And don’t forget America. You can’t really talk about anti-west, but you can’t ignore the fact that it plays a big role in this big game, can you? Or do you lack imagination? And the Europeans are really messing around … Your view is one-sided. Geopolitics is complex.
— Notes from Georgia/South Caucasus (Hälbig, Ralph) (@SouthCaucasus) May 9, 2024
Day: May 9, 2024
SACRAMENTO—Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D – Burbank) joined Governor Gavin Newsom this week for a meeting with President of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan to discuss continued economic collaboration on trade and investment.
“California has always had a strong partnership with the Republic of Armenia and we look forward to further strengthening our collaboration on trade and investment,” stated Senator Portantino. “As the Chair of the Select Committee on California, Armenia, and Artsakh Mutual Trade, Art, and Cultural Exchange, I was honored to be included in a meeting with President Khachaturyan and Governor Newsom to discuss the California-Armenia Trade Desk and explore ways to expand our historic ties. In the past, California and the Select Committee has also affirmed their commitment to Artsakh’s sovereignty. On this Shushi Liberation Day, I also want to take a moment to remember the heroic efforts of those who led Artsakh to independence, as we look forward to the days when it will be free again.”
At the request of Senator Portantino, the California State Senate Rules Committee first established the historic Senate Select Committee on California, Armenia, and Artsakh Mutual Trade, Art, and Cultural Exchange in 2017 to expand business opportunities through trade, economic development, cultural awareness, and education between California, Armenia, and Artsakh. Senator Portantino also helped negotiate the historic Memorandum of Understanding between California and Armenia and joined Governor Newsom in New York for its historic, official signing – formally establishing the California Trade and Service Desk in Armenia.
The California Trade and Services Desk was established to strengthen the economic partnership between Armenian and California, support efforts for mutual economic benefit, and encourage trade and investment by California and Armenia businesses. Yerevan is the first California International Trade and Services Desk to be established by the Newsom administration.
Both California and Armenia benefit from collaboration and cooperation. Armenia has a flourishing high-tech industry, robust arts community, and a digital business corridor that is underutilized. California is at the forefront of these sectors and continues to be a leader in these areas. Tourism is also a place where California would benefit from direct marketing of our modern Golden State, while also highlighting the amazing and vast historical sites and landmarks of Armenia.
California has the largest population of Armenian Americans in the country, with the 25th Senate District having the largest concentration. The continued work of the Senate Select Committee, which was re-established for the 2023-24 Legislative Session, has a direct role in building stronger economic and cultural ties between California, Armenia, and Artsakh.
Armenia’s President Vahagn Khachaturyan, who is on a visit to California, met with Governor Gavin Newsom in Sacramento on Wednesday.
The sides praised the close and multi-faceted, three-decade-long cooperation between Armenia and California. It was emphasized that the Armenian community in California, which is the largest Diaspora community, play a significant role in U.S.-Armenia relations.
Khachaturyan emphasized that the high-tech sector has significantly strengthened its position in the Armenian economy in recent years, and since a number of the largest companies in that field are represented in California’s Silicon Valley, there is a need to promote cooperation between Armenia and California.
Newsom expressed interest in the developments of Armenia’s economic policy in recent years, especially during and after the pandemic.
Khachaturyan noted that during the Covid 19 crisis, the Armenian government implemented a number of steps that enabled the country’s economy to quickly recover in the post-covid period.
The President stressed that the implementation of such programs became possible as a result of democratic reforms and strengthening of democratic institutions implemented in the political and economic life of Armenia in recent years. In this context, Khachaturyan also thanked the U.S. senior leadership for the support provided to Armenia for strengthening democracy and implementing democratic reforms.
During the conversation, Khachaturyan and Newsom exchanged views on regional and global developments and existing challenges. Both sides emphasized the importance of settling the hot conflicts through peaceful negotiation and finding solutions.
Referring to the regional realities of the South Caucasus and the principles of Armenia’s foreign policy, Khachaturyan reaffirmed Armenia’s determination and unequivocal position to build good-neighborly relations with its neighbors, an expression of which is the border delimitation process currently being carried out for the first time between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
At the end of the meeting, Khachaturyan invited Governor Newsom to visit Armenia any time convenient to him, which will be an additional incentive for the expansion of cooperation between Armenia and California.
Armenia’s Ladanive made it through to the Grand Final of Eurovision Song Contest 2024 along with Latvia, Australia, Netherlands, Norway, Israel, Greece, Estonia, Switzerland and Georgia.
The Semi-Final result was determined through televotes. The televote took place during the live broadcast of the show. The 16 participating countries, as well as France, Spain and Italy, were voting in this Semi Final.
The 10 successful qualifiers will join the qualifiers from the First Semi-Final (held on Tuesday 7 May), as well as the Big 5 plus reigning Contest champions Sweden, in the Grand Final on Saturday 11 May.
YEREVAN (Azatutyun.am)—An outspoken archbishop leading protests against the Armenian government’s territorial concessions to Azerbaijan demanded that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan resign as he rallied tens of thousands of supporters in Yerevan on Thursday.
Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan held what appeared to be the biggest antigovernment demonstration in Armenia in years five days after activists led by him began marching to the capital from Kirants, a village in the northern Tavush province that was the epicenter of the protests.
Kirants and three other Tavush villages are adjacent to border areas which Pashinyan’s government wants to cede to Azerbaijan in what it calls a demarcation of first section of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. Many local residents are strongly opposed to the handover, saying that it would isolate their communities and leave them vulnerable to Azerbaijani attacks.
Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, the leader of the movement, is greeted in Yerevan
Galstanyan, who leads the Tavush Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, again condemned “this illegal unilateral process” when he addressed the massive crowd that gathered in Yerevan’s central Republic Square.
“We have come here to demand answers from the head of Armenia’s government who repeatedly visited our communities and lied, misled, and then bullied and threatened people,” he said. “We have come to demand answers for those threats.”
The clergyman backed by the church went on to accuse Pashinyan’s administration of incompetence and misrule and blame it for Azerbaijan’s recapture of Nagorno-Karabakh.
“This government has completely failed in the country’s governance and broken up its entire security system,” Galstanyan charged before giving Pashinyan one hour to step down. He said he is ready to meet the premier and “discuss all conditions of the resignation.”
The protest on May 9 was the largest anti-government protest in six years
After Pashinyan predictably ignored the demand, Galstanyan called for a parliamentary vote of no confidence in the prime minister and said he will meet lawmakers to discuss the possibility of “organizing that process.”
After a brief conversation with some of them held moments later, he said the two opposition groups represented in the Armenian parliament pledged to initiate a motion of censure “in the coming days.” The parliament is controlled by Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party.
Galstanyan also announced that the protest movement led by him will start on Friday morning “peaceful actions of civil disobedience” in and outside Yerevan. He said he will spend the night in the sprawling square.
Earlier on Thursday, Armenia’s police and National Security Service warned the protest leaders against taking “actions violating public order.”
Pashinyan, whose political allies have attacked the archbishop for the last few weeks, on Tuesday accused them of trying to provoke another war with Azerbaijan in hopes of toppling him. He claimed that Azerbaijan will invade Armenia if he bows to their demands to halt the land handover.
Galstanyan and the Armenia opposition have dismissed his claims. Opposition leaders say Pashinyan himself is encouraging Baku to demand more territory from Armenia and use force for that purpose.
The country’s main opposition forces have welcomed and even joined the Tavush protests. But they do not seem to be directly involved in the campaign led by Galstanyan.