Author: Chmshkian Vicken

PHOTO: EUNAVFOR MED

Up to 30 migrants are feared dead after a boat capsized in the Mediterranean off the Libyan coast while some 50 were rescued by EU vessels from the sea, the BBC reports.

Ships from an EU task force and Italy’s coast guard raced to the scene 65km off the coast as survivors clung to the hull or swam.

The alert had been raised by a Luxembourg reconnaissance plane which saw the capsized boat.

The Italian navy rescued 562 migrants from a capsized boat on Wednesday.

Statement by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Edward Nalbandian at the 7th European Union and Eastern Partnership Foreign Ministers’ Meeting

Dear colleagues,

I would like to thank the High Representative Mogherini and Commissioner Hahn for organizing this meeting.

Since our last Ministerial significant developments have taken place. We had the successful Riga Summit with the Joint Declaration that reaffirmed our shared vision of the Partnership based on mutual interests and commitments and highlighted the main directions for further developing and strengthening of comprehensive cooperation in all areas of mutual interest.

The 2015 was a special year for the Armenia-EU cooperation. Last December I had the privilege together with High Representative Mogherini to officially launch the negotiations on a new comprehensive agreement between Armenia and the European Union. It will enable us to lay a new legal foundation for our relations based on shared values and respect for each other’s decisions and choices. The new agreement will reflect the depth and essence of our bilateral relations and set new guidelines for mutually beneficial comprehensive deep partnership. Three rounds of negotiations have already taken place.

In 2015 we witnessed an intense and constructive dialogue with a large number of bilateral meetings and high level visits. President Tusk and Commissioner Hahn visited Armenia in 2015 and recently High Representative Mogherini was in Yerevan. We have participated in a number of meetings of the Eastern Partnership and EU-Armenia partnership structures.

It was also last December, that the EU Council has presented the Revised European Neighborhood Policy – the cornerstone of our multilateral cooperation for the years to come. When the EU Council endorsed the Revised Policy, we were pleased to note that the principle of differentiation and tailor-made approach would be duly applied to the partners, taking into account the progress made in the implementation of their commitments in the area of democratic reforms.

The European Neighborhood Policy has played a substantial role in promoting and deepening cooperation between Armenia and the EU. We highly appreciate the EU’s continued support and assistance provided to our country over the years, which has been instrumental for the effective implementation and sustainability of the reform process and institutional capacity building in Armenia.

Dear colleagues,

The Riga Summit also reiterated full support to the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs on the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, based on the five statements of Presidents of the Minsk Group Co-Chair countries adopted since 2009. Most of us remember how Azerbaijan tried to block the Riga Summit Declaration because of the reference to these statements. This fact alone vividly demonstrates Azerbaijan’s ignorance to the proposals of the mediator countries made on behalf of the international community.

The meeting of the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan held last week in Vienna was a productive one with the concrete agreements and commitments, including unconditional implementation of 1994-1995 cease-fire agreements, creation of investigation mechanism, and enhance the capacities of the office of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office.

Regrettably, only days after the meeting Azerbaijani officials are making futile attempts to cast doubt on its outcome, presenting their own distorted interpretations contradicting the statement made on the results of the meeting by the high representatives of the Co-Chair countries. By fabricated accusations, Baku is trying to distract the attention of the international community from crimes committed by Azerbaijani Armed Forces, the vivid facts of the gross violations by Azerbaijan of the International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law.

Armenia together with the Co-Chair countries will do its utmost for the implementation of the agreements reached in Vienna and to continue efforts for the exclusively peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Dear colleagues,

We strongly believe that founded on shared ownership, responsibility, differentiation and mutual accountability Eastern Partnership contributes to strengthening democracy and market economies, improving macroeconomic stability and the business environment, as well as enhancing mobility and people-to-people contacts, which open new prospects for multilateral cooperation and enable us to make a better use of our capabilities.

Armenia has been actively implementing provisions of the Riga Summit Declaration, including the ones related to the sectoral cooperation. Agreement on the participation of Armenia in the COSME Programme for small and medium-sized enterprises, was signed last year. Several days ago Armenia joined the Horizon 2020 public funding programme for research and innovation. Enhancing cooperation in the transport area is also on our agenda and we expect early start of negotiations on establishing a Common Aviation Area.

Armenian students are actively benefiting from Erasmus+ and we are looking forward to enlarge cooperation aimed at capacity building activities relevant for Bologna Process. Ministerial Conference on European Higher Education Area which took place in Yerevan last year provided a good opportunity for further actions in this direction. We also have started discussion on joining Creative Europe Programme, which offers a broader frame for cultural exchanges.

Armenia values EU’s assistance to the agro-food sector and is looking forward to increased cooperation in promoting modernization and further reforms in agriculture and rural development, also within ENPARD programs.

The enhanced mobility remains one of the important prerequisites for making our societies closer. The recent Armenia-EU High-level meeting on Mobility held in Brussels allowed us to take stock of more than two years of activities and assess future priorities.

Both Armenia and EU view the implementation of the Readmission and Visa Facilitation Agreements as overall successful. We deem it important to start the Dialogue on Visa Liberalization with Armenia. Being well aware that Visa Liberalization Dialogue is a comprehensive process we also consider it as an additional incentive to foster reforms and cooperation with the EU in a number of areas.

Armenia is actively engaged with the EU in productive Human Rights Dialogue and attaches special importance to deepen cooperation on strengthening institutions and good governance, and in judicial, anti-corruption and public administration reforms. In this regard we are working closely also with other international organizations, namely with the Council of Europe. Two days ago we have launched the Action Plan for 2015-2018, which will be implemented also with the EU’s support. Armenia and EU is actively cooperating in parliamentary formats, Euronest and Parliamentary cooperation committee, as well as local government levels.

Armenia looks forward to advancing and deepening our comprehensive cooperation both within Eastern Partnership and European Neighborhood Policy, building upon the achievements that we have reached during recent years, in all possible areas and directions, giving due consideration to our commitments in other integration formats.

Thank you.

Ashot Melkonyan, Director of the History Institute of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) calls for resumption of military industry in the country.

Addressing the annual meeting of the Academy, Melkonyan first enlisted the weapons Azerbaijan used during the “four-day” war and urged to spare no means to acquire similar weapons or, why not, organize their production.

Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan said, in turn, that the government possesses necessary financial means to arm the military forces, and there’s no need to raise funds for acquisition of weapons, but added he does not mind voluntary assistance to the families of the deceased soldiers.

The military actions made it clear that the Armenian scholars also have a serious work to do. Director of the Institute of Radio Physics and Electronics Arsen Hakhumyan said “there is a great potential, and they are trying to achieve maximal results with scarce funds.”

Over the past years the Institute has developed a portable radar system that allows to spot the movement of people and equipment at the distance of 2-4 km, Hakhumyan said. He noted that that Armenia has the potential to produce laser systems, optical, engineering and communication systems, but added that large-scale machine production is necessary for producing attacking weapons.

Arsen Hakhumyan said different tools developed and produced in Armenia are being used at the frontline today.

The Academician added that today the world is moving towards a ‘clever war.’ Therefore, preference is given to the data processing, rapid response to problems, and assured that the country has a huge “scientific potential.”

Armenian judoka Shahen Abaghyan (55 kg) beat Natiz Gurbanli of Azerbaijan in the final round to win the European Junior European Judo Cup, Press Service of the Armenian National Olympic Committee reports.

The Armenian beat Turkish Celik Emre and Georgians Giorgi Niazashvili and Zurab Kakhniashvili in earlier rounds.

Shahen Abaghyan serves in the Sports Club of the RA Armed Forces and is one of the ten best soldier-sportsmen.

“The United States remains deeply engaged as a Minsk Group Co-Chair in seeking to achieve a lasting, peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,” the US Department of State has said in comments to Public TV of Armenia.

“The final status of Nagorno Karabakh will be determined within the broader framework of a negotiated, peaceful settlement to the conflict based upon the Helsinki Principles of non-use of force or threat of force, territorial integrity of states, and the equal rights and self-determination of people,” the State Department said.

The comments come after Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev called some actions of the OSCE Minsk Group “provocative.”

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called on Wednesday for “an ultimate resolution” of the two-decade-old Nagorno-Karabakh conflict during talks with Azeri President Ilham Aliyev at the State Department.

“We want to see an ultimate resolution of the frozen conflict of Nagorno-Karabakh that needs to be a negotiated settlement and something that has to be worked on over time,” Kerry said during a brief photo opportunity with Aliyev.

The last sitting of the fifth plenary session of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly in Brussels has been cancelled, member of the Armenian delegation to Euronest PA Karine Achemyan told Public Radio of Armenia.

She said that after consultations with the Armenian Ambassador to Belgium, head of the Armenian delegation Artak Zakaryan decided that the Armenian delegates would not leave the hotel at all.

The date of the Armenian lawmakers’ return is not unclear, either, as the airport remains closed.

The German outfit comfortably beat a much-changed Spurs side for the second week running, with the striker scoring twice on the night and Heung-min Son adding a consolation, according to Goal.com.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored twice as Borussia Dortmund eased into the Europa League quarter-finals with an aggregate 5-1 win over Tottenham.

The striker ended any slender hopes Spurs had of overhauling a 3-0 deficit from the first leg when he beat Hugo Lloris from long range in the 24th minute.

Aubameyang took his tally for the season to 35 with a second goal in the 70th minute, with Lloris failing to keep out a powerful drive that deflected into the net off the Frenchman’s right arm.

Neven Subotic’s weak back pass allowed Son Heung-min score, although his effort was no more than a consolation for a Tottenham side who were thoroughly outplayed over the two legs.

Asbarez – In this 101st year of the Armenian Genocide, plans are in place for the Armenian community of Southern California to gather on April 23, 2016, at 1 p.m., at the Montebello Armenian Genocide Martyrs Monument to remember and demand justice for the 1,500,000 martyrs of the Armenian Genocide. Traditionally, the memorial event in Montebello has taken place on April 24th, the day Armenians world-wide formally commemorate the horrific tragedy. This year, the event will take place on April 23rd, because the community-wide “Rally for Justice” event in front of the Turkish Consulate will be held on April 24^th.

The ceremony at the Montebello Armenian Genocide Martyrs Monument will feature a full program which includes political messages and a religious service officiated by all religious denominations of the Armenian community and cultural presentations to honor the memory of those lost.

The United Armenian Council of Los Angeles (UACLA) which is comprised of close to 50 Armenian religious, political, compatriotic, and other active community associations is the organizer of the commemorative event. The UACLA is also organizing other events dedicated to the 101^st anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. More details about these events will be presented to the general public through subsequent press releases of the UACLA and at the UACLA website www.uacla.com. The UACLA is also active throughout the year by organizing educational events about the Armenian Genocide.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi highlighted in a phone conversation on Monday that the fight against terrorists should continue not only in Syria but also in Libya and Yemen, the Kremlin said in a statement.

Putin informed Sisi about the implementation of a Syria ceasefire agreement which the Russian leader said was key for stabilizing the situation in the country.

“They expressed common intention to develop the bilateral relations, including in the spheres of energy and the military-technical cooperation. The parties confirmed it necessary to provide all necessary conditions to resume Russian flights to Egypt and the tourism exchanges,” Kremlin’s press service said.