21:41, 4 May 2023
YEREVAN, MAY 4, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan will visit Moscow next week, ARMENPRESS reports, Nikol Pashinyan said at the "Armenia's democracy in the troubled region: Security and stability needs" discussion held at the Prague Center for Transatlantic Relations.
"I will visit Moscow next week," Pashinyan said.
15:13, 1 May 2023
YEREVAN, MAY 1, ARMENPRESS. Three Armenian boxers have won bronze at the EUBC Youth European Boxing Championships held in Yerevan, Armenia.
The semi-finals kicked off May 1 at the Mika arena.
In the Minimumweight category, Hovhannes Harutyunyan took bonze after losing 5:0 to Italy’s Tommaso Cannone.
Flyweight Davit Safaryan was awarded bronze when he opted out from the bout against Miles-Francis Okay of Germany after suffering an arm injury. Okay was awarded TKO victory.
Bantamweight Erik Arstamyan also suffered a 5:0 defeat against Georgia’s Gor Ayvazyan and secured bronze.
Featherweight Gor Azizyan defeated Russia’s Magomed Pashtayev and entered the finals. The finals will take place on May 3.
Another 8 boxers from the Armenian team are set to take the ring later tonight.
Armenia is represented by 13 boxers at the championship, 12 of whom have made it to semi-finals so far and secured at least bronze.
Lilianna Khachikyan
17:14, 1 May 2023
YEREVAN, MAY 1, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan is holding a meeting with United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington D.C., the Spokesperson of foreign ministry of Armenia Ani Badalian said in a statement.
“The meeting between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan and the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken commenced in Washington D.C,” she said.
Blinken is set to hold a separate meeting afterwards with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov before holding a trilateral meeting.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Rhode Island officials gathered at the Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Church to commemorate the 108th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
Mayor Brett Smiley, Senator Jack Reed and Governor Dan McKee joined the Armenian Martyrs’ Memorial Committee to remember the 1.5 million people who died in the Armenian Genocide of 1915.
The keynote address was given buy historian and sociologist Dr. Taner Akçam, who is one of the first Turkish intellectuals to acknowledge and openly discuss the genocide.
11:11,
YEREVAN, APRIL 28, ARMENPRESS. French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna has visited the town of Jermuk in Armenia to see on the ground the consequences of the Azerbaijani attack in September of 2022.
FM Colonna was briefed on the situation by Major-general Edward Asryan, the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Armenia.
Major-general Asryan told FM Colonna that on September 13-14, 2022, the Azerbaijani armed forces launched an attack against the sovereign territory of Armenia from five different directions: two directions in Syunik Province, two directions in Gegharkunik Province, and one direction in Vayots Dzor Province. Azerbaijan used rocket-artillery strikes and UAVs in targeting both military and civilian structures.
“Unfortunately our military suffered casualties, there were civilian deaths as well. We also had territorial losses. Now, the adversary is deployed on sovereign territory of Armenia in 139 square kilometers area,” the Major-general said, adding that civilian infrastructures in the resort town were severely damaged, and the ropeway is still closed.
In the direction of Jermuk, the Azeri forces invaded into territory of Armenia on an area of over 60 square kilometers. The invasion’s front was 11 kilometers, with a depth of 8 kilometers.
The Azeri military began its first steps after the 2020 war in May of 2021. “In 2021 their actions were similar to fulfilling objectives with the use of soft power. But on September 13-14 of 2022 it was a military aggression against the Republic of Armenia,” Asryan told the French Foreign Minister.
Asryan showed to the French FM the Armenian-Azerbaijani border prior to the Azeri attack and where the Azeri troops are deployed now.
[see video]
17:08, 21 April 2023
YEREVAN, APRIL 21, ARMENPRESS. Chairman of European Weightlifting Federation (EWF) Medical Committee and member of the EWF Technical Committee Duun Tryggve has said that the organization of the European Weightlifting Championships in Yerevan has been fantastic and that Armenia can host the championships again in the future.
“It is my first visit [to Armenia]. It is very nice, and [Yerevan] is a very nice city,” he said.
Speaking about the organization of the championships, Tryggve said : “It’s perfect, it is very, very good. We are very satisfied with everything, since we came until now it has been fantastic.”
He said that Armenia can host the competition again.
MOSCOW, April 18. /TASS/. The Armenian National Olympic Committee (ARMNOC) believes that politics has no place in sports and favors the return of Russian and Belarusian athletes to the international arena, ARMNOC Secretary General Grachya Rostomyan told TASS on Tuesday.
"The Armenian Olympic Committee is resolute in its stance that sports must be separate from politics," Rostomyan said. "We are against what is happening today in the world of sports, against the ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes being part of the Olympic family and their participation in international tournaments."
"For our part, we are ready to help in any way we can to bring back the Russian and Belarusian athletes," he continued. "I recently addressed the International Olympic Committee, stating that sports serves as a humanitarian bridge that cannot be destroyed."
"For instance, despite tense relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, we traveled there in 2015 for the European Games in Baku and took part in all the events there," Rostomyan noted.
He also stressed that Armenia was not engaged in poaching top Russian athletes, who are currently stripped of their right to compete internationally because of sanctions.
"Inviting Russians underhandedly by taking advantage of their admission problems is wrong and dishonorable and we have nothing to do with it," the sports official said. "The Russian Olympic Committee [ROC] is our brother and it would never even occur to us to poach anyone."
"Does someone really want to drive a wedge between us? I will reiterate that one shouldn’t hold their breath waiting for a dishonorable act on our behalf," Rostomyan added.
At its session on January 25, 2023, the IOC Executive Board put forward a proposal to permit individual athletes from Russia and Belarus to take part in international sports tournaments but only under certain conditions.
Athletes from the two countries should not be "actively supporting" Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine and must compete under a neutral status. Russia and Belarus were also banned from participating in international team events.
Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) President Stanislav Pozdnyakov called these recommendations absolutely unacceptable as they would lead to a split in Russian sports. Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov slammed the IOC’s recommendations as discriminatory.
13:43,
YEREVAN, APRIL 14, ARMENPRESS. Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan on April 14 met with United States Senior Advisor for Caucasus Negotiations and United States Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Louis Bono.
Grigoryan presented the provocation committed by the Azerbaijani military on April 11 near the village of Tegh and stressed that the only goal of such actions is to derail the efforts aimed at the Armenian-Azerbaijani peace talks, Grigoryan’s office said in a readout. In this context, Bono emphasized the need for implementing constructive steps and remaining committed to the peace process to avoid future escalations.
Secretary Grigoryan reiterated Armenia’s commitment to the negotiations process and presented Armenia’s approaches in resolving the existing issues.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is seeking a third consecutive term in office in presidential elections in May, unveiled his party’s policies in case of winning the upcoming elections. In particular, Erdogan said the authorities in Ankara “will not allow the country to be dragged into a war.”
Panorama.am has talked to Doctor of History, Professor Ruben Melkonyan, who heads the YSU Faculty of Oriental Studies, about Erdogan's statement, Turkey’s presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled for May 14, as well as the candidates favored by the Turkish Armenian community.
Panorama.am: Turkey has been involved in all wars so far, from using mercenaries, providing officers and military equipment, to launching military offensives, and now, if re-elected, Erdogan says he will not allow Turkey to be dragged into a war. What does Erdogan have in mind when he makes such statements? Does he simply want to please the people, or are his challengers more radical and make calls for war at an election period?
Ruben Melkonyan: Erdogan's statement can be viewed from at least three perspectives and, of course, in the light of historical background.
Turkey joined NATO in 1952 and took part in the Korean War, where 2,500 people were killed. This Korean War has left a negative impact on Turkish society in terms of undue involvement in the wars of others. The participation in this "senseless" war has a certain perception in Turkish society and political life. Erdogan's statement is primarily addressed to his domestic audience, claiming that Turkey is on an equal footing with the West and will no longer participate in wars not directly related to it sought by the West and will not suffer casualties as a result of participation in other wars.
The next observation is that Turkey distinguishes between its "own wars" and "foreign wars." Turkey’s own wars include attacks on Syria, Iraq or Cyprus, but those wars fought by NATO or its Western allies are considered foreign, and Turkey avoids direct involvement in them as much as possible.
I guess Erdogan's statement also refers to the Russian-Ukrainian war and is a response to Western pressure on Turkey to step up its military support for Ukraine. And, of course, we can also consider this as a sign of reverence, a positive message to Russia. Erdogan’s statement is absolutely clear and acceptable to Turkish society.
Turkey, indeed, has always tried to fight through mercenaries or other means, but as far away from its borders as possible. Even when Turkey helped the U.S. in the war with Iraq or, even earlier, with Egypt and others, it tried to be as careful as possible. For example, it allowed the use of its airports, but avoided deploying Turkish troops to a place where the U.S. or NATO waged a war.
Given Iran's active efforts in the recent period, Erdogan's statement could also include a message to Iran, since Iran's statements about Azerbaijan and, for example, a possible clash between Iran and Azerbaijan, imply Turkey’s direct involvement in it to support its ally Azerbaijan. Consequently, Erdogan's position is that he will try to prevent an escalation of tensions between Iran and Azerbaijan and a possible war.
Nor can we overlook the special Turkish-Israeli relations and the tensions between Iran and Israel in this light.
In other words, Erdogan's statement can be called multi-vector, addressed both to foreign and domestic audiences. At the same time, it is aimed at strengthening Turkey's vital interests once again. In essence, the statement is addressed to the United States, the West, Russia, Iran and Turkey's domestic audience. This is a highly saturated message.
Panorama.am: Is Erdogan more belligerent or more radical compared to other candidates?
Ruben Melkonian: This is an extremely important question. His main challenger, opposition candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu is considered to be a more understandable and acceptable candidate for the West and the United States. Erdogan’s message to his domestic audience is that if Kilicdaroglu were to win the elections, Turkey could be involved into various wars by the order of the United States as he is “so weak and unable to resist the U.S.”
The message is as follows: if the opposition wins, Turkey will more easily comply with U.S. orders to join a war, but now Turkey, led by Erdogan, is resisting it and even after strong calls from his NATO partners will not step up its participation in various conflicts far from itself.
The other side of the coin is that his rhetoric is more bellicose than that of the other candidates when it comes to attacks on Artsakh, Iraq, Syria, but it should be realized that these are Turkish wars and fought for Turkey's interests.
In other words, Erdogan's rhetoric is bellicose in those wars that are considered "their own, Turkish," and more restrained in those wars that are considered "foreign”, i.e. the wars involving NATO and the United States. Meanwhile, he accuses the opposition of being meek and succumbing to the calls of the United States and NATO to join other wars.
Panorama.am: I guess none of the candidates is preferable for Armenia.
Ruben Melkonyan: Of course, no Turkish authorities, president or political force can have a different stance on Armenia and the country continues to be targeted by Turkey, with all ensuing consequences.
Panorama.am: So, whoever is the president, they will stick to the same policy?
Ruben Melkonyan: Presumably yes, except for some minor changes. I believe the general policy line will remain unchanged for Armenia, including the military aggressive conduct.
Panorama.am: Do the Armenians living in Turkey have a favorite candidate?
Ruben Melkonyan: The approaches of the Armenians in Turkey are traditional, even somewhat predictable. The more active part of the community will vote for the left-wing Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) which Garo Paylan members. Journalists and those rallying around the Agos daily will most likely support and vote for the left-wing forces, primarily Garo Paylan’s party.
A part of the Armenian community supports the government and always votes for the ruling team, in this case for candidate Erdogan and his alliance. They make up the so-called oligarchy of the community rallying around the Armenian Patriarchate.
The other part of the community may vote for the opposition Republican People's Party, especially since its leader is taking some steps to address the minorities and ethnic communities in Turkey.
The distribution of votes in the Armenian community has almost always been like this.
Panorama.am: Thank you.
09:15,
YEREVAN, MARCH 30, ARMENPRESS. Armenia has endorsed the Declaration of the 2023 Summit for Democracy with reservation.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan participated on March 29 in the plenary session of the Summit for Democracy, a forum held online at the initiative of United States President Joe Biden.
Armenia expressed reservation regarding preambular Paragraph 3 of the Declaration of the 2023 Summit for Democracy “because this paragraph does not comprehensively reflect all conflicts and crises and does not address the fact of the Azerbaijani aggression against, and occupation of parts of the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia.”
The Preambular Paragraph 3 of the Declaration says : “We reiterate our firm resolve to support countries and people around the world that adhere to the values of freedom and democracy, against direct or indirect attempts or threats to undermine them. We recognize the fundamental principles of the UN Charter that all states shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state and shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means. We recognize the inherent right of individual or collective self-defense of States consistent with Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations. We underscore the need to reach, as soon as possible, a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine in line with the principles of the UN Charter. We deplore the dire human rights and humanitarian consequences of the aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine, including the continuous attacks against critical infrastructure across Ukraine with devastating consequences for civilians, and express our grave concern at the high number of civilian casualties, including women and children, the number of internally displaced persons and refugees in need of humanitarian assistance, and violations and abuses committed against children. We are deeply concerned by the adverse impact of the war on global food security, energy, nuclear security and safety and the environment. We demand that Russia immediately, completely, and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders and call for a cessation of hostilities. We also call for the parties to the armed conflict to adhere to their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law. We call also for the complete exchange of prisoners of war, the release of all unlawfully detained persons and the return of all internees and of civilians forcibly transferred and deported, including children. We strongly support accountability for the most serious crimes under international law committed on the territory of Ukraine through appropriate, fair and independent investigations and prosecutions at the national or international level, and to ensure justice for all victims and the prevention of future crimes.”