Author: Mary Lazarian

Armenia’s ruling party bows out of PM race to ‘avoid confrontation’

Mary Lazarian
The Guardian, UK
 
 
Armenia's ruling party bows out of PM race to 'avoid confrontation'
 
Opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan calls on parliament to elect him after mass protests oust longtime ruler Serzh Sargsyan
 
Reuters
 
Sun 29 Apr 2018 02.11 BST
 
Supporters of Armenian opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan at a rally in the town of Ijevan. Photograph: Gleb Garanich/Reuters
 
Armenia’s ruling party will not put up a candidate for prime minister as it attempts to ease tensions after more than two weeks of street protests.
 
Demonstrations against the party and official corruption forced Serzh Sargsyan, a former president, to resign as prime minister on 23 April and the parliament is due to pick a new one on 1 May.
 
While its majority in parliament means it should be able to choose who that is, the Republican party announced on Saturday it will not to put forward its own candidate.
 
“By not putting forward a candidate, we will avoid confrontation and an increase in security risks,” party spokesman Eduard Sharmazanov said. “We are not putting anyone forward in the state’s interest.“
 
Protest leader Nikol Pashinyan, a member of parliament who describes himself as “the people’s choice”, has said the parliament should elect him prime minister next week. He then wants snap parliamentary polls under a new election law.
 
On Saturday he called on supporters to continue protests and to organise big, non-violent demonstrations in the capital Yerevan on 1 May.
 
“All protest actions, actions of civil disobedience, should be renewed with new force. The victory of the people must be recognised,” Pashinyan, 42, told a rally in the town of Ijevan.
  
The Republican party has 58 seats in the 105-seat parliament, so Pashinyan is unlikely to be elected without the party’s support. However, the second biggest party in the parliament, Prosperous Armenia, hinted it might support him.
 
“My team and I will vote for a people’s candidate, whether it’s Nikol Pashinyan or anyone else nominated by the people,” the Prosperous Armenia leader, Gagik Tsarukyan, told Kentron TV.
 
A junior coalition member, the Dashnaktsutyun party, said this week it was quitting the government and favoured an early election, but it was unclear whether it would vote for Pashinyan, who has a history of political activism and opposition.
 
Although the demonstrations have been peaceful, the upheaval has threatened to destabilise Armenia, an ally of Russia, in a volatile region riven by Armenia’s decades-long, low-level conflict with neighbouring Azerbaijan.
 
The next parliamentary elections are not due until 2022. But if the parliament fails twice to elect a new prime minister with majority support, early elections must be held.
 

Azerbaijani press: Turkish parliamentary speaker: No "Armenian genocide" in history

Mary Lazarian
17:34 (UTC+04:00)

Baku, Azerbaijan, April 23

By Rufiz Hafizoglu – Trend:

There was no "Armenian genocide" in history, Speaker of Turkey’s parliament Ismail Kahraman said, the Turkish media reported on April 16.

He said that, Turkey is not afraid of its history.

"The Turkish authorities have repeatedly appealed to Armenia with a proposal to establish a joint historical commission to investigate the events of 1915. However, so far we have not received any response from Armenia," Kahraman said.

Armenia and the Armenian lobby claim that Turkey's predecessor, the Ottoman Empire, allegedly carried out "genocide" against the Armenians living in Anatolia in 1915. While strengthening the efforts to promote the "genocide" in the world, Armenians have achieved its recognition by the parliaments of some countries.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu


Armenian police department confirms readiness to detain all offenders

Mary Lazarian
ARKA, Armenia

YEREVAN, April 19. /ARKA/. The Armenian police reaffirm their readiness to detain offenders. 

According to the press release issued by the Armenian Police Department, the law enforcement officers continue detaining all those who, as they say, “disturb public order”. 

The police department says in its statement that if some people, contrary to the law, remain detained longer than implied by the law, it means that the police are trying to find evidence of their criminal complicity.   

According to unconfirmed information, 20 people remain under the police’s custody now.  
On Tuesday, the Armenian National Assembly has elected ex-president Serzh Sargsyan as prime minister. As many as 77 MPs voted for him and 17 against.  

Serzh Sargsyan was the only candidate for the prime-ministerial post. He was nominated by the ruling Republican Party of Armenia and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation/Dashnaktsutiun. 

Mass protests broke out in Yerevan on April 13, which developed into civil unrest. On April 17, Nikol Pashinyan announced the beginning of a velvet revolution, which will rid the country of Serzh Sargsyan’s regime, and protesters blockaded buildings of government establishments. 

He warned people against responding to the provocations ordered for hindering the peaceful course of the protests and trigger clashes between protesters and the police. –0—

Un mémorial du génocide arménien à Genève

Mary Lazarian
20 Minutes, Suisse
13 avril 2018


 

L'oeuvre a été souhaitée par la communauté arménienne, acceptée par la Ville de Genève et mise en oeuvre par le Fonds municipal d'art contemporain (FMAC) en partenariat avec la communauté arménienne.

Visite officielle de Jean Asselborn en Arménie et en Géorgie

Mary Lazarian
Gouvernement Luxembourgeois (Communiqué de presse)
26 mars 2018


Communiqué 26.03.2018

  •                     

    • Sur invitation du ministre des Affaires étrangères de l’Arménie, Edward Nalbandian, le ministre des Affaires étrangères et européennes, Jean Asselborn, se rendra à Erevan le 27 mars 2018, avant de continuer vers Tbilissi le 28 mars, sur invitation du Vice-premier ministre, ministre des Affaires étrangères de la Géorgie, Mikheil Janeliidze.

À Erevan, le ministre Asselborn sera reçu en audience par le président Serge Sargsyan, avant de rencontrer le président élu, Armen Sarkissian, et son homologue arménien, Edward Nalbandian. Jean Asselborn tiendra également un discours à l’académie diplomatique et saisira l’occasion offerte par son passage à Erevan pour procéder à l’inauguration du premier consulat honoraire du Grand-Duché en Arménie.

Pendant sa visite à Tbilissi, Jean Asselborn sera reçu en audience par le président Giorgi Margvelashvili et rencontrera le Premier ministre, Giorgi Kvirikashvili, son homologue géorgien, Mikheil Janeliidze, le Vice-Premier ministre, ministre de l’Intérieur, Giorgi Gakharia, ainsi que le président du Parlement, Irakli Kobakhidze.

Au centre des discussions figureront le renforcement des liens bilatéraux, dont surtout dans le domaine économique, ainsi que le Partenariat oriental de l’Union européenne. Les échanges de vues porteront également sur la situation régionale.

Communiqué par le ministère des Affaires étrangères et européennes

Charge pressed against 3 convicted for being involved in disorders in «Goris» penitentiary

Mary Lazarian
| 16:43 | March 2 2018
Category
Society

In the framework of the criminal case investigated in General Department of Investigation of Particularly Important Cases of the RA Investigative Committee necessary investigatory actions are conducted to identify those directly involved in disorders which took place in «Goris» penitentiary of the RA Ministry of Justice, as well as to personalize their actions. Charge was pressed against three people.

Mass disorders in «Goris» penitentiary took place on October 30, 2017 at about 15:30.

Through preliminary investigation actual data were obtained on the allegation that on the day of the incident, in the order defined by law, searches were conducted in several cells of «Goris» penitentiary by the employees of the RA National Security Service and Department of Corrections of the RA Ministry of Justice after which K. Hovhannisyan, who was an authority among the convicted and imprisoned people of the penitentiary, was taken out of the cell to be moved to another penitentiary.

In order to hinder the mentioned transfer a number of convicted and imprisoned people instigated disorders – scolded, threatened the employees of law enforcement bodies and justice system, hit the cell doors with feet and different items, threw burnt bedding and other household items through the windows. In the result of disorders the property of the penitentiary was damaged.

On the base of sufficient evidence obtained through preliminary investigation charge was pressed against 3 convicted of «Goris» penitentiary according to the Part 1 of the Article 225 of RA Criminal Code for being involved in disorders.

Preliminary investigation of the criminal case initiated on disorders is ongoing in the RA IC General Department of Investigation of Particularly Important Cases, necessary investigatory and other procedural actions are conducted to find the full frame of those involved.

Note; Everyone charged with alleged crime offence shall be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law.

ANCA Welcomes Australia’s NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian to Washington

Mary Lazarian
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Australia’s NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian offering remarks at the ANCA welcoming reception hosted at The Aramian House

Hosts Leadership Meeting and Community Reception Honoring Visiting Premier

WASHINGTON—The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) rolled out an Armenian red carpet for New South Wales (NSW) Premier Gladys Berejiklian during her visit to Washington, DC as part of Australia’s largest ever trade delegation to the United States.

During her official visit, Premier Berejiklian made time for a leadership meeting with the ANCA in their national headquarters, a community reception at The Aramian House, home to the ANCA’s youth training and career placement programs, and interviews with Voice of America and Armenian television stations.

In her remarks to a capacity crowd of ANCA supporters at The Aramian House, the Premier underscored that: “I am here in my capacity as the Premier of New South Wales, but I’m also here with you as someone who shares a common heritage of our Armenian culture and history.  I want to thank you for the work you do on the ground here in Washington, DC, thank you for the warm reception you’ve given me this morning, and please know that communities like yours all around the world support your activities. We often look to DC and take great strength from what you’re doing to support Armenian communities around the world.” She closed with an invitation to the gathered youth to visit Australia, gain valuable international foreign policy experience as interns with her office, and maybe even volunteer for her re-election campaign.

“We were honored to host Premier Berejiklian, a great leader in both the Australian and Armenian traditions,” said ANCA Communications Director Elizabeth Chouldjian.  “Her visit to the ANCA reminds us, in very powerful and personal ways, that – as Armenians, diverse and dispersed across the globe – we remain informed by our common history, inspired by our shared values, and united in our enduring devotion to the future of the Armenian nation.”

 

The grand-daughter of Armenian Genocide survivors, Berejiklian grew up an active member in Australia’s vibrant Armenian community, attending Hamazkaine’s Saturday School, participating in Homenetmen scouts and basketball, and later taking leadership roles in the Armenian Youth Federation and Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU).

Berejiklian joined the Liberal Party in 1993 and was first elected to represent Willoughby in the NSW Parliament in 2003, becoming NSW Transport Minister in 2011, Treasurer in 2015 and ascending to the position of NSW Premier in 2017, only the second woman to hold that post.

Alongside her successes in each of these positions, Berejiklian has been instrumental in representing Australian Armenian community concerns, advocating for state and federal recognition of the Armenian Genocide, supporting Republic of Artsakh freedom, and expanding Australia-Armenia ties.

Electricity meter fire prompts evacuation of 60 in Yerevan dormitory

Mary Lazarian
| 11:47 | February 24 2018
Category
Society

A malfunction of electricity meters resulted in a fire in the 29/4 dormitory in Moldovakan Street, Yerevan, the ministry of emergency situations said.

Firefighters and rescuers were dispatched to the scene and contained the fire at 00:38, and just 3 minutes later it was extinguished.

The fire broke out in the electricity meters at the 3rd floor, which resulted in smoke filling 30 apartments. Rescuers evacuated 60 residents for safety concerns.

No one was hurt in the incident.

European Union and Armenia Sign Partnership Priorities

Mary Lazarian
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Armenia’s Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian with EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini sign agreement in Brussels on Wednesday

BRUSSELS—The European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, Federica Mogherini and Armenia’s Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian, signed the EU-Armenia Partnership Priorities in Brussels.

This sets the joint policy priorities for the coming years, in line with the new EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement. The four main areas of cooperation are:

  • Strengthening institutions and good governance;
  • Economic development and market opportunities;
  • Connectivity, energy efficiency, environment and climate action;
  • Mobility and people-to-people contacts

The Partnership Priorities will be key in guiding EU financial assistance to Armenia until 2020. For that period, the EU has earmarked around €160 million for Armenia to invest, among other areas, in education and innovation, which are key for Armenia’s economic development.

“The European Union and Armenia are, with these Partnership Priorities, further enhancing our already strong friendship and cooperation,” said Mogherini. “Combined with our new Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement that we signed only three months ago at the Eastern Partnership Summit in Brussels, we are reinforcing our joint commitment to delivering positive results in areas that really make a difference to peoples’ lives, both in the EU and in Armenia. We stay engaged to push ahead and work to turn those commitments into reality.”
Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, said: “I welcome the adoption of the Partnership Priorities between the European Union and Armenia, which is a direct result of differentiation in our bilateral relations based on mutual interests. This will pave the way for our cooperation with the aim to bring tangible benefits to the daily lives of Armenian citizens.”

The meeting also gave the High Representative and the Minister the opportunity to discuss relations between the European Union and Armenia more broadly, including plans for the implementation of the EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement, which was signed in the margins of the Eastern Partnership Summit in Brussels on 24 November, as well as follow-up on the progress on the 20 deliverables for 2020. The agreement provides for the wide-ranging approximation of Armenian legislation to that of the European Union. Once implemented, the agreement will bring concrete benefits to citizens, including job creation through economic growth, improved safety and environmental standards, fairer rules when it comes to competition and public procurement.