Author: Ekmekjian Janet

The President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Austrian parliamentarian Christine Muttonen, today called for the immediate agreement on the extension of mandates of OSCE field operations, some of which are currently being held up by representatives of OSCE countries.

“Field missions have long been the crown jewel of the OSCE, both helping OSCE countries to live up to their commitments through practical project work and representing a vital element of the Organization’s outreach capacity. The excellent work being done by our professionals in the field is now effectively being held hostage by diplomats in Vienna, some of whom are vetoing this most important work of the Organization,” said Muttonen.

The mandates of the OSCE’s field operations in Armenia, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan all expired on 31 December 2016 without agreement on their extension. The OSCE Observer Mission at the Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk is set to expire on 31 January, currently with no agreement on extension.

“OSCE parliamentarians have repeatedly called for OSCE field missions to be given robust mandates that allow them to get on with their work and help OSCE countries. Whether it is promoting women’s participation in political life, undertaking anti-corruption training for judges, or supporting professional work by parliamentary staff, OSCE missions add value to the security and good governance of the countries in which they work. I call on all diplomats to the OSCE to redouble efforts and reach agreement, enabling OSCE staff to do their jobs; continuing to block this work is simply not acceptable,” said the President.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan has claimed the Carling Goal of the Month for December, according to the Premier League’s official website.

The Manchester United midfielder’s acrobatic scorpion kick helped his side earn a 3-1 victory over Sunderland on Boxing Day.

It was chosen as the best from a shortlist of eight goals from the combined votes of a panel of experts and the public, who picked their favourite via the Carling Tap and website.

Dear Compatriots,

Year 2016 becomes history; it was the 25th year of the reestablishment of our independence. It was a period full of events and challenges.

In April, there was a four-day war. On the battlefield our people proved once again that its unified strength is unbreakable, the resolve to defend our Fatherland is unshakable. The unity of Armenia, Artsakh and Spyurk will not succumb to the perfidious and treacherous attacks. We will emerge from every calamity even stronger.

Let year 2016 in our memory remain as a year of national unity. In the passing year, we have demonstrated to ourselves and the entire world the meaning of the national spirit, of freedom and resolve to fight for the Homeland.

We will enter the second twenty-five-year period of our independent statehood with the same national unity. The first one was the phase when we withstood the war and difficulties. In the process, we shaped the victory in the Artsakh Liberation War and established the foundation for the eternal Armenian statehood.

Here is the source of my optimism; this also the source of our future success. The faith that we will build a better country and are able to defend it has already made us stronger. Every week, every month we will make maybe small but steady steps towards a better, more dignified, and a more prosperous future.

We enter the new year confident of our strength. The coming 25 years will be the years of advancement, a period when a stronger and a more prosperous Armenia will emerge. In that very spirit, we will be moving forward on the road towards the implementation of the visible and tangible reforms. We are entering the new year with serious and realistic programs. The positive outcome of the consistent and large-scale reforms in the area of economy and other areas will be visible to everyone and soon. I am confident, the new government will be able to do that, and it will be our common success.

The coming year will be fateful in many regards. In spring 2017, there will take place the Parliamentary elections. Our society through the joint efforts can organized a political process which will be trusted by everyone. We need elections like that so that the ship of our state doesn’t hit the underwater reefs known in the past.

Dear Fellow Citizens,

Around the festive tables, we all raise our glasses for the Armenian Army, for the people who are guarding at this very moment our peace. We also commemorate the immortal soldiers and officers who fell in 2016 and before that. We wish strength to their families and friends.

I also propose to raise our glasses for our new generation, for our children. This is a generation of independence, which keeps our borders unbreakable. Because of them, the Armenian tricolor is waving at the Olympic Games. Representatives of this generation return home from the world school subject Olympiads with dozens of medals. Their creative mind opens the doors of the most prominent cultural and scientific establishments.

We will spare no means to ensure their education and growth. I strongly believe that only this way we will be able to create a better Armenia.

Dear Friends,

In the new year 2017, I wish you and your families happiness, peace, and love.
Happy New Year and Holy Christmas!

A gunman has shot dead Russia’s ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, apparently in protest at Russia’s involvement in the Syrian conflict, the BBC reports.

Several other people were reportedly also injured in the attack, a day after protests in Turkey over Russia’s military intervention in Syria.

According to Russian TV, the ambassador had been attending an exhibition called “Russia as seen by Turks”.

Police later “neutralised” the gunman, reports say, without giving details.

Mr Karlov was rushed to hospital but his death was later confirmed.

US state department spokesman John Kirby said US officials were aware of reports about the attack on the ambassador.

“We condemn this act of violence, whatever its source,” he said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.”

Tourism-related issues were high on the agenda of consultations conveneted by President Serzh Sargsyan in the city of Jermuk.

“Despite the positive results registered in the field of tourism, there is still a huge potential,” Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan said at a meeting with representatives of the relevant state agencies.

He noted that the development of tourism is an “interrelated chain of economic development, where all links should be strong and active to make it possible to achieve a final result.”

“We have to be aware that the field can only develop thanks to combined efforts of all of us,” the President added.

Speaking about the choice of the venue of the consultation, President Sargsyan said “Vayots Dzor province is where the most significant southern route passes. It take to spiritual-cultural centers like the Noravank Complex, the Areni caves, Tatev Monastery, Zorats Karer and, of course, to the heroic land of Artsakh.”

According to Serzh Sargsyan, “this southern route has the potential of becoming a component of more large-scale regional tourism packages involving Armenia, Iran and Georgia.”

President Sargsyan recalled Pope Francis’ visit to Armenia, which was held under the slogan “Pilgrimage to the first Christian nation.” The Pontiff publicly called it a “pilgrimage to Armenia, which, according to President Sargsyan, was a positive message that should be built upon.

Referring to other examples, the President pointed to the recovery of the oldest shoe and the most ancient vinery found in Armenia and reminded that the events were widely covered by world media.

Upon the conclusion of the meeting, President Sargsyan instructed to set up a tourism council involving representatives of the private sector, international organizations, local self-government bodies and the Armenian Apostolic Church with a view of coordinating the work of the tourism-related state bodies and territorial development agencies.

Vice-Speaker of the Armenian National Assembly Edward Sharmazanov received today Syrian MPs Omar al-Arab and Alan Bakeri.

The Vice-Speaker welcomed the visit of Syrian lawmakers to Armenia and noted that the Armenian-Syrian friendship has centuries-old history, which has been reinforced after Syria’s provision of refuge to Armenian genocide survivors.

Edward Sharmazanov attached importance to the cooperation between the two countries, particularly the reinforcement of inter-parliamentary ties. He expressed gratitude to the Syrian Parliament for holding a debate on the Armenian Genocide.

“The denial of genocide is fraught with threats of reoccurence of the crime. Turkish denialism and impunity bore terrorists like the Islamic State,” Sharmazanov said.

During the meeting reference was made to the Syria crisis. The Armenian Vice-Speaker wished strength to the Syrian people and voiced hope that peace and law would be reestablished in the country. He stressed Armenia’s stance on the fight against terrorism and assured of the willingness of the Armenian lawmakers to raise their voice for the sake of peaceful settlement of the Syrian issue.

The Syrian MPs, in turn, conveyed the words of gratitude of the Syrian authorities and people to the Armenian nation for supporting them at times of hardship. They also attached importance to the deepening of inter-parliamentary and informed that discussions on recognition of the Armenian Genocide are under way in Syrian parliamentary commissions.

“The U.S. Government welcomes the  agreement that was reached in June and September between the Armenian government and parliamentary political factions – with input from civil society representatives – on strengthening the integrity and credibility of the Armenian election process,” the U.S. Embassy in Armenia said in a statement.

The statement reads:

“We consider this agreement a meaningful step towards restoring public trust and accountability in Armenia’s electoral processes.  Based on President Sargsyan’s pledge in December 2015, we take seriously the Armenian government’s commitment that the parliamentary elections of 2017 will be “conducted in the atmosphere of greater trust, so that results of the election are not doubted by either political parties, or citizens.”

To help make this public commitment to credible elections a reality, the United States is pleased to join – along with the European Union, the UK, and Germany – in providing financial support to the new voting processes and equipment provided for in the June 17 and September 9 agreements, so that these processes and equipment are in place for the spring 2017 parliamentary elections.  With our fellow international donors, all of whom are working in partnership with the United Nations Mission to Armenia, the U.S. Embassy will help fund the efforts of the Armenian government, political opposition, and civil society to strengthen trust in the Armenian electoral process via same-day voter authentication and the publication of signed voter lists after the elections, all as agreed in the June and September agreements.

We join in this effort understanding that no single new electoral mechanism will completely do away with electoral fraud, however.  It is a matter of political will.   Fundamentally, the burden is on the government and its constituent institutions – the Central Election Commission, law enforcement bodies, and the judiciary – to foster a markedly different approach to electiofns; to ensure the Armenian people’s free expression of choice at the voting booth; and to safeguard the essential, unfettered work of domestic and international election observers and media both on election day and afterwards.  A free and fair election also requires responsible civic engagement in the election process, along with engaged electoral observation, from the Armenian opposition, civil society, and all citizens regardless of their political views.

The U.S. Embassy agrees with President Sargsyan’s assessment that the “forthcoming elections will shape the future” of the Armenian state.  The United States was the first country to recognize Armenia’s independence in 1991, and our two countries have been friends and partners for 25 years.  We remain strongly committed to being a part of Armenia’s ongoing democratic growth and in helping it become the independent, secure, and prosperous nation its people deserve.  Free, unfettered, and credible elections are an absolutely indispensable component of the path towards achieving this goal.”

 

 

 

He joined the Artsakh War in 1991. He was one of the most talented and experienced commanders. He was posthumously bestowed the title of the Artsakh Hero. Monte Melkonian died on June 12, 1993. Today is Monte’s birthday.

“Monte was a brilliant commander, an exceptional soldier, but he remained in the history and the hearts of people first of all thanks to his honesty and fairness,” says Alek Yenigomshyan, Director of “Monte Melkonian” NGO and ex-member of ASALA.

“The decisions to fight and die for the Motherland are never made in one day, they are born with a man. Monte was a hero, a man of exceptional courage, a skilled serviceman. But the human qualities were his greatest privilege. He was honest, fair and extremely modest.”  Alek Yenigomshyan is confident Monte would not like to be remembered on several occasions over the year, to be glorified and praised. “He didn’t need it, but we need it,” he said.

According to Yenigomshyan, Monte was absolutely indifferent to material values. Honesty and moral were the most precious values to him. Without these qualities he would not inspire hope and confidence and would not be adored by all.

Bloodshed was not Monte’s aim on the battlefield. He even gave his blood to save the life of a wounded Azerbaijani captive. Monte came to Armenia, when many were leaving. Monte did not know what despair was.

ranks Armenia international Henrikh Mkhitaryan 36th (between Mesut Ozil – 37th and Harry Kane – 35th) in its list of world’s 50 best football players of 2016.

Chief editors and correspondents from Goal‘s 38 editions across the globe all cast their votes. Players were judged on their level of consistency over the past year, their big-game performances, footballing legacy and the success of their team at both club and international level.

“The 27-year-old’s Old Trafford career may not have got off to the best start but the attacking midfielder was sensational for Borussia Dortmund last season, racking up 11 goals and 15 assists in the Bundesliga alone. One imagines that if he gets a regular run of Premier League games, then Mkhitaryan will quickly set about proving just why United paid £35.7m (€42m) for his services,” Goal writes.

Chief editors and correspondents from Goal‘s 38 editions across the globe all cast their votes. Players were judged on their level of consistency over the past year, their big-game performances, footballing legacy and the success of their team at both club and international level.

Enhancing economic connectivity perspectives and the development of Euro-Asian inland transport links were the focus of a two-day expert meeting held by the OSCE Office in Yerevan within the UNECE’s Euro-Asian Transport Links (EATL) project, which ended today in Yerevan.

The event brought together representatives from state institutions, private sector, specialized transport organizations and experts from Armenia, Greece, Iran, Poland, Russia, Singapore, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

They discussed recent developments in infrastructure projects and transit initiatives along Euro-Asian routes, in particular the Silk Road Programme, and the North-South Road Corridor Investment Program. Participants discussed the draft of the UNECE EATL Phase 3 Report which shall serve as a basis for policy co-ordination and action to make the overland Euro-Asian trade transport links operational and commercially attractive. The participants agreed that public-private partnerships and political support are required to boost regional economic growth, stability and security through improving existing legal agreements, simplifying procedures and eliminating redundant and restrictive rules.

“The OSCE recognizes the significance of the Euro-Asian Transport Links project for the economic connectivity and social stability of the region,” noted David Gullette, Acting Economic and Environmental Officer at the OSCE Office in Yerevan.

Miroslav Jovanovic from the UNECE’s Sustainable Transport Division said that “The UNECE intends to contribute to the economic development in Europe and Asia by easing transport and trade links and making them more commercially viable.”

Zukhra Bektepova, Economic Affairs Officer at the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) stressed that enhancing harmonization and predictability of transport and customs procedures and regulations requires not only technical know-how but also political will and co-operation.

Artak Zakaryan, Chair of the Standing Committee on Foreign Relations of the National Assembly of Armenia emphasized the significance of regional economic integration where “improvement and development of effective Euro-Asian transport and efficient logistics chains are vitally important.”

The expert meeting was supported by the OCEEA and the UNECE.

The OSCE has been providing political and practical help to the UNECE’s Euro-Asian Transport Links since 2006.