Author: Eduard Nalbandian

Relatives of Armenia army officer who is in coma for 6 months picket outside hospital

Eduard Nalbandian
News.am, Armenia
March 7 2020

12:02, 07.03.2020
                  

YEREVAN. – The relatives of Lieutenant Colonel Ara Mkhitaryan, who was severely beaten last year in Yeghegnadzor, Armenia, are in front of the Ministry of Defense Central Military Clinical Hospital in Yerevan today, and they are protesting yesterday’s court ruling.

Yesterday, the Criminal Court of Appeal granted the motion to release Zaven Grigoryan, a defendant in the criminal case into the beating of Mkhitaryan.

Grigoryan was released on 1,500,000-dram bail.

Aram Mkhitaryan has been in a coma for about six months.

The Investigative Committee of Armenia had stated that then governor of Vayots Dzor Province Trdat Sargsyan was not an eyewitness to the dispute that took place on September 17 of last year. However, the four military officers who witnessed the incident said that Sargsyan was at the scene and he followed the incident, not preventing it.

Harutyun Grigoryan, an assistant to the now former governor of Vayots Dzor, has been charged along the lines of the aforesaid case. Grigoryan's brother Zaven Grigoryan is also a defendant. One week after the incident, Trdat Sargsyan resigned as Vayots Dzor governor.

Music: Armenian singer to visit Racine

Eduard Nalbandian
The Journal Times, Wisconsin
March 5 2020

Armenian singer to visit Racine

RACINE — Laurel Semerdjian, a mezzo-soprano singer with The Florentine Opera, will hold a meet and greet at noon Sunday, March 8, at St. Hagop Armenian Apostolic Church, 4100 N. Newman Road.

Semerdjian is of Armenian decent and her grandmother grew up in Racine. She is looking forward to meeting people from the four Armenian churches.

Semerdjian will perform as Carmen in The Florentine Opera production of "Tragedy of Carmen" March 13, 15, 21 and 22 at Vogel Hall in Milwaukee. For tickets, go to florentineopera.org.







Parliament Speaker discussed processes over the Constitutional Court with CoE General Director of Human Rights and Rule of Law

Eduard Nalbandian
Panorama, Armenia
March 3 2020

The Speaker of Armenia’s National Assembly Ararat Mirzoyan received on Tuesday the delegation led by the General Director of Human Rights and Rule of Law of the Council of Europe (CoE) Christos Giakoumopoulos, press department at the parliament reported.

During the meeting Speaker Mirzoyan has noted that after their previous meeting Armenia has implemented serious reforms in a number of directions: that process goes on, particularly today the National Assembly has been discussing a huge package of judiciary reforms, and these reforms will again become essential steps for the corruption prevention and recuperation and independence of the judicial system.

Christos Giakoumopoulos has been interested in the ongoing processes over the Constitutional Court and the expecting referendum in the near future, noting that in the Council of Europe they understand that this is very important for the people of Armenia, and they will be glad to support them.

As the source said, Ararat Mirzoyan explained in detail the situation and has stressed that to his deep conviction, this referendum and, in general, the solution of this issue will be a very serious step on the way of the further democratization of Armenia. The President of the RA National Assembly has underlined that there cannot be full democracy if the branches of power don’t restrain each other, as well as the judicial power cannot be part of democratic system and restrain the other branches, if it is not independent.

Asbarez: Houri Berberian to Lecture on ‘Roving Revolutionaries’ at Fresno State

Eduard Nalbandian

Dr. Houri Berberian

FRESNO—“Roving Revolutionaries: Armenians and the Connected Revolutions in the Russian, Iranian, and Ottoman Worlds” will be the topic of discussion during Dr. Houri Berberian’s presentation at California State University, Fresno. The talk will be held on Wednesday, March 18 at 7:30 p.m. in the University Business Center, Alice Peters Auditorium, on the Fresno State campus, located at 5241 N Maple Ave, Fresno, CA 93740. Dr. Berberian is Professor of History, Meghrouni Family Presidential Chair in Armenian Studies, and Director of the Program in Armenian Studies at the University of California, Irvine.

The presentation is part of the Spring 2020 Lecture Series of the Armenian Studies Program and is supported by the Leon S. Peters Foundation.

Three of the formative revolutions that shook the early 20th century world occurred almost simultaneously in regions bordering each other. Though the Russian, Iranian, and Young Turk Revolutions all exploded between 1904 and 1911, they have never been studied through their linkages until now. “Roving Revolutionaries” probes the interconnected aspects of these three revolutions through the involvement of the Armenian revolutionaries – minorities in all of these empires – whose movements and participation within and across frontiers tell us a great deal about the global transformations that were taking shape. Exploring the geographical and ideological boundary crossings that occurred, this archivally grounded analysis of the circulation of revolutionaries, ideas, and print tells the story of peoples and ideologies in upheaval and collaborating with each other, and in so doing it illuminates our understanding of revolutions and movements.

Houri Berberian’s “Roving Revolutionaries: Armenians and the Connected Revolutions in the Russian, Iranian, and Ottoman Worlds”

Dr. Houri Berberian is the author of a number of articles and two books, “Armenians and the Iranian Constitutional Revolution of 1905-1911: The Love for Freedom Has No Fatherland” and, most recently, “Roving Revolutionaries: Armenians and Connected Revolutions in the Russian, Iranian, and Ottoman Worlds” (UC Press, 2019).

The lecture is free and open to the public. Free parking is available in Fresno State Lots P6 and P5, near the University Business Center, Fresno State. Parking permits are required, and a free parking code can be obtained from the Armenian Studies Program. Copies of “Roving Revolutionaries” will be available for purchase at the presentation.

For more information about the lecture please contact the Armenian Studies Program at 559.278.2669, visit Fresno State’s Armenian Studies Program website or visit their Facebook page at @ArmenianStudiesFresnoState.

Armenian President congratulates Estonian counterpart on Independence Day

Eduard Nalbandian

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 09:33,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 24, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian sent a congratulatory letter to President of Estonia Kersti Kaljulaid on the country’s national day – the Independence Day, the Presidential Office told Armenpress.

“Armenia attaches importance to the friendly relations and the constant strengthening of the constructive dialogue with Estonia both at the bilateral format and within the frames of the European Union. I believe that my visit to Tallinn this year will give a new impetus to the Armenian-Estonian cooperation by covering new spheres of mutual interest”, the Armenian President said in his letter.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




Changes in judicial system are necessity, Armenian PM says at Berlin meeting

Eduard Nalbandian

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 09:41,

BERLIN, FEBRUARY 14, ARMENPRESS. Armenia’s current judicial system, including the Constitutional Court, was formed in the previous political conditions. And the changes in this sphere are a necessity, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at the meeting in the Friedrich Ebert Foundation in Germany, Armenpress correspondent reports from Berlin.  

The PM said after the 2018 Revolution no major changes have taken place in the judiciary. On this path Armenia has been guided and continues to be guided with the principle of moving forward with institutional steps.

“We are guided with this approach so that our changes will not be spontaneous, we are guided with this approach in order to be convinced that we will bring a benefit, rather than a damage. For many years our country has lived under the conditions of a judicial system controlled by the government. But our task is to create guarantees that there will be really an independent and impartial judiciary in the country”, Pashinyan said, adding that it’s necessary to start the judicial reforms. In this context he attached importance to the EU support and thanked for the readiness to assist.

According to the Armenian PM, the most important news in the current period are the ongoing events around the Constitutional Court. He informed the meeting participants that the Armenian Parliament recently adopted a decision according to which a referendum on the Constitutional Court will be held in the country on April 5. The PM thoroughly introduced the reason of making such a decision. The reason is that legislative manipulations have taken place 30 days before the entry into force of the new Constitution under the former Parliament and Government.

“As a result today we don’t have a Constitutional Court by the current Constitution. Question arises, when we will have a court envisaged by the Constitution if we don’t make any change? If we don’t make any change, we will have that in 2035 because the representatives of the previous leadership have elected a president of the Constitutional Court based on manipulations who should remain in office until 2035. In other words, there will be no election of the Constitutional Court President for 18 years”, Nikol Pashinyan said, adding that such situation is unacceptable, and this issue has been put up to referendum.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




Armenia emigration is stopping, PM Pashinyan says in Berlin

Eduard Nalbandian

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 09:36,

BERLIN, FEBRUARY 14, ARMENPRESS. Since 2018 the number of Armenian citizens seeking status in the EU territory has reduced by more than a double, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at a meeting in the Berlin Friedrich Ebert Foundation when asked about the reforms’ impact on the emigration pace.

“The number of persons from Armenia seeking status in the EU has dropped nearly 60%. And since 2018 we have significant positive dynamics in the arrival and departure indicators of Armenian citizens. Particularly, in 2019 the number of citizens who entered our country is 10,000 more,” Pashinyan said.

Pashinyan noted that prices in the Armenian real estate market have grown and the mortgage loan volumes show doubling paces of growth compared to 2017. He expressed hope that this process will continue.

“I would really like to say that emigration from Armenia has stopped, but I can say that it is stopping. The figures show this,” Pashinyan said.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

Armenian minister: Bill on preschool education similar to constitutional amendments

Eduard Nalbandian
News.am, Armenia
Feb 10 2020

18:06, 10.02.2020
                  

This bill is like the constitutional amendments since it is the generation for which the bill is designed that will change our country for the better. This is what Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Armenia Arayik Harutyunyan said during an enlarged working discussion entitled “Reforms in and Issues of Preschool Education in Armenia” and organized by the Standing Committee on Science, Education, Culture, Diaspora, Youth and Sport of the National Assembly of Armenia today.

According to him, adoption of the new law will make it possible to modernize the mechanisms for organizing and implementing education in the country that will be in line with the measures aimed at regulating modern challenges.

King Abdullah II of Jordan to arrive in Armenia on official visit

Eduard Nalbandian

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 16:03, 7 February, 2020

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 7, ARMENPRESS. King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein of Jordan will arrive in Armenia on a two-day official visit on February 10 at the invitation of President Armen Sarkissian, the Presidential Office told Armenpress.

President Armen Sarkissian and the King of Jordan last met in April 2019 during the Armenian President’s working visit to Jordan. During that visit Mr. Sarkissian invited the King of Jordan to visit Armenia.

Official welcoming ceremony for the King of Jordan will take place at the Armenian Presidential Palace which will be followed by the meeting of the President and King Abdullah II. The Armenian President and the King of Jordan will deliver remarks on the topic of Religion and Tolerance.

During his visit the King of Jordan will also meet with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II.

King Abdullah II of Jordan will also visit the Tsitsernakaberd Armenian Genocide Memorial.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




Armen Sarkissian: “Turning to the people is not a drastic measure”

Eduard Nalbandian
MediaMax, Armenia
Feb 7 2020

President Sarkissian has made these remarks in the interview to Mediamax, Shant TV Company and Aravot newspaper today.

 According to the President, he has not yet received the decision of the referendum, which the National Assembly of Armenia made on February 6.

 “Once it is referred to me, I will inform the public about my opinion. It is not simply a matter of signing or not signing the document. I will try to make a contribution,” said Armen Sarkissian. He has underlined that the president should not be considered an “interpreter” of the Constitution.

 “The President observes implementation of the Constitution but does not guarantee it. The President must not interfere in the work of the branches of power or publicly share opinions about the work of executive or legislative powers. However, the President can give advice and support. The tools I have at my disposal to express opinion are quite limited, but this is not about craving more authorities. We shifted towards the parliamentary form of governance, which means that the less authorities the President has, the better,” said Armen Sarkissian.

 He believes that the institution of presidency should not be limited to observing compliance with the Constitution or detecting incompliance with it.

“The President should have a broader view on issues – consider how the given law, action or decision can affect the society. Let’s assume that I receive a bill, which the experts believe complies with the Constitution. They say there is no need to apply to the Constitutional Court. The President either signs the document or refuses to sign it, which means that the National Assembly will enforce it anyway some time later. However, even if the bill does not contradict the Constitution, the President could believe that the bill might have negative impact in certain areas. In some countries the President can veto the bill in such a case, showing the society that he or she disagrees with the proposed law and suggests executive and legislative powers to consider it again. There are countries where the President has the right to refer the law back to the parliament,” said Armen Sarkissian.

 President Sarkissian has noted that he followed the events of recent days closely.

 “I agree that the phenomenon of turning to the people should be established in our culture. Turning to the people is not a drastic measure. It can be done through referendum or plebiscite, and it is very valuable in the 21st century. Today we live two lives – real and virtual. There can be heated discussions, clash of opinions and huge amount of fake accounts in the virtual world. It prevents people from differentiating between real and unreal, true and false. In these circumstances, it is very important to face reality, so to say, communicate with the people and hear real opinions. Plebiscite does not have to be connected with the Constitution or a law. For instance, in Switzerland, making the people a party to the decision-making process is a success and a part of everyday life. We should not be afraid to try it here in Armenia. It is a necessity in the “double lives” we live in the 21st century,” said President Sarkissian.