Month: September 2015

Chile has evacuated one million residents along its coastline, following a powerful earthquake that caused buildings to sway in the South American country.

The quake, with a magnitude of 8.3, struck around 144 miles north-west of the capital Santiago.

It also triggered tsunami waves of up to 4.5 metres in some places.

Five people have died and at least one person has been reported missing, officials say.

Tsunami alerts were also issued for Peru, Hawaii, parts of California and as far away as New Zealand.

 

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian participated in the reception dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the signing of Helsinki Final Act. Minister Nalbandian’s full speech at the event is provided below:

Honorable ambassador Sorokin,
Honorable ambassador Peshko,
Excellencies, ministers,
Ladies and gentlemen,

This year marks important commemorations, the Centenary of the Armenian Genocide, the 70th year of memorial of the Holocaust, 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, 70th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Charter and the creation of the UN, 40th anniversary of signing of the Helsinki Final Act. They do not only refer to our past and history, but also steer our future actions towards creating in the shared OSCE area a comprehensive, inclusive and indivisible security community free of genocides, wars, conflicts and dividing lines.

It is impossible to underestimate the importance of the Helsinki Final Act in the implementation of this objectives. Its signature has been crucial in post war Europe both in defining relations and cooperations between countries of the region and considerably influencing the future development of the international relations, as a whole.

The conference convened in Helsinki in 1975 was different from the other major international events of the 20th century history of Europe, because it did not bring together the winners and defeated nations for drafting the new postwar world order, but heads of states and nations with the goal to contribute to peace, security, justice and cooperation in Europe, as stated in the preamble of the Final Act.

Although the Helsinki conference did not put an end to wars, it importantly proposed a new model of Pan-European peace which is anchored on cooperation of the participants states and security on the one hand and the protection of human rights on the other.

Armenia honors its OSCE commitments and is an active participating state. Close cooperation has evolved with the OSCE structures, including the Office in Yerevan which is the only fully-fledged office of the OSCE in the South Caucasus, which in itself speaks of Armenia’s attitude towards international cooperation and other regional realities.

In 1975 the Helsinki final act was signed by 35 countries. It is now an organisation of 57 participating states. The significant growth of the OSCE family is driven by the implementation of the principals of the Helsinki Final Act, in particular the right of peoples to self-determination.

The unequivocal implementation of the norms set forth by the Helsinki Final Act 40 years ago, which we have inherited is one of the essential prerequisites for peace, security and prosperity in Europe. Therefore, constant care and attention to it should occupy a pivotal place in current international relation.

Thank You.

The Armenian Government approved a draft decision today on the sale of the 100% of shares of the Electric Networks of Armenia CJSC to Liormand Holding Limited.

The Government has assigned the Ministers of Energy and Natural Resources, Justice, Finance and Economy to study all documents and present a conclusion.

INTER RAO Holding B.V. had earlier informed the Armenian Government about the intention to expropriate 100% of its shares of the Electric Networks of Armenia.

The Armenian Catholic Church in Diyarbakir became the target of attacks by Turkish policemen during the curfew announced in Sur municipality of Diyarbakir, Akunq.net reports, quoting Turkish Dicle News Agency.

According to the source, the policemen not only attacked the church, but also stole some historic items.

Armenians are going to take the case to court, President of the Armenian Association of Mesopotamia Arat Karagozyan told the agency. He said the loss amounts to 300 thousand Turkish liras.

Karagozyan added that the Police broke the historic doors to enter the church. He said six large historic faience pictures and a number of carved stones were stolen.

Remind that the as a result of clashes between PKK and the Police.

Consultations on constitutional amendments continued today at the RA Presidential Palace, President’s Press Office reports.

As part of that process, President Serzh Sargsyan held a meeting with the representatives of the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party, Hakob Avetikyan, Armen Manvelyan, Karen Kakoyan, Suren Sargsyan, Varazdat Avoyan and Seyran Gharibyan.

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian met with Marcel Pesko, Director of OSCE’s Conflict Prevention Centre.

The parties discussed a wide range of issues related to the prevention of conflicts over OSCE area.

Minister Nalabndian briefed the guest on the latest developments in the process of settlement of the Karabakh conflict, noting that Armenia remains committed to the resolution of the issue exceptionally in a peaceful way with the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.

 

 

 

The performance of young jazz musicians and a press conference at Charles Aznavour Square marked the start of the Yerevan Jazz Fest 2015. The festival held at the initiative of the Armenian Jazz Association and the Mezzo Production Company will consist of three concerts scheduled for September 17, 18 and 19. The event will feature both Armenian and foreign jazzmen, including famous American jazz musician Richard Bona

Jazz festival was held in Yerevan in 2006. One of Armenian jazz legends Armen Tutunjyan (Chiko) hopes the event will become continuous.

“This is an event Yerevan needs as a city that has lived and breathed with jazz rhythms for years,” singer Erna Yuzbashyan says.

“Armenia has had great jazzmen and has a huge potential today,” she told a press conference today.

Heidi Hautala (Member of the European Parliament, FIN) and Victor Dolidze (Member of the Georgian Parliament), Co-Presidents of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, made a joint statement to express their deep regret over the decision of Azerbaijan’s Milli Mejlis (parliament) to start the procedure leading to a withdrawal of the country from the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, APA reports.

As of today, this decision was communicated to the European Parliament component of the Euronest  PA, said the statement.

“As soon as the Azerbaijani Milli Majlis formally notifies both Co-Presidents, the Bureau of the Euronest PA will take stock of these developments in order to propose the appropriate measures ensuring the continuation of smooth functioning of the Euronest PA,” the statement said.

The Euronest PA, indeed, remains the multilateral parliamentary dimension of the Eastern Partnership, the statement said, adding that as such, it will continue to function, in a spirit of integration and openness, in order to promote the necessary conditions to accelerate political and economic integration between the European Union and the Eastern European Partners.

According to the statement, participation in the Euronest PA remains, first and foremost, the voluntary and sovereign choice of each concerned Eastern Partner which fulfils the criteria.

“In this sense, we take note of and respect the decision of the Azerbaijani Milli Majlis to withdraw. However, we believe that this development is unfortunate, and will also prevent Milli Majlis members from speaking their voice in joint parliamentary proceedings of evident importance for the region. The Constituent Act of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly provides for a year’s notice before any withdrawal becomes effective: within this period, we reiterate our availability to openly discuss with the Milli Majlis the situation,” said the statement.

A special cover dedicated to the 40^th anniversary of OSCE founding document Helsinki Final Act took was cancelled in Yerevan on September 16.

The Special cover represents a unique philatelic product – a thematic cover, on which the stamp dedicated to the OSCE and issued in 2012 is attached and which will be cancelled with a Special postmark. The Special cover has been designed with a print run of 1000 pcs. It depicts the logotype of the 40^th anniversary of Helsinki Final Act.

The participants of the cover signing ceremony were “HayPost” CJSC Trust Manager Mr. Juan Pablo Gechidjian, Deputy Minister of Transport and Communication of the RA Mr. Gagik Tadevosyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the RA Mr. Edward Nalbandyan, Director of OSCE Conflict Prevention Center Mr. Marsel Peszko, Head of OSCE Office in Yerevan Mr. Andrey Sorokin, President of the Union of Philatelists of the RA Mr. Hovik Musaelyan.

“HayPost” CJSC pays great attention to the development of the Armenian philately and enhances the interest of the broad segments of the society with regard to the philately and stamps through issuing similar philatelic products.

More than 100 people were killed in South Sudan when an oil truck exploded as a crowd tried to gather fuel from the vehicle after it had veered off the road, a regional official said on Thursday, a day after the incident, Reuters reports.

In addition to those killed in Wednesday’s blast, Charles Kisagna, the minister of information in Western Equatoria, said about 50 people were seriously injured.

“We don’t have medical equipment and these people may not survive because we do not have the facilities to treat the highly burnt people,” he told Reuters, adding the truck had been travelling from the capital Juba to the Western Equatoria area.

Such incidents have happened before in the east African region where fuel tankers often have to travel long distances along potholed roads and pass through poor communities.