouraged by the EU and the Eastern Partnership. Armenia highly appreciates the support of more than 92 million euros, which is aimed at meeting the immediate needs of the crisis and mitigating its negative impact.

Global challenges require joint action, not confrontation. Any attempt to escalate tensions in the region in the wake of the pandemic is highly reckless and should be condemned by the international community. In this context, the EU's consistently balanced position on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, in line with the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs' approaches, is a very important factor for maintaining peace and stability in our region.

Thank you for attention’’.

During the video-conference PM Pashinyan responded to the groundless and fact-distorting announcements of Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev. Particularly, Pashinyan focused on the racist policy led by the Azerbaijani authorities up till now, bringing the example of glorification of Ramil Safarov who axed to death the Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan while sleeping in Hungary. Nikol Pashinyan emphasized that the people of Nagorno Karabakh is determined in its decision to shape its own future and is ready to protect its security by adequately responding to any hostility.

PM Pashinyan ones again called on the Azerbaijani president to demonstrate constructive approach and finally publicly agree with his formula, which is the following – any solution to Artsakh issue has to be acceptable for the people of Artsakh, for the people of Armenia and for the people of Azerbaijan.

Editing and translating by Tigran Sirekanyan

 13:37, 9 June, 2020

YEREVAN, JUNE 9, ARMENPRESS. Several Armenians living in Georgia donated 27 ventilators to Armenia within the frames of the fight against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

The Armenian Embassy in Georgia organized the delivery of the devices to Armenia.

Healthcare Minister of Armenia Arsen Torosyan thanked the Georgian-Armenians for the donation. “Our patients really breath with these devices”, he said.

Former advisor to the Armenian prime minister Arsen Kharatyan also commented on the news, stating that the ventilators have been delivered to the Nork Infectious Disease Hospital.

According to the latest data, the total number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in Armenia has reached 13,675, out of which 4,451 have already recovered. The death toll has reached 217. At the moment the number of active cases stands at 8,933.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 18:22, 2 June, 2020

YEREVAN, JUNE 2, ARMENPRESS. The National Council of Austria has unanimously ratified the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Armenia and the EU, ARMENPRESS reports member of the National Assembly ''My step'' faction Viktor Yengibaryan wrote on his Facebook page.

In her speech head of the South Caucasus Parliamentary Friendship Group of the Austrian parliament Gudrun Kugler noted that the agreement has to dimensions – one is strengthening of democracy and the other is about free trade. Gudrun Kugler recalled the velvet, non-violent revolution of Armenia in 2018 led by Nikol Pashinyan and saluted its peaceful nature.

Referring to EU-EAEU relations, she said ''Armenia has a special role in EU-EAEU relations. It's an EAEU member state. By the ratification of the CEPA the opportunities for the Austrian companies to enter the huge EAEU market grow''.

The Head of the South Caucasus Parliamentary Friendship Group of the Austrian parliament finished her speech with a reference to the Armenian Genocide. ''Unfortunately, not all countries have recognized the genocide. The flags of the 32 countries that have recognized it hover at the Genocide memorial complex in Yerevan. We are proud to see the flag of Austria among them'', she said.

Editing and translating by Tigran Sirekanyan

“The Song of the Bread” written by Armenian poet of the early 20th century Daniel Varoujan who was deported and murdered by the Young Turk government during Armenian Genocide has been translated into Turkish and published in Istanbul.

As Ermenihaber reports, the publication was initiated by Aras publishing house and translated by Ohanna Shahkal.

“The Song of the Bread” – a fifty-page collection of poems – is one of Varoujan's major works.

Confiscated during the genocide, it was an unfinished manuscript at the time of his death. Reportedly saved by bribing Turkish officials. “The Song of the Bread” was published posthumously in 1921. The poems celebrate the simple majesty of village agricultural life led by Armenian peasant farmers.