The Presidents of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan could hold a trilateral meeting, and work on this matter is underway, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday, Sputnik News reports.
“Work in this direction is being carried out. We are not excluding that such meetings could take place. If this gets finally confirmed, we will provide information,” Peskov told journalists, answering a question about reports that the three leaders would be meeting in St. Petersburg.
Massis Post – On May 24, 2016 a delegation of Armenian Council of America and Gaidz Youth Organization visited the German Consul General to hand deliver a letter from the Armenian American community, urging Chancellor Angela Merkel and the German Parliament to remain steadfast and recognize the Armenian Genocide. Similar letters will be delivered to German Missions throughout the Armenian Diaspora as well as to German government representatives and Parliamentarians.
Germany’s parliament is set to vote on a cross-party bill on June 2nd, recognizing the 1915-1923 Genocide of Armenians in the Ottoman Turkey.
The following is the English translation of the open letter:
Honorable Chancellor Merkel,
In view of the approaching vote by the German Bundestag on the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, the Armenian people are hopeful that the national government and the coalition partners led by you will formulate a clear and unambiguous resolution in the Parliament, in which the crimes against the Armenian people ARE recognized as Genocide.
Regrettably, it was not until 2005 that the subject of the Armenian Genocide was first discussed in the German Parliament. The subsequent resolution in June 2005 was accepted by all factions but fell far short of the expectations of the Armenian people.
In contrast to the resolution adopted by the European Parliament in 1987, followed by resolutions of numerous national parliaments, the German Parliament refrained from clearly acknowledging these crimes as Genocide. A further ten years passed before the Armenian Genocide issue was once again raised in the German Parliament on April 24, 2015.
Last year, on the eve of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, German President Joachim Gauck in his speech at the Berlin Cathedral declared the massacres as Genocide. The following day, on April 24, 2015, during the debate in the Parliament, representatives of all factions followed the President’s lead in acknowledging the massacres as Genocide, but unfortunately the parliament was unable to agree upon a closing resolution.
In 2005, the Parliament accepted partial responsibility for the elimination of the Armenian people in the Ottoman Empire. In view of the historical importance of this fact, the Armenian people find the current stance of the German government unacceptable and incomprehensible. This stance is unbecoming to a country where the commemorative culture has such a high value. The Armenian people expect that the German Government and all Parliamentary parties will finally show enough courage to officially recognize the events of 1915 for what they were: Genocide.
In 2005, France took a clear stand and officially recognized the events as Genocide despite tremendous pressures by the Turkish government. If Germany declines to recognize these crimes as Genocide, we can only view this decision as an act of appeasement toward Turkey, very much like the period between 1915 and 1918, when Germany did nothing to prevent or stop the slaughter of Armenians out of consideration to its Turkish allies. Former Chancellor Bethmann Hollweg wrote at the time “Our only goal is to KEEP Turkey as an ally until the end of the war, indifferent to whether the Armenians perish or not.”
Recently, the Chairman of the CDU/CSU Faction stated in a newspaper interview that his faction will put forward a motion in the Parliament on June 2nd, 2016 in which the crimes against the Armenian people will be recognized as Genocide. He has also stated that Germany will not bow to Turkish pressure. We are optimistic that the CDU/CSU faction will position its decision around this clear statement and urge you and your Government not to be influenced by the threats and blackmail attempts of the Turkish Government, and follow the example of other European institutions and Parliaments in recognizing the Armenian Genocide.
President Serzh Sargsyan received today Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, who has arrived in Yerevan to participate in the regular sitting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council in Yerevan.
President Sargsyan briefed the Russian PM on the results of the Vienna discussions. “We’ve reached an agreement on the monitoring of ceasefire violations and implementation of a mechanism of investigation of border incidents. We’re ready to do our best to exclude ceasefire violation, and I do hope that the Foreign Ministers of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing countries will be consistent in implementing the decisions,” he said.
Dmitry Medvedev, in turn. expressed gratitude for hosting the meeting of the EEU Intergovernmental Council in Armenia and voiced confidence that the member countries would reach agreements necessary for boosting their economies.
He said Russia is closely following the developments in the Karabakh conflict zone and doing the utmost to help settle the current situation.
“It’s important to maintain the current ceasefire regime. In this context we welcome your meeting with the President of Azerbaijan in Vienna, and support the efforts within the framework of the OSCE Mink Group aimed at maintaining dialogue, and preventing such incidents in the future, taking into consideration of the agreements reached in 1994-1995 and with a view of ensuring stronger peace in the region and moving towards a final settlement to the Karabakh conflict,” Medvedev said.
“You can rest assured that Russia has always assisted and will keep assisting in the settlement of this complex issue,” the Prime Minister noted.
Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian received today Ambassador Herbert Salber, the EU Special representative for the South Caucasus and the Conflict in Georgia.
Minister Nalbandian briefed Ambassador Salber on the harm the Azerbaijani aggression against Karabakh has caused to the negotiation process and presented the efforts targeted at the elimination of its consequences.
The EU Special Representative noted that there is no military solution to the Karabakh conflict and added that “the European Union supports the efforts of the OSCe Misnk Group targeted at exclusively peaceful settlement of the issue.
The EU Special Representative mentioned that the issue has no military solution and the European Union supports the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs for exclusively peaceful settlement of the issue.
The interlocutors exchanged thoughts on the possibilities of resumption of the negotiations. In this regard, Edward Nalbandian stressed that currently any possible meetings could be aimed at the elimination of the repetition of Azerbaijan’s aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh of early April, the unconditional implementation of the trilateral ceasefire and ceasefire consolidation agreements of 1994-1995, which have no time limitations, the creation of a mechanism for investigation of ceasefire violations. According to Edward Nalbandian, those steps would create appropriate conditions for the continuation of the negotiation process.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia and the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the Crisis in Georgia reflected on Armenia-European Union relations, negotiations on the legal basis of the relations.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday commemorated the lives of Armenians lost in 1915, reports.
In a statement that was read out by the head of the Armenian church in Turkey at an Istanbul ceremony to remember those who died in the early years of World War I, Erdogan paid tribute to those gathering to mark the “tragic conditions” of the war.
“I welcome this commemoration which is taking place once again in Turkey, the most meaningful place to share the grief endured by the Ottoman Armenians, as well as to honor their memories,” he said.
“In the lands of Anatolia, where humanitarian duties are never neglected and happiness and grief are sincerely shared, the sense of conscience and justice are held above all.”
“We will never give up working for amity and peace against those who try to politicize history through a bitter rhetoric of hate and enmity and strive to alienate the two neighboring nations, who are bound with their common history and their similar traditions,” he added in the statement, read by Patriarch Aram Atesyan.
“With this in mind, I once again commemorate the Ottoman Armenians who passed away and extend my condolences to their children and grandchildren.”
The president went on the pay tribute to all Ottoman citizens “regardless of their ethnic or religious origins” who lost their lives. “I would like to reiterate that we share this common pain,” he said.
The Syrian president told Sputnik he is ready to hold snap presidential election if the people call for it.
Snap presidential elections could be held in Syria if that is the desire of the Syrian people, Syrian President Bashar Assad told in an interview.
“This depends on the Syrian people’s stance, on whether there is a popular will to hold early presidential elections. If there is such a will, this is not a problem for me. It is natural to respond to the will of the people and not to that of certain opposition forces. This issue concerns every Syrian citizen because every citizen votes for the president,” Assad said.
“But I have no problem with this in principle because the president cannot work without the people’s support. And if the president is supported by the people, he must always be ready for such a step. I can say that this is no problem for us in principle, but in order to take such a step, we need the Syrian public opinion and not the opinion of the government or the president,” Assad added.
The Syrian leader emphasized that snap presidential elections were not a part of the current political process.
“It has been proposed to hold parliamentary elections after the new constitution [has been adopted]. These elections will show the balance of powers on the political arena. Then, a new government will be formed in accordance with the representation of political forces in the new parliament… As for presidential elections, that is a an entirely different issue,” Assad said.
On February 22, Assad issued a decree calling for parliamentary elections in the country on April 13.
Based on the necessity of improving mechanisms of implementing law supremacy and democracy principles, perfecting the balance between the power branches and raising the efficiency of public administration, as well as taking into consideration the suggestion of political parties represented in the National Assembly and non-parliamentary political forces and guided by the 10th clause of the 68th article of the NKR Constitution on 21 March President Bako Sahakyan signed a decree on establishing a professional commission on constitutional reforms under the NKR President.
The decree approved the composition of the commission at the head of the National Assembly Chairman Ashot Ghoulyan.
According to the decree by May 1, 2016 the professional commission was assigned to introduce to the President the concept of the constitutional reforms and in case of its approval by September 10, 2016 elaborate and hand in to the President the project of the constitutional reforms.
Armenia will host the World Congress on Information Technologies (WCIT) in 2019.
The government has decided to allocate funds to pay the advance to the World Information Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA).
The World Congress on Information Technology, which has taken place every two years since 1978, is organized by the World Information Technology and Services Alliance. WITSA is present in 82 countries, with the inclusion of members representing 90% of the global ICT market, as well as key global information technology companies.
The WCIT is based on four main pillars: speeches, exhibitions, B2B meetings, and social events. These afford a unique opportunity for expanding businesses and investments in companies and ideas, while generating competitiveness in the global market.
About 2,000-2,500 delegates from more than 80 countries of the world are expected to attend the WCIT 2019 in Armenia.
During today’s governemnt sitting Armenian Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan stressed the importance of hosting the Congress in Armenia and noted that it would help attract investments in the IT sphere.
Photo: Valeriy Sharifulin/TASS
The Syrian army and self-defense forces have regained control over Tellet-Gazzalya heights and are advancing to the town of Kensaba – the last stronghold of gangs to the north of Latakia (in 320 kilometers from Damascus), reports.
Al-Manar TV channel reported on Wednesday that fighting has become especially brutal in this region. A Syrian officer taking part in the operation said that the enemy “is suffering losses in personnel and equipment.” On Tuesday government forces freed three settlements near Latakia – Ayn Basura, Shelef and Billah. People will be allowed to return there after roads are demined.
Syrian government forces also made a strategic gain to the east of Aleppo (360 kilometers from Damascus). The Syrian army and self-defense forces ousted militants from the Islamic State (IS) terrorist organization (banned in Russia) from the settlement of Abu Dana where a thermal power plant supplying electricity to Aleppo is located. Repair brigades were immediately sent to the facility.
Fighting with IS continues in 85 kilometers from Homs near Telyal Rawabi heights. Syrian government forces regained control over the highway leading to the town of El Karyateyn seized by terrorists. Army units are trying to shut off terrorists from the southern part of the highway and are advancing to Kabr Antara heights to encircle the enemy’s stronghold.