Armenian Opposition Party Denies Foul Play Against Dissident Member (Video)

A key party aligned with the main opposition Armenian National Congress (HAK) on Wednesday strongly denied stifling dissent within its ranks and ostracizing a prominent member critical of its de facto top leader, former President Levon Ter-Petrosian.

Aram Manukian, who was elected as board chairman after the congress, dismissed the allegations. “I really regret that statement made by Rubinian,” he told a news conference. “I just want to ask. Would Rubinian have made such a statement if he had been elected to the board?  Read more... (542 words)

U.S. Tells Turkey To Honor Deal With Armenia (Video)

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Sunday gave a strong endorsement to Armenia’s policy toward Turkey and urged Ankara to honor its U.S.-backed normalization agreements with Yerevan.

Making her first-ever visit to Armenia, Clinton made clear that the onus is on the Turkish government to kick-start the historic rapprochement between the two neighbors. She praised President Serzh Sarkisian for not formally walking away from the Turkish-Armenian “protocols” despite the Turks’ refusal to ratify them before a resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict acceptable to Azerbaijan. 

“We applauded your president’s decision because that was a decision to continue, despite the obstacles, to work toward peace, stability and reconciliation,” she told journalists after talks with the Armenian leader.  Read more... (740 words)

Armenian National Congress Activist is Released form Prison (Video)

By a decision of Yerevan court, David Kiramijyan, an activist of the Armenian National Congress (HAK), was released today after giving a written undertaking not to leave the city.

David was caught unawares by the news of his release.

“At two o’clock the doors of my cell opened and I was invited to a meeting with the chief guard. The latter said I was free and advised me to be careful in the future. Later I leant that the proceedings was discontinued since there was not strong evidence against me. My innocence will be proved in court,” David Kiramijyan told A1+.

Kirimijyan was arrested on June 3 along with other HAK activists, who were trying to hold a protest action at Liberty Square. He was charged with hooliganism.  Read more... (274 words)

Are Any Changes Expected After Clinton’s Visit To Armenia? (Video)

U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton is starting a trip to South Caucasus on June 1. Secretary Clinton will visit Ukraine, Poland, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.

On Tuesday, prior to Hilary Clinton’s visit, Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Philip H. Gordon held a special briefing.

QUESTION: Mr. Gordon, I got a couple of questions on South Caucasus. Let me start with Karabakh, obviously a very big issue during the trip to South Caucasus. I wonder if the joint statement by the presidents of Minsk Group Co-chair countries sort of predetermine Secretary Clinton’s conversation on Karabakh in Baku and Yerevan. Will she be talking along the elements that were outlined in that statement?  Read more... (1152 words)

Armenian Revolutionary Federation Activists Hand Letter To OSCE Yerevan Office (Video)

Nikol Aghbalyan Student Union of the ARF -Dashnaktsutyun today held a protest march to the OSCE Office in Yerevan against the statement of the President of the OSCE Minsk Group’s Co-Chair countries and provocative actions of Azerbaijan..

The marchers handed a letter to the Head of the Military-Political Department, Gregor Mikhailski, expressing their indignation over the recent statement of the OSCE co-chair countries.

Arthur Ghazaryan, a senior representative of the ARF -Dashnaktsutyun, says the Presidents of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries, France, the Russian Federation, and the United States, were inadequate in their assessments.

“In our letter we note that Azerbaijan has regularly violated the truce since the ceasefire agreement of 1994 and has always dodged responsibility,” Ghazaryan said blaming all countries that turn a blind eye to Azerbaijan’s diversion.  Read more... (220 words)

Armenian President’s Prize To The Chairman Of Intel Corporation (Video)

President Serzh Sargsyan today handed in the presidential prize for outstanding contribution to the filed of Information Technologies to Craig Barrett, Chief Executive Director and Chairman of the Board of Intel Corporation.

“The importance of development of Information Technologies is really very high. Ensuring the accessibility of information and knowledge, the raise of the level of common literacy are perhaps among the most significant achievements, and the Information Technologies make a real revolution in these two spheres,” President Sargsyan said.

“The establishment of this prize pursued an aim of drawing the attention of Armenian youth to Information Technologies,” the President said, adding that “We are an independent, bright and initiative nation. We have all that is most significant for the filed of Information Technologies, i.e. brains and talent. We have an inexhaustible potential of development in this sphere.”  Read more... (179 words)

Armenia’s Ministery of Education and Science Decided To Open 11 Foreign-Language Schools (Video)

On June 23, RA Parliament continued discussing the draft amendments to the RA Laws on Language.

“But for the investors who promised to ensure high-quality education in Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan would not feel the need of educational amendments,” Heritage MP Anahit Bakhshyan said.

Head of ARF-Dashnaktsutyun faction Vahan Hovhannisyan said knowledge is not valued in Armenia.

“Your knowledge does not secure a dignified place for you in the society. But if you have money and a pistol in your pocket you are honoured. Insolence makes your neck thicker, increases your rating and enlarges your criminal circles,” he said.

And here a question is raised: does the society need the education their children are going to receive in “elite” schools?  Read more... (222 words)

Sargsyan Questions International Reaction To Latest Karabakh Fighting (Video)

The Armenian leader spoke on Tuesday to an audience at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, a leading think tank, in Berlin as part of his three-day official visit to Germany. In his speech he also addressed problems of regional concern and answered questions on the June 18 clashes in Karabakh that Yerevan says was a major provocation of Azerbaijan aimed at scuttling the current peace process.

Answering questions after his speech, Sargsyan said that very often “the unclear approach of many institutions, including European ones, their fear that if they try to mention those responsible for concrete cases, they will disrupt the negotiating process” impedes progress in the issue.  Read more... (435 words)

Armemian President Sargsyan meeting Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel (Video)

President Serzh Sargsyan today had a meeting with Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel during his official visit to the Federal Republic of Germany.

Issues related to development of bilateral relations and the realization of opportunities for cooperation in multifaceted formats were discussed.

The RA President noted that the high-level bilateral meetings promote political dialogue and provide the opportunity to deepen cooperation with Germany in all spheres. Serzh Sargsyan said that Armenia views the cooperation with Germany as an important component for European integration.

The parties touched upon the development of trade-economic relations, noting that the presence of nearly 80 German companies in Armenia serves as a good basis for expanding cooperation in the sphere of investments.  Read more... (312 words)