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Armenia government accepts 3 principles, 6 elements proposed by Minsk Group Co-Chairs?

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All the commentaries that, with his position that he cannot represent the people of Artsakh, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia is shrugging off his shoulders the accountability and placing it on the authorities or the people of Artsakh, are absurd. 

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Tuesday stated about the aforesaid at the joint meeting of the Security Councils of Armenia and the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic/NKR), in the latter’s capital city of Stepanakert.

“The Republic of Armenia has been, is, and will remain the number-one guarantor of Artsakh’s security,” he noted, in particular. “And it will continue its engagement in the peace process [to resolve the Karabakh conflict].” 

In Pashinyan’s words, the next key issue is whether the Government of Armenia accepts as a basis for the conflict negotiation process the three principles and six elements which the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs have proposed.

“The way in which Azerbaijan interprets these principles is unacceptable to us,” the Armenian PM added, in particular. “Our objective is not a ‘language’ fight, but the productive negotiation process, and therefore records that don’t cause misinterpretations should become the basis for the negotiation process.

“But, as I already mentioned, the principles, elements proposed by the co-chairs have caused the most dissimilar and most dimensional interpretations over the last ten years, and therefore the key objective of the forthcoming negotiation process shall be the clarification of the basic concepts, so to speak, of the three principles and six elements; and we are ready for such a conversation, too.”

Demonstrators In Stepanakert Demand Release of Ex-Armenian President Robert Kocharyan

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Hayk Ghazaryan, Demonstrators gathered in Stepanakert’s Charles Aznavour Square today and demanded the immediate release of ex-Armenian president Robert Kocharyan, who’s been arrested and charged in Yerevan with usurping state power during the March 1, 2008 post-election public protests.

Protest organizer Grigori Afanasyan, who teaches physics at Artsakh State University, told Hetq that Kocharyan served valiantly in the Artsakh War and that no one has the right to imprison those who fought to defend Artsakh.

The top photo shows demonstrators holding a banner that reads “Artsakh Stands with Its Heroes”.

Afanasyan said that those who did not fight in the war, a slight to Acting Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, have no moral justification to prosecute those like Kocharyan and other war vets.

Donora Gabrielyan, the rector of Stepanakert’s Mesrop Mashtots University, and Vera Khachatryan, who teaches Russian at Stepanakert P.S. 7, were among the speakers calling for Kocharyan’s release.

“I ask for the immediate release of that man. Why? Think for a moment. What if our eternal enemy, the Turkish dog, just a few meters distant, sees us accusing a national hero. That would please the enemy. I ask you to stand until the end and continue our struggle. Freedom to Robert Kocharyan, a great man of the Armenian people,” declared Aleksandr Hayrapetyan, a member of the Artsakh Movement, from the podium.

When this reporter asked Hayrapetyan if the charges against Kocharyan were false, he replied that he couldn’t say since he didn’t know anything about the March 1-2, 2008 events in Yerevan that left ten dead.

Rector Gabrielyan told the demonstrators that the steps taken against Kocharyan in Armenia had upset her.

“If Mr. Kocharyan is guilty, they should have proven it before detaining him. They always do the opposite. They arrest first and then scramble for evidence,” Gabrielyan said, adding that she wouldn’t want to unite with such an Armenia.

Source: https://hetq.am/en/article/99474

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Rally in support of Armenia’s ex-President Kocharyan held in Artsakh

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A rally demanding the release of Armenia’s former President Robert Kocharyan currently placed in detention was held on December 22 in the capital city Stepanakert of the Artsakh Republic. The protest was organized by the initiative group named “Union of Robert Kocharyan’s supporters”, Yerevan Today reported.

During the rally, physicist Grigory Afanasyan addressed the protestants: “Today, after 30 years we have gathered again and this time in protection of the former president of Armenia and Artsakh Robert Kocharyan. Karabakh people are ready to stand by their leader. Kocharyan was the one who stood by us during the demonstrations [of the Karabakh movement] and we are now demanding his immediate release,” Afanasyan said, recalling the former president’s role in the Karabakh movement and the subsequent war.

One of the participants of the gathering noted in case of a need they are ready to march from Stepanakert to Yerevan and stage demonstrations demanding Kocharyan’s freedom.

To remind, Kocharyan was arrested in July on charges of overthrowing Armenia’s constitutional order during the March 1-2, 2008 post-election events. On December 7, Armenia’s Court of Appeals upheld the first instance court’s ruling to arrest Robert Kocharyan.
The ex-president and his lawyers strongly deny the charges as ‘politically motivated’ and are set to file lawsuit with ECHR.

Pashinyan speaks out about Artsakh Defense Minister’s dismissal

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YEREVAN. – Acting Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said he cannot comment on the dismissal of former Artsakh Defense Minister Levon Mnatsakanyan by virtue of circumstances.

However, he added that the concerns over the impact that changes might have on the combat readiness of the Artsakh army “are very bad remarks addressed to our army”.

 

UPDATED: Artsakh has new defense chief

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The Artsakh Republic President signed a number of decrees and approved the Government resolutions on cadre issues.

President Bako Sahakyan signed a decree releasing lieutenant-general Levon Mnatsakanyan from the position of the Artsakh Republic defense minister, commander of the Defense Army.

According to another presidential decree Major-General Karen Abrahamyan was appointed Artsakh Republic defense minister, commander of the Defense Army, being released form the position of first deputy commander, chief of staff of the Artsakh Republic Defense Army’s military unit N19916.

Under the President’s decree colonel Jalal Haroutyunyan was appointed first deputy commander, chief of staff of the Artsakh Republic Defense Army’s military unit N19916, being  released from the post of commander of the Artsakh Republic Defense Army’s military unit N42009.

Pursuant to the Government resolution approved by the President, Karen Sargsyan was released from the post of director of the Artsakh Republic State Service on Emergency Situations.

Pursuant to the Government resolution approved by the President, Levon Mnatsakanyan was appointed director of the Artsakh Republic State Service on Emergency Situations.

According to the Presidential  decree Mourad Petrosyan was released from the position of Artsakh Republic President’s representative at large upon his own request.

Under the President’s decree, Karen Sargsyan was appointed Artsakh Republic President’s representative at large.

Bako Sahakyan rated high professional and humane qualities of major-general Karen Abrahamyan and colonel Jalal Haroutyunyan, their expertise, voicing his confidence that they would appropriately discharge their responsibilities, wishing them success in their service.

President Sahakyan thanked former defense minister, commander of the Defense Army Levon Mnatsakanyan for his long-standing service, highlighting his great contribution to the army-building process, the formation and development of the Defense Army and expressed confidence that Levon Mnatsakanyan would continue to serve his Homeland with the same commitment in his new post.

Artsakh NA Speaker congratulates US Congress representatives

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Ashot Ghulyan, Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Artsakh, sent congratulation letters on November 14 to a group of US officials who won the mid-term congressional elections.

“The people of Artsakh greatly appreciate your support for Armenian issues. We hope that your further activities will continue to promote human rights, democracy and the recognition of the peoples’ unalienable right to self-determination,” the message reads.

A number of ANCA-endorsed US congressional representatives, including Frank Pallone, David Valadeo, Jackie Speier, Gus Bilirakis, Anna Eshoo, Judy Chu, Adam Schiff and Tulsi Gabbard were re-elected in the mid-term elections early in November. Anthony Brindisi, a US-Armenian congressman, will also serve in U.S. Congress after succeeding in the elections.

Artsakh on its way to self-sufficiency as sown areas keep growing in country

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Author ‎Lala Ter-Ghazaryan‎

While the sown areas keep decreasing in Armenia annually, they are on the rise in Artsakh, with agriculture chiefs planning to achieve self-sufficiency in fruits and vegetables and leave no unsown lands in the country.

Due to the ongoing state-supported programs aimed at encouraging farming, some 70% of arable lands are cultivated in Artsakh today.

“The autumn sown areas have increased by 20,000 hectares this year compared to last year. If some 10 years ago almost half of our arable lands were not cultivated, now over 70% is cultivated,” Artsakh Deputy Minister of Agriculture Vilen Asatryan told Panorama.am.

The government supports and encourages farmers in several ways by providing them with free seeds and mineral fertilizers, with vegetable growers receiving gratuitous 200,000 drams per hectare. This program has been implemented since 2016, having 1000 beneficiaries this year.

The agriculture ministry is not fully satisfied with this year’s harvest, which has been greatly damaged due to hailstorms, strong winds and drought.

“The grain crops were the most affected. Around 15,000 hectares of agricultural lands, including 13,000 hectares of cereal crops, have been damaged in the wake of natural disasters,” he said. “Taking into account the scale of damages and the harvest volumes, I consider the figures sufficient; a total of 82,000 tons of wheat crops have been harvested this year, with an average crop yield of 22 centners per hectare.”

This year Artsakh’s cereal harvest has been good enough not to import wheat or barley. Moreover, the country has exported nearly 20,000 tons of grain to Armenia throughout 2018.

Apart from traditional fruits and vegetables, Artsakh constantly cultivates new crops and trees, including olives, flax and kiwi, which grow well especially in Hadrut, Martakert and Askeran.

Flax and sunflower are processed in Stepanakert to produce Golden Drop oil, which, along with vegetable oil, enjoys quite a high demand in the local market.

The country is actively engaged in pomegranate harvest now, with some 1,000 tons of pomegranates already collected from 350 hectares.

In 2017, then Prime Minister of Armenia Karen Karapetyan unveiled his plans to establish a pomegranate orchard of 200 hectare in Artsakh, but the deputy minister said he has no information whether the ex-PM has started implementing the project. “But pomegranate orchards have generally grown by around 100 hectares to 1,360 this year from last year,” he said.

Pomegranate grows best in five regions of the country – Askeran (637 hectares), Hadrut (45 hectares), Martakert (197 hectares), Kashatagh (315 hectares) and Martuni (166 hectares). The major part of the crops was consumed at the local markets last year, with some part of the harvested pomegranates exported to Armenia and other states.

Meanwhile, Artsakh imports tomatoes since the country’s local tomato crop is not enough. “We are going to increase the self-sufficiency to a point that no uncultivated lands are left in the country. We shall analyse the programs we have implemented in the near future and based on the results we will draw up the next year’s programs and continue to work accordingly. Agriculture is a very profitable branch, if the works are arranged properly. Engaging in agriculture becomes more attractive in Artsakh year by year,” Asatryan said.

Photos by the author 

Artsakh Republic Pomegranate festival was held in Martuni,

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Artsakh Pomegranate festival

On October 21, the second pomegranate festival was held in Martuni, Artsakh Republic.

President Sahakyan noted with satisfaction that the festival became traditional, walked along the pavilions, got introduced with the products, talked with the participants on diverse issues.

In an interview with Artsakhpress,, the Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Artsakh, Jirayr Mirzoyan, said that as compared to last year this year the number of participants and pavilions has increased significantly.
Pomegranate gardens have been established in 5 regions of the republic: Askeran, Hadrut, Martakert, Martuni and Kashatagh, but the majority of them are in Askeran and Martuni regions. As compared to last year, the number of pomegranate orchards increased by about 100 hectares this year.At present, we have about 1360 hectares of orchards. At present the harvest makes 350 hectares. about 1000 tones of harvest have been gathered, “Zh. Mirzoyan said.
According to the Minister of Agriculture, there is a demand for pomegranate both in Artsakh and abroad.Martuni Mayor Mher Khachatryan noted that in 2017 the City Hall set up the organization of pomegranate festival for the first time.
“This year the festival was included in the framework of the annual regional events program and was implemented under the patronage of Martuni regional administration.
Compared to 55 pavilions presented last year, the number of pavilions has increased twice this year, making the event even more colorful, “he said. Khachatryan.
He noted that the pomegranate is a symbol of Martuni, as the climatic conditions and geographical position are more favorable for growing the fruit.

Commemorative ceremony for world-renowned chansonnier Charles Aznavour held in Artsakh

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On the Day of National Mourning declared in Artsakh upon the death of Armenia’s National Hero, world-famous chansonnier Charles Aznavour, Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan visited the Cultural Center after the distinguished Armenian in capital Stepanakert and partook there at the commemorative ceremony.

As the President’s press service reported, Artsakh National Assembly chairman Ashot Ghoulyan, state minister Grigori Martirosyan, other officials, hundreds of citizens and guests attended the ceremony.

Future of Artsakh as part of Armenia PM Pashinyan

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In the meeting with the Russian-Armenian businessmen in Moscow, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan spoke about Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement. The correspondent of ARMENPRESS reports from Moscow that PM Pashinyan noted that he is often asked if Armenia is ready to mutual concessions for NK conflict settlement.

“When answering this question I always emphasize that that question should be first addressed to Azerbaijan. Are they ready for mutual concessions? Because in the situation when Azerbaijan regularly makes threatening announcements addressed to Armenia and Artsakh , saying that Armenia is ready for mutual concessions will be a sign of weakness. We will never do that. And we say that no one can speak to Armenia in the language of threats. We will not allow that”, the Armenian PM said.

Nikol Pashinyan also said that he perceives Artsakh as part of Armenia in the future. “As refers our visions for the future, I have also said in the past that I perceive Artsakh as part of Armenia. And this path can be comprise of a number of steps, it can be comprised of 2 or 3 steps, but this is definitely our vision for the future