Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian on Wednesday for talks that focused on bilateral ties and the implementation of a Russian-brokered agreement that stopped last year’s Armenian-Azerbaijani war.

Putin emphasized the “strategic character” of Russia’s relationship with Armenia in his opening remarks at the meeting held in the Kremlin. He also noted the “solid” volume of Russian-Armenian trade, expressing confidence that it will grow again after shrinking last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Putin went on mention the “post-war situation” in the Karabakh conflict zone and, in particular, renewed transport links between Armenia and Azerbaijan envisaged by the ceasefire agreement which he brokered in November.

He said the reopening of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border for commercial traffic will give Armenia “new opportunities for the country’s development.” “In my view, this is an extremely important thing,” he told Pashinian.

Pashinian complained, for his part, that Azerbaijan is continuing to hold many Armenian prisoners of war and civilian captives in breach of the truce accord. “I am very glad that we have no differences regarding how to resolve this problem,” he said.

Pashinian and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev failed to reach an agreement on the prisoner release during their trilateral meeting with Putin held in Moscow on January 11. They only agreed to set up a Russian-Armenian-Azerbaijani working group tasked with working out practical modalities of restoring transport links between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The group co-headed by deputy prime ministers of the three states has held several meetings since January 30. Its Russian co-chair, Alexei Overchuk, visited Baku and Yerevan last week.

No concrete agreements were announced after Putin’s and Pashinian latest talks.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said late last week that Armenia’s forthcoming snap parliamentary elections will also be on the meeting’s agenda.

Pashinian has pledged to hold the elections in June in a bid resolve a domestic political crisis sparked by Armenia’s defeat in the six-week war.

Moscow has expressed concern at the deepening crisis. Putin discussed it with Pashinian in a February 25 phone call.

Neither leader mentioned the Armenian elections at the start of Wednesday’s meeting.

Pashinian cited instead the need to ascertain “some nuances” of Russian-Armenian military cooperation. He also announced that Armenia will receive on Thursday the first 15,000 doses of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine against COVID-19.

“We need more than a million doses,” the Armenian leader said, implicitly asking Putin to facilitate their delivery.

“Our [vaccine] production is gaining momentum,” replied Putin. “We are talking about a fairly large volume of production of this vaccine. So I think that we will solve this problem.”

The Orion is a medium-altitude, long-duration unmanned aerial system with a maximum take-off weight of 1 tonne and a maximum payload weight of 200 kg..

MOSCOW, April 7. /TASS/. The Federal Service for Military and Technical Cooperation does not rule out the possibility of delivering Russian-made unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to Armenia, Federal Service Spokeswoman Valeria Reshetnikova told TASS on Wednesday.

“As of today, we are offering a number of unmanned aerial vehicles for exports, in particular, the Orion-E reconnaissance system with a long-duration flight capability. In case of the corresponding requests from the Armenian side, we are ready to consider them in accordance with the established procedure,” the spokeswoman said.

The Orion is a medium-altitude, long-duration unmanned aerial system with a maximum take-off weight of 1 tonne and a maximum payload weight of 200 kg.

According to the data of the state arms seller Rosoboronexport, today the drone is offered for exports as an air reconnaissance system. At the same time, Orion drones in their strike version are arriving for the Russian troops.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met Tuesday with the European Union’s two presidents, but an awkward moment when the woman among them was left standing caused a bit of a diplomatic stir, The Washington Post reported.

A video of the leaders assembled in an ornate meeting room in Ankara showed Erdogan and European Council President Charles Michel settling themselves into gilded chairs, while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen appeared unsure of where she was expected to sit.

Von der Leyen stood staring at them, gestured with her right hand and appeared to say “um” or “ehm.”

She was ultimately offered a beige couch about 12 feet away, opposite Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, who occupies a lower-status rank in typical diplomatic protocol.

A member of the European Parliament, Dutch lawmaker Sophie in ‘t Veld, noted that at meetings between Erdogan and the prior pair of E.U. presidents, who were both men, the three leaders were seated next to one another, in equivalent chairs.

“It wasn’t a coincidence it was deliberate,” she wrote on Twitter, where some people explained away the incident as more about social distancing than protocol. “Why was @eucopresident silent?” she wrote, using Michel’s Twitter handle to ask why he didn’t offer his fancier seat to his counterpart.

Critics had already been taking aim at the visit, which came two weeks after Erdogan pulled Turkey out of an international treaty aimed at preventing violence against women known as the Istanbul Convention. Erdogan allies said the move didn’t mean women’s rights were being downgraded.

Participants of a women’s protest action initiated by the VETO opposition movement on Wednesday marched from Yerevan’s Charles Aznavour Square to the government building, which was guarded by numerous police officers.

Police were standing in several rows at the entrance to the government building.

One of the protesters said, addressing police: “You ensure the safety of persons subjected to Turkey, do you consider yourself a man? We urge you to open the entry for us, otherwise we will do it ourselves.”

Afterwards, the women tried to break through the police cordon, but a scuffle erupted, as police did not allow them to approach the entrance to the building. Protesting women also started throwing eggs towards the government building.

Police officers started to detain women protesters. 

Shafaq News / Armenian media reported, on Tuesday, that the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed a draft proposal that allows Armenians to receive passports through its embassies consulates in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon.

“this program which is launched by the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs took into account the tensions in the three countries, which may be difficult for Armenians to traveling to Armenia to recieve passports. ” ParARMENIAN quoted the Ministry as saying.

Armenians in the Middle East are mostly concentrated in Iran, Lebanon, Cyprus, Syria, Jordan and Jerusalem, although well-established communities exist in Iraq, Egypt, Turkey and other countries of the area including, of course, Armenia itself.

Azerbaijanis can only look for an office space in Stepanakert on a map, but not in real life. ARTSAKHPRESS. Lusine Avanesyan, the press secretary of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, stated this commenting on “Tural Ganjali”‘s statement that he is looking for an office in Stepanakert. “This is another sick wish of the Azerbaijani side, which is presented as a reality. With such cheap information speculations, they aim to mislead their society and irritate the Armenian society.

They can not only have an office in Stepanakert, but even visit Stepanakert. “Instead, let them think about the return of our occupied territories, so that it is possible to talk about the real prospects for the settlement of the conflict,” said Lusine Avanesyan.

Source: https://www.aravot.am/2021/04/06/1182296/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

GLENDALE – On April 1, Consul General of Armenia in Los Angeles Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Armen Baibourtian held a virtual meeting with the California State Senate Democratic Majority Leader Robert Hertzberg.

The participants of the meeting mutually stressed the importance of close cooperation between Armenia and California, based not only on sectoral priorities, but also due to the presence of a huge Armenian community. Armen Baibourtian and Robert Hertzberg touched upon the Framework Agreement on Cooperation signed in 2019 between Armenia and California and the provisions of the document. 

Those provisions create significant possibilities of institutional interaction between Armenia and the largest U.S. state with the prospect of further expanding the cooperation.Ambassador Baibourtian informed Senator Hertzberg that within the framework of the aforementioned agreement, clean environmental technologies are considered to be one of the priorities in the framework of bilateral cooperation.

California is renowned for its use of clean technology with an exceptional record of success. The Consul General noted that the development of the action plan will proceed in parallel with further improvement of the pandemic situation. He expressed appreciation of the professional expertise of Senator Hertzberg in that sphere and noted the importance of the senator’s support and advice for steering the mutual cooperation in the field of cleantech in the most efficient mode. In addition to a wealth of legislative experience, California veteran politician Robert Hertzberg was a global clean-energy entrepreneur (after he termed out of the Assembly in 2002). He helped create one of the first solar manufacturing companies in Los Angeles, and co-launched a company that produced inexpensive, lightweight solar panels for use around the world. In recognition of his clean energy efforts, the United Kingdom-based Guardian Magazine named him one of the “50 People Who Could Save the Planet.”The interlocutors discussed the possibility of Hertzberg’s visit to Armenia in his capacity of California Senate Majority Leader.Robert Hertzberg was first elected to the California State Assembly in 1996.

After unanimously elected by both parties in 2000 and 2001, he became the 64th Speaker of the California State Assembly. After his entrepreneurship in the private sector, he returned to state government in 2014, being elected into the California State Senate and becoming Majority Leader. Hertzberg represents nearly one million people in the San Fernando Valley.

ԼՈՍ ԱՆՋԵԼԵՍՈՒՄ ՀՀ ԳԼԽԱՎՈՐ ՀՅՈՒՊԱՏՈՍ, ԴԵՍՊԱՆ ԱՐՄԵՆ ԲԱՅԲՈՒՐԴՅԱՆԸ ՀԱՆԴԻՊԵՑ ԿԱԼԻՖՈՐՆԻԱՅԻ ՆԱՀԱՆԳԱՅԻՆ ՍԵՆԱՏԻ ՄԵԾԱՄԱՍՆՈՒԹՅԱՆ ԱՌԱՋՆՈՐԴ ՌՈԲԵՐՏ ՀԵՐՑԲԵՐԳԻ ՀԵՏ

ԳԼԵՆԴԵՅԼ – Ապրիլի 1-ին Լոս Անջելեսում ՀՀ գլխավոր հյուպատոս, արտակարգ և լիազոր դեսպան Արմեն Բայբուրդյանը հեռավար հանդիպում ունեցավ Կալիֆորնիայի նահանգային Սենատի դեմոկրատական մեծամասնության առաջնորդ Ռոբերտ Հերցբերգի հետ։ Հանդիպման մասնակիցները երկուստեք կարևորեցին Հայաստան-Կալիֆորնիա սերտ համագործակցությունը՝ խարսխված ոչ միայն ոլորտային առաջնահերթությունների վրա, այլև պայմանավորված մեծագույն հայկական համայնքի առկայութամբ։ Արմեն Բայբուրդյանը և Ռոբերտ Հերցբերգն անդրադարձան Հայաստանի և Կալիֆորնիայի միջև 2019 թվականին ստորագրված Շրջանակային  համաձայնագրին և փաստաթղթով սահմանված դրույթներին, որոնք գործակցության դաշտեն ստեղծում Հայաստանի և ամերիկյան խոշորագույ ննահանգի միջև՝ համագործակցությունն առավել ծավալելու հեռանկարով։Դեսպան Բայբուրդյանը սենատոր Հերցբերգին տեղեկացրեց, որ վերոնշյալ համաձայնագրի շրջանակում բնապահպանական մաքուր տեխնոլոգիաները գերակայություններից մեկն են համարվում՝ երկուստեք համագործակցության տեսանկյունից։ Կալիֆորնիան նշանավոր է մաքուր տեխնոլոգիաների կիրառմամբ և արձանագրված բացառիկ հաջողություններով։ Գլխավոր հյուպատոսը նշեց, որ գործողությունների ծրագրի մշակումը և ամփոփումը կակտիվանա համավարակի նահանջին զուգընթաց։ Նա բարձր գնահատեց սենատոր Հերցբերգի մասնագիտական հմտություններն այդ ոլորտում և կարևորեց սենատորի աջակցությունը և խորհրդատվությունը՝ այդ ոլորտում փոխգործակցությունը ճիշտ հուն ուղղորդելու համար։ Բացի օրենսդրական հարուստ փորձառությունից, Կալիֆորնիայի վետերան քաղաքական գործիչ Բոբ Հերցբերգը մի քանի տարի այդ բնագավառում զբաղվել է ձեռներեցությամբ, երբ ժամանակավորապես լքել էր քաղաքականությունը՝ օգնելով ստեղծել Կալիֆորնիայում առաջին արևային մարտկոցներ արտադրող գործարաններից մեկը։ Մաքուր էներգետիկայի զարգացման գործում իր ունեցած ծանրակշիռ ավանդի համար արժանացել է բրիտանական <<Գարդիան>> պարբերականի <<աշխարհի 50 անձիք, որոնք կարող են փրկել մոլորակը>> կոչմանը։Ա․ Բայբուրդյանը Ռոբերտ Հերցբերգի հետ քննարկեցին նրա Հայաստան այցելելու հնարավորությունը` որպես Կալիֆորնիայի սենատի մեծամասնության առաջնորդ։Ռոբերտ Հերցբերգը Կալիֆորնիայի նահանգային խորհրդարանի անդամ է 1996 թվականից։ Երկկուսակցական միաձայն քվեարկությամբ ընտրվել է Կալիֆորնիայի Ասամբլեայի խոսնակի պաշտոնում։ 2014 թվականից կրկին վերադարձել է նահանգային խորհրդարան՝ իբրև Սենատի մեծամասնության առաջնորդ։

Founder Caius Pawson had been “unaware of the deeper history of the term” when he named his label after a Rod Stewart song

By Jazz Monroe,

Young Turks, the venerable British label behind the xx, FKA twigs, and Sampha, will now be known simply as Young. Founder Caius Pawson explained that, when he named the label after a Rod Stewart song in 2005, he had been “unaware of the deeper history of the term.… and that the Young Turks were a group who carried out the Armenian Genocide.” In retrospect, he admits, they “should have listened more carefully to other voices and acted more quickly.” The label’s publishing wing, now called Young Songs, has also adopted the change.

The label will also donate an undisclosed sum to the Armenian Institute in London. Read the full statement below.

Ahead of the pre-electoral developments exepcted later this spring, a senior lawmaker from Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s political team has reportedly started a “surprise visit” to the United States without any prior notice.

Mkhitar Hayrapetyan, who heads the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Science, Education, Culture, Diaspora, Youth and Sport, is said to have concealed not only his scheduled trip but also the possible timeframes of his return from members of the ruling My Step faction. Citing its sources, the paper claims that he will be spending three weeks in the States. 

The paper notes that Hayrapetyan’s departure coincided with a crucial period when Pashinyan sent almost all the pivotal officials in his team to a “vacation” to prepare for the upcoming campaign (to secure the necessary number of votes).  

Former Armenian President Robert Kocharyan, during an interview with Russian media celebrity Vladimir Pozner on Russian TV yesterday, said that Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan is personally responsible for Armenia’s defeat in last year’s Karabakh war.https://www.facebook.com/v3.2/plugins/quote.php?app_id=468673766529308&channel=https%3A%2F%2Fstaticxx.facebook.com%2Fx%2Fconnect%2Fxd_arbiter%2F%3Fversion%3D46%23cb%3Df21c63b58fd2566%26domain%3Dhetq.am%26origin%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fhetq.am%252Ff7c9c5b47cecd2%26relation%3Dparent.parent&container_width=930&href=https%3A%2F%2Fhetq.am%2Fen%2Farticle%2F129359&locale=en_US&sdk=joey

Kocharyan said that Pashinyan’s demand that the Artsakh government participate in negotiations was ill-advised and lead to a settlement deadlock.

Kocharyan said there was an opportunity to end the war in a completely different manner, but Pashinyan did not take responsibility for making such a decision. As a result, Armenia has lost much more than it would have lost if it had accepted Putin’s offer, made on October 19, 2020, to end the fighting on condition that Azerbaijani refugees return to Shushi.

When asked to list Armenia’s most serious problems today, Kocharyan said all sectors in the country face serious issues.

The ex-Armenian president said he plans to run Kocharyan will in this June’s   special parliamentary elections with an alliance of parties.

“Most likely, there will be two parties in the bloc,” he said, without specifying which parties.

Asked if Russia has betrayed Armenia, Kocharyan, who has called for stronger ties with Moscow, said there are forces trying to foment anti-Russian sentiment in Armenia.

“This topic was raised in the past, even before the war. These are mainly the forces that are dissatisfied with the Russian orientation in Armenia. Now, a new situation has been created. The same forces are doing their best to create anti-Russian sentiment. But Russia did not provoke the war. Russia did everything possible to stop the war,” Kocharyan said.

Speaking about the threats now faced by Armenia, Kocharyan said Turkey poses the main external threat.

“Of course, Turkey. The threat is historical for us. We perceive Turkey as a threat, and the Turks see us as one. This explains the closed border, the lack of diplomatic relations. The threat is that if Turkey opens the border, it will do everything to turn Armenia into a place like Adjara, in terms of its business, in terms of its economy. I see a certain danger here,” said Kocharyan.

Speaking of the possibility of possible retaliation when he comes to power, Kocharyan noted the Armenian army is in a condition at present that no one can speak of a revenge. 

“An unduly unfair peace cannot be lasting and sustainable. I want to end this conflict, and we must find a solution which which will be fair,” said Kocharyan.