Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone conversation with Russian president Vladimir Putin, government’s press service reports.
The leaders of the two countries discussed the situation created in Syria’s north.
During the conversation the sides referred to other regional issues as well.
The sharp attacks on the Armenian authorities by Vitaliy Balasanyan, running for the presidency of Nagorno-Karabakh, and the opinions of Armenian politicians
Major General Vitaliy Balasanyan, the former secretary of the Security Council of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and a national hero of Artsakh, has criticised the authorities of Armenia on many occasions.
This time around, he has not limited himself to harsh attacks against the Prime Minister of Armenia and accusations, in particular, of “usurping” the authorities, but also threatened physical punishment for Nikol Pashinyan.
Answers from Armenia did not have to wait long. Local politicians do not hide their indignation regarding Balasanyan’s statements and demand that he be held accountable.
All this is happening on the eve of the upcoming presidential elections in Nagorno-Karabakh in 2020, in which one of the contenders for the presidency is Vitaly Balasanyan.
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The Karabakh general expressed his opinion about the post-revolutionary authorities of Armenia in an interview with LIVEnews.am which lasted almost two hours.
Below, the most scandalous statements by Vitaliy Balasanyan, which provoked quite the reaction in Armenia.
Firstly, he stated that the current Prime Minister of Armenia came to power thanks to the “well-known centers” in the West, and that they continue to rule Nikol Pashinyan and dictate further actions to him.
He expressed the opinion that in the spring of 2018, Nikol Pashinyan came to power, having carried out a coup, and in fact “usurped” the government.
Secondly, Balasanyan stated that in 2016 Nikol Pashinyan was trying to control the protest that arose after the Sasna Tsrer group seized the building of the police patrol and police regiment in Yerevan.
Balasanyan was referring to the events of July 2016, when an armed group seized a police station and demanded the release of opposition leader Zhirayr Sefilyan from arrest, but protest gradually grew into a demand for the resignation of then-President Serzh Sargsyan.
Nikol Pashinyan at that time was an opposition politician and openly spoke about the need for a change of government. But the armed group voluntarily surrendered, the protests did not reach that critical point, and thus the change did not take place.
Vitaly Balasanyan called Sasna Tsrer a terrorist group and linked it to the prime minister.
In his opinion, Nikol Pashinyan and Sasna Tsrer “are elements of one terrorist group.” And the recent meeting of the prime minister with the leaders of the Sasna Tsrer he assessed as an attempt to put pressure on dissidents:
“Nikol Pashinyan is trying to terrorize everyone, including me, saying: ‘Look, I have a combat wing that will physically deal with you at the click of a finger.’ I want to tell Pashinyan and Sasna Tsrer, that they shouldn’t hold such conversations, they will answer for it …
“In 2016, we forgave these terrorists and did not kill them, but now I declare: we will physically destroy everyone, those who try to carry out provocations and terrorist acts against me, our people, state, statehood, borders, authorities – that is, the Karabakh authorities.”
Armen Grigoryan, Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia, wrote on his Facebook page:
“Vitaly Balasanyan behaves like a bully, and not as a candidate for the presidency of Artsakh. Each time after meeting in Stepanakert with Serzh [meaning Serzh Sargsyan, the former president of Armenia, who left power under the pressure of thousands of people during the “velvet” revolution of 2018 – JAMnews], Vitaly begins to stroke tension.
“Balasanyan, who connected his political career with Serzh Sargsyan back in 2016, will be in the political dump where his leader is located.”
The Sasna Tsrer All-Armenian Party also issued a statement:
“It is disturbing and perplexing that the law enforcement agencies of Armenia have not yet taken any steps to check the likelihood of these threats being realized and to prevent violence against citizens and the state …
“We urge the authorities to show the necessary political will and instruct law enforcement agencies to fulfill their direct responsibility and eliminate real threats to state security and the lives of citizens. The collective source of these threats is the 5th column known to everyone: Robert Kocharyan, Serzh Sargsyan [second and third presidents of Armenia – JAMnews].”
Arman Babajanyan, a deputy of the National Assembly of Armenia, also spoke out on Facebook:
“This is not the first public threat from Vitaly Balasanyan. Due to the lack of an adequate reaction in previous similar cases, Balasanyan allows himself … to speak the language of threats and blackmail against the legitimate authorities of Armenia, its leader.
“Unfortunately, this happens with the tacit consent of the current Artsakh authorities and the obvious enthusiasm and support of the revenge-seeking forces of Armenia. The honorary title of the hero of Artsakh does not give anyone the right, including Vitaly Balasanyan, to go beyond morality and the law…”
Bagramyan 26 telegram channel published the following text:
“Vitaly Balasanyan has given every reason to be held accountable for calls to physically destroy Pashinyan and co. He is actually threatening to kill the country’s leader and his supporters. Does Balasanyan not understand this? His goal is to provoke the authorities to prosecute him, in order to then try to tear at their throats and shout that look, ‘they are persecuting me for political reasons!’
“He purposefully goes into this tough confrontation, hoping to receive political dividends on the eve of the election of President Artsakh and for the future struggle. The authorities are in a difficult position. On the one hand, it is necessary to force Balasanyan to answer before the law for such threats, and on the other hand, one must not succumb to his gross provocations.
“What is the way out of this situation? The process of punishing Balasanyan begins in Artsakh itself, at the hands of local authorities, and not the authorities of Armenia. Pashinyan’s supporters in Artsakh appeal to the local prosecutor’s office to consider Balasanyan’s statement and give a legal response, according to the laws of Artsakh.”
https://jam-news.net/karabakh-general-threatens-to-destroy-armenian-pm/
Armenia has seen a strong growth in production of carpets and carpet coverings in the first eight months of 2019, the latest statistics reveal. The country manufactured a total of 24.4 tons of carpets and carpet coverings from January to August this year, up by 44.4% times from the same period last year, Panorama.am learned from the Statistical Committee. It is noted that a total of 16.9 tons of carpets were manufactured in the country over the past eight months.
Meanwhile, Armenia produced 26.3 tons of carpets in 2018 which is 32.8% up to compare with the production levels of 2017.
The Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) released a statement on October 11 about Turkish military invasion in northeastern regions of Syria. The statement reads:
The AGBU Central Board and our worldwide membership are following with alarm the developments in Syria, specifically the military invasion by Turkey in its northeast regions. Reports from our local chapters and communities indicate a mounting humanitarian crisis and new waves of refugees. The situation requires an immediate response from the international community and relief organizations.
We take note of the official statement by the Armenian Foreign Ministry, the Catholicos of All Armenians and Supreme Patriarch Karekin II, and Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia Aram I calling on the international community to act without delay to restore the shaken international peace in the region.
As descendants of survivors of the Armenian Genocide, perpetrated by the predecessors of the present Turkish regime in 1915, we know too well the human toll such aggression can take. AGBU appeals to the Turkish authorities to immediately stop the invasion and aggression against the Syrian people, which is eerily similar to some of the Ottoman Empire's actions more than a century ago. We call for the international community to hold Turkey responsible for its actions, recognizing that such action in 1915 would have meant a markedly different history for the Armenian people.
Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) is the world’s largest non-profit organization devoted to upholding the Armenian heritage through educational, cultural and humanitarian programs. Each year, AGBU is committed to making a difference in the lives of 500,000 people across Armenia, Artsakh and the Armenian diaspora. Since 1906, AGBU has remained true to one overarching goal: to create a foundation for the prosperity of all Armenians. To learn more visit .
https://www.aysor.am/en/news/2019/10/12/AGBU/1616950
The Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople has issued a statement about the ongoing military operation launched by Turkey in Northern Syria. The statement reads they were praying that peace and safety will be established as soon as possible in the area.
"We pray that Operation Peace Spring, which aims to end terrorism and ensure the security of the borders, will continue in accordance with its purpose and establish peace and security as soon as possible," said Archbishop Sahak Mashalyan, head of the Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey's Spiritual Council, in a statement on Friday.
Stating that as the Armenian community they always underscore the importance of people living a prosperous life in an environment of peace, Mashalyan said the ongoing wars and chaos in the Middle East, especially in Syria, worried them deeply as well.
"Unfortunately peace is not always ensured through peaceful means… May God protect our country and our people from disasters with His merciful power," he added.
To remind, Turkey launched Operation Peace Spring in Syria's north on Wednesday, targeting the predominantly-Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Ankara justified its actions by claiming that the SDF are affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers' Party, which Ankara designates as a terrorist organization.
Damascus views the operation as a violation of Syria's territorial integrity, and this sentiment has since been echoed by Russia, and a number of Arab and Western nations.
The Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey declared its support for the Turkish army in Operation Peace Spring on Sept. 11. Sahak Maşalyan, head of Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey, spoke to the press in Istanbul about the ongoing operation.
“We pray that the Operation Peace Spring, which aims to end terrorism and ensure the security of the borders, will continue in accordance with its purpose and establish peace and security as soon as possible,” Maşalyan said.
“Unfortunately it’s not possible to establish peace with a peaceful path every time. May God protect our country and our people from disasters with mercy.”
“We are also praying for Syrians, who were tortured, oppressed and forced to leave their country because of terror, for them to live in peace and look forward to a brighter future without losing faith in justice, peace and good days,” he said.
“May the Lord inspire our leaders and commanders with the spirit of wisdom, compassion, and common sense,” he said.
Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan partook on Saturday in the opening of the "Corporate Social Responsibility in the Mining Industry" scientific-practical conference.
As the press department at the President’s Office reported, the President underlined that mining was among the branches ensuring Artsakh's dynamic development, highlighting within this context the relevance of the topics included in the conference agenda.