Author: Hovsep Chakrian

Armenia, Karabakh deny Baku’s report of drone downing

Hovsep Chakrian
News.am, Armenia
Feb 22 2019
Armenia, Karabakh deny Baku's report of drone downing

[Armenian News note: the below is translated from Armenian]

Armenia and Azerbaijan's breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh have denied Baku's reports that Azerbaijani troops shot down an Armenian drone in the Karabakh conflict zone, News.am reported on 22 February.

The Azerbaijani Defence Ministry said on 21 February that an X-55 UAV had been shot down while making a reconnaissance flight over Azeri army positions in Agdam District. The ministry provided photos of what it said was the downed drone.

The Karabakh defence ministry said in response that the report is far from reality, News.am reported.

"The Karabakh defence army has not lost any drone recently. As to the pictures [of the downed drone] in Azerbaijani media outlets, these are apparently old photos," the Karabakh ministry was quoted as saying.

It added that Karabakh troops had used UAVs before and would use them again if needed.

The chief of the General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces, Artak Davtyan, also dismissed the Azerbaijani reports, News.am said in a separate report.

According to News.am, Davtyan told reporters on 21 February that no incidents worth mentioning had occurred on the border between the two countries. He added that he knew nothing about the Armenian side losing an aircraft, the report said.

Azerbaijan and Armenia are locked in a conflict over Azerbaijan's breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region, which, along with seven surrounding districts, came under the control of Armenian troops in the early 1990s.

Armenian justice minister holds meeting with Ambassador of Netherlands

Hovsep Chakrian

Armenian justice minister holds meeting with Ambassador of Netherlands

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17:22,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 21, ARMENPRESS. Justice minister Artak Zeynalyan on February 21 received Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Netherlands to Armenia Johannes Douma, the ministry told Armenpress.

The minister introduced the Ambassador on the provisions of the government’s Action Plan relating to the justice field, the possibilities to provide electronic surveillance devices to the Probation Service, the development of new judicial and human rights protection strategies and etc.

At the end of the meeting the sides reaffirmed their readiness to further deepen the mutual partnership between the two countries in the justice field and record tangible results.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




Armenia President: Karabakh issue can be very perilous if not properly managed

Hovsep Chakrian
News.am, Armenia
Feb 15 2019
Armenia President: Karabakh issue can be very perilous if not properly managed Armenia President: Karabakh issue can be very perilous if not properly managed

17:29, 15.02.2019
                  

Unless the frozen conflict is resolved in Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh), it could be very dangerous if it is not properly managed. 

The President of Armenia, Armen Sarkissian, stated about the abovementioned during his talk with the students and faculty at Heidelberg University in Germany.

In particular, Sarkissian noted that there is no other way for him except for the resolution of this conflict solely through peace.

He added that various interests and challenges are concentrated in the region, and that the latter truly is a crossroads of different civilizations.

As per Sarkissian, even the smallest destabilizing phenomenon will be very destructive for the region, and therefore there is but one avenue: pacific settlement of the conflict.

The Armenian President expressed the hope that the resolution of the Karabakh conflict will be based on rationality and human values, and that its final solution will be reached by considering the rights of the population of Artsakh.

Latvian, Armenian presidents note necessity to continue strengthening political, economic cooperation

Hovsep Chakrian
Baltic News Service / – BNS
Friday 5:11 PM EET
Latvian, Armenian presidents note necessity to continue strengthening political, economic cooperation
 
 
RIGA, Feb 15, BNS – It is necessary to continue strengthening political and economic cooperation between Latvia and Armenia, said Latvian President Raimonds Vejonis during his meeting with Armenian President Armen Sarkissian.
 
The Latvian President’s Chancellery reported that both presidents met during the Munich Security Conference today.
 
The political and economic cooperation between both countries should be used by using opportunities offered by the EU-Armenian Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
 
Vejonis called on Armenia to continue the started reforms, especially in the judicial, economic and regional development areas.
 
“Latvia is aware of challenges related with reforms, therefore we are ready to provide out support to Armenia and share our knowledge and experience,” said Vejonis.

Turkish politician calls for expulsion of Armenians

Hovsep Chakrian
PanArmenian, Armenia
Feb 11 2019
– 10:46 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – A far-right Turkish politician wants his government to expel tens of thousands of Armenian nationals residing in Turkey in retaliation against France for declaring a remembrance day for victims of the Armenian Genocide, Eurasianet.org says in an article.

President Emmanuel Macron said last week France would mark April 24 as a "national day of commemoration of the Armenian genocide.” Turkey’s government, which denies the genocide, has vigorously condemned the decision.

Researchers estimate between 10,000 and 30,000 Armenian nationals are in Turkey, many of whom have overstayed tourist visas after finding work there. They often face greater scrutiny when foreign governments pressure Turkey to formally recognize the Genocide.

“There are 100,000 Armenians here who came from Armenia and are illegally filling their stomachs. I’m saying we should expel them. Why are we letting them stay? While they lobby against Turkey, we continue to feed them,” Mustafa Destici, who leads the small Great Unity Party (BBP), said at a campaign rally on February 7.

It was not clear where Destici came up with a figure of 100,000 nor what “lobbying” efforts Armenian labor migrants living in Turkey could have conducted to persuade Macron. It is not the first time Destici has used the number, or threatened to expel Armenian citizens from Turkey; he made a similar demand in 2015. In 2017, he called on Russia to abandon its military alliance with Armenia.

Destici’s hardline party only receives a few hundred thousand votes in Turkish elections but retains an outsized influence at a time of heightened nationalism in Turkey. In June, the BBP joined President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s electoral alliance, along with a larger right-wing group, in parliamentary and presidential polls, earning one seat in parliament.

Armenian Church commemorates St. Gregory the Illuminator’s Sons and Grandsons

Hovsep Chakrian
Panorama, Armenia
Feb 9 2019

Armenian Apostolic church commemorates on Saturday St. Gregory the Illuminator’s Sons and Grandsons – Sts. Aristakes, Vrtanes, Housik, Grigoris and Daniel.

Qahan.am reports that Aristakes was St. Gregory the Illuminator’s youngest son. He led a monastic life from a very early age. He was consecrated a bishop by his father and became one of St. Gregory’s most valued supporters. In 325 A.D. he participated in the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, representing the first Catholicos and the entire Armenian Church. Following St. Gregory, the Illuminator, he became Catholicos of All Armenians.

He was killed in 333 A.D. by Arkeghayos, a prince of Greater Armenia, for criticizing some incorrigible behavior of the king, and was buried in the village Til.

Vrtanes was St. Gregory the Illuminator’s elder son. He was married and had two sons – Grigoris and Housik. Following the death of his brother, he ascended to the Catholicosal Throne.

The sons and grandsons of St. Gregory the Illuminator are remembered and commemorated by all Armenian Churches throughout the world for their service to the Church, their faithfulness to Christianity, and their commitment to the Armenian people.

Էրդողանի խոսնակը քննադատել է Մակրոնին

Hovsep Chakrian
  • 06.02.2019

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Թուրքիայի նախագահի խոսնակ Իբրահիմ Քալընը արձագանքել է Ֆրանսիայում ապրիլի 24-ը Հայոց ցեղասպանության հիշատակի օր հռչակելու վերաբերյալ նախագահ Էմանուել Մակրոնի հայտարարությանը:


Քալընը Հայոց ցեղասպանության մասին Մակրոնի պնդումները որակել է որպես քաղաքական սուտ:


«Խստորեն դատապարտում ենք ապրիլի 24-ը այսպես կոչված Հայոց ցեղասպանության հիշատակի օր հռչակելու վերաբերյալ Մակրոնի հայտարարությունը»,-ասել է Էրդողանի խոսնակը: Քալընը Մակրոնին մեղադրել է քաղաքական նպատակներով պատմական իրադարձությունները գործիք դարձնելու մեջ:

New governors of Shirak and Tavush provinces named: PM puts a task to attract investments

Hovsep Chakrian

New governors of Shirak and Tavush provinces named: PM puts a task to attract investments

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12:04, 6 February, 2019

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 6, ARMENPRESS. According to the decisions of the government, Hayk Chobanyan has been appointed governor of Tavush province and Tigran Petrosyan – governor of Shirak province, reports Armenpress.

During today’s Cabinet session Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan congratulated the new governors and wished them good luck.

“I want to tell the new governors that in fact the attraction of new investments and creation of jobs in all provinces that will lead to the change of the socio-economic situation is a priority task”, he said, adding that the public administration bodies and governors should encourage, invite potential investors to show what investments can be made for ensuring the development of the provinces.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




Artsakh’s Talish village gradually recovers

Hovsep Chakrian

Artsakh’s Talish village gradually recovers

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09:24, 7 February, 2019

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 7, ARMENPRESS. After the April four-day war of 2016 Artsakh’s Talish village is gradually returning to normal life: 10 new residential houses will be put into operation soon. The newly constructed kindergarten is already ready and furnished, but the school will be furnished in the near future, Vilen Petrosyan – head of Talish village, told ARMENPRESS talking about the works carried out for the restoration of the village.

“The construction, reconstruction works of the municipality’s building, the kindergarten, school and events hall are already over. They are even furnished. The school building will also be furnished in the nearest future. The construction works of the school and kindergarten have been completed in late 2018”, he said, adding that the water supply system in the village has also been upgraded.

By the first stage of the program 19 houses have been reconstructed and totally furnished. According to the second stage, 14 houses are in the reconstruction process. Petrosyan informed that the works are almost at the completion stage. New houses are being built. “Currently the works are being carried out on this direction. The construction works of 10 residential houses will be completed in June-July”, the head of the village said.

Commenting on the issue of the resettlement of the village, Vilen Petrosyan said currently mainly men live in the village. Only one family lives in the village. But sometimes women also visit the village with their kids and stay there for some time. “They were staying in the village in summer”, he said, adding that people will return to the village with their families when the programs are completed as scheduled, before the beginning of the new academic year.

The head of the village noted that there are no shots in the direction of the village. “We are not hearing shots from the time when the number of shots decreased along the entire frontline, perhaps conditioned by Pashinyan-Aliyev recent meeting”, he said.

Artsakh’s Talish village was one of the most affected settlements during the April four-day war of 2016. The village has appeared under the Azerbaijani shelling. The Azerbaijani forces managed to enter the village, killing civilians, destroying and robbing houses.

Interview by Anna Grigoryan

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan