Gagrule.net

Gagrule.net News, Views, Interviews worldwide

PM: Armenia should boast an image of eco country in international arena

By

On the sidelines of his visit to Tavush Province, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Friday called at the Berd subsidiary of Tavush Textile Company, the PM’s office said.

Accompanied by the company’s top executives, the premier toured the facility to get acquainted with the production of working gloves. He was told that 520 people are currently employed at Tavush Textile’s local workshops with an average salary of 145,000 drams. The company exported AMD 2 billion-worth output to Russia and Georgia last year. The exports are supposed to increase by 40-50% this year, and steps are being taken to extend the geographical coverage of exports.

Tavush Textile has invested about 10 million dollars since 2015. As a result of a 1 million dollar investment, the number of machine tools has been increased by 600 that will augment the number of jobs by 150-200. Overall, the company plans to provide 1000-1500 new jobs over the next few years.

Pashinyan next visited a livestock farm established with funds available from Himnatavush Development Foundation in Lusadzor community. It has a high milk yield of 200 cows. Various types of French cheese are produced there. Most of the output is exported to Russia. The company representatives advised that 800,000 euros are annually invested in the farm. At the same time, they noted that milk and forage are being purchased from neighboring farms.

The PM attached importance to the development of light industry and farms in Tavush province, stressing that the government is prepared to possibly support the development and expansion of business programs in the region.

Highlighting the imperative of having ecologically clean food products produced in our country, Pashinyan said Armenia should boast an image of eco country in the international arena. He expressed the hope that the aforementioned companies will soon reach industrial levels to generate new jobs.

“Greatest apostle of modern history” – PM hails statesman Aram Manukyan as officials inaugurate Yerevan statue

By

According to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, statesman Aram Manukyan had fully implemented his mission – to find victories in defeats, and to sow this mission into this land.

The Prime Minister was delivering remarks at the inauguration of the statue of statesman Aram Manukyan in downtown Yerevan.

“Perhaps I won’t be wrong to say that in person of Aram Manukyan we are dealing with the greatest apostle of our modern history. He was born to realize a great mission, and he succeeded. It truly is a greatest mission, to find victories within storms of defeats, to find hope in a flood of despair, to find strength when it seems your arms are weakened and knees bent. Aram Manukyan fully implemented his mission, he never lived for himself, his family or relatives, he lived for his people, he struggled and won for his people,” the PM said.

Pashinyan says that Manukyan has sowed this mission into this land with his existence. The PM says that most probably Manukyan has walked the very place where everyone are standing now.

“We have our mission. The mission of state and public officials and citizens of Armenia is to be worthy to Aram Manukyan, his virtue and to live in a way to be entitled to look right into his eyes when walking next to his statue and say that we are the masters of his mission, his work is not incomplete. His victory is alive,” the PM said, adding that the Armenian people are victories for eternity.

The Aram Manukyan statue was unveiled today near the Republic Square in downtown Yerevan, next to the entrance to the subway station.

Manukyan ((1879 – 1919), was a statesman and interior minister during the First Republic of Armenia and a member of the ARF.

We are ready for defense and counterattack in the air and on land, says Armenia’s PM

By

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan affirms that the Armenian Armed Forces are ready for complete defense in the air and on the land,

“Today’s festive flight was dedicated to the Day of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Armenia. We are ready for defense and counterattack in the air and on the land”, the PM said on the occasion of the 26th anniversary of the establishment of the Armenian Air Force.

The experienced pilots of the Armed Forces conducted flights in Armenia’s skies on June 30, on the 26th anniversary of the establishment of the Air Force. The flights were accompanied with the waving of Armenian national flag.

 

Armenia Security chief says some groups plotting to ‘neutralize’ PM

By

Chief of the National Security Service Artur Vanetsyan said on Monday, June 18 that the NSS has received information that “some groups” are trying “to neutralize us” (the leadership of the National Security Service – Ed.).

The reason, Vanetsyan said, is the Service’s activity and fresh corruption-related findings.

The National Security Service on Sunday, June 17 unveiled video footage of searches conducted in the private house and the summer house belonging to Grigoryan. Besides the large quantities of weapons and ammunition, the SNS has confiscated a vast amount of equipment and food belonging to the army, the assistance collected by school children, the Church and civilians for sending to the Nagorno Karabakh frontline in the days of the Four-Day War in April 2016 – which were used to feed Grigoryan’s animals – as well as vehicles donated to the army.

According to him, they have received similar information concerning “the neutralization” of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

Vanetsyan, however, did not provide any details on who might be standing behind the reports or the possible plot.

The Security chief added, however, he doesn’t think anyone would initiate such an attempts against “such a highly respected Prime Minister.”

All possible accomplices of MP Manvel Grigoryan must be held accountable, says Prime Minister

By

YEREVAN, JUNE 18, ARMENPRESS. According to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, the case over MP Manvel Grigoryan is the most massive corruption discovery in the history of the third Republic of Armenia.

“Without violating any presumption of innocence, I want to say for the record that we are dealing with, perhaps, the most large-scale corruption discovery in the history of the third Republic of Armenia and this stands out with the fact that the discoveries are literally shocking, are shocking for the Armenian society,” he said at today’s Cabinet meeting. The PM said he has personally thanked the NSS director and the agents who took part in the operation.

He expressed hope that the investigation of this case will be carried out duly.

He said that all possible accomplices of the case, regardless of status or titles or any other circumstances, should be held accountable.

The investigation into the case regarding MP Manvel Grigoryan is still ongoing and the possible accomplices will be revealed in process, director of the National Security Service Arthur Vanetsyan told reporters. He said that Manvel Grigoryan will not be released from pre-trial detention.

But the parliament is yet to debate the issue of stripping the MP of immunity tomorrow.

Asked if the NSS was aware about the alleged embezzlement or it only had information about the firearms, the NSS chief said: “I don’t want to fully disclose the tactical part of our investigation, of course we were aware,” he said.

The parliament of Armenia will convene an extraordinary sitting on June 19 to debate stripping MP Manvel Grigoryan of immunity.

The decision to convene a sitting was made today at a Cabinet meeting.

The sitting will begin 11:00 Tuesday.

The National Security Service (NSS) of Armenia has released details over the arrest of Member of Parliament Manvel Grigoryan and the evidences discovered in the lawmaker’s properties.  Grigoryan was placed under arrest on June 16.

The NSS said agents searched Grigoryan’s compound in the village of Arshaluys in Armavir province on June 16, and his mansion in Ejmiatsin city (Vagharshapat) within the framework of an ongoing criminal case.

NSS said agents discovered an arsenal and a collection of dozens of both vintage and modern vehicles in Grigoryan’s Arshaluys compound. The compound was also used to store military canned food, medication and military uniforms. NSS said the boxes which were supposed to be delivered to soldiers, contained letters addressed to servicemen, which shows that it was aid sent to frontline soldiers in Artsakh during the 2016 April 4-day war days.

NSS said it is investigating how the military clothing, medicine and other discoveries have appeared in the MP’s compound.

Various kinds of foodstuffs – aid sent from kindergartens and schools to soldiers – have been discovered stored in the compound, NSS said.

NSS said it also found foodstuffs labeled “For Soldier” – a special production supplied to the defense ministry which is not available for sale or any other use.

The huge amount of weapons and ammunition found in MP Grigoryan’s compound in the village included more than a dozen anti-tank grenade launchers, 20 hand grenades, over 20,000 various caliber rounds, TNT explosives, and many other types of weapons.

Weapons have also been found in the Ejmiatsin mansion, namely 79 rifles, 39 handguns and over 12,000 rounds.

Dozens of property ownership licenses have also been found.

The collection of vehicles includes motorcycles and snowmobiles, NSS said.

The NSS said they also discovered SUVs and an ambulance vehicle which were designated to be used in the military during the 4-day war. The vehicles were donated to the Defense Army of Artsakh by representatives of the Armenian community of Russia, and Grigoryan has misappropriated them, according to the NSS.

NSS said it also discovered a private zoo in the premises of the mansion, with bears and a tiger among the animals. The mansion also has a horse track. According to information, Grigoryan has used the military food which was supposed to go to soldiers of the 4-day war to feed the animals of his private zoo.

The NSS said the investigation continues and additional information will be provided.

Two days after the arrest of Member of Parliament Manvel Grigoryan in suspicion of illegal acquisition and possession of firearms, the Prosecutor General’s office filed a motion on stripping the lawmaker of immunity on June 18, the Prosecutor General’s office said.

On June 17, Prosecutor General Arthur Davtyan transferred the investigation from the national security service to the special investigations service. He also tasked to form a task force from detectives of both services.

The Prosecutor General’s office said the investigation has revealed sufficient evidence implicating Manvel Grigoryan.

Thus, the Prosecutor General applied to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to request the parliament on behalf of the government to convene an extraordinary sitting to debate the motion.

 

Macedonian PM says name change to be put to a public vote

By

Macedonia and Greece are near agreement on a name change that has vexed bilateral relations since the 1990s. Greece has used its leverage within NATO and the EU to block its neighbor from joining those clubs.

Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said on Wednesday that any new name proposed for his country would be put to a public referendum.

His comment came as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Greece appeared to be nearing agreement on a name change for Athens’ northern neighbor.

“We agree on the foundations and principles of the accord,” Zaev told journalists.

He said more details would be disclosed after a phone call with his Greek counterpart, Alexis Tsipras, on Wednesday evening or Thursday.

“We’ll only reveal all the details afterwards,” Zaev said.

The name dispute goes back to 1991 when Skopje declared its independence from war-torn Yugoslavia, and the new government chose the name “Republic of Macedonia.”

The name choice infuriated Athens. Historically Macedonia or Macedon was a sizable country which included territory that today is northern Greece. Ancient Greek ruler Alexander the Great was also known as Alexander III of Macedon. Concerned that the new country might have territorial ambitions, Greece insisted that its new neighbor be referred to as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, or FYROM.

That is the name under which it was admitted to the United Nations in 1993.

As a member of both NATO and the European Union, Greece has veto power over prospective members, and has used that authority to block its neighbor from joining either organization.

Some possible names

Athens is demanding that any name change for its northern neighbor be backed by a constitutional amendment and for it to be applied to the “erga omnes” (“towards all”) legal principle, meaning it would be used universally both inside and outside Macedonia.

Several countries, including the United States and Russia, have already recognized the country as “Macedonia.”

Prime Minister Zaev said parliaments in both countries would need to ratify any agreement before it could be put to a public vote. He said that the time between parliamentary approval and a plebiscite would be “around a month,” adding that a referendum would likely be held in September or October.

Zaev also said it was important to resolve the issue well ahead of a NATO summit meeting on July 11-12.

“We want to give Greece sufficient time to send a letter to NATO,” ahead of the summit, he said.

Among the names being rumored are “New Macedonia” and “Upper Macedonia.”

The latter is reportedly a favorite, a senior Macedonian official told AFP. Zaev, however, remained tight-lipped on the possible choices.

“I would not comment on certain benchmarks, adjectives or additions to the name,” Zaev told journalists, “because we are in the final phase of a possible solution for a more than 25-year-old problem.”

bik/msh (AFP, AP)

Armenia PM Nikol Pashinyan arrives in Sochi, welcomed by local Armenian community

By

Armenia PM arrives in Sochi

SOCHI. – Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan has arrived in Sochi where he was welcomed by local Armenian community near St. Sargis church on Sunday evening.

Those gathered are chanting “Nikol” and “Nikol, PM”, Armenian News-NEWS.am correspondent reports from Sochi.

Prime Minister has arrived in Russia to participate in the meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council on Monday. PM is expected to meet with Russian president Vladimir Putin on the margins of the summit. Other bilateral meetings are expected as well.

 

Breaking: Gagrule.net Project Nikol Pashinyan will become the next Prime Minister of Armenia

By

People greet the leader Nikol Pashinyan as he arrives at a rally in his own town of Ijevan

by Wally Sarkeesian

Base on the following event that both the two major parties will not introduce any candidate for PM position.

The Leader of the Prosperous Armenia Party, Gagik Tsarukyan has confirmed that his party will not table a candidate for the office of prime minister, but will support the people’s candidate. “My team and I will vote for a people’s candidate, whether it’s Nikol Pashinyan or anyone else nominated by the people,” party leader Gagik Tsarukyan told Kentron TV.

Also Armenia’s ruling party will not put up a candidate for prime minister, it said on Saturday, in a bid to ease tensions after more than two weeks of street protests against the ruling elite. “By not putting forward a candidate, we will avoid confrontation and an increase in security risks,” party spokesman Eduard Sharmazanov told reporters.

Protest leader Nikol Pashinyan, a member of parliament who describes himself as “the people’s choice”, has said parliament should elect him prime minister next week. He then wants snap parliamentary polls under a new election law.

A junior coalition member, the Dashnaktsutyun Party, said this week it was quitting the government and favored an early election, but it was unclear whether it would vote for Pashinyan who has a history of political activism and opposition.

Serzh Sargsyan elected Armenia’s PM, while opposition leader announces the start of velvet revolution

By

YEREVAN. – Armenia’s former president Serzh Sargsyan has been elected a Prime Minister with 77 votes for and 17 against.

Armenian lawmakers elected the prime minister for the first time in Armenia’s history after the Constitution was amended and Armenia changed its form of government and handed more powers to the prime minister.

Serzh Sargsyan was nominated by the Republican Party of Armenia and ARF Dashnakustyun.