Author: Vardan Badalian

Artsakh Ombudsman on number of Karabakh villages occupied by Azerbaijan and number of Armenian captives

Vardan Badalian
ARMINFO
Armenia –
Marianna Mkrtchyan

ArmInfo.Azerbaijan occupied 215 settlements of the Republic of Artsakh, as a result of which 40,000 citizens were forced to move, and therefore their rights to property,  choice of place of residence, work, education, health care and other  rights were violated. Ombudsman of Artsakh Gegham Stepanyan stated  this on May 19 during the session of the NKR National Assembly.

The Ombudsman stated that as a result of Azerbaijan's large-scale  military aggression against Artsakh, 118 communities completely  passed under Azerbaijani control, and two more communities partially.

"Also on March 24, 2022, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces invaded the  zone of responsibility of the Russian peacekeepers, took control of  the village of Parukh and nearby positions in the Askeran region,  after which they tried to advance in the eastern direction of  Artsakh," the NKR Ombudsman added.

When asked to clarify the number of Armenian prisoners of war and  civilians held by Azerbaijan, Stepanyan said that at the moment  Azerbaijan confirms the presence of 38 servicemen and civilians in  captivity.

However, according to Gegham Stepanyan, the ombudsmen of Artsakh and  Armenia, as well as human rights organizations, have concrete  evidence of another 80 people being held captive. At the same time,  he expressed regret that to this day Azerbaijan does not confirm  these data. "This gives us reason to assert that Azerbaijan  deliberately hides the real number of prisoners," the NKR HRD  stressed, adding that out of 38 prisoners, 35 are serviceman,  and 3  are civilians who were captured after the statement of November 9,  2020, and another 19 civilians are listed as missing, there are no  citizens of Artsakh among them.

"Among them there are people whose captivity is confirmed by facts,"  Gegham Stepanyan said, adding that all 38 prisoners of war held in  Azerbaijan were sentenced to long terms on falsified charges.  According to him, in this regard, the Armenian side has prepared and  distributed a document to the UN. 

Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 18-05-22

Vardan Badalian

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 17:29,

YEREVAN, 18 MAY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 18 May, USD exchange rate up by 2.63 drams to 457.49 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 2.90 drams to 481.19 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.04 drams to 7.22 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 0.08 drams to 567.15 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price up by 380.98 drams to 26843.27 drams. Silver price up by 10.76 drams to 320.35 drams. Platinum price stood at 16414.1 drams.

Minor among detained protesters in Yerevan

Vardan Badalian
Panorama
Armenia –

A minor was among the opposition protesters detained by the Armenian police on Wednesday, MP Elinar Vardanyan from the opposition Hayastan faction said.

The riot police detained 277 people at peaceful opposition protests in Yerevan on Wednesday morning.

“After the release of a group of detained activists, we were about to leave the Erebuni police station when a new car drove up, with chants of "Artsakh, Artsakh!" heard from the vehicle,” she wrote on Facebook.

“We are meeting another group. Chants of "Armenia without Nikol!" can be heard at the police station. A 14-year-old child is among the detainees,” the deputy said.

Armenian opposition leader slams police over excessive force against protesters

Vardan Badalian
Panorama
Armenia –

Artur Vanetsyan, the leader of the opposition Homeland Party and With Honor (Pativ Unem) parliamentary faction, has shared a video on police brutality against opposition protesters in Yerevan.

“Dignified Armenian citizens have held peaceful protests across Yerevan since early Wednesday morning,” he wrote on Facebook.

“The police have again used disproportionate force. According to preliminary data, over 300 people have been detained. We won’t give up, we won't get tired.

“They won't get away with it. The struggle continues and the victory is just around the corner,” Vanetsyan said.

President Khachaturyan hands over state award to the Apostolic Nuncio of the Holy See to Armenia José Avelino Betancourt

Vardan Badalian

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 18:59,

YEREVAN, MAY 17, ARMENPRESS. By the decree of the President of the Republic, the Apostolic Nuncio of the Holy See to Armenia, Archbishop José Avelino Betancourt, was awarded the Medal of Gratitude for his significant contribution to the establishment, strengthening, development of friendly relations with the Republic of Armenia and protection of universal values.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the President’s Office, the President handed over the award to José Avelino Betancourt on May 17.

Vahagn Khachaturyan noted that he is very pleased to hand over the state award of the Republic of Armenia, which best reflects the significant contribution of José Avelino Betancourt to the strengthening and development of friendly relations between Armenia and the Holy See. "I am convinced that there will be no obstacle to the further development of the relations between the Holy See and Armenia, as it is guaranteed at the highest level with the participation of people like you," said President Khachaturyan, congratulating the Holy See's Apostolic Nuncio to Armenia.

José Avelino Betancourt thanked for the appreciation, noting that it is a great honor for him to receive such an award from the president of the first Christian country in the world.

Systematic corruption eradicated in Armenia – PM

Vardan Badalian

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 16:36,

YEREVAN, MAY 11, ARMENPRESS. Armenia has registered a major progress in the fight against corruption over the past four years, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at the Netherlands Institute of International Relations, Clingendael, while delivering a lecture on the friendship and partnership between Armenia and the Netherlands.

“I am the first Armenian leader to pay an official visit to the Kingdom of the Netherlands. I view this visit not only in the context of the Armenian-Dutch traditional historical ties, commercial relations, but also in the context of Armenia’s democracy. I want to note that after the Revolution of 2018 we have felt the support of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the democratic reforms. Democracy is Armenia’s main brand, and this is not my assessment. These realities have been recorded by all those international institutes that do global research in democracy, fight against corruption, freedom of speech”, he said.

He said that in 2021 for the first time Armenia has been classified by international democratic institutes as a country with electoral democracy. Pashinyan called this an important achievement.

“Yes, I must make a loud statement and say that the systematic corruption has been eradicated in Armenia. Although there are corruption phenomena, but we are consistently fighting them and it is visible. In 2021, the post-war crisis year, we registered a major progress in the field of freedom of speech and media. According to the latest indices, Armenia is the 51st in the world. It is in better positions than about ten European countries. I say this to show how determined we are in the implementation of democratic reforms”, Nikol Pashinyan said.

The PM said that pages such as the public doubt to the election results, the practice of falsifying elections have been closed in Armenia. He emphasized that Armenia has no way back.

ANCA Hollywood Ready to Continue Serving and Empowering Community

Vardan Badalian
 by Asbarez Staff

 

 

 

in Community, Latest, News, Top Stories
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ANCA Hollywood Chapter

After years of working behind zoom cameras as a result of the pandemic, the Armenian National Committee of America Hollywood chapter, as part of the ANCA-Western Region family, announces that it is resuming its on-the-ground and in person activities, with a slew of important advocacy and empowerment projects.

Not that the pandemic benched the chapter and its efforts. Members of the Hollywood ANCA were active during the early days of the pandemic and joined other local organizations in bringing much-needed assistance to those in need of assistance in our community. The chapter also organized a virtual town hall meeting with elected officials to provide much-needed information and instructions about mandates and precautions.

During the arduous days of the Artsakh War, the Hollywood ANCA also was on the forefront of engaging elected officials and community members to advance calls to action in support of Artsakh and Armenia, including attending the March for Victory and other essential events in our community.

“After collectively tackling the challenges brought on by the pandemic, we are extremely excited to hit the ground running and elevate the advocacy efforts and activism of the Hollywood and Great Los Angeles Armenian communities in service to our national aspirations,” said ANCA Hollywood chairperson Suren Seropian.

ANCA-WR Board and local Hollywood chapter members with Kevin de Leon during the endorsement announcement

Just in the past several months, the Hollywood ANCA chapter was on hand when the ANCA-Western Region board announced its endorsement of Kevin de Leon for Los Angeles Mayor during a press event on the steps of the St. Garabed Armenian Church.

The ANCA Hollywood Chapter also joined the ANCA Board in welcoming L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis on a tour on Little Armenia, where she became acquainted with key community institutions and their leaders as she welcomes Hollywood and Little Armenia to her new district.

ANCA-WR Board and local Hollywood chapter members welcome County Supervisor Solis to Little Armenia

Seropian, the Hollywood ANCA chairman, met with the staff of L.A. City Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell, who represents Council District 13, where most of the Armenian community institutions operate. During the meeting, Seropian conveyed some of the community’s concerns, among them the growing homelessness problem in the district and its impact on important facilities, such as the Rose and Alex Pillbos school.

With the ANCA-WR’s endorsement of O’Farrell for reelection, Seropian also pledged the Hollywood ANCA’s support to engage and empower the community to get the vote out for the June 7 Primary.

On May 10, O’Farrell visited the ACF Youth Center, where he met with leaders of community organizations and discussed some of the critical priorities his office is tackling on behalf of its constituents.

L.A. City Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell (center) meets with leaders of the Hollywood Armenian community on May 10

With the June 7 Primary Elections just weeks away, the Hollywood ANCA chapter has already begun its voter engagement efforts via the ANCA-WR’s HyeVotes campaign, seeking to register voters and provide information about voting.

The chapter also is looking forward to bringing the community together as the much-anticipated Gateway to Little Armenia project is nearing completion. It plans to work with city officials to advance the project and ensure an unveiling event worthy of Little Armenia and its residents.

Secy. Blinken Signs Memorandum On Strategic Civil Nuclear Cooperation With Armenian Foreign Minister

Vardan Badalian
May 3 2022

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan signed a memorandum of understanding on strategic civil nuclear cooperation.

Blinken welcomed Ararat Mirzoyan to the State Department Monday, where he said the memorandum opens new paths for cooperation and may strengthen bilateral ties. The two also spoke about improving defense ties and fighting corruption in Armenia among other issues.

Blinken noted, Armenia is going through “challenging times,” but said the nation has a true friend and partner in the US. He went on to praise the country’s government.

“I just want to take this opportunity as we’re sitting here to, in the first instance, praise the leadership of the prime minister and his government, the democratic reforms that they’ve been pursuing, the the progress that continues to be made,” he stated. “But also to very much welcome the dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan.”

Armenia’s foreign minister thanked Blinken for the nation’s support for Armenia’s nuclear energy sector and noted this year mark’s 30-years of diplomatic relations between the two nations.

https://www.oann.com/secy-blinken-signs-memorandum-on-strategic-civil-nuclear-cooperation-with-armenian-foreign-minister/

Armenian Authorities Block Roads, Warn Anti-govt Protesters

Vardan Badalian

May 4 2022
Wednesday, 4 May, 2022 – 17:15
Protesters block a street during an anti-government demonstration in Yerevan, Armenia May 3, 2022. (Photolure via Reuters)
Asharq Al-Awsat

Authorities blocked streets in Armenia's capital Wednesday and warned anti-government protesters against trying to seize the country’s parliament building as they demonstrated to demand the prime minister's resignation.


Police used cement mixers and trucks to close off roads and bridges leading to the center of Yerevan as demonstrators chanted, "Armenia without Nikol," referring to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.


The protesters, meanwhile, used cars to block the area around pedestrian underground passageways at major intersections. They marched in at least 10 directions.


"We can speak with the authorities about only one thing – their immediate departure," Ishkhan Saghatelyan, vice president of the country's parliament, the National Assembly of Armenia. He also is chair of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation's Supreme Council.


Police arrested some of the protesters, and security officials warned them against trying to storm the parliament building. Pashinyan was scheduled to speak to parliament on Wednesday.


Anti-government demonstrations have taken place almost daily since April 17. The prime minister became a renewed target of rancor after he spoke in parliament about the need to sign a peace agreement with neighboring Azerbaijan.


The two countries have clashed for decades over the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh, which is part of Azerbaijan but has been under Armenian control since early 1990s. During a six-week war in 2020, Azerbaijan reclaimed control over some of the region before signing a Russia-brokered truce with Armenia.


Armenian Security Council chief says Azerbaijan,international partners have understanding on 5+6 proposal package talks

Vardan Badalian

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 14:12, 5 May, 2022

YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan says he hasn’t seen Azerbaijan publicly rejecting Armenia’s 6-point proposal.

Speaking to reporters after the Cabinet meeting, Grigoryan reminded that Armenia submitted to Azerbaijan a 6-point proposal in response to Baku’s 5-point proposal.

“Azerbaijan’s proposed points were not unacceptable for Armenia. With its 6 points Armenia proposed that there should be a resolution also to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict in order for comprehensive peace to be possible. Now, our approach is that these two packages, 5+6 points must be joined with each other and start negotiations over a peace treaty in order to find a long-term solution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict,” Grigoryan said.

He reiterated Armenia’s position on prioritizing a solution to the security, defense and rights of Armenians living in Artsakh and that the status of Nagorno Karabakh should be developed in accordance.

“I haven’t seen a public rejection of this package. There is an understanding in our discussions that these two packages should be joined and that negotiations should start. Both the Azerbaijani side and all other international partners have this understanding. Starting negotiations over the 5+6 points is a legitimate approach and we’ve seen that understanding,” Grigoryan said.