Author: Greg Madatian

Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers to meet in Vienna

Greg Madatian
ARKA, Armenia
Nov 16 2017

YEREVAN, November 16. /ARKA/. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, Stephane Visconti of France, and Andrew Schofer of the United States of America) said today in a statement that they met separately on 14 and 16 November with the Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian and the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov. The Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Andrzej Kasprzyk, also participated in the meetings.

The Co-Chairs discussed with the Foreign Ministers concrete steps to implement the agreements reached by the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan during the Geneva summit on 16 October 2017 as well as other items raised by the Co-Chairs in Geneva. During the meetings, the Co-Chairs and the Ministers reviewed a number of working proposals currently on the table.

The Ministers agreed to hold a joint meeting on the margins of the December 2017 OSCE Ministerial Council in Vienna. The Co-Chairs will prepare the agenda for this meeting, which will include substantive issues of the political settlement, as well as specific measures to reduce tensions on the Line of Contact. Special attention will be paid to finalizing the expansion of the Office of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson in Office. 

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict erupted into armed clashes after the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s as the predominantly Armenian-populated enclave of Azerbaijan sought to secede from Azerbaijan and declared its independence backed by a successful referendum.  On May 12, 1994, the Bishkek cease-fire agreement put an end to the military operations. 

A truce was brokered by Russia in 1994, although no permanent peace agreement has been signed. Since then, Nagorno-Karabakh and several adjacent regions have been under the control of Armenian forces of Karabakh.  

Nagorno-Karabakh is the longest-running post-Soviet era conflict and has continued to simmer despite the relative peace of the past two decades, with snipers causing tens of deaths a year. On April 2, 2016, Azerbaijan launched military assaults along the entire perimeter of its contact line with Nagorno-Karabakh. Four days later a cease-fire was reached. —0—

18:56 16.11.2017

Lavrov to discuss Karabakh during Armenia and Azerbaijan visits

Greg Madatian
News.am, Armenia
Nov 16 2017
Lavrov to discuss Karabakh during Armenia and Azerbaijan visits Lavrov to discuss Karabakh during Armenia and Azerbaijan visits

15:28, 16.11.2017

Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov will visit Armenia and Azerbaijan soon, spokesperson for the Russian foreign office Maria Zakharova said.

Lavrov will visit Yerevan on November 20-21 where he expected to meet with the Armenian president and foreign minister, she told a briefing on Thursday.

The visit marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and the 20th anniversary of a large treaty on friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance signed between Armenia and Russia.

“The agenda includes the wide range of cooperation issues. The prospects for the settlement of the Karabakh issue will be discussed,” Zakharova said.

On November 20, Sergey Lavrov will pay an official visit to Azerbaijan. Negotiations are planned with the Azerbaijani foreign minister.

“We have repeatedly said that Azerbaijan is our important strategic partner in the Caucasus. This year we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries.”

Zakharova also noted that Russia, along with the other co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, continues to contribute to the settlement of the Karabakh conflict.

France : Profanation d’une stèle en mémoire du génocide arménien

Greg Madatian
The Times of Israël–
6 nov. 2017


AFP 6 novembre 2017

Une stèle érigée à Vienne, dans le centre-est de la France, en mémoire des victimes du génocide arménien, a été recouverte sur ces deux faces de tags injurieux, a-t-on appris samedi de sources concordantes.

Le Conseil de coordination des organisations arméniennes de France (CCAF) a dénoncé « avec la plus grande fermeté la profanation » de cette stèle et estimé que « les tags insultants » recouvrant ce monument « constituent une nouvelle atteinte à la dignité humaine et à la mémoire des victimes ».

« Cette nouvelle agression s’inscrit dans un climat de violence négationniste importée sur le territoire par les autorités turques. Elle se situe dans le prolongement des attaques ignobles et des incitations à la haine propagées par un certain nombre d’individus à leur solde », a jugé dans un communiqué le CCAF, qui « appelle les autorités à la plus grande vigilance contre ces agissements ».

Ankara et Erevan se déchirent au sujet du massacre de centaines de milliers d’Arméniens en 1915-17, sous l’Empire ottoman, que la France a reconnu comme un génocide en 2001.

La Turquie récuse le terme de génocide, affirmant que les victimes, dans le cadre d’une guerre civile, étaient aussi bien turques qu’arméniennes.

Family Living In Fear Of Landmines In Artsakh Inspires HALO Crowdfunding Campaign

Greg Madatian
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10 hours ago

The Khachatryan children

An innovative crowdfunding campaign to clear a minefield in Harar village in Artsakh launched on Friday.

The HALO Trust, the world’s largest mine clearance non-profit, aims to raise $49,000 through crowdfunding, which will be matched by an anonymous donor, to clear an 8.6-acre minefield in Harar village, in Bedzor (formerly Lachin), and ensure the safety of the Khachatryan family and 200 others who live nearby.

The anti-personnel mines surrounding their home were laid by Armenian and Azeri forces along the hillsides near Harar in 1992. The minefields created a “mine-belt” along defensive positions. Since the end of the war, three civilian casualties have been reported in the village, including the death of one teenager, and dozens of livestock accidents.

Alla Khachatryan is a widow and matriarch of the Khachatryan family, which has been living in the village for 20 years. Alla lives with her sons Harair and Hamlet, his wife Anni, and her two young grandchildren. The family has already lost their horse, 4 pigs and 4 cows to mines. They live in constant fear that the next accident will affect a member of the family.

Sargis Khachatryan in Harar

Alla’s elder son Hamlet works for the government as warden of the forests near the village and younger son, Harair, helps his brother herd the family’s livestock. The brothers’ jobs are particularly dangerous, because not only are they responsible for their own herd, they are also responsible for the safety of their fellow villagers and have to regularly walk near the minefield to check for mine accidents.

“There is always a fear of dying with every step I take, but my mind has become accustomed to it,” Hamlet said.

He is most worried when his younger brother accompanies him to help. Alla admits that if her sons are killed or injured, not only would the emotional toll on their family be unfathomable, but the loss of two able-bodied males would mean the family would be unable to take care of their herd and thus sink into dire poverty; a prospect which she considers grim for her two young grandchildren.

Hamlet Khachatarian

Mine clearance will protect their lives and benefit 200 Armenians living in Harar and the neighboring villages of Khachgetik and Aghavnatun. They will use the safe land for firewood collection and cattle grazing.

The crowd-funding appeal is part of a larger campaign – Safe steps for the people of Artsakh – to clear all the minefields in Artsakh with an impact on civilians by 2020. The anonymous donor has pledged half of the money required – if The HALO Trust can raise matching funds.
US Government funding has been secured for landmine clearance in Artsakh. However, US Government funds are restricted to certain parts of Artsakh. HALO cannot use the funds in Berdzor or parts of Hadrut and Martakert and it is in these areas where the majority of remaining minefields lie and require private support.

There have been 370 civilian casualties from mines and unexploded ordnance in Artsakh since a cease fire agreement was signed in 1994. The HALO Trust has worked in Artsakh since 2000. Its staff of locally recruited men and women have cleared located and destroyed over 11,400 landmines and over 61,200 cluster munitions and other items of unexploded ordnance. Learn more about campaign.

The HALO Trust is the world’s largest humanitarian mine clearance organisation. HALO creates safe and secure environments in war torn communities by clearing landmines, managing stockpiles of weapons and destroying unexploded ordnance. It was founded in 1988 and has almost 8,000 full-time staff operating in conflict and post conflict zones in 19 countries and four territories.

Armenian men’s team to play with Azerbaijan

Greg Madatian
  • 11:11 | November 2,2017 | Sports
  • Armenian:
  • Rus

On November 3, in the 6th round of the European Chess Championship, Armenian men’s national team will meet with the Azerbaijani team. (Source: armnoc.am)

After the fifth round, our team takes the 4th place.

The women’s team is in the 13th place after losing to Georgia, and will play with the Hungarian team tomorrow.

Conflicts in the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan are different. The Artsakh issue is like no other. Ashotyan

Greg Madatian
  • 01.11.2017

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Each state included in the framework of the Eastern Partnership has its own interests and direction. This was announced at the opening of the plenary session of the Euronest PA, during the discussion on the future of the Eastern Partnership and Armenia-EU relations, the chairman of the RA NA Standing Committee on Foreign Relations, the head of the RA NA delegation to the Euronest PA, Armen Ashotyan.


In this context, Armen Ashotyan emphasized the formation of a new legal framework for RA-EU cooperation and the signing of the new RA-EU Comprehensive and Expanded Joint Protocol at the upcoming Eastern Partnership summit. He also expressed hope for recording positive results related to the process of visa liberalization in the near future.


In his speech, Armen Ashotyan also emphasized the effective service of the Eastern Partnership platform to the interests of the citizens of the Eastern Partnership countries.


Referring to the existing differences between the member countries of the Eastern Partnership, Ashotyan emphasized the definition of such values ​​that will be common and acceptable for all the countries of the Eastern Partnership.


Ashotyan also referred to the existing conflicts in the countries of the Eastern Partnership and noted that Euronest is not a platform for conflict resolution, but it can be considered as a unique means for the development of political dialogue between the conflicting states, particularly Armenia and Azerbaijan. In this context, he emphasized the fact that the Assembly in its ongoing work in Kyiv was able to emphasize and record the important fact that all the conflicts in the countries of the Eastern Partnership are different, the Nagorno Karabakh conflict does not have a military solution, and the settlement of the problem is based on the fundamental principles of the OSCE Minsk Group and the Helsinki Final Act. Armen Ashotyan highlighted the fact that the Assembly reaffirmed its support for the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs.


The Armenian official also emphasized the fact that the Eastern Partnership is not and cannot be an agreement and document circulation on paper, it is a platform for fulfilling the expectations of the citizens of the Eastern Partnership countries, making the implementation of reforms and daily consistent work the basis and goal of the activity.


At the end of the speech, Armen Ashotyan noted that in connection with the signing of the new RA-EU Comprehensive and Expanded Agreement within the framework of the upcoming Eastern Partnership summit, Armenia will become the first country in this new legal framework to be a member of the Eurasian Economic Union and at the same time have a legally binding agreement with the European Union. In this context, he noted that the signing of the agreement will be a reference to the international community that the Eurasian Economic Union and the European Union should not be parties to the conflict, and Armenia in this case can be a link between the two associations. for the unification of various economic and political efforts.

Vigen Sargsyan speaks about Nation-Army, Ditaket, Es Em programs

Greg Madatian
  • 16:05 | October 28,2017 | Official
  • Armenian:

On October 28, Armenian Defense Minister Vigen Sargsyan, accompanied by General-Lieutenant Levon Mnatsakanyan, NKR Defense Minister, Commander of the Defense Army, met with newly appointed officers in one of the military units. Vigen Sargsyan spoke about the conceptual changes taking place in the defense system, and in the field of defense, gave explanations to the Nation-Army, Ditaketet, and Es Em programs, as well as the law on Military Service and Servicemen’s Status, assuring that all changes have one ultimate goal: to strengthen our defense capacity, to improve the mechanisms of oppressing the adversary and to increase the level of legal and social protection of servicemen.

 

In the end, the RA Minister of Defense responded to the questions of the meeting participants, the RA MoD reports.

People know what the text of the CEPA says; no room left for rumors. Diogo Pinto

Greg Madatian
| 13:27 | October 27 2017
Category
Politics

“168 Hours” interviewed Diogo Pinto, Director of European Friends of Armenia (EuFoA).

– Dear Mr. Pinto, the text of the Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement is published, and the agreement is already available for the Armenian public. First of all, why has EU decided to publish the text? What was the main goal of that decision?

– I guess that the EU decided to publish the text for the sake of transparency, and to put an end to certain rumors that were circulated about the content of the agreement.

Now people know what the text of the agreement says; no room left for rumors. On the other hand, one could ask why only now… but I guess this has to do with technical issues and the agreement behind the agreement: that to be done among the EU institutions and its 28 member states.

– We have the text but it is interesting to know your opinion: what kind of economic, political and trade opportunities will this agreement create for Armenia? Why is this document important for Armenia taking into consideration Armenia’s foreign policy and special relations between Armenia and Russia?

– As you said, we have the text; so, I will refrain from giving opinions on what kind of opportunities this agreement creates, because everyone can read it and many already wrote extensively about it. What I would like to stress, instead, is that this Agreement  shows that both the EU and Armenia have demonstrated the necessary will to negotiate a new compromise that takes into account Armenia’s commitments to its EAEU membership and, therefore, its special relations with Russia. It is important to fully acknowledge this, as this is probably the best example of “differentiation” and “greater flexibility” that many have been asking from the EU in what concerns its Neighborhood Policy; in my opinion, the fact that this happens in such a complicated context of EU- Russia relations, makes it even more meaningful. So, what I am trying to say is that the EU made an effort to accommodate Armenia’s need for pursuing a “balanced” foreign policy, and that must be fully appreciated.

– What is the difference between The Armenia-EU Association Agreement and this agreement?

– I think we need to stop making comparisons between what could have been and what is about to become a reality. Reality is all we have. This Agreement takes into account  the limitations that Armenia has as a member of the Eurasian Economic Union; therefore, and although it retains a considerable amount of content from the Association Agreement, the core trade policy elements are affected, and a DCFTA is no longer possible. Now, what is more important is what the agreement includes: the areas of political dialogue, justice and freedom, and even security are all of them substantial, and the room for cooperation huge. So, instead of discussing what is no longer possible, I would urge Armenian authorities and civil society to get serious about implementation of what is possible.

– After the signature, where will be Armenia in EaP program? We know that associated countries don’t want to be in one basket with Azerbaijan, Belarus and Armenia. Will it be fair to classify Armenia with Belarus and Azerbaijan? Can there be another option to your mind?

– As I already mentioned before, many have been asking for some time for the EU to show more “differentiation” and “greater flexibility” in its European Neighborhood Policy, as well as to adhere to its own maxim of more for more”. When it comes to the specific case of the Eastern Partnership, I think it is obvious for everyone that each country is a specific case, and attempts to put them in “baskets” will probably be doomed to fail. Now, I think that Armenia, with the new Agreement, is probably the best example of this “differentiation” and “greater flexibility”, and instead of worrying about being classified in a way or another, should focus on getting the best out of this.

The best way to do it, in my opinion, would be to implement the opportunities opened by the new Agreement as well and as fast as possible; proving itself to be a reliable and serious partner will be the best way for Armenia to show the EU that it deserves and is ready for even more.

-And what about signature? When will the EU be ready to conclude all the preparations for the signature? I am asking because we have information from very reliable sources that EU member states are doing their utmost to finish the preparations as soon as possible, but is seems to us that they won’t manage to do all the work until the summit in Brussels. When can we expect the signature?

– I can’t possibly comment on it or speak on behalf of the EU and its member -states. I am an optimist though; if the EU and its member -states are doing their utmost, I believe that the Agreement will be signed at or around the Summit. And if this is not the case, I am sure it will be signed soon after that.

-What will be the next step in Armenia-EU relations after this agreement?

– If, as I hope, both the EU and Armenia will take implementation seriously and make a success of this Agreement from its inception, I think we should start talking about visa liberalization soon. Armenia and the Armenian people deserve it, and it would certainly make EU-Armenia relations easier and opportunities more tangible. At the end of the day, this is what this kind of agreements should be about: improving the lives of citizens. Abolishing the visa regime for the citizens of Armenia to travel to the EU would be my next favorite step, and I promise that EuFoA will work hard for it.

By Araks Martirosyan

https://en.168.am/2017/10/27/21847.html

Armenian artist Saro Galents passes away

Greg Madatian
Panorama, Armenia
Oct 26 2017
Culture 18:12 26/10/2017Armenia

Armenian artist, designer, professor, member of Artists’ Union of Armenia, Saro Galents passed away today aged 71, the union reported in a post on Facebook.

Saro Galentz was the founder-president of Galentz Cultural Foundation and professor of the Yerevan State Academy of Fine Arts.

He was born on October 15, 1946 in the family of well-known artists Haroutiun Galentz (1910-1967) and Armine Galentz (1920-2007).

In the spring of 1946, Saro’s parents, together with his elder brother Armen, moved for permanent residence from Lebanon to Armenia, their historical homeland.

He has graduated from Art Collage named after P. Terlemezian in 1965. From 1965 to 1970, he studied painting and textile design at Yerevan Art and Theater Institute, where he was actively involved in the activities of theatrical department, taking part in the design of student productions.

Since the beginning of 1970, Saro Galentz lived and worked in Moscow for about 20 years. In Moscow, he had been actively involved in the artistic environment of the Soviet metropolis. Besides painting, he had the opportunity to realize his interests in monumental art and design. From 1973 to 1987, art works of Saro Galentz participated in series of exhibitions – “Armenian Art” in Finland, Bulgaria, India, Sri Lanka, Syria, and Canada. In 1977, the young artist was awarded gold medal for the composition “Morning in Vilnius” at the All-Union symposium-exhibition in Vilnius (Lithuania).

In the late 1980s, when the movement for independence started in Armenia, Saro returned to Yerevan. He was invited to teach at the Yerevan State Academy of Fine Arts. Since 1992, he participated in the annual exhibitions of the Union of Artists of Armenia. In the 90s he carried out a number of trips to Europe and Asia, opened solo exhibitions in Paris (1998) and Nicosia (1996). 

To preserve the heritage of the great artist, Saro Galentz together with his mother and brother decided to establish Haroutiun Galentz Cultural Foundation and Museum. The family has invested efforts and financial resources to replenish Galentz collection and build the museum.

In 2006 he was awarded Movses Khorenatsi medal for outstanding creative achievements in the areas of Armenian culture, art, literature, education and humanities.

Sports: Manchester United forward Henrikh Mkhitaryan needs to be protected by Jose Mourinho

Greg Madatian 
manchestereveningnews.co.uk
 Thursday 5:41 PM GMT
Manchester United forward Henrikh Mkhitaryan needs to be protected by
Jose Mourinho
Man Utd star Henrikh Mkhitaryan is vital against Chelsea and Tottenham
and needs Jose Mourinho to help him regain top form.
By Alex Porter
There was little surprise when the board went up after 83 minutes
ofManchester United'sChampions Leaguetie against Benfica andJuan
Mata's number was up.
The diminutive Spaniard is yet to complete the full 90 so far this season.
It has been a feature of the season so far to see Mata depart ahead
ofHenrikh Mkhitaryan, who limped along until stoppage time.
But if there was one match when Mata might have outlasted his
teammate, the one in Lisbon was surely it.
For the second game in a row, Mkhitaryan was a passenger, and given he
was struggling to find a teammate with a simple pass, withdrawing him
earlier might have been kinder.
But it isn't too difficult to see the reason why Jose Mourinho is
tempted to leave the Armenian on the field as long as possible.
A total of two goals and five assists in 11 competitive United
fixtures is an impressive yield for the playmaker who can turn a match
in an instant.
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho reminds rivals why they should be feared
Swansea in August provided the blueprint. Mkhitaryan was struggling to
influence the game until two brilliant late assists for Romelu Lukaku
and Paul Pogba.
But the 28-year-old has now had two stinkers in succession, and he was
also quiet in the game immediately preceding the international break
against Crystal Palace.
A couple of bad games is no reason to write off any player, but it is
a sign a rest is due. Mkhitaryan has had a heavy workload so far this
season, and has suffered more than most in the absence of Paul Pogba.
But while others around him have been rotated, Mourinho has written
Mkhitaryan's name onto the teamsheet in apparently permanent ink.
Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford have both sizzled this season, but
have been forced into a job share. Mata has been in good form but did
not start at Anfield and has played three fewer games than Mkhitaryan,
while Jesse Lingard's position is getting increasingly chilly.
But Mourinho has a different treatment method for the player signed
from Borussia Dortmund in 2016.
It all flies in the face of 12 months' ago, when one bad half against
City ensured he did not feature for United for six weeks and his
confidence suffered.
But being forced through a series of bad performances can also be
damaging to morale.
Manchester United player ratings: Marcus Rashford and Victor Lindelof class
Mourinho has spoken at length about the benefits Martial and Rashford
have been given when coming off the bench against tired limbs that
have been ravaged by their teammates for 75 minutes, and the two young
forwards are going from strength to strength.
The United manager has the options to give Mkhitaryan the same advantages.
Mata can play centrally, as can Lingard - who is no slouch and has
scored in two Wembley finals for United in the last 18 months.
It does not have to be a case of going all out attack with Rashford
and Martial either side of Lukaku.
Seeing Mkhitaryan coming on late, with his guile and quick brain, is
likely to spark fear in the majority of defences - especially combined
with the speed and power of his teammates.
United have tough fixtures against Spurs and Chelsea coming up, for
which they will need fit and firing Mkhitaryan. There are few in the
league more dangerous than United's Armenian on top form.
Giving him a rest from the start in the next two games may be the
quickest way for Mourinho to get him there.
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