Author: Ophelia Vardapetian

 13:13,

YEREVAN, JUNE 10, ARMENPRESS. Albania’s Parliament voted Wednesday to impeach President Ilir Meta, after the ruling Socialist Party accused him of meddling in the April 25 national election and violating the country’s constitution, Voice of America reports.

The issue goes now to the Constitutional Court, which will have the final say.

One hundred and four lawmakers voted in favor, seven against and three abstained in the Socialist-dominated legislature. Ninety-four votes, or two-thirds, were needed for the impeachment.

It is the first time that Albania’s Parliament has voted to impeach the president. Lawmakers followed an accelerated procedure to impeach after an ad hoc investigative commission worked for three weeks to conclude that Meta had committed impeachable offenses.

In Albanian law, the president does not belong to a political party and symbolizes the unity of the country.

 16:57, 2 June, 2021

YEREVAN, JUNE 2, ARMENPRESS. Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan met with President of the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) Perch Sedrakian and AGBU Armenia Chairman Vazgen Yakoubian, the Ombudsman’s Office told Armenpress.

Arman Tatoyan presented the war crimes committed by the Azerbaijani armed forces during the recent war in Artsakh, as well as raised the urgency of the return of Armenian prisoners of war from Azerbaijan.

The meeting sides recorded that the Azerbaijani authorities are artificially delaying and politicizing the process, by grossly violating the rights of the captives and their families, causing sufferings to them and creating tension within the public.

Tatoyan also presented the results of the fact-finding activities carried out by his Office in Syunik and Gegharkunik provinces, stressing the fact of illegal presence of Azerbaijani troops in Armenia’s territory, which confirms the absolute necessity of creating a security zone in Syunik.

The Ombudsman highly appreciated the role of the AGBU Armenia Office, not only highlighting the jointly implemented educational, awareness-raising programs, but also the steps aimed at supporting the people’s socio-economic rights.

Perch Sedrakian in turn highly valued the work of the Ombudsman, stating that the AGBU is following the bordering security issues and the current situation in the country.

The sides expressed readiness to continue and expand the cooperation directions.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 21:57, 27 May, 2021

YEREVAN, MAY 27, ARMENPRESS. France expresses concern over the rise of incidents on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, the latest of which is the incident of capturing 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijani forces overnight May 26-27, ARMENPRESS report, reads the Foreign Ministry of France.

''France calls on the sides to demonstrate maximal restraint and refrain from any type of provocations. Demarcation and delimitation between the two states should be carried out as part of negotiations between the sides, without any successive action՛՛, reads the statement.

The French Foreign Ministry reminds the May 13 statement of French President Emmauel Macron. The Élysée Palace had announced that for restoring security and stability in the region, the situation can be solved through the UNSC.

‘’Emmanuel Macron has reaffirmed commitment to the territorial integrity of Armenia and emphasized the necessity for an immediate withdrawal of the Azerbaijani armed forces form the sovereign territory of Armenia’’, reads the statement of the Élysée Palace.

 11:40,

YEREVAN, MAY 27, ARMENPRESS. Caretaker Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan commented on the May 27 incident on Armenian-Azeri border.

“Six servicemen of the Armenian Armed Forces where carrying out engineering works of the border on Armenian sovereign territory, landmining works were carried out, moreover I want to specially emphasize that these works were carried out parallel with installing warning signs,” Pashinyan said, adding that these works were done to raise the level of protection of the Armenian border.

Pashinyan said the circumstances surrounding the six Armenian troops being taken captive must be determined, but he emphasized that what happened is actually a kidnapping of Armenian troops from Armenian territory.

“The ongoing processes are completely unacceptable for Armenia and incidents like this are happening because some want us to adapt with the presence of Azerbaijani forces on our territory, which can’t happen. I find it very important to emphasize over this incident that this issue should not be used for domestic political goals, I think that all attempts to use this situation against the army and armed forces must be condemned, because our troops, the army are fulfilling their function of protecting the borders of the Republic of Armenia,” Pashinyan said, adding that the ongoing situation is a direct threat to Armenia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, a gross violation of international law, and that this is the case when Armenia must use all levers.

“I think our society must be united around our armed forces, the army and state institutions. The demand is clear, the Azerbaijani armed forces must unconditionally withdraw from Armenia’s territory, and Armenia will be sober in all situations and the management of provocations must be done maximally prudently. The armed forces must continue carrying out their functions of preserving the protection and strength of the Armenian borders and territorial integrity. As difficult as the situation is today that we are going through, emotional and unbalanced actions and statements are totally inappropriate.”

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan