Category: 2019

168: Priority of Armenian presidency at EEU is elimination of obstacles, says Pashinyan

Toneyan Mark
| 13:44 | January 29 2019
Category
Politics

Armenia, by assuming the presidency at the EEU (Eurasian Economic Union) bodies, is planning to work actively, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said in an interview with the Russian RBK TV.

“Presidency at the EEU supreme bodies enables to work more actively in the organization and to attempt to boost the general work. This is exactly what we are set to do. I have already talked about priorities, but I would like to emphasize that I find the elimination of obstacles that exist at the EEU to be the main [one]. It has been calculated and presented that 80 obstacles exist in the Eurasian Union territory, concerning a number of sectors. Here I must note that in addition to “de jure” obstacles there are also “de facto” obstacles. Our main goal will be eliminating some part of them. If we succeed [to do so] in entirety, then it will be very good,” Pashinyan said.

168: ”Robert Kocharyan is suffering a flagrant denial of justice in Armenia”

Sonya Jalatian
| 14:13 | January 29 2019
Category
Politics

Edward Fitzgerald, Doughty Street Chambers 

– Could you please provide information on the current situation of the Kocharyan’s case in Strasbourg?

-The Kocharyan’s legal team have submitted two applications to the European Court of Human Rights. We have alleged that the President’s repeated detention is unlawful and unsubstantiated, and gave rise to violations of his rights under Articles 5, 6 and 18 of the Convention. The charges against Mr Kocharyan are vague and fabricated. It will be soon recognised that it is a politically motivated arrest and persecution. It will be very important not only for us, but also for the entire society in Armenia. Currently, we are working on another application to be lodged with the Strasbourg-based court, alleging that Mr Kocharyan is suffering a flagrant denial of fair trial, i.e., a flagrant denial of justice.

– What do you mean saying a denial of justice?

– There is sufficient evidence to show that the authorities have failed to provide general and specific guarantees under the Convention. The irregularities and lack of safeguards in the criminal proceedings undoubtedly constitute a denial of justice under the case law. Let me give you some vivid examples:

• the appointment of the appeal judge hearing the Kocharyan’s case in December 2018 was unlawful, manifestly contrary to the domestic legal provisions;

the individual judges have been influenced outside the judiciary, and from within (e.g., the well-known conversations between the Special Investigative Service and the National Security Service);

• the statements by Nikol Pashinyan and other officials infringing the presumption of innocence. They encouraged the public to believe Mr Kocharyan guilty and prejudge the assessment of the facts by the court;

• the principle of non-retroactivity has been infringed in the Kocharyan’s case (the famous Article 300.1 of the Criminal Code) which Article 7 of the Convention unconditionally prohibits;

• State-controlled media has initiated a virulent press campaign to affect adversely the fairness of the trial by influencing the public opinion and the Kocharyan’s presumption of innocence.

– Do you think the Case has political motives?

Let me be clear here. On 07 December 2018, the Court of Appeal rapidly issued an arrest warrant on the eve of the parliamentary elections…

Look, Mr Kocharyan has been detained on vague and fabricated charges and his detention was extended in order to punish him (vendetta) and to prevent his participation in any political processes. The authorities are intimidating and putting pressure on other persons with a view to obtaining information or other advantage to use against Mr Kocharyan. Certainly, his freedom has been deprived due to the existence of political motivation.

The prosecution and investigative authorities themselves were driven by ulterior motives. Finally, there is evidence that the courts were not sufficiently independent from the executive authorities.

RFE/RL Armenian Report – 01/29/2019

Emil Lazarian 
                                        Tuesday, 

Dashnaktsutyun Leader Upbeat On Dialogue With Government

        • Gayane Saribekian

Armenia - Dashnaktsutyun leaders Armen Rustamian (L) and Hagop Der 
Khatchadurian hold a news conference in Yerevan, .

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) is engaged in a 
“constructive” dialogue with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian more than three 
months after being driven out of his government, a leader of the party said on 
Tuesday.

“We see no obstacles and problems in terms of solving our key national issues 
together with Mr. Pashinian,” said Armen Rustamian. “We will be doing business 
with Mr. Pashinian or anyone else on the basis of our political and ideological 
principles. In this sense, I see such room [for cooperation.]”

“We have been talking to Mr. Pashinian in a very constructive atmosphere,” he 
told a news conference. “We are making our views clear to each other. So I am 
optimistic about our further cooperation.”

Dashnaktsutyun was part of Armenia’s former government toppled during last 
spring’s “velvet revolution” led by Pashinian. It received two ministerial 
posts in a new government formed by him in May. Pashinian fired his 
Dashnaktsutyun-affiliated ministers in October, accusing their party of 
secretly collaborating with former President Serzh Sarkisian’s Republican Party.

Pashinian expressed readiness for renewed cooperation with Dashnaktsutyun in a 
written appeal to delegates of its congress held in Nagorno-Karabakh this month.

The congress began with the announcement of the resignation of the party’s 
longtime top leader, Hrant Markarian. The latter was reportedly blamed by some 
party figures for Dashnaktsutyun’s failure to win any seats in Armenia’s new 
parliament elected on December 9.

In his resignation speech, Markarian strongly criticized the current 
government’s policies. He said Dashnaktsutyun should aim for removing Pashinian 
and his political team from power in the next general elections.

Rustamian sounded more cautious in this regard. He said his party will not 
hesitate to oppose government policies unacceptable to it. He singled out the 
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Dashnaktsutyun, which remains influential in the Armenian Diaspora communities 
in the Middle East, the United States and France, has always favored a hard 
line on the conflict’s resolution, opposing major territorial concessions to 
Azerbaijan.



Another Court Blocks Arrest Of Former Kocharian Aide

        • Naira Nalbandian

Armenian - Armen Gevorgian, a former senior aide to ex-President Robert 
Kocharian, speaks to journalists in a court building in Yerevan, January 29, 
2019.

Armenia’s Court of Appeals on Tuesday upheld a lower court’s decision not to 
allow investigators to arrest a former senior aide to former President Robert 
Kocharian on a string of criminal charges.

Armen Gevorgian was first charged in August with obstructing justice in the 
wake of a disputed presidential election held in February 2008 two months 
before Kocharian served out his second and final term.

In early December, Armenia’s Special Investigative Service (SIS) also accused 
Gevorgian of involvement in an “overthrow of the constitutional order,” bribery 
and money laundering. The SIS asked a district court to sanction his pre-trial 
arrest.

The court refused to do that, leading prosecutors to lodge an appeal. The 
Office of the Prosecutor-General did not immediately say whether it will now 
appeal to the Court of Cassation, the country’s highest body of criminal 
justice.

Gevorgian’s lawyer, Erik Aleksanian, hailed the appeals court’s “just” ruling, 
saying that the prosecutors failed to substantiate their claims that his client 
could go into hiding or obstruct the ongoing investigation into the 2008 
post-election violence in Yerevan. “We have no doubts about the independence of 
our judicial system,” Aleksanian said.

Gevorgian himself was reluctant to talk to reporters, saying that he is not 
allowed to divulge details of the probe.


Armenia - President Robert Kocharian (R) and his senior adviser Armen Gevorgian 
at an election campaign rally in Yerevan, January 26, 2003.

The SIS brought the three accusations against Gevorgian four days after 
Kocharian was arrested on charges of illegally using the armed forces against 
opposition supporters who protested in Yerevan on March 1-2, 2008. The SIS says 
that amounted to an “overthrow of the constitutional order.”

The former president strongly denies any wrongdoing. He says that Prime 
Minister Nikol Pashinian is waging a political “vendetta” against him.

The obstruction of justice charge brought against Gevorgian also stems from the 
2008 election. Gevorgian was the chief of Kocharian’s staff at the time.

The SIS claims that he pressured a member of Armenia’s Constitutional Court to 
uphold the official vote results that gave victory to Kocharian’s preferred 
successor, Serzh Sarkisian. Gevorgian, who also held senior positions in 
Sarkisian’s government, denies this and other accusations.

The SIS has yet to publicize details of its corruption case against Gevorgian. 
It has only said that the latter had received a massive bribe.



Russian, Armenian PMs Speak By Phone After Moscow Meeting


Russia - Prime Ministers Dmitry Medvedev (R) of Russia and Nikol Pashinian of 
Armenia meet in Moscow, January 25, 2019.

Four days after meeting with him in Moscow, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian 
telephoned his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev on Tuesday for further 
discussions on Russian-Armenian commercial ties.

In a short statement, Pashinian’s press service said he and Medvedev talked 
about “cooperation within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) 
and bilateral relations.” It gave no details.

A Russian government statement said the phone conversation took place “at the 
initiative of the Armenian side.” It said the two premiers “continued 
discussions on pressing issues of Russian-Armenian commercial and 
investment-related cooperation” which were on the agenda of their Moscow talks 
held on Friday. They also touched upon “integration interaction within the 
EEU,” the statement added without elaborating.

Official press releases on Pashinian’s January 25 meeting with Medvedev were 
also short on specifics. They indicated only that the two men focused on 
economic issues. The Russian government also noted that “the meeting took place 
at the request of the Armenian side.”

While in Moscow, Pashinian also visited the headquarters of the EEU’s executive 
body, the Eurasian Economic Commission. Speaking there, he praised the EEU and 
reaffirmed Armenia’s continued membership in the Russian-led trade bloc.

Pashinian did not meet with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin during his latest 
trip to the Russian capital. The two men most recently held talks there on 
December 27. On December 31, Russia’s Gazprom giant announced a 10 percent 
increase in the wholesale price of Russian natural gas imported by Armenia.

Earlier this month, the Armenian government began negotiating with Armenia’s 
Gazprom-owned gas distribution network in hopes of keeping its internal tariffs 
unchanged. Pashinian has repeatedly expressed confidence that the existing gas 
prices set for Armenian households and corporate consumers will not rise this 
year.



EU Promises Extra Aid To Armenia In 2019

        • Nane Sahakian

Armenia -- EU Commissioner for EU Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations 
Johannes Hahn at a news conference in Yerevan, .

The European Union will provide Armenia with additional financial assistance 
this year in recognition of democratic change in the country, a senior EU 
official said during a visit to Yerevan on Tuesday.

Johannes Hahn, the EU commissioner for European neighborhood and enlargement 
negotiations, said Armenia will be rewarded for the “developments of last 
year.” He singled out the conduct of the December 9 parliamentary elections, 
saying that they are regarded as free and fair by the international community.

“This is something good, something unique so far in Armenia’s recent history,” 
Hahn told a joint news conference with Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab 
Mnatsakanian held before his talks with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian.

Hahn did not specify the likely amount of the extra EU aid. He said only that 
it will be allocated from an EU fund designed to reward partner states’ 
“special achievements” in the areas of democratization and rule of law.

In July, Pashinian criticized the EU for not boosting its assistance to Armenia 
following the “velvet revolution” that brought him to power. The head of the EU 
Delegation in Yerevan, Piotr Switalski, countered at the time that the new 
Armenian government needs to propose specific reform-oriented projects before 
demanding greater aid.

According to Pashinian’s press office, the prime minister and Hahn discussed, 
among other things, a possible “expansion of EU-supported development programs 
in Armenia” when they met later on Friday.

“They agreed that the implementation of new initiatives in the fields of 
infrastructure, education, energy and other areas might be promising,” the 
office said in a statement. It said the two sides stressed in this regard the 
importance of implementing the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement 
(CEPA) signed by the EU and Armenia in 2017.

Hahn described his talks with Pashinian as “open and forward looking.” “I have 
reassured the PM that Armenia can count on EU support in implementing CEPA and 
introducing comprehensive reforms for the benefit of Armenian citizens,” he 
wrote on his Twitter page.

“We need to seize the moment to consolidate democracy, also to the benefit of 
the economic development of the country!” added the EU official.

Speaking at the news conference, Hahn said he is also discussing with Armenian 
leaders the possibility of organizing an investment forum in Yerevan for 
potential European investors. He said their interest in Armenia’s economy has 
increased since the “velvet revolution.”

“There is a very positive mood in the country which also has a spillover effect 
abroad,” stated Hahn.



Press Review



“Hraparak” notes that former Defense Minister Vigen Sargsian and former 
Karabakh army commander Levon Mnatsakanian were among the dignitaries attending 
a government reception held on Monday on the occasion of Armenia’s Army Day. 
Also invited were former Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian and his former deputy 
Yuri Khachaturov, who were indicted over the 2008 post-election violence in 
Yerevan. The paper welcomes their presence at the event. It also praises Prime 
Minister Nikol Pashinian for meeting with the new leadership of the Armenian 
Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun). “These are first attempts at 
national solidarity and a peaceful coexistence of individuals having different 
views and ideologies,” editorializes the paper.

Lragir.am says that other current and former military officials invited to the 
reception publicly challenged on Monday law-enforcement authorities’ claims 
that the Armenian army was illegally used against opposition protesters in 
2008.The online publication suggests that the Special Investigative Service 
(SIS) lacks factual evidence to substantiate those claims. Besides, it says, 
the SIS chief, Sasun Khachatrian, has faced resignation calls since the 
scandalous publication of his secretly recorded phone calls with another top 
security official.

“Zhamanak” comments on Pashinian’s weekend meeting with the head and three 
other members of Dashnaktsutyun’s newly elected Bureau. The paper agrees with 
those who think that Dashnaktsutyun fared poorly in the December 9 
parliamentary elections because it had grown too connected to Armenia’s former 
governments, sacrificing its principles and ideology. “You may or may not agree 
with that ideology but you can’t deny that Dashnaktsutyun has played a huge 
role in a number of key issues,” it says, wondering whether the party is now 
reforming itself and learning lessons from its mistakes of the last two decades.

(Lilit Harutiunian)




Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2019 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
www.rferl.org

Sharmazanov: As a result of Pashinyan`s policy, Armenia became an outcast in the CSTO

Jack Hunanian
Arminfo, Armenia
Jan 29 2019
Ani Mshetsyan

ArmInfo. As a result of Nikol Pashinyan's policy, Armenia had a number of problems in the sphere of foreign policy. For example, Armenia has become an outcast in the CSTO. The press secretary of the Republican Party of Armenia, Eduard Sharmazanov, stated this at a press conference on January 29.

"The difficulties in the CSTO began after Armenia recalled its  representative Yuri Khachaturov. Due to Pashinyan's unprofessional  policy, Armenia lost the post of CSTO Secretary General and this is  only the tip of the iceberg," the RPA press secretary stressed.

Sharmazanov also noted that despite the numerous statements of  Pashinyan, relations with Russia do not cause much optimism: "If  everything is really so wonderful, it seems, tell me, why did the gas  prices go up?" Sharmazanov also criticized the statements of the  Prime Minister that he was against Armenia's entry into the EAEU and  now believes that this step was not entirely correct, but there is  nothing to be done; it will have to be reconciled. "Pashinyan did not  understand that he became the head of the republic and is responsible  for the whole country. Meanwhile, his personal "I" is more important  for him. In addition, how can he then explain the fact that in Davos  he praised in every way EAEU ", the politician asked.

Asked by ArmInfo's correspondent whether the politician continues to  state that Serzh Sargsyan's decision to join the EEU was in the  interests of Armenia, Sharmazanov said: "Armenia's accession to the  EEU was the only right decision for Armenia. And if we have some  opportunity today to ensure economic growth, this is solely at the  expense of the EAEU market. Where could we sell our goods on such a  scale, where our goods will be sold? Because of Pashinyan's policy,  we became outcasts in the CSTO, became an unpredictable partner

The Prime Minister played with his actions with the authority of this  structure. Nobody knows what to expect from us? How can we cooperate  if they don't know what to expect from us, if they don't trust us. I  believe that these are dangerous phenomena that should be dealt with.  We have no other alternative than the EEU, "the RPA spokesman  concluded.

To note, on January 25, at a briefing at the headquarters of the  Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) in Moscow, the Prime Minister  stated that when he was a deputy he voted against joining Armenia to  the Eurasian Union, and later held hearings about Armenia's  withdrawal from the EEU.

Armen Rustamyan: We are concerned about the optimistic statements of Azerbaijan in connection with the Karabakh conflict

Greg Madatian
Arminfo, Armenia
Jan 29 2019
Ani Mshetsyan

ArmInfo. We are very concerned about the optimistic statements of Azerbaijan that in 2019 the parties approached the agreement on the Karabakh issue. On January 29 at a meeting with journalists, the newly elected head of the ARF  "Dashnaktsutyun" Bureau Armen Rustamyan stated.

"We all know about what solution the Karabakh issue can satisfy  Azerbaijan, that it will agree to an agreement. In the course of our  contacts and relations with representatives of the previous  authorities, we drew the" red line "with these authorities. In this  context, the latest statement of the current the authorities said  that there could be no concessions on the part of Armenia and Artsakh  until Azerbaijan recognized the independence of Karabakh, "Rustamyan  said.

According to him, if today Azerbaijan does not intend to do this,  then there are two options, we are inferior in the question that the  people of Karabakh fixed in accordance with Article 175 of the  Constitution (referendum – Ed.), Or it will be necessary to impose  martial law, the other There is no option. "Either Azerbaijan will be  convinced that if it unleashes a war, it will lose not 20% of the  territories, but much more, and therefore will not attack, which has  always been the main deterrent force, or we give up in exchange for  peace. If you want to we must show Azerbaijan that if it starts a new  war, it will end not in his favor. All Armenians from Armenia,  Artsakh and the Diaspora will defend Artsakh, "Rustamyan concluded. 

Lawyer: I am of the opinion that the attempt to overthrow the constitutional system was carried out by Levon Ter-Petrosyan and his team

Tambiyan Samvel
Arminfo, Armenia
Jan 29 2019
Tatevik Shahunyan

ArmInfo. On the evening of March 1, 2008, the army was ordered to ensure the safety of state buildings, and in the afternoon the army did not interfere in the  processes at all. The lawyer of the second President of Armenia  Robert Kocharian Ruben Sahakian stated this in a conversation with  journalists.

To the remark that the documentary frames clearly show that the  special equipment was brought to the streets, Sahakyan replied: "The  equipment simply stood in readiness, because events could have  developed differently, because two generals, as well as 80 percent of  the special corps, tried active actions. You yourself see in these  frames that people were armed with sticks, with rods, batons".   Sahakyan again reminded that Kocharyan enjoys immunity. "All those  who say the opposite, either illiterate or set a goal to do what can  not be done. I am of the opinion that the attempt to overthrow the  constitutional order was made by Levon Ter-Petrosyan and his team,  "he said.

Armenia and Russia discuss the details of the joint production of modern assault rifles

Tambiyan Samvel
Arminfo, Armenia
Jan 29 2019
Alexandr Avanesov

ArmInfo. As part of further development of military-economic cooperation of the CSTO member countries, and, in particular, cooperation and integration of  enterprises and organizations of the defense complex, on January 29,  RA Defense Minister David Tonoyan received delegation of the  Kalashnikov Concern, headed by the concern's general director Andrei  Baryshinikov.

Greeting the guests, David Tonoyan stressed the importance of the  cooperation of the Kalashnikov Concern with the Armenian  military-industrial enterprises, reports the press service of the  Armenian Defense Ministry. He stated his readiness to assist all  those projects that are aimed at the organization of joint production  of military products in Armenia.

In turn, Andrey Baryshnikov congratulated the Minister on the Army  Day, and thanked for the invitation to take part in an official  reception on the occasion of the 27th anniversary of the country's  Armed Forces. The head of the Concern presented the process of  implementing joint projects with Armenian partners within the  framework of the CSTO to the RA Minister of Defense. In particular,  within the framework of the military-technical cooperation program  envisaged by the Treaty of May 15, 1992 and the agreement of May 24,  2016, summarized details of the project for the joint production of  the latest machines are presented.

Earlier, ArmInfo reported that Armenia was experimentally purchasing  a small batch of the latest AK-12 out of 50 copies. As Kommersant  newspaper wrote, the Armenian armed forces will try the new AK-12 in  action, after which, if approved, the purchases will continue.  According to the newspaper, Armenia will become the first foreign  country to purchase the "Kalashnikovs" of the new sample. According  to armoury- online.ru, the Russian automatic carbine under the symbol  AK-12, which means "Kalashnikov assault rifle of 2012", is a  promising development of the Kalashnikov concern.  One of the main  features of the AK-12 was the increased ergonomics of the weapon in  comparison with the AK-74M caliber 5.45×39 and the AKM caliber  7.62×39. The work carried out increased the accuracy of fire, the  reliability of the mechanisms of weapons and increase the service  life.

Monument to Armenian fighter in Georgian village angers Azerbaijan

Mike Maghakian
Ekho Kavkaza, Radio Liberty/Radio Free Europe's Russian-language Caucasus service
Jan 25 2019
Monument to Armenian fighter in Georgian village angers Azerbaijan

[Armenian News note: the below is translated from Russian]

Mzia Paresishvili has reported on the bust of an ethnic Armenian fighter, who fought against Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh, which caused a sharp reaction in Azerbaijan. Paresishvili quotes the reactions by the sides, describing how the bust was opened in the village. The following is the text of Mzia Paresishvili's report published on the website of Ekho Kavkaza, Radio Liberty/Radio Free Europe's Russian-language Caucasus service on 25 January headlined "Bust of Mikhail Avagyan in Javakheti: Baku demanding explanations"; subheadings inserted editorially:

Ali Babayev, the chairman of the Congress of Azerbaijanis in Georgia, has described as a provocation the opening of a monument to a participant in Karabakh war [in Azerbaijan's breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh], Mikhail Avagyan, in the Javakheti [region predominantly populated by ethnic Armenians]. The [opening] ceremony was held in the [ethnic] Armenian-populated village of Bughasheni of Akhalkalaki District. Baku has already sent a note of protest to Tbilisi.

Bust to Karabakh fighter erected in Georgian village

The bust of Mikhail Avagyan, a native of the Bughasheni village of Akhalkalaki District, that was renovated and erected in the village on 20 January has become notorious. The event in Bughashei, which has a population of about 500 people, coincided with the opening of a play area for children, the local Jnews Internet edition reported.

"Mikhail Avagyan was born in the village of Bughasheni. Having studied eight years in the village school, he continued his studies at the technical school in the town of Hrazdan in Armenia. Having served in the army, he attended the Interior Ministry school in Sverdlovsk [Russia] and then worked in Interior Ministry structures in Abkhazia. Then he moved to the village of Sarnaghbyur in Armenia [the village is in Nagorno-Karabakh], where he got married. When the war in Nagorno-Karabakh started, Mikhail Avagyan participated in military operations in Horadis [Horadiz], Xocali, Hadrut, and Fuzuli and was known under his soldier name Cobra. He spoke Azerbaijani, which helped him in reconnaissance activities. A sniper wounded him during the battles for the Horadiz bridge and he died on his way to hospital," the author of the article [in Jnews], Kristine Marabyan, said in a brief biography of Avagyan.

Akhalkalaki Mayor Yurik Unanyan and Council Chairman Nairi Iritsyan attended the solemn event as well as members of the [Georgian] Parliament, Henzel Mkoyan and Samvel Manukyan of the [ruling] Georgian Dream [party], and Armenian Ambassador to Georgia Ruben Sadoyan.

Azerbaijan's reaction

The Azerbaijani media have not failed to notice the opening of the bust. "A monument to the Xocali executioner erected in Georgia!" the Internet edition Media.az reported. It was also noted that the monument to the participant in the Karabakh war was erected on 20 January, day of national sorrow in Azerbaijan. Soviet troops were introduced in the Azerbaijani capital on that day in 1990. More than a hundred civilians were killed and 700 were wounded in clashes.

Georgian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Zurab Pataradze had to give explanations in this connection. He was summoned to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry and they demanded that he react immediately. Ali Babayev, the head of the Congress of Azerbaijanis in Georgia, urged today the Georgian government to do the same.

"Government agencies should carry out a serious investigation into this problem in order to find out, who allowed erecting this monument. I think that the government has nothing to do with this. This is a provocation against the government."

Backstory

However, it became clear that there has been no permission. This bust was erected in Bughasheni back in the 1990s. However, there is a backstory that Maia Ivelashvili, the local correspondent of the Georgian service of Radio Liberty, has to tell. She said that various events are often held in Armenian villages of Samtskhe-Javakheti in winter. Local people call this period "return from virgin land", which usually falls on January and February, when local people, who left for earnings, return to their native places and according to the tradition, make attempts to contribute to the improvement of their villages, repairing a school or road, or eternalising the memory of a fellow villager. Of course, this becomes a festive event.

"Gagik Avagyan, a relative of Mikhail Avagyan, did the same. He built a play area for children in the village and, as they say, renovated the damaged bust. The family of the deceased has not lived in Javakheti for quite some time now and Gagik Avagyan himself has lived in Ukraine for many years. He has a business there, but since he grew up in Bughasheni, he had the desire to help the village. All this was done on a voluntary basis, as MP Henzel Mkoyan told me. He flatly denied reports that Avagyan fought in Abkhazia against Georgia. At the same time, there is no one else, who could confirm that this information is true," Maia Ivelashvili said.

She also said that MP Henzel Mkoyan regards the scandal that has erupted as a purposeful provocation. He attended the opening of Avagyan's bust in 1997 and, as he said, there was no such agitation at that time. As regards the local officials, who attended the opening of the bust, they are justifying themselves, saying that local residents invited them to the opening of a park and the latter organised the event themselves.

"Council Chairman Nairi Iritsyan noted in a fit of anger that he did know that there was such a bust in the village, but he learned who it was devoted to only now, after the scandal," Maia Ivelashvili noted.

Georgian Foreign Ministry urges 'not to raise stir'

The Georgian Foreign Ministry made a statement, urging not to raise a stir around the bust, confirming reports on the meetings of ambassadors in Tbilisi and Baku.

"Azerbaijan is Georgia's strategic partner and there are no issues between us, which we do not discuss. This is a usual form of relations and it is not necessary to raise a stir around this problem."

It is inapt for Pashinyan that Putin has no time to meet him

Andranik Taslakhchian
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
Monday
IT IS INAPT FOR PASHINYAN THAT PUTIN HAS NO TIME TO MEET HIM
Russia expects convincing evidence of loyalty from Armenia, Yerevan expects reciprocity from Moscow
 
Yuri Simonyan
Source: Nezavisimaya Gazeta, N15, January 25, 2019, p. 5
 
Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov urged not to look for the pitfalls: "As far as I know, no talks are planned, Friday is a busy day for the president … I don't know if there will be any changes, but so far no contacts have been agreed upon," – he said, noting that Putin and Pashinyan "quite often communicate by telephone and very often meet."
 
Nevertheless, there are certain reasons to believe that relations between Moscow and Yerevan are not completely cloudless. The Russian side, according to an informed NG source, still does not sufficiently trust the new authorities in Armenia. Some statements, in particular, about attempts to establish military-trade relations with China or Sweden, of course, did not go unnoticed in Moscow. Inspections in economic entities belonging to the Russian Federation could not increase the degree of trust, either, not to mention the criminal cases against former officials, to this or that degree connected with Russian political or business circles. The most important of them is the second president, Robert Kocharyan, who remains in custody, who is rumored to be a personal friend of Putin.
 
Yerevan has counterclaims to the strategic partner, the main and most offensive one is the continued supply of arms to Azerbaijan.
 
The present working visit of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to Moscow was the fourth one after the "velvet revolution" and the first one when the Armenian leader arrived in an absolutely legitimate status, without the prefix "acting" or in the informal position of the "new Armenian leader." The visit is dedicated to the beginning chairmanship of Armenia in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), and Pashinyan is expected to give a speech at the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC). The current visit of Pashinyan to Moscow may be the first one when he is not to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
[Translated from Russian]

Savior of rare Christian manuscripts installed Mossul archbishop

Christine Harutyunian
La Croix International
Monday
Savior of rare Christian manuscripts installed Mossul archbishop
 
 Dominican friar in Iraq risked life to keep ancient documents out of extremists’ hands
 
 
 
An Iraq priest credited with stopping the Islamic State (IS) from destroying precious Christian manuscripts and documents has been ordained as the new Chaldean Catholic archbishop of Mossul.
 
Najib Mikhael Moussa, 63, was installed in Jan. 25 at St. Paul Church in the war-ravaged city that is still reeling from a nine-month battle to retake it from the extremist group, also known as Daesh, which officially ended in July 2017, Agence France-Presse reports.
 
During the siege, over 54,000 houses were reportedly destroyed in and around the city, leading to a wealth of reconstruction projects.
 
Many are benefiting from a US$400-million fund that was set up in 2015 to help reconstruct Iraq a year after Daesh tore through the country like wildfire, laying ruin to Christian churches and other religious artifacts.
 
“Our message to the whole world, and to Mosul’s people, is one of coexistence, love, and peace among all of Mosul’s different communities and the end of the ideology that Daesh (IS) brought here,” Mikhael, who began his religious service at the age of 24, was quoted as saying.
 
The Dominican friar was responsible for preserving nearly 850 ancient manuscripts in Aramaic, Arabic and other languages and about 50,000 books while serving at Al-Saa Church (Our Lady of the Hour) in Mosul, Iraq.
 
But due to the rapid advance of the IS, he was forced to make two emergency maneuvers to ensure they survived.
 
In 2007, Mikhael relocated them all to Qaraqosh, formerly Iraq’s biggest Christian city; then in 2014 when the Jihadists rushed toward Qaraqosh, he bundled as many of the rarest manuscripts as he could into his car and raced east to the country’s autonomous Kurdish region.
 
Together with some other friars, he also moved the Oriental Manuscript Digitization Center to a safer location and digitally copied thousands of damaged Syrian, Armenian and other manuscripts.
 
On Jan. 25, Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, head of the Chaldean Catholic Church, appealed for more support for Iraq’s Christians from bishops globally and other international groups.
 
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