There is a discussion on the audio recording of the conversation with Ruben Vardazaryan, the Chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council (powers suspended) and Gagik Jhangiryan, the acting head of the SJC, as well as the recent murder in Aparan in the park near France Square.
After the discussions the members of the "Armenia" and "With Honor" parliamentary factions will speak with the citizens and answer their questions of concern.
Stuart Armstrong hit a double as Scotland overcame a difficult start to beat nine-man Armenia 4-1.
Scotland fell behind early on in Yerevan and endured some anxious moments after Armstrong’s quickfire equaliser. But the midfielder scored in first-half stoppage time, moments after Arman Hovhannisyan had committed two yellow-card offences in the space of five seconds, and Scotland made the most of their advantage.
John McGinn and Ché Adams were on target early in the second half as Scotland sealed six points from their opening three Nations League games before the hosts had another man sent off in stoppage time.
Steve Clarke, the Scotland manager, had been left scratching his head over his side’s 3-0 defeat in Dublin on Saturday and three of his defenders did not make the 2,500-mile journey – the captain, Andy Robertson, John Souttar and Scott McKenna.
Scott McTominay was restored to the back three beside Grant Hanley and Jack Hendry, who lined up on the left, while wing-backs Nathan Patterson and Greg Taylor came in along with Billy Gilmour and Armstrong.
Ireland had struggled in the Yerevan heat when they went down to Armenia in the Group B1 opener but conditions were fine for Scotland in the Republican Stadium thanks to the 8pm local kick-off time, a breeze and a pre-match downpour.
Armenia rarely ventured forward in their 2-0 defeat at Hampden last week but they showed much more attacking ambition in the opening stages and went ahead inside six minutes.
Hanley looked favourite to win the ball out wide but he misjudged his challenge and fell over to leave Tigran Barseghyan to race to the byline and cut it back for Vahan Bichakhchyan to finish at the near post.
Gilmour soon had a shot pushed over after a short corner and Scotland were level in the 14th minute when Armstrong quickly followed up to slot home after Adams had failed to get an ambitious shot away.
The goal did not settle Scotland down though and Armenia twice nearly scored from balls over the top with the visitors being rescued by an offside flag and then a recovery tackle from the grounded Hendry.
Ché Adams (left) is challenged by Armenia’s Hrayr Mkoyan. Photograph: Vahram Baghdasaryan/Photolure/Reuters
The key passage of play started with Hovhannisyan’s late challenge on Patterson. McGinn squared up to the defender and was floored by a headbutt before Montenegrin referee Nikola Dabanovic flashed two yellow cards and a red.Craig Gordon soon saved from Eduard Spertsyan and Scotland continued to look vulnerable at the back when Armenia ran at them. Clarke’s side began to get to grips with the game around the half-hour mark and Adams twice threatened from long range before Patterson sliced well off target following Taylor’s low cross.
Scotland gave the hosts no time to reorganise as Armstrong latched on to McGinn’s pass in the box and beat a defender before steering the ball home brilliantly despite losing his footing.
The Scots hammered home their numerical superiority after the interval. McGinn turned and fired home from six yards in the 50th minute after Patterson had cushioned Taylor’s deep cross into him. Five minutes later, Armstrong did superbly to send Southampton teammate Adams away on the counter-attack and the forward curled home.
Scotland could have had more. Armstrong twice threatened his hat-trick and both Adams and Taylor forced saves.
David Turnbull, Lewis Ferguson, Anthony Ralston and Jacob Brown were given run-outs and Allan Campbell was handed a debut as Scotland continued to dominate possession, although the hosts missed some late chances and Gordon pulled off two good second-half stops.
Kamo Hovhannisyan was shown a straight red card following a wild challenge on Ferguson and Campbell saw a shot deflected wide. Scotland round off their Nations League campaign in late September with a double-header against Ukraine and Ireland.
13:07,
YEREVAN, JUNE 17, ARMENPRESS. The Secretaries of the Security Councils of the member states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) analyzed in detail the military-political situation at a globe during their today’s session in Yerevan, CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas said following the session, regretting over the current crisis in the global security system.
“Agreements existing for decades actually stop operating, and the level of mistrust between a number of leading players is approaching a critical juncture. Moreover, the security challenges and threats not only have not lost their sharpness, but also are showing trends of escalation due to the growing global uncertainty”, he said.
He said that the CSTO principled position on these issues remains the same that all disagreements and conflicts must be solved through political means. The organization addresses all powers with this call.
In line with this, Mr. Zas said, the CSTO is taking all necessary measures to strengthen peace and stability in its member states and is ready for the protection of its interests.
“The development of capacities of collective security forces and means, as well as the mutual partnership of special services and law enforcement agencies is one of the main tools to ensure the security of the member states and resist the challenges and threats”, the CSTO chief said.
He thanked the Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan and his staff for creating wonderful conditions for holding the session.
13:54,
YEREVAN, JUNE 17, ARMENPRESS. Secretary General of the Council of Europe Marija Pejčinović Burić, who is in Armenia on an official visit, arrived at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia on June 17, the Armenian Foreign Ministry reported.
The CoE Secretary General was greeted by Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan.
Following their meeting, Marija Pejčinović Burić and Ararat Mirzoyan will hold a joint press conference.
Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan
A day after President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan overtly threatened war against Armenia if it continued to oppose a proposed land corridor through Armenia, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan blasted Aliyev saying that his “destructive” assertions call into question Baku’s commitment to peace in the region.
In remarks made at an international conference in Baku, Aliyev also threatened Armenia, and any international entity, if they continue to insist that the Karabakh conflict has not been settled, claiming that with the 2020 war conflict was settled, hence there is no place called Karabakh.
In an interview with Armenpress on Friday, Mirzoyan responded to Aliyev’s statement and when asked to comment about the Azerbaijani leader’s accusation that Armenia was not being sincere in the peace process, Mirzoyan said that Azerbaijan must take “practical and sincere steps” toward that end.
“It is also obvious that for the success of these efforts, it is necessary to address the entire set of existing problems that have caused the conflict in order to find a solution acceptable to all parties. In this context, the statements made by official Baku that Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has been solved are at least not understood or, moreover, cast doubt on the sincerity of the Azerbaijani authorities’ intention to achieve peace,” Mirzoyan told Armenpress.
‘No matter what statements are made, the Nagorno-Karabakh issue will continue to exist as long as the issues of security, sufficient guarantees for the protection of all rights of the Armenians of Artsakh, and the status of Nagorno-Karabakh arising from them are not addressed. In the modern world, the situation created by the use of force cannot be the solution to a problem,” added Mirzoyan.
“The assertion that as a result of the use of force even Nagorno Karabakh does not exist, does not speak about the constructiveness of Azerbaijan. Needless to say that this, of course, corresponds neither to the de-facto reality, the most important part of which is the existence of Artsakh Armenians in Artsakh and the presence of Russian peacekeeping forces to ensure their security, nor the November 9 trilateral declaration, which stopped the war and clearly defines the existence of Nagorno Karabakh,” explained Mirzoyan.
“The same can be said about the statements of the Azerbaijani authorities on the non-existence of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs. First of all, no one has suspended it or can suspend the international mandate of the Co-chairs to contribute to the political settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict without the relevant decision of the international institute defining it. In that case, it is incomprehensible that if the parties really want to negotiate sincerely—to find mutually acceptable solutions, to achieve a stable, comprehensive peace—then why should those talks not take place in the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs’ format? A format which has the clear support of the international community and not using its experience and potential is simply not logical and reasonable,” said Mirzoyan.
Armenia’s top diplomat reiterated Yerevan’s commitment to fulfilling the provisions of the agreements between Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, and said that Armenia has entered the talks in “good faith.”
“The process would advance more smoothy if there are no statements by Azerbaijan about extraterritorial corridors, which have nothing to do with the trilateral declaration of November 9, as well as with the commitments assumed by the [other] statements,” said Mirzoyan.
“As for Azerbaijan’s efforts to draw parallels between the Lachin corridor and the regional transport routes to be unblocked, they obviously cannot have the same status, at least arising from the provisions of the trilateral declaration signed on November 9, 2020, which clearly defines the status of the Lachin corridor,” explained the foreign minister. “Nagorno Karabakh and the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic have different statuses, different neighborhoods, different security environments. Accordingly, their relations with Armenia and Azerbaijan cannot be identical.”
Mirzoyan said that Azerbaijan is delaying the process of unblocking transport links, adding that Yerevan is for that process through the provisions of the agreements that stress “the sovereignty of the countries and jurisdiction over roads.”
Earlier on Friday, Mirzoyan met with Secretary General of the Council of Europe Marija Pejčinović Burić who is in Yerevan. The two reportedly discussed the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, the consequences of the aggression against Artsakh in 2020, and the issues of normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
“I particularly emphasized the fact that by attempting to resolve the Nagorno Karabakh conflict by the use of force in 2020, as well as by invading the sovereign territory of Armenia, Azerbaijan has grossly violated its commitments undertaken when ascending to the Council of Europe, and this must be properly addressed by the Council of Europe and its member-states,” Mirzoyan told the visiting secretary-general.
He said that on the road to establishing peace and stability in the region, “addressing of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is fundamental, which should include the provisions of ensuring the security and all the rights of the people of Artsakh, and final determination of the status of Nagorno Karabakh.”
“The people of Artsakh have the same rights as everyone and the fact of being in the conflict zone cannot deprive the Armenians of Artsakh of their universal fundamental rights,” added Mirzoyan.
He also discussed the humanitarian issues that have arisen as a result of the 2020 war, specifically the return of Armenian prisoners of war, who are being held captive in Azerbaijan.
“The humanitarian issues resulting from the aggression unleashed against Artsakh—the return of Armenian prisoners of war held in Azerbaijan and the humanitarian access to Artsakk—remain unresolved, the politicization of which is unacceptable,” Mirzoyan told the Council of Europe president.
“The Anti-Armenian and warmongering rhetoric, physical and psychological terror against the civilian population are unacceptable in the same way,” said Mirzoyan.
“We believe that the Council of Europe, its relevant bodies and leaders should be more determined, at least when it comes to the issues of Armenian prisoners of war and the humanitarian access to Artsakh, and put their utmost effort so that the the interim decisions of the European Court of Human Rights, PACE Resolutions and the provisions of the memorandum of the Commissioner for Human Rights issues on November 8, 2021, are being respected,” Mirzoyan added.
On June 16, Secretary of the Security Council Armen Grigoryan met with Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Nikolay Patrushev, who arrived in Yerevan to participate in the regular sitting of the CSTO Security Council Committee.
During the meeting, Grigoryan expressed confidence that all necessary opportunities and preconditions are there for expanding the scope of cooperation between the Security Council offices of the two countries.
Within the framework of bilateral cooperation, the interlocutors discussed a wide range of security issues. Nikolay Patrushev stressed that Armenia is a strategic partner of Russia and that Moscow supports Armenia in ensuring regional security.
Armen Grigoryan briefed his Russian counterpart on the regional security situation, the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, the work of demarcation and demarcation commissions, as well as the process of normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations.
18:03,
YEREVAN, JUNE 14, ARMENPRESS. The activity of the Commission on Demarcation and Delimitation of the Borders of Armenia and Azerbaijan has nothing to do with the situation around the village of Askeran region of Nagorno Karabakh (ed. Parukh), ARMENPRESS reports the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova said.
"At the same time, we expect that the work of the commission will contribute to the increase of trust between Yerevan and Baku, the prevention of incidents both on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and in the area of responsibility of the Russian peacekeeping contingent," Zakharova said.
She added that Moscow is ready to facilitate the commission’s meeting in the near future, adding that Russia is waiting for proposals on the terms of the meeting from Yerevan and Baku.
Program beneficiary builds backyard greenhouse in Martuni, Artsakh
Armenia Tree Project distributed the greenhouse materials to the first 25 beneficiary families of Artsakh’s Martuni Town, and the villages of Taghavard, Karmir Shuka and Herher in Martuni Region.
All 50 families participating in ATP’s backyard greenhouse program were severely affected by the recent 44-day war having lost family members and/or homes, businesses, and belongings. ATP’s program will provide some economic stability, access to produce as so much agricultural land was lost in the war, and most importantly, hope for their future.
In about a few days, under the supervision of the greenhouse installation team, ATP’s beneficiaries were able to prepare the ground and assemble the 322 square foot greenhouses.
The greenhouses are designed by students at Worcester Polytechnic Institute to be small, durable, and made of locally available and affordable materials.
Earlier this April, ATP provided families with 10 fruit trees for their personal use. In addition, the organization’s partners at Green Lane NGO provided the families with berry bushes and vegetable seeds. The beneficiaries are invited to participate in a two-day training at Green Lane NGO’s Learning Center in Armenia’s Kotayk region. The course will focus on crop production, greenhouse operation, the plant environment, and pest control.
Masis Zargaryan, the Deputy Head of Martuni District Administration supervises the distribution and implementation of the backyard greenhouse program in Martuni.
Mardi and Rusanna Harutyunyan, a couple from Karmir Shuka who lost one of their sons during the 44-day war, are currently busy preparing the greenhouse. Their other son Nver helps in the construction work.
“Assembling the greenhouse went rather fast and it took only two days to finish it,” said Harutyunyan. “Before sowing seeds and planting seedlings, I want to improve the quality of the soil, to enable the plants to grow better. I have also installed drip irrigation, so during hot summer days I can use it as well.”
Davit Avanesyan from Martuni town is busy with preparing the soil for planting. “Since the area of the greenhouse is rather small, the vegetables and the greenery we will grow will be enough to feed my family year-round,” said Avanesyan.
Yuri is overseeing the reconstruction of a house in Karmir Shuka village severely damaged during the 44-day war. The house Yuri is rebuilding is for his daughter-in-law, Irina and her four children—the youngest of which is only 4-years-old. Irina, 35, a beneficiary of ATP’s backyard greenhouse program, lost her husband, Yuri’s son, during the 44-day war. Originally from Karmir Shuka, she moved her young family to Stepanakert until the renovations are complete. They anticipate returning in a month or two.
“The greenhouse is ready to plant the seeds provided by Green Lane NGO hopefully we will have a harvest this year. The renovations to the house are almost complete for my family to return. I have 10 grandchildren, who all live in this village. We have nowhere else to live but our birthplace.”
Although the situation in Karmir Shuka remains troubling, Irina shares that she can’t wait to return, because her husband is buried there and also the children miss their school, friends, and grandfather very much.
Goharik Adamyan of Herher Village heads a large household of nine and shares the responsibility of her daughter’s five children who currently live with her. In 2020, the Adamyan family lost their son during the 44-day war and are still in the process of coping with their loss.
During a recent conversation with Goharik, she recounted that before the war she had big plans and dreams about the future. Now, the war not only has changed the way she thinks but it also reduced her life to the very basics.
“All I want from life is to be able to help my daughter raise her kids, since she lost her husband several years ago,” Adamyan said. “My husband has always worked outside of the house, so I was the one to take care of the kids, house and the farmland. I know how to farm, grow vegetables and greens, so hopefully I will be able to grow ‘food’ from the greenhouse as well. Even a bundle of greens that you can put on the table for my big family is a plus and I am grateful to the organizers and implementers of this Program,” she added.
Armenia Tree Project, established in 1994, is a non-profit organization that revitalizes Armenia’s and Artsakh’s most vulnerable communities through tree-planting initiatives, and provides socio-economic support and growth. It is based in Yerevan, Armenia and has an office in Woburn, Massachusetts. For more information, please visit the Armenia Tree Project website.
Andrea Wiktorin, EU Ambassador to Armenia, participated in the official launch of the “Enhancing private sector-led economic growth in Dilijan and adjacent communities” in Dilijan.
The Project aims to stimulate business development and contribute to job creation in Dilijan through investing in hard and soft infrastructure – an abandoned Soviet-era sewing factory will be transformed into an innovative space for businesses, entrepreneurs, and community services.
The project implemented by Dilijan municipality in partnership with the IDEA Foundation, Tourism and Urbanism Foundation, and Dilijan Community center is co-funded by the European Union (EUR 1 mln) and the IDEA foundation.
‘’The European Union continues supporting local and regional authorities in Armenia since we believe strongly in the role of local actors to champion local development and growth. We hope that the refurbished ‘’Kari Fabrika’’ will boost economic activity in Dilijan and in the region of Tavush by supporting the incubation and acceleration of regional small and medium businesses and making available much needed advisory and support services in a unique multi-functional space,’’ emphasized Ambassador Wiktorin in her opening remarks.
Armenia-Russia-Azerbaijan deputy prime ministerial task force clarifies approaches on border and other control issues
11:48, 4 June 2022
YEREVAN, JUNE 4, ARMENPRESS. The 10th meeting of the trilateral working group chaired by Deputy Prime Ministers of Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan – Mher Grigoryan, Alexei Overchuk and Shahin Mustafayev, dealing with the unblocking of regional communications, was held in Moscow on June 3, the Armenian government’s press service said.
The sides discussed and clarified their approaches on border, customs and other types of control, as well as the secure passing of citizens, vehicles and cargo through the territories of Armenia and Azerbaijan, through the roads and railways.
Views were exchanged also on the possible routes of the road ensuring transportation communication between the western regions of Azerbaijan and the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic via the territory of Armenia.
The sides will continue working towards the implementation of the agreements reached by the leaders of Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan over the unblocking of transportation ties in the region.