Author: Samvel Nahapetian

President to Refer Army Chief Firing Matter to High Court

Samvel Nahapetian

March 2,  2021



President Armen Sarkissian (left) and Armenia’s Armed Forces Chief of Staff Colonel-General Onik Gasparyan

President Armen Sarkissian on Tuesday again did not sign a request by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan firing the Chief of Staff of Armenia’s Armed Forces Colonel-General Onik Gasparyan, who on Thursday called for Pashinyan’s resignation. Instead, the president’s office said that he would refer the matter to Armenia’s Constitutional Court.

Soon after Gasparyan and 40 other high-ranking military officials called for Pashinyan’s resignation last week, the prime minister sent a decree to Sarkissian relieving Gasparyan from his duties.
On Saturday, Sarkissian refused to sign the decree questioning its constitutionality and drive Armenia deeper into a domestic crisis, which has been brewing since Pashinyan signed the November 9 agreement that ended military actions in Karabakh, but surrendered territories in Artsakh and Armenia to Azerbaijan.

Sarkissian instead met with the Armed Forces staff, as well as Gasparyan to discuss the situation. He also held meetings with political factions, including the Homeland Salvation Movement, which welcomed the military brass’ statement.

On Monday, Pashinyan met with Sarkissian at this residence, after which he submitted another decree firing Gasparyan. During a rally with his supporters on Monday, Pashinyan called on the president to sign the Gasparyan’s dismissal.

On Tuesday, according to a statement from his office, President Sarkissian did not sign the latest request and announced that he will refer the matter to the Constitutional Court. He has until Thursday to submit that request.

“The Prime Minister’s substantiations regarding not accepting the President’s objections on the draft decree on the dismissal were studied. Clearly, this situation is a result of existing disagreements – at times with highly personal approaches – among the political and military figures in the war and post-war period,” the president’ office said Tuesday, noting that the president’s objections were also based on problematic interpretations of the law, the practice of applying the law and the potential loopholes in the law.

“In his previous statements the President stressed that a speedy and constitutional resolution of the issue is of primary importance for the security and stability of Armenia and Artsakh and is an absolute necessity for preservation of statehood, for preventing a further division of society, for restoring national unity and public solidarity, overcoming the uncertain situation and reaching a final solution,” said the president’s office in a statement on Tuesday.

“By remaining faithful to his commitment, the President will continue steps aimed at further stabilizing the situation, and, by serving the institute of the president as a platform, is calling on everyone to negotiate to find a comprehensive solution to all existing problems,” added the statement on Tuesday.

Since the president’s actions on Tuesday were not a flat-out rejection of the dismissal request by Pashinyan, the Homeland Salvation Movement called for an immediate meeting with the Sarkissian to address the matter.

Armenian Revolutionary Federation Supreme Council of Armenia member Artsvik Minasyan, in an interview with tert.am called on Sarkissian to reject Pashinyan’s firing of the Armed Forces chief of staff.

CAUCASUS BLOG: Armenia’s day of crisis delivers anticlimax

Samvel Nahapetian
BNE IntelliNews
Feb 26 2021

By bne IntelIiNews

Armenia’s political showdown, in which Armenian PM Nikol Pashinian attempted to rouse masses of supporters to join him on the streets of Yerevan after accusing army officers of trying to mount a coup, delivered something of an anti-climax by the end of February 25.

Neither Pashinian, who perhaps drew around 20,000 people to Republic Square for a speech of defiance, nor the somewhat ragtag opposition, who assembled a rival rally on nearby Freedom Square, looked capable of dealing a decisive blow in resolving the crisis. But there was very little reported violence and that is encouraging to those who remain on edge that Armenia’s troubles could yet descend into a bloody confrontation.

bne IntelliNews –

Pashinian may have been told to quit by his political opponents, the president and the church, but the opposition is made up of a bunch of parties struggling for credibility—many of its key players are remnants of, or are linked to, the discredited government that was toppled by the Armenian velvet revolution in the spring of 2018—and the prime minister appears to still be the politician in the country enjoying the highest approval ratings.

And as Pashinian attempted to recharge the wave of people power that swept him to office nearly three years ago, what did the opposition manage in response?

Vazgen Manukyan, one of the opposition leaders, called on people to start blocking the parliament, saying MPs should be brought in to vote for Pashinian’s dismissal.

"Get ready, we will stay here all night and will block the street with barricades," he was quoted as saying by the Armenpress news agency.

“Not that impressive”

However, as the BBC’s Yerevan correspondent reported: “Neither of the rallies managed to gather considerable numbers. The opposition tried to set up some tents next to the parliament but their efforts were not that impressive, considering there were fewer than a thousand people in the vicinity. Around ten tents, a few wood-burning stoves, some makeshift tables with tea and biscuits for the protesters did not look like the sort of threat that might force the authorities to make any concessions.

“Opposition supporters said they were setting up barricades with rubbish bins. But the police had blocked all traffic in the area and kept the parliament building cordoned off, while not engaging with the protesters. A few hours later the police started leaving the area.”

For his part, Pashinian concentrated on driving home the message that any political transition in Armenia must not be at the behest of the military. "The army is not a political institution and attempts to involve it in political processes are unacceptable," he told his supporters, urging all soldiers to simply “do your jobs”.

Pashinian then invited the opposition to hold talks on how to resolve the crisis, emphasising that any change in government must take place "only through elections".

The Kremlin briefed reporters that Armenia’s bust-up was a local affair.

Armenia's National Security Service urged all sides to "refrain from actions that threaten national security".

President Armen Sargsyan, not long back from London where he got stranded with a bad bout of coronavirus, appealed to all sides to "show restraint and common sense".

And that was that. We’ll see if enough people stick with common sense tomorrow.

Armenia’s health minister reveals who will get COVID-19 vaccine free

Samvel Nahapetian
Panorama, Armenia
Feb 18 2021

At-risk groups will be cable to get COVID-19 vaccine free as part of a state sponsored vaccination program in Armenia, Minister of Health Anahit Avanesyan told reporters at the government building on Thursday.

The list includes people aged 65 years or over, healthcare workers, citizens with chronic diseases and beneficiaries from closed institutions.

The health minister said that at the moment children are not included in the vaccination program.

“Vaccinations will not be mandatory. Information on the side effects of vaccines will be fully provided. And, of course, a group of specialists will assess the vaccines imported to Armenia, their efficiency, impact and possible side effects. A small number of vaccinations has already been carried out,” she said.

The minister said that massive vaccinations will start in the country in March.

Also, she said that Armenia’s professional commission has approved the AstraZeneca and Sputnik V vaccines for use.

Anahit Avanesyan did not reveal how much funds the state will allocate for the purchase of the vaccine, saying that at this stage she cannot provide clear information.

It still remains unknown how much the vaccines will cost to citizens who are not on the state list.   

February 21 is International Mother Language Day

Samvel Nahapetian
Public Radio of Armenia
Feb 21 2021

International Mother Language Day is celebrated every year on 21st February. The main purpose of the day is to promote the awareness of language and cultural diversity all across the world

The idea to celebrate International Mother Language Day was the initiative of Bangladesh. It was approved at the 1999 UNESCO General Conference and has been observed throughout the world since 2000.

UNESCO believes in the importance of cultural and linguistic diversity for sustainable societies. It is within its mandate for peace that it works to preserve the differences in cultures and languages that foster tolerance and respect for others.  

Languages, with their complex implications for identity, communication, social integration, education and development, are of strategic importance for people and planet. Yet, due to globalization processes, they are increasingly under threat, or disappearing altogether.

When languages fade, so does the world’s rich tapestry of cultural diversity. Opportunities, traditions, memory, unique modes of thinking and _expression_ — valuable resources for ensuring a better future — are also lost.

At least 43% of the estimated 6000 languages spoken in the world are endangered. Only a few hundred languages have genuinely been given a place in education systems and the public domain, and less than a hundred are used in the digital world.

https://en.armradio.am/2021/02/21/february-21-is-international-mother-language-day-2/

Armenpress: Relations between Armenia, UK will continue developing – Minister Wendy Morton

Samvel Nahapetian

Relations between Armenia, UK will continue developing – Minister Wendy Morton

 19:08,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 17, ARMENPRESS. Wendy Morton, the UK Minister for European Neighbourhood and the Americas of Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office assures that the relations between the UK and Armenia will continue to develop, ARMENPRESS reports Morton said in a twit on the occasion of the opening of a new office of the British embassy.

‘’ Delighted to officially open the new British Embassy of the UK in Armenia, in Yerevan today, ensuring that the relationship between our countries will continue to flourish and the links between our peoples can grow even stronger’’, she wrote.

Court allowed former president Kocharyan to conclude property agreements without expropriation risk

Samvel Nahapetian
Panorama, Armenia
Feb 9 2021

The Yerevan General Jurisdiction Court presided by Judge Anna Danibekyan allowed Armenia's former President Robert Kocharyan 

to sign agreements on the seized property that may not result in their expropriation. The petition was submitted by Kocharyan's lawyers. One of the members of the ex-president defense team Hovhannes Khudoyan  informed that there is no risk for expropriation since the agreement may concern only the utility and property indemnity agreements. 

To remind, the ex-president’s property was seized and bank accounts were frozen on 30 July 2018, four days after Kocharyan was formally charged with ‘overthrowing’ Armenia’s constitutional order.

Later, the Judge of the Yerevan General Jurisdiction Court partially satisfied the lawyers' appeal, holding that the ex-president’s rights had been violated. The Court also partially lifted the attachment of the property belonging to Armenia’s second President Robert Kocharyan.

Armenia labor, social affairs ministry: 368 participants of 2nd Artsakh War are recognized as disabled

Samvel Nahapetian
News.am, Armenia
Feb 14 2021
18:50, 14.02.2021

YEREVAN. – Since September 27, 2020, a total of 457 people have applied and been examined for being included in disability groups, and 368 of them have been recognized as having a disability. The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of Armenia stated this in response to an Armenian News-NEWS.am inquiry.

Armenian News-NEWS.am had sent a request to find out how many participants of the recent Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) war had applied for and received first-, second- or third-degree disability status, and how many of them were eligible for prosthetics.

"65 people were issued the 1st-group disability category, 119 people—2nd group, 184 people—the 3rd group category. As of 10. 02. [20]21, 66 of those recognized as having a disability need prostheses for upper or lower limbs,” they added from the ministry.


San Francisco’s oldest resident, Armenian woman Lucy Mirigian, dies aged 114

Samvel Nahapetian
News.am, Armenia
Feb 14 2021
San Francisco's oldest resident, Armenian woman Lucy Mirigian, dies aged 114
23:48, 14.02.2021

Elderly Armenian woman Lucy Mirigian, who enjoyed jigsaw puzzles, good wine, good friends and confounding the US government, has died, San Francisco Chronicle reported.
“She wasn’t really sick,” her daughter, Sonia Mirigian-Koujakian, said. “She died of being 114.”
She lived a full life, her family said, but didn’t really make news until the US government decided in 2017, without any apparent proof, that she was already dead and no longer entitled to receive her $377-a-month government pension. The government said she had not responded to letters; Mirigian said she never got them. 
It took the efforts of Congresswoman Jackie Speier to set things right. 
Her health was generally robust until very recently, her family said. 
Mirigian, who lived with her daughter and son-in-law in the same house she bought in 1950, died Friday morning surrounded by her family. She was believed to be the oldest person in San Francisco. 

Azerbaijani woman tells Turkish journalist she would decapitate 20 Armenians and not care about it

Samvel Nahapetian
Panorama, Armenia
Feb 12 2021
19:01, 12.02.2021

The bestial response of an Azerbaijani woman who answered a Turkish journalist’s question on the street has sparked great reactions in Turkey.

The Turkish journalist, who was conducting a survey from passersby on the streets of Istanbul, asked a woman what crime she would commit, if she knew that she wouldn’t be punished, and in response, the woman said she would decapitate 20 Armenians and not care about it. Surprised, the journalist asked the woman where she was from, and the latter said she was from Azerbaijan.

Turkish-Armenian Member of Parliament Garo Paylan has already filed a lawsuit against the Azerbaijani woman wishing to decapitate Armenians.