“Armenia” alliance

Armenian Parliament Speaker Calls on Opposition MPs to Resign; Accuses Them of Working with Azerbaijan |hetq.am|

hetq.am: Armenian National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan today called on the opposition MPs to resign after they boycotted the parliament’s four-day session and announced they would be travelling to Artsakh. Simonyan charged the opposition Hayastan and With Honor factions of “working together with Azerbaijani armed forces” by staging populist events that undermine the security of Armenia. Earlier, Hayastan faction head Seyran Ohanyan accused the government of handing Artsakh over to Azerbaijan and incapable of resolving Armenia’s many internal and external problems. Opposition MPs came to the parliament waving the flags of Artsakh. “Recent developments confirm concerns that everything is on the Azerbaijani-Turkish agenda. Within the framework of the so-called peace treaty, we are preparing our people for new concessions, new defeats, new humiliations,” Ohanyan announced before opposition MPs exited the parliament. Simonyan also charged the opposition of merely showing up at the parliament to receive their salaries and using the money to fund opposition news outlets. “No one reads those websites. No one watches your TV channels except the mass of your voters,” Simonyan said, noting that opposition MPs would not resign in protest because they need the money. Ruling Civil Contract MP Vagharshak Hakobyan ridiculed the opposition for engaging in cheap politics by raising the Artsakh flag. "These people, having been in power for thirty years, haven’t comprehended how to defend Artsakh. They are trying to secure cheap political dividends by exchanging disgraceful thoughts at a rally held a few days ago," he said. Hakobyan said the opposition is endangering the citizens of Armenia and Artsakh by leaving for Artsakh. Whether the opposition MPs will be able to reach Artsakh remains to be seen.

11:17 - 12 April, 2022

Majority Leader accuses opposition in exploiting Artsakh issue to carry out coup d’état |armenpress.am|

armenpress.am: Parliament Majority Leader Hayk Konjoryan (Civil Contract) accused the opposition in carrying out a “provocation” by boycotting the parliament session and traveling to Artsakh. He accused the opposition in exploiting the Artsakh issue and the security issues in Armenia to carry out a coup d’état in Armenia. Konjoryan cited Hayastan faction leader Seyran Ohanyan’s post-election statement where he’d said that entering to parliament is a trench for them, and they must fight in that trench. Konjoryan accused the opposition in attempting to de-value the parliament and paralyze it. “And perhaps they think they have solved their objective in this trench and now they are traveling to Artsakh to perhaps take another trench, most likely against the government and people of Armenia,” Konjoryan said. Speaking on the opposition bringing the flag of Artsakh to parliament, Konjoryan said he doesn’t understand the demonstrative installation of the flag in Armenia against anyone. “The flag of Artsakh and Artsakh is in the hearts and thoughts of everyone. Our people sacrificed its finest children for Artsakh. And the opposition ought to install the flag of Artsakh, defend the interests of Artsakh where it is needed to raise awareness on the issue of the rights and freedoms of our compatriots in Artsakh. But what does this opposition do? They boycott all inter-parliamentary platforms where they ought to go and defend the rights and interests of Artsakh and its people, so to say raise the flag of Artsakh there for the world to see,” Konjoryan said, accusing the opposition in not fulfilling the mandate they received from the people. “Today, with this step the parliamentary opposition is not defending Artsakh but rather making a provocation, it is escalating the security issues of Artsakh and of Armenians,” Konjoryan said. He further accused the opposition in exploiting the Artsakh issue and the security issues for carrying out a coup d’état in Armenia. “Today they are entrenching in the domestic-political life of Artsakh to generate more domestic intrigues. But we, with our people, won’t allow this,” Konjoryan said.

11:08 - 12 April, 2022

Parliamentary standing committee disapproves opposition’s proposal to raise minimum wage up to 80,000 drams |armenpress.am|

armenpress.am: The parliamentary standing committee on labor and social affairs disapproved the bill submitted by the opposition “Armenia” faction, which proposed to raise the minimum wage from 68,000 drams to 80,000 drams. Faction MP Aghvan Vardanyan presented the bill on making amendments to the Law on Minimum Monthly Wage during the committee’s session. The lawmaker reminded that recently the Armenia faction has once again proposed to increase the minimum monthly salary, but the proposal was not included into the agenda of the plenary sessions and was not approved in the committee. “The draft has been amended. The current draft proposes to set the minimum wage at 80,000 drams”, he said, proposing this regulation to take effect from January 2023. Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Ruben Sargsyan presented the conclusion of the government. He reminded that the government’s 2021-2026 action plan envisages taking steps by 2026 to set the wage up to 85,000 drams. “The increase in minimum wage must be accompanied by a respective economic opportunity as a source of funding for the additional costs”, he said. The deputy minister said that the draft submitted by the MP has no analysis from economic justification perspective. According to him, the unjustified increase in minimum monthly wage could lead to GDP and employment level decline, which could result in inflation pressures. Therefore, he urged to keep the law unchanged. The bill was disapproved after long debates at the committee.

13:26 - 05 April, 2022

Reforms in Armed Forces started, are in process – deputy defense minister |armenpress.am|

armenpress.am: Deputy Minister of Defense of Armenia Arman Sargsyan assures that the reforms in the Armed Forces have already started and are in process. During a session of the parliamentary standing committee on defense and security affairs, one of the lawmakers from the opposition “Armenia” faction said that there has regularly been a promise in the committee to present a concept of armed forces reforms. “So far, no legislative package, that would amend the concept of that reforms, has been presented during the sessions of the defense committee”, the MP said. In response the deputy defense minister said that they had a discussion in the Parliament about the changes to be made in laws. “Moreover, proposals were submitted to the defense ministry also by the “Armenia” faction. The other parliamentary factions have also presented. The reforms have started”, the deputy defense minister said, adding that if they are not visible for some political forces, it is a matter of a political assessment. “But these reforms have launched. They are now in process both in legislative and other terms”, he noted.

13:32 - 04 April, 2022

Manifestations of Russophobia in some countries are unacceptable and reprehensible. Hayastan faction

The "Hayastan" (Armenia) faction has issued a statement on the situation in Ukraine, which runs as follows. "Hayastan" (Armenia) faction 1. Expresses concern about the events in Ukraine. 2. Attaches importance to any act of realization of the right of nations to self-determination. Attempts to suppress the exercise of the right to self-determination by repression leads to armed conflict and war. 3. Considers unacceptable the incidents of Russophobia that have begun in some countries, and any manifestation of discrimination on national and racial grounds. 4. States that the application of unprecedented forms and scope of political and especially economic sanctions will not contribute to the resolution of the crisis, but will lead to a new global economic crisis, a new "iron curtain", the consequences of which can be disastrous for many states. 5. Hopes that peace and stability will be restored in Europe in the shortest possible time. The Russian and Ukrainian peoples will be able to find acceptable solutions for peaceful and safe living through negotiations. 6. We demand that the Armenian authorities do everything possible to provide possible assistance to Armenians living in Ukraine, especially the elderly, women and children."

13:26 - 24 March, 2022

Opposition’s bill on criminalizing expressions against Armenian sovereignty, territorial integrity turned down |armenpress.am|

armenpress.am։ An opposition-authored bill seeking to criminalize “any expressions against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Armenia” failed to pass parliament. The bill received only 30 votes in favor, while 63 voted against and 1 present. The ruling Civil Contract party voted against. Co-author of the bill, MP Aram Vardevanyan argued that the bill aimed at becoming also a measure for holding to account those who make threatening or false statements on Armenia from abroad. However, the ruling Civil Contract party opposed the bill, arguing that the bill has no foreign policy goal whatsoever. Majority Leader Hayk Konjoryan said they believe that the opposition seeks “concealed” goals with the bill.

10:50 - 23 March, 2022

Closed session on humanitarian situation in Artsakh to be held in the National Assembly of Armenia

The Parliament will hold a closed session on "the humanitarian situation in the Republic of Artsakh, threats and urgent actions". Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and the Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan will participate in session.

11:07 - 22 March, 2022

RA NA didn't elect Vahagn Khachaturyan President of the Republic

The National Assembly of Armenia couldn’t elect Vahagn Khachaturyan President of Armenia. 69 MPs took part in the voting, 69 voted "in favor", but 81 votes were needed. The opposition factions "Hayastan" (Armenia) and "I have Honor" (Pativ Unem) did not participate in the discussion of the election of the president and voting. A second round will be held, during which 64 votes are needed.

10:34 - 03 March, 2022

‘An emotional phenomenon, doesn’t contain anything fundamental’ – deputy PM on dram devaluation |armenpress.am|

armenpress.am։ Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Mher Grigoryan assures that the certain devaluation of the national currency is an emotional phenomenon, doesn’t contain anything fundamental, no macro change has taken place. During a Q&A session in the Parliament today, one of the lawmakers raised the issue of new inflationary pressures and asked what social programs are being developed in this respect. "Yes, of course, there is a situation in the world, and also there are such inflationary phenomena that I think that we will have targeted tasks for additional measures. And this issue is on the agenda, is being discussed. And measures will be taken based on that situation," the deputy PM said. The lawmaker also voiced the issue that the gas tariff is increasing from April, and in response the deputy PM reminded that the gas tariff is adjusted by calculating the calories from April 1. "It means that in other equal terms, in case of the same amount of consumption, the money to be paid will not change. Today the price in Europe was 1400, if I am not mistaken, in case when that is 165 dollars on our border. In this respect, I think that the pressures will be balanced. But, of course, if the relative coordinates of this situation emerge, we will understand where it is necessary to carry out additional targeted assistance, and we will do that. I think that the reserve fund of the budget is enough to finance such measures," Mher Grigoryan said. The lawmaker also asked whether there are discussions over separate assistance programs for potential returning Armenians from Ukraine. He also reminded about the devaluation of the national currency. "As for our compatriots, I don’t think that there is any section, be it people, capital or current account movement, which Armenia will not be able to organize and ensure today based on the demand of our compatriots. This is definite, this issue is on our agenda and is being discussed in this situation," he added. As for the question relating to the currency, the deputy PM said: "It’s an emotional phenomenon, doesn’t contain anything fundamental. Be confident in it. No macro change leading to devaluation has taken place".

17:22 - 02 March, 2022

Parliament holds confirmation hearing of Vahagn Khachaturyan as President of Armenia |armenpress.am|

armenpress.am: Parliament is holding a confirmation hearing for the candidacy of Vahagn Khachaturyan as President of Armenia. Khachaturyan, the incumbent Minister of High Tech Industry, is nominated for the presidency by the ruling Civil Contract Party. Majority Leader Hayk Konjoryan presented Khachaturyan’s candidacy to lawmakers at today’s session. The opposition blocs of parliament – Hayastan and Pativ Unem – refused to nominate their candidates and are boycotting the hearing and the subsequent vote.

10:58 - 02 March, 2022

EU should give targeted political assessment to Azerbaijan and Turkey – Armenian MP |armenpress.am|

armenpress.am: The European Union should give an unequivocal and targeted assessment to Azerbaijan and Turkey, Member of Parliament of Armenia from the opposition “Armenia” faction Anna Grigoryan said in her remarks at the joint meeting of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly’s Committees in Yerevan. “The security challenges continue to be maintained in our region, whereas Azerbaijan thinks that the conflict could be solved by war. About 2 years ago Azerbaijan decided that it can solve the Nagorno Karabakh conflict with the use of force, which itself is a violation of the fundamental principles guaranteed by the UN and the Helsinki Final Act. The war led to disasters, but didn’t solve the conflict, the conflict still exists. Hostility, the spread of Armenophobia and the conflict distorted the prospect of peace agreement in the region”, she said. She addressed a question on how one can go to a political dialogue with Azerbaijan when the Armenian prisoners of war and captured civilians are still held in Azerbaijan, by facing an inhuman treatment daily, when Azerbaijan committed violence, bloodshed and destructs the Armenian cultural heritage in Nagorno Karabakh. “How can we talk about security when the threat of using force, the propaganda of cynicism, militaristic rhetoric and xenophobia continue from Azerbaijan every day? Moreover, right now the Azerbaijani armed forces continue their occupation in Armenia’s sovereign territory, in Syunik. Due to this policy of Azerbaijan, it becomes difficult to think about a security environment in our region”, the Armenian lawmaker said. Addressing her colleagues, Anna Grigoryan said the deep silence and Europe’s indifference make all these more difficult. “If the war unleashed by Azerbaijan against Nagorno Karabakh and fully supported by Turkey was not a red line for applying sanctions against war criminal Aliyev and his regime, if the capturing and torturing of our soldiers is not a red line, then I should ask – whether we support the political dialogue or the policy of aggression? If we choose the political dialogue, security and not aggression, terrorism and xenophobia, then the EU must give a definite targeted political assessment to Azerbaijan and Turkey, the double standards, the selective approaches must be rejected if we really want to achieve security in our region”, the Armenian MP said.

13:58 - 22 February, 2022

Artsakh can never be part of Azerbaijan. Ishkhan Saghatelyan Meets with His Australian Counterparts in Distance Format

On February 21, the Vice President of the RA National Assembly, the Head of Armenia-Australia Friendship Group Ishkhan Saghatelyan met with the Co-Chairs of Australia-Armenia Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Union Trent Zimmerman and Joel Fitzgibbon. The Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of Australia Haig Kayserian and the Political Affairs Director of the Armenian National Committee of Australia Michael Kolokossian also took part in the meeting. Ishkhan Saghatelyan has expressed gratitude to the Australian parliamentarians for the development of the Armenian-Australian relations, noting that he is ready to make additional efforts for developing the ties and giving new quality to them. The NA Vice President positively evaluated the balanced position of Australia on Artsakh problem, underlining in that issue the recognition of the independence of the Artsakh Republic by the New South Wales big State. At the meeting the sides also touched upon the issue of the recognition of the Armenian Genocide. “I hope that the day of justice will come, and Australia will completely recognize the fact of the Armenian Genocide. That is also necessary for the prevention of the new genocides,” the NA Vice President said particularly, in that context referring to the process started for establishing the Armenian-Turkish relations. Ishkhan Saghatelyan has underscored that Artsakh can never be part of Azerbaijan, and that issue shall be resolved within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group. The Co-Chair of Australia-Armenia Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Union Joel Fitzgibbon also highlighted the recognition and the condemnation of the Armenian Genocide, as well as combining the efforts of the international community for that purpose to prevent the implementation of such actions in the future. The interlocutors discussed the further development of the Armenian-Australian relations, as well as other issues of bilateral interest.

17:04 - 21 February, 2022

"Armenia" and "I Have Honor" factions will not participate in the presidential elections

The "Hayastan" and "I Have Honor" have issued a statement, which runs as follows. "The Constitution of Armenia requires that the President of the Republic should be impartial and guided by national interests. Armenia is facing serious internal and external challenges today. National consolidation, public solidarity have no alternative. But the authorities that brought the country to collapse, decided to continue the same style and be guided not by the state, but only by their narrow team interests. Despite the fact that the institute of the President should act as a really neutral institution, the authorities decided to nominate and single-handedly elect their President. The international community remains silent in relation to the obvious facts of the retreat of democracy, including in terms of the formation of a dictatorship of one person. We discussed the expediency of nominating a candidate, but in the current situation we consider it unacceptable and wrong to participate in the legitimization of these elections even indirectly. The parliamentary factions "Armenia" and "I Have Honor" decided not to participate in the presidential elections in any way."

12:33 - 04 February, 2022

Opposition has no final decision yet over nominating candidate for President of Armenia |armenpress.am|

armenpress.am: The opposition “Armenia” and “I Have the Honor” factions of the Parliament continue discussions over the issue on whether nominating or not nominating a candidate for the President of the Republic. “I cannot say anything about the decision yet, but the discussions continue, and we will keep informed about the decision on nominating or not nominating a candidate for the president within the proper timeframes”, MP from the “Armenia” faction Gegham Manukyan told Armenpress. Asked whether discussions over this matter were held with the “I Have the Honor” faction, the lawmaker said official discussions have not taken place yet. Secretary of the “I Have the Honor” faction Hayk Mamijanyan said that the faction doesn’t have enough number of lawmakers for nominating a candidate for the President, but added that at this moment they are holding consultations with the “Armenia” faction. “We will definitely inform about the results”, he said. Yesterday, on February 1, the ruling Civil Contract party announced that it has nominated minister of high technological industry Vahagn Khachaturyan for the President of Armenia. Speaker of Parliament Alen Simonyan is currently serving as Acting President of Armenia because President Armen Sarkissian’s resignation took effect on February 1.

11:46 - 02 February, 2022

In general, we are not against establishing relations with Turkey, but the problem is at what cost. Ishkhan Saghatelyan

The opening of the Armenian-Turkish border and the settlement of Armenian-Turkish relations should be considered in a package, Ishkhan Saghatelyan, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, said this in an interview with journalists. "In general, we are not against establishing relations with Turkey, but the problem is at what cost and at what expense. We believe that these authorities are unable to protect the interests of the Republic of Armenia. If they say that there were negotiations with Turkey in the past, then there were also negotiations with Azerbaijan in the past, but there were no concessions and losses. Turkey is the same Turkey, but Armenia is not the same Armenia after the war, therefore, they are leading the country to a very dangerous cycle," Saghatelyan said.

15:17 - 18 January, 2022

Parliament adjourns as shouting match erupts between lawmakers |armenpress.am|

armenpress.am: Parliament adjourned the session after a shouting match erupted between opposition MPs from the Hayastan faction and the Vice Speaker of Parliament Ruben Rubinyan. The quarrel began after the opposition MPs accused Rubinyan – who is the Special Representative for Dialogue with Turkey – in being an agent of influence of Turkey. He strongly denied these accusations. Then, the Vice Speaker Hakob Arshakyan took the floor to again address the matter. "I’d like to inform our opposition colleagues, that to try and label a man, to connect the fact of him having been in any given country during the revolution or in any given period of time with being an agent of influence is the same as accusing someone of being an agent just because of their surname. Please look among yourselves, you might find a suspicion surname," Arshakyan said. During his speech, opposition MP from Hayastan faction Hripsime Stambulyan started to speak, but inaudibly. As the loud quarrel began, Rubinyan adjourned the session.

13:51 - 17 January, 2022