Category: 2018

Conflicts obstruct utilization of PABSEC’s full potential, says Secretary General Asaf Hajiyev

13:31, 27 November, 2018

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. Existing conflict are obstructing the full utilization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Parliamentary Assembly’s complete potential, Asaf Hajiyev – Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC) said during the PABSEC Yerevan session.

“We want to improve regional economic cooperation,” he said. “But the existing conflicts obstruct us from using the entire potential for this cooperation. As a result, our economic agenda is  incomplete and not ambitious.”

He said that the organization is focusing its efforts in this region and is expecting more.

Hajiyev also emphasized that parliamentarians have a special role for achieving tangible results as a result of regional multilateral cooperation.

Speaker of Parliament of Armenia Ara Babloyan, the chair of the session, said that both difficulties and positive developments have taken place during the years of cooperation in the organization. He also stressed the role of national delegations in the assembly’s achievements.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

Pashinyan’s government plans to elevate relations with Russia to new level

13:39, 27 November, 2018

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. The government plans to elevate the relations with Russia to a new level, Caretaker Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at a campaigning rally of Im Kayl (My Step) bloc in Vanadzor.

“We must continue our work with Russia for strengthening our strategic allied relations. We must elevate them [relations] to a new level in both the EEU, the CSTO, and bilateral levels,” Pashinyan said.

Speaking about the latest development in the CSTO, Pashinyan said that Armenia has a lot to clarify with its allies.

“The reason of the [heated] discussions concerning the CSTO is to clarify the allied relations of the organization’s member countries. It is unclear for us why our allies are selling weapons to a country that is hostile towards us. We are set to discuss this topic clearly and straightforwardly with our partners in order to know on whom to rely on and whom not. But we must first of all rely on ourselves, and this requires to be economically stronger,” he said.

Armenia will elect a new parliament on December 9.

The campaigning period kicked off November 26 and will run through December 7.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

Armenian President’s official visit to Germany kicks off

14:04, 27 November, 2018

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. The official visit of President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian to the Federal Republic of Germany has kicked off today, the President’s assistant Hasmik Petrosyan said on Facebook, reports Armenpress.

During the visit President Sarkissian will meet with the German top officials, including Chancellor Angela Merkel, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and President of the Bundestag Wolfgang Schäuble. The meetings will focus on the agenda and prospects of the bilateral cooperation of the two countries and a number of other issues.

The Armenian President will also meet with businessmen who carry out activities in Armenia and are interested in the cooperation with Armenia. The discussions will focus on the Armenian investment and business climate, the Armenian-German economic cooperation development opportunities.

Armen Sarkissian will attend the discussion organized by the Munich Security Conference, as well as will visit the Red Cross Organization of Germany which carries out quite effective activity in Armenia in the past 30 years.

On the sidelines of the official visit President Sarkissian will also visit Saxony-Anhalt German state to meet with Minister-President of the federal state Reiner Haseloff.

The President is also expected to visit several German scientific-education and scientific-technical institutions. He will deliver lectures at the Bertelsmann University and the Otto von Guericke University.

Armen Sarkissian will attend the concert of the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Armenia at the Konzerthaus Berlin dedicated to the 115th anniversary of renowned Armenian composer Aram Khachatryan. The concert will be held with the participation of famous violinist Sergey Khachatryan.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

Armenia ready to fully use BSEC potential to boost commercial cooperation in region

14:39, 27 November, 2018

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. Armenia is ready to fully use the potential of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation and its structures aimed at boosting the commercial cooperation in the region and ensuring the effective implementation of the organization’s goals, reports Armenpress.

Deputy foreign minister of Armenia Ashot Hovakimyan presented the message of acting foreign minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan addressed to the participants of the session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC) in Yerevan.

“It’s a pleasure to host the plenary session of the General Assembly in the 25th jubilee year of the establishment of PABSEC. 25 years ago the parliaments of our countries started implementing the hopes and expectations of our peoples, for the sake of pluralistic democracy which is based on human and fundamental rights, economic liberalization and prosperity via social justice. They affirmed “their commitment to use all opportunities and capacities to expand and multiply the cooperation between our countries in multiple spheres and different levels. These commitments obviously are directed for implementing the PABSEC goals and today as well are relevant. Meanwhile, the lack of being guided by these goals is one of the main factors hindering the cooperation”, the acting FM said in the message.

The acting FM assured that Armenia remains committed to the organization’s goals. He emphasized that this year in April-May the people of Armenia established their commitment by strong voice to strengthen the respect towards human rights, rule of law, effective governance and guaranteeing equal opportunities in economic and social life. “In its foreign policy Armenia has reaffirmed the principles of friendly relations and mutually beneficial partnership. In this sense Armenia is ready to fully use the potential of BSEC and its structures to boost the regional economic cooperation and move forward the effective implementation of the regulatory goals of the organization”, he said.

In the message acting FM Mnatsakanyan stated that the PABSEC must support and contribute to the implementation of BSEC goals and principles. He expressed confidence that this goal should continue guiding the future efforts of PABSEC in a depoliticized, constructive and inclusive manner based on the principle of equal self-determination.

According to the Armenian acting FM, the BSEC activity should be harmonized with the international agenda, in particular the UN’s Sustainable Development Agenda 2030. In this context Armenia supports establishment of closer partnership with international organizations and other regional players that are interested in such economic activity.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

Unnecessary politicization should be avoided for fulfilling BSEC goals, says incumbent PABSEC President, Speaker of Parliament Ara Babloyan

15:03, 27 November, 2018

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. Armenia reiterates its commitment to the main idea of BSEC’s foundation – strengthening of economic cooperation between member states, however it insists that it is necessary to maintain the economic nature of the organization, by avoiding unnecessary politicization, Speaker of Parliament Ara Babloyan said during the 52nd General Assembly of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC) in Yerevan. Armenia’s Speaker of Parliament is the incumbent President of PABSEC.

“Despite the pre-election processes, we, as a chairing country, attach importance to BSEC’s coherent and non-disruptive activity, and it is on this very basis that we are holding a plenary sitting days ahead of parliamentary election. I am sure that the [next] parliament of Armenia will be actively involved in international activities, given the yearly growing role of parliamentary diplomacy.  PABSEC’s particularity is that it is the single parliamentary organization having exclusively economic character. Armenia is interested in developing multilateral economic cooperation in the region. However, the main idea and priority behind the creation of PABSEC is the strengthening of economic cooperation between BSEC member states. Armenia reiterates its commitment to this idea and insists that it is necessary to maintain the economic nature of the organization by avoiding unnecessary politicization for the effective implementation of BSEC goals,” Babloyan said.

He said the PABSEC’s role is growing significantly because economy is a key factor in international relations. He said that sometimes economic relations create favorable conditions for developing a productive political agenda, which contributes to settling disputes.

According to Babloyan, certain tensions existing in the region obstruct the deepening of economic partnership between countries. However, he argues that the strengthening of economic potential of the region’s countries can be a good prerequisite for reacting to challenges and strengthening stability. He stressed that one should not forget that the great part of the most difficult problems are possible to be solves by developing honest, sincere and unbiased dialogue, while the inter-parliamentary cooperation and parliamentary diplomacy are among the irreplaceable tools for establishing it.

Babloyan expressed hope that the Yerevan session will be another step in the direction of strengthening economic cooperation between countries.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

Solution of NK conflict is up to the people, Pashinyan’s response to HHK candidate

15:50, 27 November, 2018

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. The NK conflict will be settled the way the people will want it, caretaker Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said during a campaigning rally of his My Step bloc in the town of Stepanavan.

Pashinyan made the comment in response to Republican candidate for parliament Davit Shahnazaryan’s statement.

“I am the first Armenian leader to have said the following: no Armenian leader or government can solve the Karabakh issue because it is the people that should solve it. If a settlement offer will exist that in my opinion will be acceptable, I will discuss this offer with the people,” Pashinyan said.

Pashinyan noted that only the government of Artsakh can present the stance of Artsakh in the NK conflict settlement.

“Only the Karabakh government can present the Karabakh stance in the NK issue, me and other leaders of Armenia can only negotiate on behalf of Armenia. I have invited the Artsakh government, the entire command of the military, representatives of the political elite and I have presented all circumstances of the negotiations process that exists up to this point with all its detail. The more people possess the Karabakh issue negotiations process, the better, because there can’t be secrets for the military, the diplomats, and, taking into consideration certain nuances, also the people. This kind of a meeting didn’t take place in the past,” Pashinyan said.

Pashinyan also addressed the questions about going for concessions.

“I have publicly said several times that it is unacceptable when international representatives come and ask – is Armenia ready for concessions? I have said that Armenia will answer this question when the international community will ask this same question to Azerbaijan,” Pashinyan said.

Earlier, HHK’s Davit Shahnazaryan said that Pashinyan and his government pose a greater danger for Artsakh than the Azerbaijani military.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

“We” bloc campaigns in Aragatsotn province

16:07, 27 November, 2018

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. Ahead of the December 9 general election, the “We” bloc continues campaigning in the Aragatsnotn province.

The bloc had a meeting with residents of the Tsakhkahovit community.

Khachatur Kokobelyan, president of the Free Democrats party that is part of the bloc, said that their hero is the citizen of Armenia. “Meaning, what we are saying directly concerns the life of the citizen,” he said, adding that they seek to improve the life of citizens.

Kokobelyan vowed that even in the event of having 10 seats in the next parliament they will do their best in order to reduce the gas and electricity tariffs, emphasizing that the possibilities for doing so exist.

He mentioned that thanks to the political will of the government corruption and quoting of economy has been eradicated, but he argues that the black market hasn’t been solved.

Kokobelyan said there are no insoluble problems in Armenia, they simply require will.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan