14:35, 3 July, 2020
YEREVAN, JULY 3, ARMENPRESS. A series of large explosions rocked a fireworks factory in northwest Turkey’s Sakarya province on Friday and 10 people were taken to hospital with injuries, Reuters reports.
Local governor Cetin Oktay Kaldirim said around 150-200 people were inside the complex in the Hendek district of Sakarya province.
It was not immediately clear what triggered the blasts.
14:19,
YEREVAN, JUNE 25, ARMENPRESS. The football federations of Armenia and Albania reached an agreement on holding a friendly match between the national teams, the FFA reports.
The match will take place in Yerevan’s Republican Stadium on October 7.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
The ARF Supreme Council of Armenia headquarters in Yerevan
The government’s tense response to opposition forces, especially the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, last week, promoted the party’s Supreme Council of Armenia to issue a statement on Sunday, warning of “irreversible losses” in the country as a result of the leadership’s use of what it called “oppressive methods” to deal with the opposition.
The ARF Supreme Council of Armenia also convened a meeting of five opposition political parties at its headquarters to discuss the current situation in Armenia.
The opposition parties’ and ARF’s concerns are stemming from the spread of the coronavirus in Armenia at staggering rates, and the government’s failure in leading the country during the global pandemic crisis.
The war of words between the ARF and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan escalated late last week when the prime minister, addressing criticism from the ARF, threatened the 130-year-old party’s “political death.”
This comes as similar criticism by the parliamentary opposition has grown in Armenia, with Gagik Tsarukyan, the head of the second largest parliamentary faction, the Prosperous Armenia Party, demanded the government resignation last week.
On Sunday, Tsarukyan was questioned for hours on charges of alleged fraud and embezzlement, leading hundreds of his supporters to stage a demonstration in front of his residence. More than 200 protesters were arrested on Sunday and on Monday call for revoking his parliamentary immunity to stand prosecution were voiced by pro-government officials.
“The government is, once again, responding to the opposition’s political assessment with repressive methods,” said the ARF Supreme Council of Armenia statement on Sunday.
“Especially now, when the country is facing serious domestic and foreign threats resulting from the leadership’s selfish governance, one person’s blatant aspirations to establish an authoritarian regime is becoming evident,” added the statement.
“We, once again, demand from the leadership to return to the political arena. Or else, this approach undoubtedly will deepen the instability in the country and result in irreversible losses, the responsibility for which will lie on the shoulders of today’s government,” said the statement.
The ARF Supreme Council of Armenia chairman Ishkhan Saghatelyan said that a meeting of five opposition party leaders was convened in the ARF’s offices in Yerevan on Sunday.
Participating in the meeting were Arthur Grigoryan of the Prosperous Armenia Party, Armenia’s former NSS director Arthur Vanetsyan who is the leader of the Hairenik party, Arthur Ghazinyan, the chairman of the “One Armenia” party and Avedik Chalabyan, the deputy chairman of the “National Agenda” party.
The current situation in Armenia was discussed with Saghatelyan saying that there was “mutual understanding” among the participants, telling Azatutyun.am that they did not reach any agreements by will continue meeting.
The French Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which has been operating in 92 countries, including Armenia since 2011, has today expressed concern over the situation surrounding one of its partner companies Ucom and its Chairman of Board of Directors, making a public statement which reads:
“The France-Armenia Chamber of Commerce and Industry has been following closely the developments around Ucom and Galaxy Group of Companies, within the scope of its mission in Armenia—which is the improvement and development of the commercial, business and investment climate.
We are convinced that the business and investment environment in this difficult transition period in Armenia must be protected from instability, from a decrease in business confidence and from an atmosphere of mistrust.
In this context, it was particularly disturbing to see the Prime Minister's newly appointed spokesperson's Facebook statement about the government's intention to interfere in the sale of Ucom's shares and the events around Gurgen Khachatryan, the chairman of the company's board of directors.
The RA Constitution proclaims freedom of economic activity and guarantees economic competition. It also defines the economic order of the State, which is based on private ownership, freedom of economic activity and free economic competition, with the goal of achieving general economic well-being and social justice through state policies.
At the same time, the main governing principle in the Republic of Armenia is that of separation and balance of the legislative, executive and judicial powers.
Being deeply convinced that the three branches of power in Armenia must be independent, we would like to believe that the spokesperson's remarks about the possibility of an unhealthy interdependence of the judicial and executive powers are simply a result of her inexperience,” the statement said.
It is noted that in a rule of law state, the executive refrains from interfering in disputes among shareholders, from influencing such disputes or putting pressure on shareholders. Also, before a court verdict is reached, it refrains from making controversial and dubious statements and/or actions that may affect the impartiality of the court’s decision and have a negative effect on the Republic of Armenia's business environment and the country's attractiveness for investments.
“We continue to follow the developments, and we are hopeful that the parties will refrain from unlawful and unconstitutional approaches and actions,” the statement concluded.
ArmInfo. Last week, the U.S. extended the waiver of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act with respect to assistance to Azerbaijan, Turan reports. The formal authority of freezing 907, which bans any kind of direct U.S. aid to Azerbaijan, was signed by Stephen Biegun, deputy of state, in late March, according to official records. To recall, Section 907 was adopted by Congress in 1992 and prohibited the provision of government assistance to Baku by the U.S. administration in connection with the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia. For many years, Azerbaijani diplomacy has been seeking its cancellation, but so far without success. However, after the September 11, 2001 terrorist act, Congress passed a law on the appropriation of foreign operations, giving the president the right to reject the Section 907. The United States needed this when it was necessary to supply American troops in Afghanistan. Both the Bush and Obama Administrations continued waiving Section 907. The Trump Administration issued its first waiver last year, after two years of delay.
The Glendale Youth Center went Blue in appreciation o healthcare workers
The Armenian Cultural Foundation Glendale Krikor and Mariam Karamanoukian Glendale Youth Center was lit up in blue last week to express appreciation of healthcare workers, as part of the nationwide “Light It Blue” campaign taking place across the country on March 30.
This was part of efforts spearheaded by the Armenian Community COVID-19 Task Force, of which the Armenian Revolutionary Federation’s Glendale Aharonian chapter is a part and has played an active role in assisting community members during the coronavirus crisis.
The task force has also provided hot meals for healthcare workers in the city. On April 23, 2020, volunteers dropped off lunch at Glendale Memorial Hospital and on May 1, 2020, at Glendale Adventist Medical Center.
nce social distancing guidelines to combat COVID-19 were put in place in March, the Glendale Youth Center has served as a relief center for the Glendale community. Working in conjunction with the City of Glendale, volunteers at the Glendale Youth Center have been working around the clock to assist residents of the city.
From the outset of the pandemic the organizations within the Youth Center formed a task force to meet the increased needs of the community. The task force is comprised of the ARF Glendale “Aharonian” Chapter, ACF Glendale Chapter, AYF Glendale “Roupen” Chapter, ANCA – Glendale, ARS Glendale “Sepan” Chapter, Homentmen Glendale “Ararat” Chapter, and St. Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church.
A hotline is available for Glendale residents to call and request assistance. Volunteers are making nearly 50 deliveries per day to callers affected by COVID-19 requesting food and supplies. Care packages include one-week portions of food depending on the number of household members and are delivered to callers’ doors, usually within 24 hours. The packages also include masks sown by volunteers and hand sanitizer bottled at the Youth Center. To date, volunteers have delivered care packages to over 550 families.
Glendale residents have also benefited from legal advice by volunteer attorneys regarding tenants’ rights, evictions, and other issues arising due to the pandemic. Attorneys have also been helping callers complete unemployment insurance and other government aid applications.
Additionally, volunteers have been translating informational material on COVID-19 to Armenian in order to reach Armenian-speaking residents of Glendale. Informational packets have been disseminated in the community, as well as on social media.
Glendale residents in need are urged to call the Glendale Youth Center hotline at (818) 243-3444.
11:40, 2 May, 2020
STEPANAKERT, MAY 2, ARMENPRESS. Armenia’s Minister of Defense Davit Tonoyan visited Artsakh between May 1-2 as part of the military cooperation and combined action plan of the two countries.
Accompanied by Artsakh’s Defense Minister Jalal Harutyunyan, Tonoyan visited a number of active duty military bases in the northern and central directions, toured various barracks and rear units and met with the troops, the Artsakh Defense Ministry said in a news release.
The main discussion points focused on the improvement of the service and social-household conditions of the servicemen, as well as combat and morale readiness, effective application of arsenal and military equipment, modernization and logistical issues.
Tonoyan praised the current level of military cooperation between Armenia and Artsakh.
The priority directions of future actions as part of the cooperation were adjusted.
Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan