Author: Paul Hambardsumian

Artsakh’s FM David Babayan visits AGBU Office

 18:47,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, ARMENPRESS. On October 27, within the framework of his working visit to Yerevan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh David Babayan visited the Central Office of the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) and had a meeting with President AGBU Armenia Vazgen Yacoubyan, Strategy Advisor Grigor Hovhannisyan and other officials, ARMENPRESS was informed from the MFA Artsakh.

Issues related to the development and consolidation of Artsakh, strengthening the Homeland-Diaspora relations and a number of other topics were discussed.
 
The Minister highly appreciated the AGBU activities, stressing that the organization had always been directly involved in the implementation of various programs in Artsakh, actively working all around the world and contributing to the cementing of the Armenia-Artsakh-Diaspora trinity.
 
The sides noted the importance of further maintaining high-level cooperation.

 19:49,

YEREVAN, 27 OCTOBER, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan says that the command of withdrawal of troops in Syunik was given by him in order to avoid military actions, with the intention of not losing the strategic road at least for some time, ARMENPRESS reports Pashinyan said during the parliament-Cabinet Q&A session referring to the question of MP from ''Armenia'' faction Anna Grigoryan.

Grigoryan mentioned that Azerbaijani border guards appeared in Syunik, because on Dectember 18 there was a command of withdrawal of troops, which was not envisaged by the November 9 declaration. ‘'Was the command of withdrawal of troops oral or written? What is the first and last name of the person who made such command, was a Security Council meeting held before making such decision?'' asked the member of parliament.

“With regards to Syunik, have I ever refused that I am the responsible person for that decision? Wheather the command was oral or written, they are made according to procedures. Was there a discussion? Yes, there was, session of the Security Council was not held, but all members of the Security Council, Governor of Syunik participated. The Minister of Foreign Affairs said they were not aware, but the Deputy Minister also participated in the discussion, the discussion took place at the Government. And the decision was made in order to avoid war'', Pashinyan said.

According to him “If the decision was not made, military operations would start there. And in Syunik we would really have problems. We were standing dozens of kilometers ahead, unfortunately we reached here'', the Prime Minister said.

He mentioned that the decision was made with the logic that during the negotiations there was a perception that 7 regions are to be handed over. ''Those territories were handed over because of being part of the 7 regions. Why are they part of the 7 regions? Even if you don’t like it, it is registered by the Law on Administrative Territorial Division, it is not something new”, Pashinyan said and assured they have no secrets.

According to the Prime Minister, the decision was made with the intention of not losing the strategic road at least for some time. He said that the command of withdrawal of troops was given by him, implemented by former minister of defense Vagharshak Harutyunyan.

According to Pashinyan, he is the sole resonsible for Syunik. But there were discussions before making that decision, with members of the Security Council, thought a formal session of the Security Council was not held but a consultation was held. Discussions were held 5-6 times, there were negotiations, visits, written agreement was reached.

He noted that the opposition carried out a political fight for 8 months and never said that they will remove Armenia's signature from the November 9 declaration. He called on the opposition to state that they, in case of coming to power, will remove Armenia's signature from November 9 declaration.

 16:41,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 28, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian sent a congratulatory letter to the President of the Czech Republic Miloš Zeman on the occasion of the national day – the Statehood Day, the Armenian President’s Office said.

“Armenia highlights the consistent development and deepening of the friendly relations with the Czech Republic, based on common values, both at the bilateral and multilateral formats, as well as within the European Union.

I am sure that with joint efforts we will give a new impetus to the partnership of our countries, by recording achievements in different areas”, the Armenian President said in his letter.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

REC: EXIAR Stands Ready to Support Armenia's Infrastructure Projects

© Sputnik / Pavel Bednyakov 

 17:15,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 22, ARMENPRESS. Rockstar Serj Tankian announced that he’s been diagnosed with COVID-19.

The System of a Down frontman said he developed flu-like symptoms when he returned to Los Angeles after three shows. “I am shocked that it could even be Covid as I am not just vaccinated but also incredibly careful. I am so sorry to have to push these dates yet again especially to those who made sacrifices to be here from out of town,” he said, as his Los Angeles performances were rescheduled to February 2022.

Editing by Stepan Kocharyan

 20:05,

YEREVAN, 20 OCTOBER, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Vahe Gevorgyan received the newly appointed Ambassador of the Republic of Malta (place of residence Valletta) George A. Said Zammit on October 20 on the occasion of presenting the copy of credentials.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, congratulating the Ambassador on the occasion of appointment, the deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia wished fruitful and productive work.

Thanking for reception and good wishes, the Ambassador noted that he will try to maximum promote the deepening and strengthening of the relations between the two countries.

The interlocutors discussed a broad scope of issues related to Armenian-Maltese relations, including prospects of agenda-setting in bilateral political, economic, scientific and cultural fields.

CSTO PA political and international cooperation committee to hold next meeting in Yerevan

 09:22,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 20, ARMENPRESS. The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Parliamentary Assembly’s Standing Committee on Political and International Cooperation Affairs will hold its next meeting in Yerevan in spring 2022.

The decision was made during the committee’s October 19 meeting in St. Petersburg, where Vice Speaker of Parliament of Armenia Hakob Arshakyan made the invitation.

The meeting focused on the regional situation and the threats facing the collective security.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan