Author: Tatoyan Vazgen

Consul General Meets with ARF Western U.S. Central Committee

Tatoyan Vazgen
July 31,  2020

From l to r: ARF Central Committee co-chair Dr. Carmen Ohanian, Ambassador Armen Baibourtian, ARF Central Committee co-chair Avedik Izmirlian and member Levon Kirakosian.

Armenia’s Consul General to Los Angeles Ambassador Armen Baibourtian met on Thursday with representatives of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Western U.S. Central Committee.

The meeting, which took place at Armenia’s Consulate General building in Glendale, focused on the recent escalation of tensions on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border when Azerbaijani forces attacked civilian and military targets in Armenia’s Tavush Province. The ensuing threats and aggression by Azerbaijanis toward Armenians around the world was also discussed.

The participants condemned the various acts of violence and vandalism carried out against Armenians in the United States and elsewhere in the world. Baibourtian emphasized to the ARF Central Committee representatives the importance of guaranteeing the safety of the Armenian American community.

It was agreed that given the latest developments, as well as the continuing COVID-19 global pandemic, such consultations should take place on a regular basis to address issues relevant to the community and to collectively seek solutions to these matters.

Erdoğan, Putin discuss conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan

Tatoyan Vazgen
AHVAL News

  • Jul 28 2020 12:14 Gmt+3
  • Last Updated On: Jul 28 2020 12:28 Gmt+3

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin held discussions over deadly border clashes between Caucasian neighbours Azerbaijan and Armenia earlier this month, the Kremlin said on Monday.

“Readiness was expressed to coordinate efforts for stabilisation in the region,” Reuters reported the Kremlin as saying after the phone call.

Azerbaijan and Armenia are embroiled in a dispute over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which broke away from Azerbaijan in 1991 with Armenian military support.

Clashes broke out between the two countries’ militaries at the border near Armenia’s Tavush and Azerbaijan’s Tovuz provinces on July 12. At least 16 people, including an army general, have been killed in the deadliest fighting in years.

Moscow has called for a ceasefire, saying it is ready to act as a mediator between the two sides. The Russian Defence Ministry said it would carry out in-border military exercises within proximity of the fighting.

Ankara, a close political ally of Azerbaijan, with which it shares cultural ties and provides arms to, and Moscow, which supports Armenia, maintain a complex relationship; they back opposite sides of two long-running conflicts in Syria and Libya, while preserving economic ties and working with Iran to secure peace in Syria.

Ukrainian nationalists recruiting citizens to fight for Azerbaijan against Armenia, says Luhansk spox

Tatoyan Vazgen
Panorama, Armenia
Politics 17:12 25/07/2020World

Ukrainian nationalists are recruiting civilians, as well as experienced former and current soldiers to be sent to Azerbaijan to take part in the military clashes against Armenia, a spokesman of the militia of the unrecognized Luhansk People's Republic, Yakov Osadchiy, told a press briefing on Friday.

According to him, the recruitment is generally coordinated by Deputy Chairman of the Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Vladimir Gorbenko.

"This fact testifies to Ukraine's meddling in another country’s domestic affairs at the state level," Osadchiy said. 

Watch the part of the briefing from the 4th minute.

Armenian FM highlights exclusive role of OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship in NK peace process

Tatoyan Vazgen

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 09:58,

YEREVAN, JULY 23, ARMENPRESS. On July 22 Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Zohrab Mnatskanyan had a phone conversation with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission, Josep Borrell. The newly appointed Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov also joined the conversation, the Armenian MFA told Armenpress.

Zohrab Mnatsakanyan commented on the recent developments concerning escalation across certain parts of the Armenia-Azerbaijan border as a result of the hostilities instigated by Azerbaijan since July 12.  

Zohrab Mnatsakanyan also emphasized the importance of implementation of the previous agreements on reducing tensions, restoring and strengthening the ceasefire. In this context,  Zohrab Mnatsakanyan stressed the priority of denouncement of bellicose rhetoric and war threats by the political-military leadership of Azerbaijan. 

Referring to the format of the phone conversation, Zohrab Mnatsakanyan particularly underlined the exclusive role of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship in the Nagorno Karabakh peace process. 

Minister Mnatsakanyan also highly appreciated the unequivocal support of the EU High Representative/Vice President to the format of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship, as well as his remarks that the regional countries should refrain from any actions aimed at destabilization of the situation.

Brussels: Armenian demonstrators protest against Azerbaijani border provocations

Tatoyan Vazgen
Panorama, Armenia

Hundred of demonstrators in Belgium held a rally on Wednesday outside the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Brussels. The members of the Armenian diaspora protested against the recent military attacks by Azerbaijani forces across the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. They chanted “Aliyev terrorist” and blocked the street leading to the Embassy.

See details in the video:

https://www.panorama.am/en/news/2020/07/22/Brussels-Armenian-demonstrators/2332402


Armenian Armed Forces down another Azerbaijani UAV of top importance

Tatoyan Vazgen

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 19:19,

YEREVAN, JULY 14, ARMENPRESS. The Defense Ministry of Armenia has released a footage of the downing of Elbit Hermes 900 UAV of the Azerbaijani armed forces. In an interview with ARMENPRESS Artsrun Hovhannisyan, Head of the Command and Staff Faculty of the Vazgen Sargsyan Military University and former MoD spokesperson, said that it was one of the most expensive and important UAVs at the disposal of the Azerbaijani armed forces.

‘’Elbit Hermes 900 is a powerful UAV, it’s a fire control system and surveillance UAV. It’s very expensive and is the biggest UAV of Azerbaijn’’, Hovhannisyan said.

Hovhannisyan also wrote on his Facebook page that this was probably the first downing of Elbit Hermes 900 in the world.

The footage released by the Defense Ministry shows how the missile launched by the Armenian servicemen hits the Azerbaijani UAV.

The large tactical UAV costs nearly 30 million USD.

Elbit Hermes 900 UAV is produced by Israeli Elbit systems company. These UAVs are located quite deep inside the country and are under the disposal of the State Border Service, not the army. This shows that in addition to the army, Azerbaijan has involved the State Border Service in the military operations.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

European Court refuses urgent measure in case concerning constitutional reform in Armenia

Tatoyan Vazgen
Public Radio of Armenia
July 8 2020

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The European Court of Human Rights has today decided not to apply an interim measure requested in the case Gyulumyan and Others v. Armenia concerning recent amendments to the Constitution of Armenia.

In 2015 the Constitution of Armenia was amended, introducing a 12-year non-renewable term of office for Constitutional Court (CC) judges and establishing a 6-year non-renewable mandate for the President of the CC. However, pursuant to a transitional arrangement, judges who had been
appointed before the entry into force of these amendments were to continue serving under the old rules, according to which CC judges were appointed until their retirement. Similarly, the President of the CC was to keep his mandate until retirement.

The four applicants requested in particular that the European Court indicate to the Armenian Government that they freeze enforcement of the constitutional amendments and preserve their offices.

The Court decided to reject the request as outside the scope of application of Rule 39 of the Rules of Court, since it did not involve a risk of serious and irreparable harm of a core right under the European Convention on Human Rights.


Lukashenko talks to Armenian president over phone

Tatoyan Vazgen
BelTA, Belarus
July 3 2020
 
 
 
 
MINSK, 3 July (BelTA) – Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko had a telephone conversation with Armenian President Armen Sarkissian on 2 July, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian leader.
 
The Armenian president extended Independence Day greetings to the Belarusian head of state.
 
The leaders of the countries discussed the development of bilateral cooperation, implementation of joint projects, exchanged views on the development of the situation with the pandemic. Armen Sarkissian lauded the Belarusian experience, noting that the country is coping with the challenges well. In turn, Armenia has not yet reached its peak in terms of the disease incidence.
 
The Armenian president thanked for constructive interaction with the Hi-Tech Park, noting the usefulness of the experience gained in this area.
 
The presidents also exchanged views on political issues, including the election campaign in Belarus and the turbulent political situation in Armenia.
 
Armen Sarkissian thanked for the decision to allocate a land plot for the construction of an Armenian church in Belarus.
 
 

Armenia holding talks at several directions over COVID-19 vaccine – Healthcare minister

Tatoyan Vazgen

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 12:22, 2 July, 2020

YEREVAN, JULY 2, ARMENPRESS. During today’s Cabinet meeting Minister of Healthcare of Armenia Arsen Torosyan touched upon the vaccines against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), stating that there are currently over 100 vaccine candidates, of which nearly 20 are more likely to become a vaccine.

“Vaccines are tested at three stages on few people, then on several hundreds, and then on tens of thousands. The trials show that there will most likely be several vaccines. We are currently holding talks at several directions. The first one are the direct producers, I am personally holding these talks. Yesterday I talked to the commercial director of Moderna, co-founded by our compatriot Noubar Afeyan. This vaccine is one of the most likely candidates. We are also negotiating with the World Health Organization, UNICEf platforms which will try to purchase large amounts. The danger here is that there maybe countries which will purchase large amounts of vaccines and the other countries may get them later”, the minister said, adding that it’s necessary to hold the talks starting today in order not to be late later.

Torosyan said according to various estimates, the vaccine will be available to countries by the end of 2020 or in early 2021. It will be clear in early autumn because the summary of trials of the third stage is expected that time.

“The fact that it will exist and we will return to our normal life is already very good. We should not stay behind the developments”, the minister added.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan