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Author: Liana Toganian

Police in Yerevan unlawfully detain around 30 opposition Homeland Party activists

Liana Toganian
Panorama
Armenia – May 3 2022

Police officers used excessive force to unlawfully detain some 30 members of the opposition Homeland Party protesting in Yerevan on Tuesday morning, Arsen Babayan, a senior member of the party, said in a Facebook post.

“Among the detained activists are Khachik Galstyan, Sos Hakobyan, Babken Harutyunyan, Vardan Minasyan and Azat Zakaryan,” he wrote, accusing the police of grossly violating their right to peaceful assembly.

Armenia’s opposition groups began a large-scale civil disobedience campaign on Monday in a bid to oust Nikol Pashinyan and his cabinet, blocking streets and street intersections in central Yerevan.

Azerbaijani press: President Ilham Aliyev received delegation led by Saudi Arabia’s attorney general

Liana Toganian
9 May 2022 15:51 (UTC+04:00)
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President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has received a delegation led by Attorney General of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Sheikh Saud bin Abdullah Al-Mujib.

Emphasizing the successful cooperation between the two countries in various fields, the President hailed the high level of political relations. Recalling with satisfaction his visits to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, President Ilham Aliyev said that the hospitality shown during those visits had once again demonstrated the fraternal relations existing between the two countries’ peoples.

The President stressed that Azerbaijan had special respect for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia because the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was one of a handful of countries in the world that had not established any diplomatic relations with Armenia. The reason was that Azerbaijani lands were under occupation. President Ilham Aliyev noted that Azerbaijan highly appreciated this position. The head of state said that the liberation of lands as a result of the 44-day war had exposed Armenian savagery and the destruction by Armenians of everything in the liberated lands, including 65 of the 67 mosques.

Indicating that the opportunities for cooperation in the economic sphere, including energy, had been expanded since the restoration of the country's territorial integrity, President Ilham Aliyev expressed his satisfaction with the interest of large Saudi companies in Azerbaijan in this regard, describing the fact that Saudi company ACWA Power had laid the foundation of a wind power station in Azerbaijan as a good example of this.

Emphasizing the fact that the two countries supported each other in international organizations, the head of state said that the increase in people-to-people contacts, reciprocal visits and the number of tourists had created a good basis for further development of bilateral cooperation.

President Ilham Aliyev also expressed his confidence that the visit of Sheikh Saud bin Abdullah Al-Mujib to Azerbaijan would contribute to the development of bilateral relations.

Sheikh Saud bin Abdullah Al-Mujib conveyed the greetings of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King of Saudi Arabia Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to the President of Azerbaijan.

President Ilham Aliyev thanked for the Saudi King`s and Crown Prince`s greetings and asked the attorney general to extend his greetings to Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

Noting that they were happy with the development processes taking place in Azerbaijan, Sheikh Saud bin Abdullah Al-Mujib said: “I want to congratulate you on the development your country has achieved. We have heard a lot about Azerbaijan and the achievements of your country in the economic, social and economic spheres. In particular, we congratulate you on your great victory and the liberation of your lands in a short time.”

On the eve of 10 May, the birthday of great leader Heydar Aliyev, Sheikh Saud bin Abdullah Al-Mujib paid tribute to his memory.

The sides exchanged views on prospects for cooperation.

Armenian FM presents situation in Nagorno Karabakh to US Senator

Liana Toganian

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 15:25, 6 May, 2022

YEREVAN, MAY 6, ARMENPRESS. On the sidelines of his working visit in the United States, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan met with Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, the Armenian Foreign Ministry said in a press release.

The sides discussed the prospects of deepening and expanding the Armenian-American cooperation based on common values. Minister Mirzoyan highly appreciated the US continuous support to Armenia’s reforms agenda.

The regional security and stability-related issues were touched upon during the talk.

Ararat Mirzoyan presented the situation in Nagorno Karabakh to the US Senator. The importance of the mediation efforts of the US as an OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair country aimed at the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict was emphasized.

The Foreign Minister also presented details about the Armenia-Turkey normalization process.

He handed over the Mkhitar Gosh Medal to Mr. Mitch McConnell on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Armenia-US diplomatic relations, for his significant contributions to the strengthening and development of the Armenian-American friendly ties.

Turkey, Armenia Special Envoys on Normalization Meet in Vienna

Liana Toganian
by Asbarez Staff

 

 May 3, 2022

 

in Armenia, Artsakh, Featured Main, Latest, News, Top Stories

The Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Istanbul Patriarch Says Artsakh part of the Ankara-Yerevan Normalization Package

Special envoys for normalizing relations between Armenia and Turkey, Ruben Rubinyan and Serdar Kılıç held their third meeting in Vienna on Tuesday.

Following the meeting the two foreign ministries issued identical announcement expressing their countries’ commitment to the process.

“The Special Representatives reaffirmed the declared goal of achieving full normalization between their respective countries through this process. In this sense, they had sincere and productive exchange of concrete views and discussed possible steps that can be undertaken for tangible progress in this direction,” said the statement. “They reiterated their agreement to continue the process without preconditions.”

Since the last meeting in Vienna in February, Armenia’s Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan traveled to Turkey and attended a diplomatic conference in Antalya.

Following the first meeting in Moscow in January, the sides committed to advancing relation “without preconditions.”

Official Yerevan has signaled that it wants to open the borders with Turkey and establish diplomatic relations.

While Ankara has echoed similar sentiments, its leaders have stepped up their calls urging Armenia to recognize Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity—including Artsakh. On April 23, Turkey’s foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu flashed the hand gesture used by the ultra-nationalist Grey Wolves to a group of Armenian protesters in Montevideo, Uruguay, where he was on an official visit.

In an interview with RFE/RL’s Armenian Service, the Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul Archbishop Sahag Mashalian said that Turkey wants a resolution from Armenia, suggesting that such a package also includes the settlement of the Artsakh conflict.

He said that although the Turkey-Armenia talks are proceeding between representatives from the two countries, however, in reality there are four countries, including Azerbaijan and Turkey.

“This is not just about Armenia-Turkey relation,” Mashalian told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service.

[see video]

Armenia ruling force MP: Opposition will not achieve its goal

Liana Toganian
News.am
Armenia – May 4 2022
13:53, 04.05.2022

The opposition will not achieve its goal. Vladimir Vardanyan, a member of the ruling majority "Civil Contract" Faction in the National Assembly (NA) of Armenia,  stated this at Wednesday’s session of the NA—and referring to the current protest actions that were launched by the opposition.

According to him, one of the functions of the NA deputy speaker is to ensure the normal and stable activity of the parliament.

"We have a situation when that normal activity is not only not ensured, but everything is being done to disrupt it; this is done with various statements. It feels like those people have nothing to do with the parliament," said Vardanyan, referring to the opposition’s Resistance Movement coordinator Ishkhan Saghatelyan, who is the NA deputy speaker from the opposition "Armenia" Faction and a representative of the Supreme Body of the opposition Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Dashnaktsutyun Party of Armenia.

PACE initiates resolution on threats to journalists and human rights defenders in Azerbaijan

Liana Toganian
NEWS.am
Armenia – May 2 2022
19:50, 02.05.2022

A group of PACE deputies on the eve of the annual World Freedom Day on 3 May initiated a resolution of the Assembly on threats to the life and security of journalists and human rights defenders in Azerbaijan. The initiative by Belgian MP Christophe Lacroix was supported by 37 PACE members from 24 countries, Turan reported.

"The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe is concerned about the increasing level of violence, intolerance and continuing threats against Azerbaijani journalists, bloggers and human rights defenders in Azerbaijan," reads the petition signed by the mentioned MPs.

Journalist and human rights activist, well-known LGBT activist Avaz Shikhmammadov was murdered in his home on 22 February, 2022. Numerous requests to protect his life were ignored by the law enforcement agencies of Azerbaijan.

On 23 April, 2022, the well-known blogger and human rights activist, former prisoner of conscience Bakhtiyar Hajiyev was kidnapped by masked men, who tortured and subjected him to inhuman treatment. They ordered the blogger to delete his critical publications.

Over the past two months, many investigative journalists have received warnings from representatives of Azerbaijan's law enforcement agencies demanding that they stop their anti-corruption investigations of government officials. "Otherwise, journalists were threatened, death and serious health problems that would look like accidents or poisoning. After these threats, some of these journalists were forced to declare the cessation of anti-corruption investigations, while others still decided to continue their work," the document further states.

The Parliamentary Assembly should examine and study the killings and assassination cases and continuing threats to the lives and freedoms of Azerbaijani journalists, bloggers and human rights activists who continue to work at home and abroad and produce a comprehensive report on this issue, the petitioners say.

The Assembly should call on the Azerbaijani government to comply with the European Convention on Human Rights and guarantee the safety of journalists and human rights defenders, allowing them to continue their professional activities unhindered.

Emin Huseynov, director of the Institute of Reporters' Freedom and Safety, told the Turan news agency that the 38 deputies' appeal will be considered in mid-May by a standing committee and the PACE Bureau.

The UN Security Council will discuss the issue of Ukraine

Liana Toganian

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 19:28, 29 April, 2022

YEREVAN, 29 APRIL, ARMENPRESS. The UN Security Council will discuss in the upcoming week the situation in Ukraine, including the visit of Secretary General António Guterres to Kyiv, ARMENPRESS reports, the permanent representative of the United Kingdom to the UN Barbara Woodward said.

“The peace efforts are in the framework of the mandate of the Secretary General, and our obligation is to support them as member of the UN Security Council. We will have an opportunity next week to discuss this very important issue and the visit of the UN Secretary General under the Presidency of the United States”, she announced.

Karabakh raises Kosovo’s privilege, lauds Putin’s reference

Liana Toganian
PanARMENIAN
Armenia –
– 10:58 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) State Minister Artak Beglaryan has raised the question of why Kosovo can take advantage of the international mechanism of salvation and redress, while Artsakh can't.

Beglaryan noted on his Telegram channel that it was nice to hear Russian President Vladimir Putin speak to UN Secretary General António Guterres about the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on Kosovo, which concluded that “the declaration of independence of Kosovo adopted on 17 February 2008 did not violate international law”.

Noting that Kosovo had declared independence in 2008 without consulting Serbia, Putin asked Guterres whether he agreed that provided a precedent for the two Donbas "republics" to declare independence without permission from Kyiv, and for Moscow to recognize them (as many western countries recognized Kosovo). However, Russia’s ambassador to Serbia, Alexander Bocan Harchenko, said later that Russia has not changed its attitude towards Kosovo and will not recognize it as an independent state.

According to Beglaryan, Putin's reference to Kosovo was a precedent for peoples who live under the threat of destruction and fight for their right to self-determination, such as the indigenous people of Artsakh.

“And here's a rhetorical question: why should Kosovo or other internationally unrecognized countries use this international mechanism of salvation and redress, while Artsakh, which meets all the norms of international law, does not? We should not forget the numerous cases when the international community did not fulfill its preventive duties, as a result of which a number of nations were subjected to genocide,” the State Minister said.

Armenian Ombudsperson highlights increasing international presence in Artsakh

Liana Toganian

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 10:25,

YEREVAN, APRIL 28, ARMENPRESS. Human Rights Defender of Armenia Kristinne Grigoryan is in Paris on a working visit, her Office said.

On April 27 the Armenian Ombudswoman met with Ambassador for Human Rights at the French Foreign Ministry Delphine Borione, French Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, Ambassador Brice Roquefeuil and the representatives of the French Foreign Ministry Continental Europe Directorate.

During the meetings Kristinne Grigoryan presented the mandate of the institute of the Human Rights Defender, the current challenges of her Office, as well as shared the priorities of the institute.

The Ombudsperson presented the ongoing pressures, including the psychological ones, by the Azerbaijani armed forces on Artsakh-Armenians. She also presented the details of her contacts with the relatives of the captured and missing persons, expressed her concerns over the fact that Azerbaijan is not fulfilling its international commitments and the commitment assumed by the trilateral statement relating to the immediate return of captives and other persons held.

Ambassador for Human Rights at the French Foreign Ministry Delphine Borione presented her mission in human rights during the meeting. She outlined the challenges existing now at a global level for the perception of the common nature of human rights, stating that, unfortunately, the current conflicts are the biggest challenges in that matter.

The sides also emphasized their readiness to cooperate in the agenda of women empowerment.

Kristinne Grigoryan invited Mrs. Delphine Borione to Armenia.

In his remarks the French Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group expressed concerns over the humanitarian issues that still are unresolved after the war. He highly valued the Ombudswoman’s constant attention and support to various issues of the families of captives and missing persons.

During the meetings Kristinne Grigoryan also emphasized the necessity of engagement of international organizations in Artsakh and increase of international presence in general as an additional guarantee to the rights and normal life of Artsakh-Armenians.

A group of YSMU students boycott classes indefinitely

Liana Toganian
Panorama
Armenia –

Doctor Haykaz Harutyunyan, a member of the Nikol Aghbalyan Student Union of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF), and a group of students of the Yerevan State Medical University (YSMU) on Monday announced an indefinite boycott of classes amid the “worsening security situation in Armenia and Artsakh”, the union said in a statement.

They raised the Artsakh flag over the university building and urged their fellow students to join the strike.

ՀՅԴ «Նիկոլ Աղբալյան» ուսանողական միություն

11 hours ago

ՀՅԴ «Նիկոլ Աղբալյան» ուսանողական միության վարչության ներկայացուցիչ, բժիշկ Հայկազ Հարությունյանը և մի խումբ ԵՊԲՀ ուսանողներ Մխիթար Հերացու անվան բժշկական համալսարանում բարձրացրին Արցախի Հանրապետության դրոշը և, կոչ անելով ուսանողությանը միանալ բոյկոտին, հայտարարելով անժամկետ դասադուլ` պայմանավորված Հայաստանում և Արցախում օրեցօր վատթարացող անվտանգային պայմաններով։

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