Author: Paul Hambardsumian

Opposition members carry out awareness campaign in Yerevan, with electric scooters

Paul Hambardsumian
News.am
Armenia –
15:14, 25.04.2022

The political teammates of Artur Vanetsyan—the leader of the opposition "With Honor" Faction of the National Assembly and chairman of the opposition Homeland party of Armenia who has been on a sit-in at Freedom Square in downtown Yerevan since April 17—are carrying out a protest action in the streets of downtown Yerevan—and with electric scooters.

Also, they have placed the national flag of Armenia on these electric scooters.

Earlier, Armenian News-NEWS.am reported that a group of youth from the opposition Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Dashnaktsutyun Party of Armenia have blocked a street in the capital Yerevan—and chanting "Armenia without [PM] Nikol [Pashinyan]," "Armenia without Turks," and " Union, fight, victory."

The opposition of Armenia has announced the second phase of its fight.

Turkish press: European Council chief, Armenian premier discuss South Caucasus peace efforts

Paul Hambardsumian
Agnes Szucs   |22.04.2022

BRUSSELS

European Council chief Charles Michel discussed efforts for peace and stability in the South Caucasus with Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in a phone call on Friday. 

“Discussed with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan prospects for the further work towards advancing a stable, peaceful, and prosperous future for the South Caucasus,” Michel said on Twitter.

He also underlined that the EU remains committed “to supporting Armenia and Azerbaijan in their dialogue.”

Earlier in the day, Michel had a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the latest developments in the South Caucasus, besides their main topic, the war in Ukraine.

Michel, who presides over meetings of EU leaders and represents the bloc in international affairs, has made significant diplomatic efforts for reconciliation between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

As part of the ongoing process, he hosted a meeting between Pashinyan and Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev on April 6 in Brussels where the two sides expressed willingness to secure a peace agreement.

Relations between the former Soviet republics of Armenia and Azerbaijan have been tense since 1991 when the Armenian military occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, also known as Upper Karabakh, a territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, and seven adjacent regions.

After new clashes erupted in September 2020, Azerbaijan liberated several cities and over 300 settlements and villages that were occupied by Armenia for almost 30 years.

The fighting ended in November 2020 with a deal brokered by Russia.

Sports: Gor Ayvazyan beats Azeri rival to make it to European Boxing Championships final

Paul Hambardsumian
Panorama
Armenia –

SPORT 11:56 21/04/2022 REGION

Georgia’s ethnic Armenian boxer Gor Ayvazyan on Wednesday defeated his Azerbaijani rival to advance to the final of the EUBC Youth European Boxing Championships being held in Sofia, Bulgaria, from April 11 to 22.

The 17-year-old athlete is set to face an Albanian boxer in the final bout set for Thursday, Jnews reports.

A boxer from the Akhalkalaki Sports Complex, Ayvazyan has won medals in various international competitions.

USA bans Russian ships from approaching US ports

Paul Hambardsumian

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 20:15,

YEREVAN, APRIL 21, ARMENPRESS. The United States has banned Russian ships from approaching US ports as part of sanctions against Russia, ARMENPRESS reports US President Joe Biden said.

"I declare today that the United States will ban vessels having links with Russia from entering our ports, as is already the case in Europe. This means that any ship with the Russian flag, owned or used for Russian interests, will not be allowed to approach our shores," he said.

Vazgen Manukyan: Armenian people must stand up and take the lead in making decisions

Paul Hambardsumian
Panorama
Armenia –

Former Armenian Prime Minister Vazgen Manukyan stresses Artsakh is ready to fight and Armenia must not give up either.

"In a statement passed by the parliament, our compatriots in Artsakh have confirmed that they are not giving up. Is Armenia giving up? No, the calls to surrender come only from the current authorities, who are leading the state to destruction," Manukyan said in a statement on Friday.

History has shown that by following the calls to abandon national ideas and goals for the sake of survival, the country not only failed to survive, but also suffered new losses, he said.

Manukyan underscores that developed and strong countries have achieved prosperity through persistent struggle without indulging in illusions. He calls on the Armenian people to take the lead in making decisions to ensure the country's security.

“The Armenian people must stand up and take the lead in making decisions about the country's future to ensure the security of the state and a fair, free and prosperous life for the people.

"We must rely on our own power and build a fair and strong country, which everyone will reckon with. Many people in the world have taken this path and we will have real allies and friends along the way. The first step on this path is to stand by Artsakh, its rights and demands," Manukyan said.

Addressing lawmakers earlier on April 13, Nikol Pashinyan said that the international community is pressing Armenia to “lower the bar on the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh’s status” and recognize Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.


International community proposes lower status for Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia

Paul Hambardsumian
ARMINFO
Armenia –
Naira Badalian

ArmInfo.The international community is promising unanimity on Armenia and Artsakh if Armenia's authorities agree to lower status for Artsakh. Otherwise, the  international community says Armenia should not hope for them, Prime  Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated in Parliament on Wednesday.  

"Robert Kocharyan was not at all exaggerating while stating that  Armenia too has territorial integrity issues. It was difficult for us  to convince ourselves that after 30 years of hardships we had to  surrender the fruits of the victory in exchange to nothing. Accepting  that was tantamount to admitting that we had erected a facade,  whereas we had totally failed to construct state institutions. Even  as an opposition member I could not accept that much less so read out  this verdict while looking straight into people's eyes. But I am  saying to discuss the future not the past. In fact, we have a similar  situation now, and I cannot but say it," the premier said. 

"The international community is telling us straightforwardly now:  being the world's only country refusing to recognize Turkey's ally  Azerbaijan's territorial integrity is a great threat not only to  Artsakh, but also to Armenia. The international community is telling  us again now: request a lower status for Nagorno- Karabakh's status,  and you will enjoy international unanimity on Armenia and Artsakh.  Otherwise, we request you not to hope for us not because we are  unwilling to help, but because we are unable to," Mr Pashinyan said.  

These are social and psychological motives making Armenia's  authorities to consistently state there is no alternative to the  peace agenda despite all the difficulties, he said. 

ICRC representatives visit Armenian captives held in Azerbaijan

Paul Hambardsumian

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 17:47,

YEREVAN, APRIL 11, ARMENPRESS. The representatives of the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) visited the Armenian captives held in Azerbaijan and helped them to maintain contact with their families, the ICRC Armenia Office said.

“We have tried to keep the frequency of visits at this period in the form of telephone calls, videotaped messages and letters and will continue to do so as long as these persons are in detention”, Communication and Prevention Program Manager at ICRC Office in Armenia Zara Amatuni said.

The ICRC does not publish the information about the detention conditions of the captives, the attitude to them and their health condition, stating that they are in the scope of a closed dialogue.

Zara Amatuni said the purpose of the regular visits is to get acquainted with the situation of captives.  

Recently Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan announced in the Parliament that there are currently 38 Armenian captives held by Azerbaijan, 3 of whom are civilians.

Armenia: Yerevan to host Junior Eurovision 2022

Paul Hambardsumian
April 6 2022
ARMENIA

by Sanjay (Sergio) Jiandani  April 6, 2022

The EBU has announced that the 20th Junior Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Yerevan, Armenia in December.

Yerevan and Armenia will be hosting the Junior Eurovision Song Contest for the second time in the history of the competition. The 2022 JESC will be held at the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concerts Complex in Yerevan, Armenia on Sunday 11 December.

Hovhannes Movsisyan (AMPTV CEO) says:

It is an honour to host the 20th edition of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in Yerevan – one of the most ancient and iconic cities in the world.

We are excited to work together with the EBU and our partners from public service media across Europe to create an unforgettable journey for our young talents and a state of the art television show for millions of viewers all over the globe.

We will spare no effort to make sure that we create magic for the young participants and viewers, and we look forward to welcoming you all to Yerevan later this year.

Martin Österdahl (JESC Executive Supervisor) says:

Armenia’s cool, classy and contemporary winning song set a new standard for Junior Eurovision, and we’ve no doubt that excellence will be reflected in the quality of show AMPTV are producing in this special anniversary year.

We look forward to working with our colleagues in Armenia, and can’t wait for them to showcase the unparalleled enthusiasm and passion that we know Yerevan has for Junior Eurovision.


https://esctoday.com/186388/armenia-yerevan-to-host-junior-eurovision-2022/

READ ALSO


https://www.ebu.ch/news/2022/04/yerevan-announced-as-host-city-for-the-20th-junior-eurovision-song-contest

https://escxtra.com/2022/04/06/junior-eurovision-2022-to-take-place-in-yerevan-on-december-11/


Pashinyan acquitted in March 1 case, 2010 guilty verdict overturned

Paul Hambardsumian

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 11:54, 8 April, 2022

YEREVAN, APRIL 8, ARMENPRESS. The Court of Cassation overturned PM Nikol Pashinyan’s guilty verdict in the March 1 case and acquitted him.

Earlier in February, the Prosecutor-General of Armenia Artur Davtyan filed a motion to court requesting to overturn the 2010 guilty verdict of Nikol Pashinyan and acquit him.

In January of 2010 the Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction found Nikol Pashinyan guilty of organizing mass disturbances during the 2008 March 1 events.  He was sentenced to 7 years in prison but served a little less than 2 years and was released under a general pardon.  

On January 18, 2022, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) issued a judgment over the case of Pashinyan v. Armenia, which Pashinyan had filed when he was an opposition politician. The ECHR recognized that Pashinyan’s right to freedom, personal immunity, as well as the right to freedom of peaceful assembly were violated.

Newspaper: What processes taking place around Artsakh?

Paul Hambardsumian
NEWS.am
Armenia – April 9 2022
09:56, 09.04.2022

YEREVAN. – Past daily of the Republic of Armenia (RA) writes: For a long time, experts and politicians (understandably, except for pro-government circles) have been warning that these authorities have washed [their] hands of Artsakh [(Nagorno-Karabakh)] and left Artsakh out of the processes. These talks became more substantial after the [recent] Brussels meeting.

"In fact, in Brussels they were trying to ensure the start of peace talks, which were based on the 5 points presented by Azerbaijan. At least the first three of these points indicate that if the RA agrees with them, thus it renounces Artsakh, recognizes the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, renounces territorial claims today and in the future, refuses to raise at international organizations the issue of self-determination of the people of Artsakh.

"It is the biggest challenge that, by and large, the interests of Armenia and Artsakh are not represented and secured in this process," says Hermine Mkhitaryan, an expert at the Hayatsk analytical center, in a conversation with Past.

This policy of the [Armenian] authorities is "irrigated" in a special way by the obvious and incognito pro-government circles.