Author: Ekmekjian Janet

Armenian FM briefs OSCE Rep. on consequences of Azeri aggression against Karabakh

Ekmekjian Janet

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 ‘honors memory of Armenians killed in 1915’

Ekmekjian Janet

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.

Congressional leaders condemn devastating Azerbaijani attacks on Nagorno Karabakh

Ekmekjian Janet
Reaction from Capitol Hill condemning Azerbaijan’s wide-spread attacks along the Nagorno Karabakh border came swiftly this weekend,  with senior legislators calling on the US government and international negotiators to hold Azerbaijan accountable for its escalation of violence and recommending a zero-ing out of aid to the Aliyev regime, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
“We join with Members of Congress in condemning Azerbaijan’s aggression and calling upon the Obama-Biden Administration to hold Ilham Aliyev to account for his unilateral escalation of violence against Nagorno Karabakh,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.  “Not another U.S. taxpayer dollar should be spent supporting the Azerbaijani military or subsidizing the oil rich, corrupt, and belligerent Aliyev regime.”
Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Robert Dold (R-IL) as well as House Select Committee on Intelligence Ranking Democrat Adam Schiff (D-CA) and House Foreign Affairs Committee Senior Democrat Brad Sherman (D-CA) offered powerful comments hours after the Azerbaijani onslaught started.
“I strongly condemn Azerbaijan’s escalation of hostilities against Nagorno Karabakh, and I join the Obama Administration in urging an immediate de-escalation of the conflict,” said Rep. Pallone.  “President Aliyev continues to defy international calls to reach a negotiated settlement that will ensure a lasting peace in the region. It is unacceptable for Azerbaijan to continue on its current belligerent path, and I urge the Obama Administration and the OSCE Minsk Group to demand accountability on the part of Azerbaijan and continue to work toward implementing proposals that promote peace.”
His Republican counterpart, Rep. Dold, concurred.  “Once again we are reminded that Azerbaijan continues to say one thing and do the exact opposite,” said Dold. “Rather than obscure the reality with allusions towards even-handedness, I hope that the Obama administration will continue to work with Nagorno-Karabakh and the OSCE Minsk Group to come to a peaceful resolution where Azerbaijan is held accountable for their actions.”
Rep. Schiff stated he is “deeply disturbed by and condemns” the escalation in violence, noting that its occurrence just days after President Aliyev’s meetings with Vice-President Biden and Secretary of State Kerry “demonstrates that the policy of the United States and the Minsk Group is simply not working.”  Rep. Schiff continued, stating “Until Azerbaijan faces strong and meaningful consequences over their policy of escalation and violence and its self-serving refusal to agree to international monitoring of the Line of Contact, there is little chance of resolving the conflict and avoiding further bloodshed.”
House Foreign Affairs Committee Senior Democrat Brad Sherman (D-CA), calling Azerbaijan’s attacks “deeply disappointing,”  condemned the violence and recommended that “U.S. assistance to Azerbaijan be cut off until it ceases its aggression, renounces violence, and commits to a purely peaceful resolution of the conflict.”
Congressman Sherman joined House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) in leading a Congressional letter delivered to President Obama just one week earlier, cosigned by over 50 House colleagues, calling on the Administration to speak with President Aliyev about the implementation of the Royce-Engel peace proposals during his visit to Washington DC for the nuclear summit.  The proposals include three concrete steps including the withdrawal of snipers, placement of a gun-locator system and deployment of additional OSCE monitors.  Armenia and Artsakh had already agreed to the proposals. “Instead, it appears that Azerbaijan’s President Aliyev launched new attacks against Nagorno-Karabakh,” said Rep. Sherman.

Assad says ready for snap presidential election “if Syrian people want it”

Ekmekjian Janet

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.

Karabakh forms Constitutional reforms commission

Ekmekjian Janet

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 to host 2019 World Congress on IT

Ekmekjian Janet

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.

Syrian forces advancing on terrorist stronghold to Latakia’s north

Ekmekjian Janet 
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.

Swedish edition of Zori Balayan’s book “No Right to Die” presented in Stockholm

Ekmekjian Janet

On January 28, the Stockholm Royal Armoury Museum hosted a presentation of the Swedish edition of the Armenian writer and publicist Zori Balayan’s book “No Right to Die” with the author’s participation.

The event was attended by members of the Swedish Royal Court, MPs, Ambassadors accredited to Sweden, representatives of municipal authorities, heads of religious and cultural institutions, media representatives, and members of the Armenian community.

In his opening remarks H.E. Hans Gunnar Adén, former Ambassador of Sweden to Armenia and the author of the preface to Swedish edition of the book, spoke about the Armenian history and culture, Zori Balayan’s legacy and the contents of his book.

During the discussion, which followed the presentation, Zori Balayan talked about the book and his motivation. He also reflected on his previous visit to Stockholm during the journey onboard the “Cilicia” sailing vessel to pay tribute to the memory of Swedish Missionary Alma Johansson, who had saved thousands of Armenian women and children during the Genocide. Zory Balayan spoke about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and its background.

In his remarks H.E. Artak Apitonyan, Ambassador of Armenia to Sweden, spoke about the public and political activities of Zori Balayan, his various initiatives, expeditions, journeys and his literary heritage. The event was followed by classical music performances and book signing ceremony.

Within the framework of his visit, Zori Balayan held meetings with the local Armenian community. During the meeting at the Armenian Church of St. Mary in Södertälje the award-winning film “”Armenia”: from sea to sea” was screened. During the discussion that followed the members of the Armenian community raised numerous issues of their concern.

The book presentation was the first in the series of Armenian cultural events at the Royal Armoury of Stockholm, which include an exhibition “Tracing the Raw Silk trade: Armenian merchants at the Court of Karl XI”, a lecture on Armenian-Swedish historical connections, and readings of Armenian fairy tales for children and adolescents.

Bako Sahakyan: Army is the pride of the entire Armenian nation

Ekmekjian Janet

On 28 January Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan sent congratulatory address on the Day of the Army to the Republic of Armenia President Serzh Sargsyan.
The address runs as follows:
“Honorable President Sargsyan,
On behalf of the Artsakh people, the authorities and on myself personally I would like to convey sincere congratulations on the Day of the Army, a holiday that is considered very important for all the Armenians.
The glorious Armenian army is the offspring of independence, the pride of the entire Armenian nation, which it loves and cherishes like its child. Its brave soldiers, following the lead of their ancestors, devotedly carry out the sacred duty of defending the Homeland, performing and displaying unique feats and courage.
You have had a great personal contribution in the establishment and formation of the Army, its ongoing enhancement and development. You are doing everything possible for consolidating defense capability of the two Armenian states, solving issues and reaching goals of nation-wide nature.
I once again congratulate You and the whole personnel of the Republic of Armenia’s armed forces on this cherished holiday and wish peace, good health and great success for the glory of Mother Armenia and the native people”.