Mihran Khachatryan has been installed as new head of Armenia’s Civil Aviation Committee, replacing Tatevik Revazyan.
Nikol Pashinyan signed the relevant decree on Friday.
Revazyan submitted resignation on Monday after four years in office.
“I have decided to return to the world of business,” she said in a statement, without elaborating.
On June 16 a farewell meeting of Armenian and Georgian football legends took place at Hanrapetakan (Republican) Stadium in Yerevan. The Armenian side beat Georgia 4:1.
Referee: Kamo Mahtesyan (Armenia)
Goals: Sarkisov, 34, Movsisyan, 37, Pizzelli, 44, Iashvili (11m), 53, Manucharyan, 60.
Armenian national team: 1․ Gevorg Kasparov, 5․ Robert Arzumanyan, 6․ Karlen Mkrtchyan, 7․ Arthur Edigaryan, 8․ Marcos Pizzelli, 11․ Arthur Sarkisov, 14․ Yura Movsisyan, 15․ Vahagn Minasyan, 16․ Valeri Aleksanyan, 17․ Ararat Arakelyan, 20․ Lon Hayrapetyan, 21․ Samvel Melkonyan, 22․ Edgar Manucharyan
Head coach: Roman Berezovsky
Georgian national team: 12․ Nukri Revishvili, 2․ David Imediashvili, 3 ․ Lasha Salukvadze, 7․ Levan Tsitishvili, 9․ Alexander Iashvili, 10․ Levan Kobiashvili, 11. Giorgi Demetradze, 13․ Zurab Khizanishvili, 14․ David Siradze, 19․ Alexander Kobakhidze, 27․ Rati Aleksidze, 1․ Giorgi Lomaya, 5․ Georgi Revazishvili, 15. Alexander Shengelia, 16 ․ Bondo Gotsiridze, 17 ․ Mikheil Maziashvili, 18. Giorgi Dumbadze, 20 ․ David Kipiani, 21. Ilia Gadelia, 22․ Georgi Chikovani, 23 Giorgi Botchormel
Head coach: Otar Gabelia
More photos at the link below
President of Venice Commission to arrive in Armenia on official visit
10:20, 7 June 2022
YEREVAN, JUNE 7, ARMENPRESS. The delegation led by President of the Venice Commission Claire Bazy Malaurie will arrive in Armenia on an official visit on June 8-10 at the invitation of President of the Constitutional Court of Armenia Arman Dilanyan, the Constitutional Court’s press office said.
This will be not only one of the first official foreign visits of Ms Claire Bazy Malaurie, but also the first official visit of the Venice Commission President to Yerevan since 2018.
The European Commission for Democracy through Law - better known as the Venice Commission as it meets in Venice – is the Council of Europe's advisory body on constitutional matters.
The role of the Venice Commission is to provide legal advice to its member states and, in particular, to help states wishing to bring their legal and institutional structures into line with European standards and international experience in the fields of democracy, human rights and the rule of law. The full name of the Commission is the “European Commission for democracy through law”.
It also helps to ensure the dissemination and consolidation of a common constitutional heritage, playing a unique role in conflict management, and provides “emergency constitutional aid” to states in transition.
The Commission has 61 member states: the 46 Council of Europe member states and 15 other countries (Algeria, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Israel, Kazakhstan, the Republic of Korea, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Morocco, Mexico, Peru, Tunisia and the USA). Argentina, Japan, the Holy See and Uruguay are observers, Belarus has a status of an associate member state (suspended). South Africa and the Palestinian National Authority have a special cooperation status. The Commission also cooperates closely with the European Union, OSCE/ODIHR and the Organization of American States (OAS).
Its individual members are university professors of public and international law, supreme and constitutional court judges, members of national parliaments and a number of civil servants. They are designated for four years by the member states, but act in their individual capacity.
15:00, 8 June 2022
YEREVAN, JUNE 8, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s advisor Artashes Tumanyan visited Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, on June 7-8 to discuss regional and bilateral economic cooperation programs.
During the visit Artashes Tumanyan met with Turkmenistan’s Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Shahim Abdrahmanov, who is also the co-chair of the Turkmenistan-Armenia intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation and Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Charimirat Purchekov.
The meetings particularly touched upon the cooperation in gas, energy sectors, as well as the preparations for the upcoming session of the Armenia-Turkmenistan inter-governmental commission on economic cooperation.
The Armenian opposition on Thursday staged a peaceful protest outside the Foreign Ministry building in central Yerevan set to host a meeting of the Russian and Armenian foreign ministers.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in Armenia on a two-day working visit on Wednesday.
Opposition demonstrators demanding Nikol Pashinyan's resignation marched to the ministry from France Square, holding posters that read "No new capitulation", "Nikol doesn't represent us", “Artsakh can never be part of Azerbaijan” and others.
“There are numerous issues that we should discuss with our strategic ally and resolve. However, it must be done without Nikol, because Nikol does not represent the Armenian people’s will and position,” opposition leader and deputy parliament speaker Ishkhan Saghatelyan said at the protest.
"He is a traitor and has no popular mandate," he stated.
The opposition MP again warned against any settlement which would make Artsakh part of Azerbaijan despite the “approaches of the traitorous authorities”.
“The Armenian people stand with Artsakh,” he stressed.
After delivering the message, opposition protesters returned to France Square, chanting “Armenia without Nikol!” and “Traitor, leave!”.
Russian peacekeepers view the situation in the village of Parukh (Farukh) in Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) as a priority, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told a press conference following talks with his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan in Yerevan on Thursday.
On March 24, the Azerbaijani troops entered the zone of responsibility of Russia’s peacekeeping contingent in Artsakh, taking control of Parukh. Local residents were evacuated.
"As for the situation, the Russian military, and our Armenian friends are well aware of it, holds it as one of its priorities. There are already certain results on the ground in terms of de-escalating the situation," the top Russian diplomat said.
"And we do have an understanding that within the framework of focused work on delimitation that is already beginning, these issues will be considered and definitely resolved," he added.
11:04, 9 June 2022
YEREVAN, JUNE 9, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Minister of Russia Sergei Lavrov visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan to pay tribute to the memory of the victims, the Armenian Foreign Ministry said.
The Russian FM was accompanied by his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan.
Sergei Lavrov arrived in Armenia on a working visit on June 8.
ArmInfo.Armenia has the potential to counter geopolitical challenges and threats; But not with this power. A member of the Council of the Republican Party of Armenia, former Deputy Minister of Defense Artak Zakaryan expressed a similar opinion to ArmInfo.
"We, you know, have our own calculations based on the current situation in international relations and related, including regional trends. I can say that another month and a half of the implementation of Pashinyan's "peace agenda" and we will find ourselves in a state of a new war. In this light, only stopping all these stupidities of the authorities will allow Armenia to avoid such dangerous prospects. The latter is possible only if they are removed from power," he noted.
The Republican is convinced that there is no agenda for peace, not only in Armenian-Azerbaijani relations, but also in the world, in international relations, in general. In this light, the very fact of the presence, voicing of such a falsified agenda by the leadership of Armenia, according to his estimates, is surprising not only among the Armenian opposition, but also among the leaders of Armenia's partner countries.
Zakaryan is convinced that the achievement of peace is possible only through struggle, and not through falsified political principles, especially those containing defeatism and the desire to achieve peace through more and more concessions to the enemy. According to the Republican, such a policy is a priori doomed to failure and devoid of any prospects. Moreover, in his opinion, this is already understood even in the ruling party itself. " Even if we put aside the agenda and plans, but we cannot and will not allow the implementation of this classic political idiocy. The opposition will not allow the achievement of a fantasy world by surrendering our real territories and interests. We will not allow them to give up our potential development opportunities in the future. Because these opportunities are the basis for preserving the Armenian statehood, sovereignty and independence," Zakaryan concluded.
1- Erdogan Hires his Cousin as Lobbyist
To Obtain Votes of Turkish Americans
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com
2- Armenian’s First Satellite Reaches Orbit
3- Homenetmen Celebrates 2022 Navasartian Games
4- GALAS Queernissage Pop-Up Market
to Celebrate Creativity, Artistry of LGBTQ+
5- Armenia Continues Fight Against COVID-19
************************************************************************************************************************************************
1- Erdogan Hires his Cousin as Lobbyist
To Obtain Votes of Turkish Americans
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com
Pres. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has been President since 2014, is
planning to run for reelection in 2023. He previously served as Prime
Minister from 2003 to 2014. Before that, he was elected Mayor of
Istanbul in 1994 as a candidate from the Islamist Welfare Party.
However, he was forced out of office in 1998, banned from holding
political office, and imprisoned for four months after reciting a poem
which was viewed as an incitement to violence, religious or racial
hatred. Here is an ominous line from that poem: “The mosques are our
barracks, the domes our helmets, the minarets our bayonets and the
faithful our soldiers.” In 2001, he co-founded the Justice and
Development Party (AKP). Hence, Erdogan has been a continuous presence
at the highest echelons of Turkish government for almost 30 years.
Pres. Erdogan has now enlisted the help of his U.S.-based cousin, Dr.
Halil Mutlu, a citizen of Turkey, to obtain the votes of Turkish
citizens living in the United States during the 2023 presidential
election, to boost his slim chances for reelection.
According to the Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA) filings of the
U.S. Department of Justice, Dr. Mutlu registered as a political
lobbyist on May 11, 2022, on behalf of the Turkish ruling party (AKP)
in the United States, as its sole representative. Dr. Mutlu is a
resident of Windsor, Connecticut. The AKP representation office,
officially registered as a U.S. corporation on May 2, 2022, is
headquartered in Washington, D.C.
The FARA registration, signed by Mutlu, states that the “AK Party
representation to the United States represents the Justice and
Development Party of Turkey in the United States. Its responsibilities
include organizing political, social and cultural activities among the
Turkish citizens in the United States. It also aims to contribute to
furthering the cooperation and historical friendship between the
United States and Turkey….” The FARA registration form reveals the
true aim of this elaborate lobbying scheme: “It will also prepare and
disseminate AK Party material in the United States for the political
support of the Turkish citizens during elections.”
The FARA registration indicates that the U.S. office of AKP represents
the AKP’s principal office located at Pres. Erdogan’s presidential
palace in Cankaya, Ankara, Turkey. It is stated that AKP’s U.S. office
“does not have a budget established or a specified sum of money
allocated” to finance its activities. Dr. Mutlu is said to work
without any pay.
The completed FARA registration application also states that AKP’s
U.S. office will disseminate information through magazines,
newspapers, advertising campaigns, press releases, pamphlets, other
publications, lectures, speeches, radio and TV broadcasts, motion
picture films, letters, telegrams, email, websites, and social media.
The U.S. office of the AKP stated that it will publicize the above
mentioned information to public officials, civic groups, associations,
legislators, libraries, government agencies, educational groups,
newspapers, and nationality groups.
It is not credible that Dr. Mutlu will be able to carry out such an
enormous amount of work “on a part time basis,” without any staff and
without pay. I hope the U.S. Justice Department will keep a close eye
on the trail of funds used for such massive expenditures.
The Turkish government has permitted its citizens who live outside the
country to vote in domestic elections ever since 2014. The vote of
Turkish citizens in the Diaspora is important because around 1.5
million or over 50% of Turks residing abroad voted in the 2018
presidential election, including 811,000 in Germany, 186,000 in
France, 145,000 in the Netherlands, 60,000 in Austria, and 46,000 in
the United States. Erdogan received close to 60% of all votes cast
abroad.
The U.S.-based AL-MONITOR news website, reported that “Turkish
opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu has explosively claimed that
millions of dollars have been siphoned off to allow President Recep
Tayyip Erdogan to flee the country if he loses the upcoming election….
Kilicdaroglu said the equivalent of $61 million was being transferred
‘all of a sudden,’ to the United States through education foundations
close to the President.” The New York-based Turken Foundation’s 2017
tax return shows that its assets were over $43 million. Erdogan’s two
children, son Bilal and daughter Esra, served on the Foundation’s
board. In 2014, Halil Mutlu was appointed chairman of the Turken
Foundation. He was also a board member of the Washington-based Turkish
American National Steering Committee, until his wife, Lynn Mutlu,
replaced him on the board.
It remains to be seen if Dr. Mutlu will be able to persuade a large
number of Turkish Americans to vote for Erdogan in next year’s
election. More importantly, should Erdogan not be reelected and stays
in Turkey, what legal troubles await him for violating a myriad of
Turkish laws for several decades.
************************************************************************************************************************************************
2- Armenian’s First Satellite Reaches Orbit
(RFE/RL)—Armenia’s first satellite reached Earth’s orbit on May 27
after launching on May 25 aboard a SpaceX rocket from Cape Canaveral
in Florida. The satellite, will have multiple uses. “Photographs to be
taken by the satellite will be used in Armenia for border control,
emergency prevention and management, environmental protection,
including climate-change monitoring, urban planning, road
construction, geology, and other purposes,” Prime Minister Nikol
Pashinyan told a weekly cabinet meeting.
SpaceX released photos of the launch of its Transporter-5 mission on
Twitter. The mission carried 59 payloads as part of what the company
calls a small satellite “rideshare” program.
SpaceX has done three such missions so far this year and plans another
in October.
Pashinyan said the satellite launch was the result of “cooperation”
between the state-run Armenian company Geocosmos and Satlantis, a
Spanish company that specializes in the production of small satellites
and cameras for them.
He did not reveal financial terms of the deal; the Armenian
government’s press office released photographs of it.
Armenia first announced satellite launch plans in 2012 after talks
with Russia’s Federal Space Agency. A year later, a senior government
official said Yerevan hoped to attract private investments in the
project worth $250 million. The project never materialized. Pashinyan
did not explain why a smaller-scale project was launched with a
Western rather than Russian company to implement it.
************************************************************************************************************************************************
3- Homenetmen Celebrates 2022 Navasartian Games
By Katy Simonian
This year’s 45th Navasartian Games and Festival, which will take place
on the campus of Los Angeles City College, will culminate on Fourth of
July weekend. Athletic competitions and Finals will convene from June
29 to July 3.
The Festival, featuring live entertainment, food and fun booths will
begin on Friday, July 1st at 4 pm and continue through Sunday, July
3rd.
The Closing Ceremonies will commence on Sunday, July 3rd at 6 pm, the
highlight of which will be the Parade of Champions, saluting the young
athletes and volunteers.
“We are so proud of all of our athletes. They are our greatest
achievement, as they inspire us to elevate one another through the
values of kindness, sportsmanship and humility. The Festival is our
way of saying thank you,” says Varant Melkonian, Homenetmen’s 2022
Exemplary Member.
“Elevate Yourself and Others with You.” This is the motto for
Homenetmen and serves as a guiding principle for the global Armenian
organization that has honored a passionate tradition of public service
for over a century.
In the Western United States, Homenetmen’s Scouting Program offers
over 2,000 Armenian-American Scouts the opportunity to earn medals and
badges for their unique areas of interest. The program features
regular troop activities such as field trips, outdoor scouting
exhibitions and camping excursions, all supervised by devoted
volunteers comprising parents, members and Scout leaders.
“Scouting brings us so much joy. It has made a positive impact on
shaping who I am today. So many people invested in me not only as a
Scout, but as a person. It is an honor to carry on the cycle of
giving. Watching them grow and preserve our beautiful Armenian culture
is a gift. Sharing intellectual conversations about our past, present
and future—our challenges and are successes, is what inspires me as a
Scout leader,” says Dr. Sharlene Gozalians, Regional Scout Master for
Homenetmen Western US.
The Scouts have the honor of representing our community and their
Armenian heritage at world jamborees, carrying the flag.
Most recently on April 24, Scouts from Homenetmen’s Western US Region
participated in annual commemorations, standing guard, presenting the
colors and placing a wreath at the Armenian Genocide Monument in
Montebello, honoring the victims and survivors of the Armenian
Genocide of 1915.
Homenetmen’s tradition of scouting is matched only by its legacy of
athletics, dating back to the vision of founder, Shavarsh Krissian,
whose prowess as an athlete inspired his vision for the organization.
Homenetmen’s Athletic Program includes basketball, volleyball, soccer,
tennis and table tennis to track and field, swimming, gymnastics and
karate. The cornerstone of the Athletic Program is sportsmanship and
teamwork—to instill a sense of confidence, kindness and humility.
Homenetmen’s Western US Region has over 6,000 athletic members. These
athletes compete locally and in regional tournaments, most notably the
Navasartian Games.
“This year’s 45th Navasartian Games includes events kicking off in San
Diego, Fresno, Orange County and across the greater Los Angeles area.
The 2022 Navasartian Games are proving to be the experience of a
lifetime for our youth and their families” said Sevag Garabetian, Vice
Chairman of Homenetmen’s Western Region.
The achievements of Homenetmen’s Scouting and Athletic Programs will
be celebrated at the 45th Navasartian Victory Ball, which will take
place on Sunday, June 26 at The Beverly Hilton. Los Angeles City
College is located at 855 North Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles CA 90029.
Accessible parking is available, as well as Metro and Bus Stops for
convenience.
“We honor all of our athletes and volunteers, as they represent the
very best of our Armenian community. Homenetmen stands as a beacon of
hope to inspire all people. Our unity and strength will lead to our
greatest victory which is the happiness and success of our future
generations,” said Hagop Tufenkjian, Chairman of Homenetmen’s Western
Regional Executive Committee.
For more information about the Navasartian Games, Festival and 45th
Navasartian Victory Ball, visit NavasartianGames.com or call (323)
344-4300; see page 8 for details.
**********************************************************************************************************************************************
4- GALAS Queernissage Pop-Up Market
to Celebrate Creativity, Artistry of LGBTQ+
LOS ANGELES—Gay and Lesbian Armenian LGBTQ+ Armenian Society (GALAS)
will host its second annual Queernissage: an open air market featuring
LGBTQ+ creatives from South West Asia & North Africa (SWANA).
The market will take place on June 4, from 10 AM to 6 PM at the Studio
City Pop-Up: 4354 Tujunga Avenue, Studio City, CA 91604.
Queernissage is an homage to “Vernissage”, the open air market in
Armenia that has been a gathering place for artists and merchants for
decades. Through Queernissage, GALAS aims to create a space for their
community members to express and share their creativity with each
other and with the public. With an eclectic array of vendors,
attendees can expect to find artwork, freshly made baked goods,
interactive booths, and jewelry.
GALAS, now in its 24th year, also hosts programs including therapeutic
support groups, known as Soorj Sessions, as well as a scholarship fund
for college students of Armenian descent who have demonstrated LGBTQ+
activism.
***********************************************************************************************************************************************
5- Armenia Continues Fight Against COVID-19
Armenia continues the fight against COVID-19. The government continues
to promote vaccinations. There were 2,075 active COVID-19 cases in
Armenia as of May 30. Armenia has recorded 422,939 coronavirus cases.
Armenia has recorded 8,624 deaths; this marks the second week where no
new deaths were recorded. 412,240 have recovered.
***************************************************************************************************************************
************************************************************************************************************************************************
California Courier Online provides readers of the Armenian News News Service
with a few of the articles in this week's issue of The California
Courier. Letters to the editor are encouraged through our e-mail
address, . Letters are published with
the author’s name and location; authors are required to disclose their
identity to the editorial staff (name, address, and/or telephone
numbers for verification purposes).
California Courier subscribers can change or modify mailing addresses
by emailing .
Armenia and Azerbaijan both fired toward the border between the two countries, both countries claimed over the weekend.
The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry claimed that on Friday evening Armenian armed forces fired on Azerbaijani forces in the Kalbajar District, adding that Azerbaijani forces took "adequate retaliatory measures."
The Armenian Defense Ministry denied the claims, calling it misinformation.
On Saturday, the Armenian Defense Ministry claimed that Azerbaijani forces fired on Armenian forces near the border, injuring an Armenian soldier. The Armenian forces carried out "retaliatory actions."
The clashes come as Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev are set to meet in Brussels to continue peace talks on Sunday.
Two weeks ago, Armenia's Defense Ministry claimed that Azerbaijani troops had fired at Armenian military positions and at the Sotk gold mine in eastern Armenia, injuring one miner. Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry denied the report, calling it "false and disinformation."
Earlier that week, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry claimed that Armenian forces fired at Azerbaijani forces in the village of Zeylik, around 30 kilometers from the city of Ganga and nearly 40 kilometers from the border, adding that "adequate response measures" were taken by Azerbaijani forces. The Armenian Defense Ministry called the claim "misinformation."
A week before that incident, Azerbaijan's State Border Service claimed that a "sabotage group" of the Armenian Armed Forces attempted to infiltrate Azerbaijan and warned that it would take "more serious measures" if the incident was repeated.
In April, the Russian Defense Ministry said that Azerbaijani forces had repeatedly violated the ceasefire between Azerbaijan and Armenia in the Republic of Artsakh, a de facto republic internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan. In 2020, the area where the republic is situated was recaptured by Azerbaijan.
In March, Azerbaijani forces crossed the line of contact near the village of Parukh in the Republic of Artsakh, entering the village of Khramort. A day later, an Azerbaijani Bayraktar TB2 drone carried out strikes against forces belonging to Artsakh, killing three Armenian soldiers.
The Russian Defense Ministry issued a statement at the time saying that Azerbaijan had violated the ceasefire reached at the end of the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war by crossing the line of contact, sparking outrage from Azerbaijani officials.
On April 6, Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed to hold peace talks to address tensions over the Nagorno-Karabakh area.
In 2020, a slightly more than month-long war broke out between Azerbaijan and Armenia in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh and nearby areas, ending with a new line of contact drawn and Russian peacekeepers deployed along the line. Sporadic clashes have been reported along the line since the war.