Azerbaijan’s cross-border gunfire at the Barekamavan border village in the Armenian province of Tavush hasn’t caused serious damages, defense ministry spokesman Artsrun Hovhannisyan told ARMENPRESS, adding that the situation is currently calm.
“Shots were fired in the direction of Barekamavan on July 22 during 22:00 – 23:00. Shots were fired from small arms. There is nothing serious. The situation is calm,” Hovhannisyan said.
The news about the resignation does not correspond to reality. Head of State Control Service David Sanasaryan said during a live broadcast from FB.
“I will resign only when I have a greater responsibility. I have promised and have done my job. I understand that different forces are engaged in anti-aggression. Have nice dreams, but do not even dream that your dreams will come true,” Sanasaryan said.
A rocket launcher is part of the Russian military delivery to Armenia
MOSCOW (Moscow Times)—Russia has reportedly delivered $200 million worth of weapons to Armenia as part of a loan deal Moscow extended to help Yerevan build up its military capabilities.
Moscow granted Armenia a $200 million credit in 2015 to buy Russian weapons and modernize its armed forces. The country’s new prime minister, Nikol Pashinyan, who took office following peaceful anti-corruption protests this spring, has since promised to continue pursuing friendly relations with Russia.
Under the agreement, Armenia purchased missile launchers, surface-to-air missile systems and ground-based radio reconnaissance technology, the state-run TASS news agency said.
“The arms provided under the $200 million contract are advanced and modern, and are not even in service yet in Russia,” the Armenpress news agency quoted Armenia’s Defense Minister David Tonoyan as saying Sunday.
In addition sniper rifles, guided missiles and grenade launchers, Russia’s RBC business portal reported in 2016 that Moscow was due to send Armenia BM-30 multiple launch rocket systems.
YEREVAN, JULY 3, ARMENPRESS. Renowned Armenian composer Arno Babajanyan’s candle statue and exhibits of photos as part of the personal collection were displayed at the Parliament of Armenia, reports Armenpress.
The event was attended by Ara Babajanyan, son of Arno Babajanyan, who said holding such event at the Parliament is a great honor and pride for him. “It’s a great honor, a great happiness for me that today we are participating in this exhibition at the Parliament of Armenia. It’s a great honor for me since my father loved very much his homeland, Armenia, the Armenian people and especially Yerevan where he was born”, Ara Babajanyan said.
He remembers that when his father was asked where do you live, he stated: “I reside in Moscow, but I live in Armenia”. “Thus, today is a great holiday for me that this exhibition is being held here”, the composer’s son said.
Gagik Manasyan, director of the Armenian state philharmonic and the Arno Babajanyan Memory Fund’s Armenian branch, said after the exhibition the candle statue will be transported to the concert hall named after the composer where Babajanyan’s music will be performed every day at working hours.
Gagik Manasyan informed that in 2021 marks the 100th anniversary of the renowned composer, and a number of events are being held in Armenia and Russia ahead of it.
Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
Marianna Mkrtchyan. The Foreign Minister of Belarus Vladimir Makei met with the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group Stefan Visconti (France), Igor Popov (Russia), Andrew Chaufer (USA) and Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict Andrzej Kasprzyk.
According to the press service of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry, the co-chairs of the Minsk Group and the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office informed the minister about the situation in the conflict zone and the efforts they are making to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
During the meeting, topical issues of the activities of the OSCE Minsk Group, the possible contribution of Belarus to the process of peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict were also discussed.
Within the framework of the Minsk Group co-chairs' visit to Minsk, they met with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus Oleg Kravchenko.
To note, in the beginning of June it became known about the deliveries to Azerbaijan of the Belarusian MLRS "Polonaise" and LORA. Azerbaijani media reported that they were presented to the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev during the opening of another military unit. This message caused a negative reaction both in Armenian society and in the leadership of the country.
A Russian serviceman has died in a car crash which took place June 26 early morning in Gyumri, Armenia’s second largest city.
According to local emergency personnel, the driver – identified as Vladislav Kulakov,32, a serviceman of the 102nd Russian military base of Gyumri – slammed into a parked semi truck with his SUV. The driver was killed instantly, and a passenger, who hasn’t been identified yet, was hospitalized. The passenger was treated for injuries and was discharged, authorities said.
No other details were available at the moment.
The Special Investigative Service has launched criminal proceedings over former Mayor of Ejmiatsin Karen Grigoryan, the son of MP Manvel Grigoryan, the former general who is accused of misappropriations, theft and illegal possession of firearms, pending trial.
The Special Investigative Service said it has charged Karen Grigoryan on June 23 with grand theft.
In the days of the April War of 2016, Members of the Armenian Community of Russia NGO, had acquired three UAZ SUVs, thermal vision devices and military uniforms and transferred it to Armenia as aid. Representatives of the organization arrived in Armenia, where accompanied with Karen Grigoryan, they departed for Artsakh to donate the abovementioned items to Artsakh’s defense ministry. The items have been handed over to Karen Grigoryan, and MP Manvel Grigoryan, who was the chairman of the Yerkrapah Volunteer Union.
But instead of transferring the vehicles, worth over 22,000$, to the Artsakh military, Manvel Grigoryan and his son Karen Grigoryan embezzled them, transported back to Ejmiatsin, stored in a facility owned by them and used it at their disposal.
Karen Grigoryan hasn’t been remanded and is free on a bail bond.
Investigation continues.
YEREVAN, JUNE 22, ARMENPRESS. Armenia’s minister of foreign affairs Zohrab Mnatsakanyan delivered remarks at the 10th Informal Dialogue of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Eastern Partnership Countries in Minsk, Belarus.
Below is the full transcript of the minister’s remarks, as reported by the foreign ministry:
“Dear colleagues, Dear Commissioner Hahn,
First of all, I extend my gratitude and appreciation to Minister Vladimir Makei for the warm reception and for hosting the Eastern Partnership Informal Dialogue.
I am very happy to be back in Minsk, a place celebrated for its hospitality and kindness towards visitors. I thank also Commissioner Hahn for the consistency and commitment in promoting the Eastern Partnership in the European Union, as well as encouraging the spirit of cooperation among the partner countries.
I extend my greetings to all the good friends around the table. I’m sure by now you have been well briefed about the latest developments in Armenia. I want to reiterate the unwavering and strong commitment of the new government led by the Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to resolutely deliver on the clear mandate of the people of Armenia and to consolidate the rule of law democratic principles, fight against corruption, the protection and the promotion of the rights of the Armenian people to secure fairness and equal opportunities for all in economic social and other activities. Having been in office for more than one month the Government has been steadfast in its manifest actions.
I also reiterate that the developments in Armenia over the months of April and May were of strictly domestic nature, they concern Armenia, they are about Armenia and are about the aspirations of the Armenian people.
In our foreign policy priorities, as formulated in the Government programme, Armenia pursues continuity, predictability and reinforced engagement with all its friends and partners on the basis of sovereign equality and in consolidation of our efforts to promote the interests of Armenia and advance mutually beneficial cooperation and partnership.
I have arrived in Minsk from Brussels, I have arrived in the very small hours of the morning following the delay, so I’m still looking forward to enjoy Minsk if I had that opportunity.
In Brussels, with Vice President and High Representative Federica Mogherini we held yesterday our first Partnership Council following the activation of the provisional application of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement. This was an important opportunity to take stock of the present phase of our partnership and sketch out the priorities for the way ahead. Provisional application of the Agreement was made possible following the ratification of the CEPA by the Armenian Parliament on 11 April. The CEP Agreement represents the new legal foundation of our relations with the European Union and its member states and builds on the long tradition of cooperation. For Armenia it is also a valuable instrument in assisting to our reform agenda.
We will continue to decisively pursue the mobility partnership and visa liberalization agenda with the European Union. Amongst other things, the political significance of this agenda is in promoting people to people contacts, as human interactions represent a fundamental source of advancing mutual respect and understanding in interstate relations.
Eastern Partnership continues to be an important platform for advancing the spirit of co-operation on the basis of shared principles and set of values. We will continue to insist on advancing such spirit in our relations and to work towards building trust and mutual respect amongst partner countries. This message of Europe born out of the deprivations of the Second World War remains as relevant as ever. And Commissioner Hahn has been referring to it, the message of stability in your statement as well. The turbulence of the present international and European agenda should compel us to reinforce such message and action.
Sustainable peace remains a challenge to our region. Armenia is committed to the exclusively peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within the internationally agreed format of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmanship. The status and security of Nagorno-Karabakh are the overarching priorities of Armenia. The environment conducive to peace is crucial for enhancing the effectiveness of the negotiation process and should be given a prominence. Escalation along the Line of Contact between Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan and along the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, war mongering and the hate rhetoric, denial of genuine people to people contacts should be firmly rejected. Both EU member states and Eastern partner countries should resolutely withhold all activities contributing to the arms race in the region and tolerating actions, which undermine the peace process or challenge the agreed format of negotiations. The concept and message of Eastern Partnership is pertinent and reinforcing in reiterating Armenia’s commitment to peace.
The 2017 Brussels summit empowered us with 20 deliverables by 2020 at the core of which is the promotion of regional coherence, co-operation and dialogue between the EU and the Eastern Neighbours and among the partners themselves. Armenia reiterates its commitment to advance this agenda. I thank Minister Makei for initiating an exchange of views for our present meeting on the prospects of the Eastern Partnership in relation to the Multiannual Financial Framework priorities and the External Investment Plan. We consider the latter to be an important undertaking to enhance our economic resilience and performance in critical areas related to the sustainable development agenda. We would welcome a sustained focus on the Eastern neighbourhood in future EU budgetary deliberations, as we should collectively aim at securing the implementation of the already agreed mid- and long-term joint programmes directly linked to modernisation efforts and reforms.
The government agencies and the civil society of Armenia have been significantly benefiting from participation in multiple activities within the Eastern partnership. We continue to receive additional support for the reforms and institutional capacity building in Armenia and underline the importance of the incentive-based approach as defined in the Brussels Declaration. I would also want to underline the importance of sustained engagement of our civil society organisations in promoting the Eastern partnership agenda.
In conclusion, Armenia is willing and ready to assume greater ownership and engagement with the EU, its member states and partner countries towards transforming our common area into a secure, stable and prosperous neighbourhood.
Thank you.”
Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
Wednesday,
Pension Reform Bill Approved By Parliament
• Nane Sahakian
Armenia - A session of the National Assembly in Yerevan, 8 February 2018.
The National Assembly approved on Wednesday the new Armenian government’s
decision to complete an unpopular reform of the country’s pension system which
was launched four years ago.
The new Western-backed system is to cover 280,000 or so Armenian workers born
after 1973. It requires them to earn most of their future pensions with monthly
financial contributions to one of two private pension funds operating in
Armenia. Both funds are owned by European companies.
The former government, which embarked on the pension reform in January 2014,
said that the existing mechanism for retirement benefits is not sustainable
because of Armenia’s aging and shrinking population. But it decided to make the
new system optional for private sector employees until July 2018 in response to
angry street protests.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian defended the reform when he presented his newly
formed cabinet’s policy program to the parliament earlier this month. But in a
major concession to Armenians affected by it, the cabinet approved on June 11 a
bill that would temporarily cut their pension tax rate from 5 percent to 2.5
percent.
The move prompted Labor and Social Affairs Minister Mane Tandilian, who was one
of the organizers of the 2014 protests, to step down. Her resignation has still
not been formally accepted by Pashinian.
Armenia - Workers demonstrate against a controversial pension reform, Yerevan,
8May2014.
Finance Minister Atom Janjughazian presented the bill to the National Assembly
on Tuesday. He insisted that the effective privatization of the pension system
is “the only way to ensure that people get pensions worthy of their work after
retirement.”
The parliament passed the bill in the first reading by 78 votes to 2. Seven
other deputies abstained. All of them represent the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation (Dashnaktsutyun), Pashinian’s coalition partner which has opposed
the reform.
The Dashnaktsutyun-affiliated Minister for Economic Artsvik Minasian openly
objected to the bill on June 11. His objections clearly irritated Pashinian,
who said that all ministers must share “collective responsibility” for
government policies.
Businessman Gagik Tsarukian’s bloc, which is also part of the ruling coalition,
has also criticized the reform in the past. Still, most of its deputies voted
for making the new system mandatory for all Armenians aged 44 and younger. One
of them, Mikael Melkumian, said Janjughazian’s remarks on the parliament floor
largely dispelled their misgivings for the time being.
Deputies from the Yelk alliance, of which Pashinian is a leader, likewise
voiced conditional support for the bill. Edmon Marukian, another Yelk leader,
said he expects the new government to consider modifying the new system later
on. Pashinian made clear later on Tuesday that he is open to such discussions.
According to government officials, over 200,000 people are already covered by
the new pension plan.
Former Authorities ‘Knew About Ex-General’s Corruption’
• Ruzanna Stepanian
Armenia - Parliament deputy Artur Gevorgian speaks to journalists in Yerevan,
.
Armenia’s previous governments were aware of retired General Manvel Grigorian’s
corrupt activities but did not allow law-enforcement bodies to prosecute him, a
lawmaker until recently affiliated with the former ruling Republican Party
(HHK) claimed on Wednesday.
Artur Gevorgian also said that many other individuals in the country are even
more corrupt that Grigorian, who was arrested on Saturday on charges of illegal
arms possession and embezzlement.
“In terms of corrupt practices, Manvel Grigorian is probably not on the top 100
list [of corrupt persons] of this country,” he told reporters.
“They [law-enforcement bodies] now got a permission to catch him and they
caught him,” he said. “They didn’t have permission before and so they didn’t
catch him.”
Gevorgian is one of several parliamentarians who have defected from the HHK
since the former ruling party’s leader, Serzh Sarkisian, resigned as Armenia’s
prime minister on April 23 amid massive protests against his continued rule.
Significantly, the 43-year-old former boxer is the son-in-law of Vladimir
Gasparian, the former chief of the Armenian police.
Gasparian was fired two days after the Armenian parliament elected Nikol
Pashinian as prime minister on May 8. He ran the national police service for
seven years.
Independent and opposition-linked media outlets have long accused General
Grigorian, who served as deputy defense minister from 2000-2008, of corruption,
violent conduct and other abuses.
Grigorian strongly supported Sarkisian throughout the latter’s decade-long rule
and was twice elected to the parliament on the HHK ticket. He has headed the
Yerkrapah Union, an influential organization uniting thousands of veterans of
the Karabakh war, for almost two decades.
The ex-general was arrested immediately after officers of the National Security
Service (NSS) raided his expensive properties in and around Echmiadzin, a
historic town about 20 kilometers west of Yerevan. They found there large
quantities of not only weapons but also food and other supplies meant for
Armenian army soldiers.
An NSS video of the search caused widespread shock and indignation in the
country. The parliament swiftly agreed on Tuesday to lift Grigorian’s immunity
from prosecution.
Investigators claimed on Wednesday to have confiscated more canned food which
they believe was embezzled by Grigorian and hoarded in at least two other
locations, including a house in Karabakh owned by him.
Press Review
“Zhamanak” wonders if the new Armenian government’s anti-corruption drive will
target “the former number one figures” of the state. The paper suggests in this
regard that the arrested General Manvel Grigorian could have hardly embezzled
supplies to the armed forces without Serzh Sarkisian’s knowledge.
“Hraparak” also says that Grigorian’s arrest and embarrassing revelations made
by the National Security Service (NSS) raise many questions about the scale of
corruption in the country and the armed forces in particular. The paper says
law-enforcement authorities must look into the possible involvement of other
senior military officials in such illegal activities.
“Zhoghovurd” likewise tries to understand “how all this happened” and who
Manvel Grigorian’s “accomplices” are. “It is evident that Grigorian did not act
alone,” writes the paper. “And as the head of the National Security Service,
Artur Vanetsian, said the other day, further sensational revelations await us.
We are talking not just about members of the Yerkrapah Union and the general’s
friends but also members of his family. In this sense exposures have already
begun and it is Manvel Grigorian’s wife, Colonel Nazik Amirian, who has
primarily found herself at the center of law-enforcers’ attention.”
“Aravot” reports that the Armenian police “disarmed” on Tuesday Hovannes
Hovsepian, the former head of the State Revenue Committee and Serzh Sarkisian’s
Oversight Service, and his bodyguards. “Police officers stopped his motorcade
and found a whole arsenal in their cars,” says the paper. “The current and
former officials and oligarchs have such a habit of moving around the city in a
motorcade of several cars. This is their preferred method of asserting
themselves.” It hopes to see similar operations against dozens of other
notorious individuals “so that they realize that their time is gone and that
they are not feudal authorities anymore.”
(Tigran Avetisian)
Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2018 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
www.rferl.org
Elizaveta Danielyan, the sole nominee for the position of judge at the Constitutional Court, has been rejected by lawmakers during today’s confirmation vote.
Chairman of the counting committee of the parliament Gagik Melikyan presented the results of the vote.
He said 54 lawmakers took part in the voting, with one ballot being invalid.
36 MPs voted in favor of Danielyan’s candidacy, while 17 voted against.
She needed at least 63 votes to be confirmed.
Earlier, Yelk and Tsarukyan factions dropped out of the voting, announcing they would not participate.