Author: Ara Felekian

French Presidential candidate Benoît Hamon says if elected he will continue to participate in events commemorating the Armenian Genocide so that “this genocide is never forgotten.”

“The genocide of the Armenians of 1915 is a major event in the history of the twentieth century, a trauma for the whole humanity and of course especially for the French of Armenian origin and therefore for France. If I am elected President of the Republic, I will of course continue to participate in this commemoration so that this genocide is never forgotten,” Hamon said in an interview with . He hopes to visit the Yerevan Genocide Memorial one day.

“The Armenian community of France has all my admiration because it is an exemplary model of integration. The French of Armenian origin have contributed greatly to France, in various fields. They have often shown their love for France,” he said.

“As regards the struggle for recognition of the Armenian genocide, the efforts of not only the French of Armenian origin but also many of our fellow citizens of all origins are admirable and legitimate. If France was one of the first countries to recognize the Armenian genocide in 2001, I also realize that today more than ever, we must go further. In the words of Jean Jaures, “humanity can no longer live with the corpse of a murdered people in its cellar” and it was in 1897, 18 years before the genocide of 1915. Even if the legal channels to allow the penalization of the negation of the crime of genocide met the obstacles we know, we must not give up. In addition, there are many ways to sustain this memory, so that mass crimes committed in the past can never happen again,” Benoît Hamon said.

“The relations of friendship between France and Armenia are very strong and I hope that they will develop. Let us not forget that history binds us: the last king of Armenia rests in the basilica of Saint-Denis, next to the kings of France and in 1915, the French navy helped the Armenians of Cilicia. I wish to strengthen this relationship with Armenia, which has been asked too often to make a “civilizational choice” between Russia and the European Union. Things are not as simple, but I am convinced that France must be a privileged partner of Armenia. This is done on the economic level of course, since France is the first European investor in Armenia. But this can also be done at the level of decentralized cooperation between the French and Armenian regional authorities,” the presidential candidate said.

Benoît Hamon  said “France has a special responsibility as co-chair of the Minsk Group alongside Russia and the United States” to contribute to the settlement of the Karabakh conflict.

“The urgency of finding a solution to this conflict came suddenly to remember us during the violent clashes – the most violent in 20 years – that took place from 2 to 5 April. We have seen evidence that the expression “frozen conflict” is inadequate to describe a situation that causes many deaths every year. France has a special responsibility as co-chair of the Minsk Group alongside Russia and the United States. It immediately mobilized with its partners to obtain the ceasefire of 5 April. However, it would be a serious and dangerous mistake to consider that the situation is now stabilized. The clashes can resume at any moment, with incalculable consequences for the whole region. This situation requires everyone to find a solution to this conflict which has lasted too long. The elements of a regulation are known. These are the Madrid Principles made public in 2010. Elected President of the Republic, I would naturally be ready to organize another meeting to take concrete steps along this path. While there are increasing uncertainties at the international level, it is only time to put an end to this conflict, which is penalizing populations, hampering the development of both states, and maintaining a climate of instability detrimental to the entire region. Now is the time for everyone to take responsibility. This is what will have to be said to President Aliyev and President Sargsyan. The basis of an agreement is possible.”

Horizon Weekly – Garo Paylan, one of three ethnic Armenians in the Turkish Parliament, will engage in a discussion of recent developments in Turkey and the Armenian community on April 30 and May 1 at the Armenian Community centers in Montreal and Toronto.

The program is sponsored by the Armenian National Committee of Canada, with the co-sponsorship of the Union of Armenian Associations in Quebec and the Union of Armenian Organizations and Churches of Toronto.

In this presentation, his first in Canada, Mr. Paylan will discuss recent developments in Turkey and the region, the challenges faced by Turkey’s Armenian community, Turkish-Armenian relations, and the Kurdish issue. Mr. Paylan will speak in English.

Garo Paylan is a founding member of the People’s Democratic Party (HDP) and is a deputy representing the third district in Istanbul. Mr. Paylan is also a member of Turkey’s Armenian community and has long been an activist on human rights, Kurdish, and Armenian issues.

Prior to joining the parliament, Mr. Paylan served on the central committee of HDP and also served on the management of Armenian schools in Istanbul. He has long promoted bilingual education and minority rights in Turkey and has been actively engaged in raising awareness on discrimination towards minorities, the rights of the Armenian community in Turkey, Turkish-Armenian reconciliation, and especially on the Hrant Dink murder case. Mr. Paylan is from a family originally from Malatya and was elected to the Turkish parliament in 2015.

Matthew Karanian’s work on behalf of Armenia earned him the annual “Service to Humanity Award” from Bucknell University this week.

Karanian is a lawyer in Pasadena, Calif., and is an alumnus of Bucknell, a liberal arts university in Lewisburg, Penn.

Bucknell grants the award each year to a member of its alumni community “whose selfless and caring work and deeds benefit society and humankind,” according to the press office of the University.

By Karanian’s recollection, he was the only member of his graduating class who was of Armenian descent. “I think I probably introduced Armenia to a lot of people” at Bucknell, he said. “This award is recognition for what I’ve done in Armenia, but it’s also a sign that I created greater awareness of Armenian culture here at home, too.”

Karanian has dedicated a significant part of his career to promoting human rights and developing the rule of law in Armenia, which is the ancestral home of his grandparents. He served for several years as an associate dean and professor of law at the American University of Armenia, and he launched the Armenian Law Review, Armenia’s first English language law review.

Shortly after Armenia had re-established its independence in 1991, he served as an advocate for the interests of the country’s newly formed non-governmental organizations. He had previously worked as a defense attorney in Hartford, Conn., with Halloran and Sage, the state’s largest trial practice.

Karanian is the author of numerous books about Armenia. His most recent publication is .

Karanian’s contributions to the development of cultural relations between the US and Armenia were recently recognized by the Republic of Armenia. He received the nation’s prestigious Arshile Gorky Medal during a ceremony at the Armenian Consulate in Los Angeles on Armenian Independence Day, September 21, 2016.

Karanian graduated from Bucknell with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. He also holds degrees from Georgetown University Law Center and from McGeorge School of Law. He will accept the award in June at a ceremony on Bucknell’s campus in Pennsylvania.

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian will visit Tashkent April 6-7, press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informs.

Minister Nalbandian will attend the sitting of Foreign Ministers Council of CIS participating states.

President Serzh Sargsyan and first lady Rita Sargsyan cast their ballots in the Parliamentary elections at polling station No.9/18.

Asked what he was thinking about when casting the ballot, the President said: “I thought there is nothing more precious than peace, and we’ll do our best to ensure that our borders are peaceful and untouchable.”

President Sargsyan refrained from commenting on the campaign and the chances of the parties. “Today it’s not time to assess chances, it’s time to receive votes,” he said.

Russia will help Baku and Yerevan reach mutually acceptable solutions to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Monday after talks with his visiting Azerbaijani counterpart, Elmar Mamedyarov.

“Naturally, we spoke about the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement. Russia will continue to help the sides reach mutually acceptable solutions both in its bilateral relations with Baku and Yerevan and in the formal of trilateral meetings between Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia, and, of course, in its capacity as Minsk Group Co-Chair,” he said.

“We believe the Karabakh conflict can be solved,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a joint press conference with his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov.

He said the opinion is reinforced by the “results of long-term contacts, as a result of which common ground has been reached on a number of key issues of conflict settlement – security, humanitarian issue, return of territories surrounding Nagorno Karabakh, determination of the status of Nagorno Karabakh (with the opinion living there taken into consideration), defining the parameters of international peacekeeping forces, etc.”

Lavrov said there is understanding on a number of asepcts of final settlement and added that “two or three key issues are still being discussed. “We are far from the point where we can see the parties develop a common approach towards the remaining issues,” he said.

The Russian Foreign Minister underlined that “before we can resume substantial talks it’s important to deescalate the situation on the line of contact and the public environment.”

He stressed the importance of confidence-building measures, including the agreements reached in Vienna and St. Petersburg and the proposals worked out within the framework of the OSCE.

President of the European Council Donald Tusk has announced the conclusion of the negotiations on the new EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement.

“I am very pleased to announce today the conclusion of negotiations on the new EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement,” Tusk said after talks with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan in Brussels.

“Armenia whose independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity we support is an important partner for the European Union,” Donald Tusk said.

“This new agreement will broaden the scope of our relations, taking into account the new global, political and economic interests we share and challenges we want to face together,” he added.

“We are looking forward to stronger cooperation in sectors such as energy, transport and the environment, for new opportunities in trade and investments, and for increased mobility for the benefit of our citizens,” President of the European Council said.

“The EU is already the first trade partner of Armenia, its first international donor and strongest supporter to reforms. We intend to expand these relations further in the coming years and have encouraged Armenia to continue reforms across a range of issues, including economic development, the business environment, the judiciary, human rights, the fight against corruption and measures to ensure free and fair elections,” Donald Tusk stated.

“We also discussed the peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The status quo is unsustainable. The conflict needs an early political settlement in accordance with international law. It does not have a military solution. The EU continues to fully support the mediation efforts and proposals of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs,” he said.

Photo: Reuters

 

Donald Trump’s national security adviser, Michael Flynn, has resigned over his contacts with Russia, the White House has announced, the BBC reports.

Mr Flynn is alleged to have discussed US sanctions with the Russian ambassador before Mr Trump took office.

He is said to have misled officials about the conversation.

Earlier, US media reported that the Justice Department had warned the White House about the contacts late last month.

They said that Mr Flynn might be vulnerable to Russian blackmail.

Senior Democrats had called for Mr Flynn to be fired.

It is illegal for private citizens to conduct US diplomacy, and the calls happened late last year before Mr Flynn was appointed to the administration.

In his letter of resignation, Mr Flynn said he had “inadvertently briefed the vice-president-elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian ambassador”.

A White House statement said Lt Gen Joseph Keith Kellogg had been appointed as interim replacement.

Russia continues to take steps to bring Armenian and Azerbaijani positions closer with a view of solving the Karabakh conflict in a peaceful way, Russian Ambassador to Armenia Ivan Volynkin said in an interview with .

“A number of steps have been taken by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs to normalize the situation after the four-day war in April 2016, which, I stress, could be stopped thanks to the timely mediation of Russia,” the Ambassador said. He reminded about the two summits held in Vienna and St. Petersburg.

“Unfortunately, the agreements reached at the summits, including the ones on an investigation mechanism and expansion of the OSCE monitoring mission have not been implemented yet,” Volynkin noted.

He called attention to the clashes at the Armenian-Azerbaijani border on December 29, 2016. “Armenian servicemen and one of the attacking soldiers of Azerbaijan were killed on the territory of Armenia,” the Ambassador reminded.

“Russia stands for re-establishment of peace and stability in the South Caucasus. We see no alternative to the peaceful settlement. In cooperation with the partners in the Minsk Group, we’ll maintain efforts to bring the positions of the parties closer,” he assured.

Today in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; received Mr.Karen Karapetyan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia.

His Holiness welcomed the Prime Minister to the Mother See, noting the government’s efforts and programs launched to overcome the challenges facing the nation and her people. The Catholicos of All Armenians also acknowledged that the Prime Minister has always been a supporter of the Armenian Apostolic Church and her institutions.

The Prime Minister spoke appreciatively on the existing relations between the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church and the RA Government, attaching great importance to the cooperation between state and church.

During the meeting, His Holiness detailed the current activities of the Mother See. They also spoke about the progress of reforms in the country.

His Holiness expressed his wish that initiatives aimed at the progress and prosperity of the Homeland and her people, will be successfully carried out.