Author: Jack Hunanian

Miss Universe PH Beatrice Luigi Gomez’s fun moments with Miss Armenia Nane Avetisyan draw reactions from netizens

Jack Hunanian
Dec 7 2021
By Izel Abanilla
Published On: December 7, 2021, 02:12 PM
Miss Universe PH Beatrice Luigi Gomez gets cozy with Miss Armenia Nane Avetisyan.

Netizens could not help but notice and react to Miss Universe Philippines Beatrice Luigi Gomez's fun moments with fellow candidate, Miss Armenia Nane Avetisyan, while exploring the beauty of Eliat, Israel, ahead of the 70th Miss Universe competition.

A video of Gomez and Avestiyan uploaded via the Miss Universe organization's official Twitter showed the latter riding on Luigi's back for a piggyback pose.

With Gomez being a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, netizens could not help but inject color into their closeness.

Some even jokingly reminded the country's representative that the goal to bring is the fifth crown and not another love life.

In November 2021, Beatrice and her girlfriend Kate Jagdon broke up. The DJ artist-entrepreneur confirmed this in an Instagram story, saying that they have gone through some difficult times because of the break-up but still wished the beauty queen the best of luck in her journey.

Prior to that, Kate congratulated Beatrice for winning the Miss Universe Philippines title.

Beatrice hailed from Cebu and was crowned Miss Universe-Philippines 2021 held at the Hennan Resort Convention Center in Panglao, Bohol, in September 30.

Get to know more about the country's representative to the 70th Miss Universe pageant in this gallery:

Armenian journalists improve their reporting of violence against women and domestic violence

Jack Hunanian
Council of Europe
Dec 3 2021
YEREVAN 26-27/11/2021

Within the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, a two-day online training seminar for journalists representing different TV channels, online and print media of Armenia was organised.

This was the third training organised for media representatives of Armenia to enhance their knowledge and skills on the principles of media reporting on the topics of violence against women and domestic violence on how media can help raise awareness about violence against women and domestic violence. Topics included techniques for  interviewing victims/survivors of violence, use of background information and statistics to present violence against women as a societal problem rather than as an individual or personal tragedy, facts and reality vs. myths and stereotypes, existing national legislation, policies and practices, as well as international instruments, such as the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (known as the Istanbul Convention).

Sophie Bostanchyan, Head of the Human Trafficking and Women issues Department of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of Armenia said: “It is of utmost importance that all institutions, including the media, unite their efforts to ensure true and unbiased attitude to the victims of violence against women. Coverage of this topic requires a sensitive approach, proper awareness raising of the legal framework and facts, as well as avoiding secondary victimisation”, added Ms Bostanchyan.

The training was organised within the framework of the Council of Europe project “Path towards Armenia’s ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence” in partnership with the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of Armenia.



Yerevan court extends former defense minister’s arrest for two months

Jack Hunanian
Panorama, Armenia
Nov 29 2021

A court in Yerevan on Monday ruled to extend the arrest of Armenia’s former Defense Minister Davit Tonoyan for another two months, his lawyers said in a statement. The defense has not received a copy of the decision yet.

Tonoyan was arrested on 30 September as part of a criminal probe into the supplies of faulty ammunition to the Armenian military.

The legal team stated that Davit Tonoyan’s right to freedom continues to be violated due to the “incomplete knowledge” of the court and the law enforcement agency dealing with the case.

“We once again draw the attention of the country’s political leadership to the biased investigation against Davit Tonoyan, a striking evidence of which is subjective and unprofessional interpretations of the criminal case, based solely on assumptions," reads the statement.

Russia hopes that the meeting of "3 + 3" format is a matter of not too distant future

Jack Hunanian

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 19:26, 26 November, 2021

YEREVAN, 26 NOVEMBER, ARMENPRESS. Russia hopes that the meeting of “3+3” format (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russia, Turkey, Iran) will take place in “not too distant future”, ARMENPRESS reports Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Andrey Rudenko told TASS.

“While that issue is being elaborated, it is necessary to receive the consent of all participants. When we reach that agreement, we will announce where the meeting will take place. We hope that it is a matter of not too distant future” said the Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation.

Andrei Rudenko added that the chair intended for Georgia will remain vacant if Georgia does not confirm its participation. And when Georgia expresses readiness, it can be a full participant.

The “3+3” format was proposed by Turkey following the 44-day war. The initiative envisages a new platform, in which the three countries of the South Caucasus – Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan – and their three neighbors – Russia, Turkey and Iran – will participate.




Foreign Ministers of Iran and Armenia speak on the phone

Jack Hunanian
Bollyinside
Nov 27 2021
ByDesk


TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian spoke on the phone with his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan about a variety of bilateral and regional topics. According to the Iranian foreign ministry, they spoke over the phone on bilateral ties, economic cooperation, the Joint Economic Commission of the two countries, the ECO summit, and regional and international developments. Iran-Armenia relations are strong and progressing, according to Amir Abdollahian, who calls for the strengthening of ties in several spheres.

In the telephone conversation, the top Iranian diplomat underscored the Islamic Republic’s policy to not accept any change in the borders of regional countries. Amir Abdollahian also voiced concern over the recent hostilities in the Caucasus region and urged restraint and respect for the territorial integrity of regional countries. The Armenian foreign minister also referred to the proposed roadmap in relations between Iran and Armenia which was emphasized during his recent visit to Tehran. Mirzoyan said Yerevan is ready to hold the Joint Economic Commission and expand trade ties with Tehran.

He expressed satisfaction with the growing trend in ties between Tehran and Yerevan over the recent months and underlined the importance of expanding cooperation in political, economic and other fields. Iran’s foreign minister declared Iranian companies are ready to boost their activities in Armenia, expressing hope that the Joint Economic Commission of Iran and Armenia will convene as soon as possible. Amir Abdollahian voices concern over the recent hostilities in the Caucasus region.

Foreign Minister Mirzoyan appreciated the Islamic Republic of Iran’s policy to respect the territorial integrity of countries and described it as important. Mirzoyan stressed Armenia’s resolve to boost relations in all fields with Iran and renewed his invitation to Amir Abdollahian to visit Armenia. The Armenian foreign ministry also issued a statement on the call, briefly touching on the issues discussed by the two ministers. It said Amir Abdollahian and Mirzoyan “discussed issues of mutual interest related to regional security.”

It concluded, “The Foreign Ministers of the two countries also touched upon a number of issues of multifaceted cooperation between Armenia and Iran, expressing readiness to make efforts for further deepening the relations. They emphasized the importance of high-level reciprocal visits. The interlocutors exchanged views on expanding the contacts in the fields of trade, economy, infrastructure and energy. Implementation of directed work aimed at the multilateral agreement on the establishment of the ‘Persian Gulf-Black Sea’ international transport corridor was also emphasized.”

The Armenian statement said, “Minister Mirzoyan presented in detail to his counterpart the situation resulting from the recent aggression of the Azerbaijani armed forces against Armenia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. He added that Azerbaijani aggression against Armenia is a serious threat to the efforts aimed at establishing security and stability in the region.” Mirzoyan highly appreciated Iran’s position on territorial integrity and inviolability of the borders of Armenia, according to the statement.

Iran has long called for respect of international borders in the south Caucasus region amid continued border tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Iran also called on the two countries to settle their decades-long disputes through dialogue. In mid-November, the spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, Saeed Khatibzadeh, issued a statement expressing concerns over border clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Khatibzadeh has expressed concern over new military clashes in the border regions of the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan, and called on the two countries to exercise restraint and refrain from expanding and escalating the conflict. Khatibzadeh stressed the need for countries to respect internationally recognized borders and called on the two sides to resolve their differences through dialog and peaceful means.

The Foreign Ministry spokesman described the current tensions as dangerous for the gradual process of achieving peace and progress in the region. He stated that the Islamic Republic of Iran, as in the past, is ready to help the two sides resolve their disputes and establish stability and security in the region.

Armenian soldier killed in shootout with Azerbaijan despite cease-fire

Jack Hunanian
Global Times, China
Nov 23 2021
By AFPPublished: Nov 23, 2021 06:03 PM

   

Russian servicemen take part in military exercises at the Kapustin Yar range in Astrakhan region, Southern Russia during the "Caucasus-2020" military drills gathering China, Iran, Pakistan and Myanmar troops, along with ex-Soviet Armenia, Azerbaijan and Belarus. Photo: AFP

Armenia said one of its soldiers was killed in a border shoot-out with Azerbaijan on Monday, the latest incident between the two arch-foes that fought a war over disputed territory in 2020. 

"As a result of the shooting, a 19-year-old conscript soldier was killed after being mortally wounded," Yerevan's defense ministry said in a statement. 

Last week, the two Caucasus countries saw the worst clashes along their shared border since going to war over the contested Nagorno-Karabakh territory in 2020. 

Yerevan said the soldier was killed after Azerbaijani forces had fired "arms of various caliber" at Armenian positions in the Gegharkunin province on the eastern part of the border. 

It said that the border shoot-out took place at 18:10 local time and had ended by 19:30.

Last week, Armenia reported that six of its soldiers were killed in clashes with Azerbaijan, with 13 captured by Baku's forces and 24 servicemen missing. 

Azerbaijan said seven of its troops were killed in the fighting on November 16 and that 10 were wounded. 

A cease-fire was reached last week following mediation by Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. 

2020's six-week conflict, which claimed the lives of more than 6,500 people, ended in November in a Russia-mediated deal that saw Armenia cede swathes of territory it had controlled for decades.

AFP

Russian, Iranian Presidents discuss situation around Nagorno Karabakh

Jack Hunanian

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 15:31, 16 November, 2021

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi discussed the situation around Nagorno Karabakh during a telephone conversation today, the Kremlin reports.

“Vladimir Putin informed about the measures taken by the Russian side aimed at the observation of the ceasefire regime, the unblocking of transportation ties and the establishment of peaceful life in the region”, the statement says.

The Russian and Iranian Presidents also discussed issues relating to the bilateral cooperation, including the implementation of large-scale joint investment projects and the fight against COVID-19.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Russia obliged to defend Armenia in case of war with Azerbaijan – Yerevan

Jack Hunanian
RT – Russia Today
Nov 17 2021

17 Nov, 2021 13:27

FILE PHOTO. Armenian soldiers take cover as an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flies above the front line while troops hold positions on October 18, 2020, during the ongoing fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed region. © AFP / ARIS MESSINIS

By Layla Guest

After a series of firefights and fatalities reported on the country’s border with Azerbaijan, Armenia has said it expects Russia to step in and help prevent a return to all-out conflict that threatens the Moscow-backed ceasefire.

The secretary of the national security council, Armen Grigoryan, claimed that Azerbaijani forces had entered Armenian territory “as an act of aggression” on Wednesday. “In 1997, Armenia and Russia agreed to mutually help each other in such cases,” he said. “In this regard, we turned to Moscow.”

When asked to explain what kind of assistance Yerevan is requesting, the official said that it hopes to arrive at a resolution through diplomatic channels. If this is not possible, however, “then it is necessary to solve the problem by military means.”


The situation at the Azerbaijani-Armenian frontier has stabilized since reports of skirmishes on November 16, according to both sides. Russia’s Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu implored the two former Soviet republics to stop any actions which could worsen tensions. Moscow subsequently announced there had been a pause in fighting.Azerbaijan announced on Wednesday that seven of its servicemen died during combat operations and that 10 had been injured. Yerevan, meanwhile, has reported one fatality, but said that it had lost communication with 24 of its personnel, who are still unaccounted for.

Both sides have both pointed fingers at one another for the latest clashes, with Armenia accusing Azerbaijan of invading its territory and taking numerous soldiers prisoner, as well as capturing installations on the border.

Azerbaijan has claimed that it was acting in self-defense, however, looking for Armenian anti-tank weapons that had allegedly shot at its positions across the frontier.

The clashes sparked concerns over a resumption of full-blown conflict, with both nations having fought a bloody war last year over the disputed province of Nagorno-Karabakh. The region is a de jure part of Azerbaijan, but has been run in recent years by the ethnic Armenian majority.

A Moscow-brokered deal ended conflict in the region and saw peacekeepers sent there. The agreement also required Yerevan to sign over a significant amount of territory to Baku, including most of the lands held by Armenians since a bloody conflict in the early 1990s.

Armenia reports 1019 daily COVID-19 cases

Jack Hunanian

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 11:11, 18 November, 2021

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS. 1019 new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Armenia in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 331,914, the ministry of healthcare reports.

10,074 COVID-19 tests were conducted on November 17.

1461 patients have recovered in one day. The total number of recoveries has reached 299,953.

The death toll has risen to 7183 (30 death cases have been registered in the past one day).

The number of active cases is 23,381.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan