Author: Emil Karabekian

Arsen Kharatyan: Political crisis has developed in Artsakh

Emil Karabekian
News.am, Armenia
April 6 2020

ArmInfo. A rally was held in Artsakh yesterday after the election for the first time in 30 years. Former adviser to the Prime Minister of Armenia, independent expert Arsen  Kharatyan stated this during a video discussion on the topic of the  elections held in Artsakh.

He noted the fact that the presidential and parliamentary elections  were simultaneously held in Artsakh and is an unprecedented situation  for the NKR. Kharatyan stated that the activity in the elections was  very high, 73% of voters have participated. <Before the election,  there was a very active election campaign, a total of 14 presidential  candidates were nominated. A lot of money was spent. Money was spent  on campaign posters, and more. But during the election campaign an  unprecedented charity was also carried out, which was carried out by  the former NKR State Minister. It is difficult to say whether this  affected the elections in Artsakh or not>, the expert emphasized.

He also emphasized that the group of people that closed one of the  streets in Stepanakert said they would not accept the results of  these elections. <Moreover, certain violations were recorded during  the elections.  Artsakh's presidential candidate, Foreign Minister  Masis Mayilyan, who took second place in the first round, asked his  associates to take care of themselves and not go to the polls on  April 14 as part of the fight against coronavirus", Kharatyan  emphasized.

The expert noted that it is not yet clear what the ballots will be.  < That is, it is unclear whether they will contain only the name of  Arayik Harutyunyan, since Masis Mayilyan will actually boycott the  elections or the names of both candidates. I believe that today there  is a political crisis in Artsakh>,  Kharatyan said.  It should be  noted that on March 31 the presidential and parliamentary elections  were held in Artsakh. But since none of the presidential candidates  won more than 50% of the vote, the second round of the presidential  election will be held on April 14.

President Sarkissian offers congratulations on Motherhood and Beauty Day

Emil Karabekian

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 09:45, 7 April, 2020

YEREVAN, APRIL 7, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian addressed a congratulatory message on the Motherhood and Beauty Day, the President’s Office told Armenpress.

The message reads:

“Dear women,

This year I want to congratulate you on the Motherhood and Beauty Day with a special warmth and love.

I want to address my special congratulations, wishes and words of gratitude to female doctors, nurses which during these difficult days are providing care in line with the medical care to the patients in hospitals.

I also want to express my gratitude to all those women, be they police officer, military officer, rescuer or serviceman, who endanger their life and health these days for us all due to their work, profession, to those women whose husbands do not come back home these days from hospitals, service and workplace as they are fulfilling their duties.

A woman, and especially the Armenian woman, has always been the pillar of the family, taking the whole burden and difficulties. Now, when most of the people have to stay at home due to the current situation, a woman’s burden and housework has further increased conditioned with the organization of daily family life, remote learning of kids and grandchildren, economic issues, etc. But the Armenian woman has never been depressed and has always managed to stay firm, believing that each difficulty is passing.

Dear women,

Spring is always full of expectations and hopes. But in this year’s holiday congratulations, maybe the external shine and form are a little more restrained. But believe that our love and gratitude to you never change.

Because, dear women, life starts from you and continues with you.

Be healthy, happy and live long”.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




Armenpress: FM Mnatsakanyan thanks USA for supporting Armenia in fighting coronavirus

Emil Karabekian

FM Mnatsakanyan thanks USA for supporting Armenia in fighting coronavirus

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 21:10, 31 March, 2020

YEREVAN, MARCH 31, ARMENPRESS.  At the initiative of the American side, Foreign minister of Armenia Zohrab Mnatsakanyan had a phone conversation with Acting Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Philip Reeker, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the MFA Armenia.

The interlocutors exchanged views on the challenges rising from the spread of the novel coronavirus and measures aimed at overcoming them, emphasizing the importance of international cooperation and coordination of efforts. In this context Zohrab Mnatsakanyan expressed gratitude to the US Government for providing Armenia with financial assistance for fighting against coronavirus.

FM Mnatsakanyan expressed solidarity with the US Government in its fight against the novel coronavirus.

At the request of Philip Reeker, Zohrab Mnatsakanyan presented the situation following the armed incident on Armenia-Azerbaijan border yesterday.

At the end of the conversation the sides emphasized their readiness to take active steps for expanding the Armenian-US cooperation agenda.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

Parliament votes down government-authored bill on authorizing location data use for COVID19 tracing

Emil Karabekian

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 14:10, 31 March, 2020

YEREVAN, MARCH 31, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian parliament voted down the government-authored bill on authorizing the use of location data of confirmed coronavirus cases for contact tracing.

The bill received only 65 votes in favor, while 67 was needed to for it to pass.

Despite many assurances from the justice minister that the method will not anyhow record or interfere with contents of calls and messages, both opposition parties had strongly disapproved the bill.

The ruling My Step bloc’s parliament majority leader Lilit Makunts said they voted in favor.

However, some of the ruling bloc’s lawmakers had left the session before the voting began.

The bill had passed first reading on March 30 and underwent amendments before this final vote.

Independent lawmaker Arman Babajanyan, who voted down the bill during the first reading, voted in favor this time, citing the growing number of coronavirus cases in the country. He also called on the opposition to vote in favor.

Parliament Majority Leader Lilit Makunts said the opposition’s move has contributed for the healthcare system to get “paralyzed”.

 

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan




US looking at other activities that can contribute to Karabakh resolution, ambassador says

Emil Karabekian
News.am, Armenia
March 31 2020

18:48, 31.03.2020
                  

YEREVAN. – The U.S. has been very proud of the work we were doing in Karabakh for the last 20 years, U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Lynne Tracy said during a video conference on Facebook.

Her comment came in response to questions regarding U.S. decision to halt demining assistance.

“The U.S. has been providing demining assistance and partnering with HALO organization where we made an investment of 17 million to keep people in this area safe,” she said.  “We see this program as having been very successful. What we do now is looking at other activities that we believe can contribute to conflict resolution and help bring lasting peaceful and just resolution to this very long-running conflict. We will continue our work and support for negotiations as the Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, which is a very important facilitation effort that we hope will be successful.”

“The U.S. has been providing demining assistance and partnering with HALO organization…

YEREVAN. – The U.S. has been very proud of the work we were doing in Karabakh for the last 20 years, U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Lynne Tracy said during a video conference on Facebook.

Her comment came in response to questions regarding U.S. decision to halt demining assistance.

“The U.S. has been providing demining assistance and partnering with HALO organization where we made an investment of 17 million to keep people in this area safe,” she said.  “We see this program as having been very successful. What we do now is looking at other activities that we believe can contribute to conflict resolution and help bring lasting peaceful and just resolution to this very long-running conflict. We will continue our work and support for negotiations as the Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, which is a very important facilitation effort that we hope will be successful.”

Armenia MFA issues statement on presidential and parliamentary elections held in Artsakh

Emil Karabekian
News.am, Armenia
April 1 2020
(Nagorno-Karabakh) (Nagorno-Karabakh)

21:30, 01.04.2020
                  

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia has issued a statement on the presidential and parliamentary elections held in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) on March 31. The statement reads as follows:

"We congratulate the authorities and the people of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) on holding free and fair elections on March 31, which were in line with high democratic standards.

The people of Artsakh have indeed earned the right to live free in dignity, to shape together a democratic and modern society. In this regard, these nationwide elections, which were held in an environment of free competition and civil solidarity, have been case in point.

Those elections once again demonstrated that human rights, particularly the right to vote and to take part in a government, are inalienable and universal. The fundamental human rights instruments, in particular the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenants on Human Rights, clearly establish that in exercising human rights no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of any territory and that all peoples can freely determine their political status by virtue of their right to self-determination and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.

The right of the people of Artsakh to self-determination is the foundation for the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. This reality has been fully reflected in the principles and elements of settlement presented by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, which envisage the determination of the final legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh through a legally binding _expression_ of will.

It is noteworthy that in their statement on the Artsakh elections, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs once again reiterated the role of the population of Artsakh in determining their future, in the context of principles and elements of the settlement of the conflict.

The incoming authorities of Artsakh – those who have already received the mandate of the people of Artsakh at the parliamentary elections and those who will receive that very mandate at the second round of the presidential elections, have a special responsibility and role in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process.

Active engagement of the elected authorities of Artsakh as a main party of the resolution of the conflict will significantly increase the effectiveness of the negotiation process and will ensure progress in the key issues of the conflict resolution.

Elections in Artsakh are also important in terms of strengthening democracy, human rights and civil society in the region. It once again emphasizes that the conflict cannot serve as an insurmountable impediment for building democratic society.

On these days, we also pay tribute to the memory of the victims of the military aggression and atrocities committed by Azerbaijan against the people of Artsakh four years ago. In this context, it should be underlined that the democratic development of all countries in the region and accountability of authorities before their own peoples is a prerequisite for the regional security and peaceful resolution of the conflict."

"Wow Things" Media Company Purchases "The Armenian Reporter"

Emil Karabekian
The Union Journal
April 3 2020
By Eman Selim
April 2, 2020

The Armenian Reporter was founded by Edward K. Boghosian in New York. It’s an independent weekly that is published in the United States in the English Language. The Armenian Reporter was first published in 1967, and the ending operations were in 2014.

Then, in May 2006, the newspaper was sold to CS Media, a big Armenian media project. After that, Sylva Boghossian, Mr. Boghossian’s daughter was a publisher until March 2009. And finally, Wow Things Media Company purchased it.

The Armenian Reporter has released in two American editions: Eastern U.S. edition, published in Paramus, New Jersey and Western U.S. edition, published in Burbank, California.

Besides, presently, it’s also published in the Armenian language in Western Armenian in 2009 However, The Armenian Reporter is only publishing online since 2010.

First coronavirus-linked death recorded in Georgia

Emil Karabekian

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 13:34, 4 April, 2020

YEREVAN, APRIL 4, ARMENPRESS.  1st case of coronavirus-linked death has been recorded in Georgia. ARMENPRESS reports the 79-year old woman was from Marneuli.

A doctor from one of Tbilisi hospitals informed that the woman had other concomitant diseases.  

Georgia has recorded a total of 156 cases.

In late December 2019, Chinese authorities notified the World Health Organization (WHO) about an outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, central China. WHO declared the outbreak of the novel coronavirus a global pandemic and named the virus COVID-19. 

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

COVID-19. Parliament’s second Attempt to adopt the Bill on tracking People’s Movements with Phone Data was successful

Emil Karabekian

Journalist

The National Assembly adopted the bill on phone-tracking people’s movements in order to prevent the spread of Coronavirus.

71 MPs from My Step faction voted in favor of the bill; there were no against and abstained votes. The opposition – Prosperous Armenia and Bright Armenia parties – did not take part in the session.

This was the second discussion of the bill on March 31. The first attempt had failed. Taking into consideration the importance of the bill, the government had submitted it to NA for the second time in a day, to conduct a discussion and voting in an emergency regime.

My Step confirmed that the Government and the Commandant’s office need to use this tool in the state of emergency caused by COVID-19. The bill allows collecting, processing and using (as required) all the data that will allow to define the location, date, start time of citizens’ phone conversations.

Commandant Tigran Avinyan once again declared that they aimed at working effectively and introducing new technological tools to prevent the pandemic.

“Based on the obtained data, an employee of the Ministry of Emergency Situations will call a citizen to inform that the person may have contacted a Coronavirus-positive case. That person should be self-isolated. The data will be obtained automatically, without a human interference,” Tigran Avinyan said.

According to Avinyan, the government would like to make the situation more controllable and to decrease the virus spread quotient, and even if just one person’s life is saved as a result of this bill, it means the measure is justified.

The bill of the second reading was a bit different from the first reading draft – it was adapted to the suggestions made by MPs.

The adopted bill does not stipulate providing information about the end time of the phone call by mobile operators. It’s completely enough to record just the mere fact of the phone call.

It has been clarified that various data (including data related to medical confidentiality) related to Coronavirus-positive patients, as well as contacts of their contacts, can be used as and when required.

According to the bill, the collected data shall be depersonalized, and the personalized data shall be destroyed after the state of emergency. All the collected data must be destroyed in a one-month period after the state of emergency.

The bill bans the preservation and usage of depersonalized statistic data.

The requirement related to secret data is valid not only for persons transmitting the data and working with the database but also for the third parties – positive cases, people having symptoms, people undergoing treatment, as well as their contacts.

According to the government decision, it is stipulated to launch a commission in order to destroy the data collected in the days of the state of emergency. The commission may include also representatives of parliament factions and experts.

Despite these changes, Artur Papyan, the co-founder of Cyberhub, an IT support hub and a threat lab for Armenian civil society, thinks that the bill is not proportionate to the existing situation.

“The data of 3 mln citizens will be collected and processed; certain operations will be conducted. However, they don’t specify how they will use the data and what kind of results will they achieve… After all, they have to deal with human rights issues,” Papyan says.

Papyan says there’s never a guarantee that the data obtained from three service providers will not be used for other purposes, for example, during public gatherings and other events,

“They create a legislative framework and technical resources for public control. Later, there might be a temptation to make use of those data.”



https://media.am/en/armenian-government-can-use-phone-data-to-fight-coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR38rlZoE356eFq-Er7nkEWJpBbUAg3_9jL0ej1878ierbi2A9tK6uLPbxE&__cf_chl_jschl_tk__=a462d479d707fad8a211b91c1bf6afd20b750b65-1585780706-0-AUV8b8cUSfIaVYB6TTvBCtX2QskS9DZImA5hfFl46bWcAHdWc5v7XP0if1-0IZ-kArLr4czkMA3VI6D6Xcqxvcq_5-txlcZVjp8s7IeZnaG7IxwB-3p7PtvGbXITetg7pTgawq4fdlV67pv7wHN9LiCChktKldgpS7DEAhTojF6QJ1fS7aem85ptfGN6OByFiu6Lm-d3mwexg7_3J_nVAFVYtnOkf_sH9hN37Hz6q1pElXuDVrPj5Mz0fwBjg99csKvKrbuX0SfyBU73WF5OOOVzWr0_Kxhdsh-UTJ40QUh8is_r7IhZG5nL89JT5EbrXFnPqqSVN6GuZQsSyFWgZeA0A310UZe1Uv9ipG5CI_EI73NeRdszORHeN6HiTJMN1sZq_8Dzi0-9Fm9Z9-ysY1ntzf6TR5f_RJTW1MUKg8DPRQ6LIGx9pbgu1DaONMeG0lTjR5jau5aMX7djEjfrZMYph9DUGeM5Apm3urdIBqRmk_RliPwpER6qVjKRl1-CxA

The Minister suggested that university rectors not deprive of online education those students who have not paid tuition

Emil Karabekian
Arminfo, Armenia

ArmInfo.RA Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Arayik Harutyunyan suggested that university rectors not deprive students who have not paid  tuition of the opportunity to receive online education before the end  of the state of emergency. The minister said this during a live  broadcast on Facebook

Harutyunyan informed that he received a number of messages from  university students regarding the fact that they are required to pay  tuition fees. In this regard, the Minister in writing appealed to the  rectors with a request until April 14, that is, before the end of the  state of emergency, to refrain from expelling students in connection  with non-payment for studies.

In addition, if students express their willingness to fulfill their  financial obligations to the university, it was proposed to organize  the acceptance of payments online.