Author: Hambardsumian Paul

Armenian Weekly – A group of peaceful demonstrators protesting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s official visit to the United States, were attacked by pro-Erdogan groups at the Sheridan Circle near the residence of the Turkish Ambassador to the U.S.

“[This was] the type of violence you would never expect to see in America’s capital. It was the type of violence you’d expect to see in Erdogan’s Turkey and in other dictatorships,” said Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Executive Director Aram Hamparian, who captured parts of the attack and streamed the aftermath live on the ANCA’s Facebook page. “This is the very type of intolerance that has come to predominate in Turkey and it has now been exported here,” he added.

The demonstration, which began at Lafayette Square at noon, was organized by a coalition of organizations, including the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) and the American Hellenic Council. Several different groups, which included representatives from the Armenian, Greek, Kurdish, and Assyrian communities, participated in the protest, while President Erdogan met with U.S. President Donald Trump a the White House.

“I saw a group of peaceful protesters in Sheridan Circle—a grassy area across from the Turkish Ambassador’s residence—who were protesting and exercising their constitutional right to speak their minds, to hold signs, to share their opinions, and express their views get rushed from across the street by a group of a pro-Erdogan [demonstrators], who broke through the police lines and attacked literally anybody within their reach with their fists and anything else they could get a hold of,” Hamparian said in the live video moments after the attack. Hamparian went on to explain that the crowd of Erdogan supporters beat as many people as they could and that many were bloodied and had to be taken to the hospital.

“This is exactly the type of violence you see in Ankara and they are exporting it here. It’s one thing for the Turkish government to do that to its own citizens—[which is] a terrible thing. It is another thing for us, as Americans, to see that exported to the United States,” Hamparian said.

 

On an official visit to the State of Qatar, President Serzh Sargsyan had a meeting with Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.

Noting that the Middle Eastern region is of great significance for Armenia’s foreign policy and Armenia enjoys special relations with the Arab world based on centuries-old friendship, President Sargsyan said “Armenia is interested in intensifying the high-level political dialogue with the State of Qatar and deepening of cooperation in all spheres.”

The interlocutors voiced hope that the first-ever visit of the Armenian President would have a serious impact on the further development of bilateral ties.

Hailing the increased number of tourists from the Gulf states visiting Armenia, the parties discussed the opportunities of visa liberalization between the two countries, as well as the perspectives of development of cooperation with the Qatar Airways.

Reference was made to the perspective of using Armenia as a transit route to the Eurasian Economic Union.
The opportunities of development of cooperation in multilateral format were also discussed.

President Serzh Sargsyan and Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani also referred to the process of settlement of the Karabakh conflict. In this context the Emir attached importance to the establishment of stability and peace in the region, stressing that there is no alternative to a peaceful negotiated solution.

On 9 May President Bako Sahakyan sent a congratulatory address in connection with the Victory Holiday, the 25th anniversary of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Defense Army and the Liberation of Shushi.
The address runs as follows:

“Dear compatriots,

Dear veterans of the Great Patriotic and Artsakh Liberation wars,

Respected generals, officers and soldiers of the Defense Army,

On behalf of the republic’s authorities and personally myself I cordially congratulate you on the Victory Holiday, the 25th anniversary of the NKR Defense Army and the Liberation of Shushi, glorious victories that our people carved in various crossroads of history due to the bravery and courage of their brave sons, their selfless love towards the Motherland.

The feat of our legendary fathers and grandfathers in the Great Patriotic War, their lives have always granted us pride and become a landmark for us leading to new victories. We have liberated Shushi having in sight their heroic example that instilled unshakable faith towards our own strength and victory of justice, taught to be steadfast and resolute, ready to struggle and determined.

The Artsakh Liberation War has become one of the greatest victories of the Armenian people in the range of our heroic battles.
Today we are twice proud as we have a worthy shift, generation of aweless young people who place above all the defense of homeland’s borders and the security of the native people. They continue the work of their ancestors with great dignity leaving new examples of selflessness in the history.

Honor and glory to all our heroes!

Honor and glory to our martyrs, who have sacrificed their lives for the sacred mission of defending the Motherland!
Dear compatriots,

On this festive day I congratulate all our people in Mother Armenia, Artsakh and Diaspora. Together we have carved this cherished triple holiday, together we have overcome all the difficulties and trials, paving our heroic path. It was so in the past, and so it will be forever!

I once again congratulate all of us, wishing peace, welfare and all the best!”

Artsakh Defense Ministry reports raised tensions at the line of contact with the Azerbaijani forces overnight.

The Azerbaijani forces violated the ceasefire about 160 times, firing over 2,600 shots in the direction of the Armenian positions from firearms of different calibers.

The rival also used a 60 mm mortar (7shells) and an automatic grenade launcher in the eastern direction of the line of intact.

The front divisions of the NKR Defense Army keep the situation under full control and confidently continue with their military duty, Artsakh Defense Ministry says.

The situation has been relatively calm since morning.

India’s Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari visited the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial today accompanied by Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian.

The Vice-President laid a wreath at the memorial to Armenian Genocide Memorial and paid tribute to the memory of victims with a minute of silence.

Mohammad Hamid Ansari visited the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute (AGMI), watched the displays and left a note in the Guest Book.

AGMI Director Hayk Demoyan presented him the English edition of the “Armenian Genocide: Frontpage coverage in the world press” and an album of French Armenian artist Jean Jansem’s works.

India’s Vice-President later planted a fir tree in the memory Alley.

Armenia international Henrikh Mkhitaryan took to social media to commemorate the anniversary of the Armenian Henocide.

“24 April 1915…a dark date in Armenian history. My thoughts are with my fellow compatriots,” Mkhitaryan said in a Facebook post.

On March 24, Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian received Richard E. Hoagland, the U.S. Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group.

Steps aimed at creation of  conditions conductive to the advancement of peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue discussed at the meeting.

Reuters – Billionaire philanthropist David Rockefeller, former head of Chase Manhattan Corp and patriarch of one of the most famous and influential American families, died on Monday, a family spokesman said. He was 101.

Rockefeller, who reportedly gave away nearly $2 billion in his lifetime, died in his sleep of congestive heart failure at his home in Pocantico Hills, New York, spokesman Fraser Seitel said in a statement.

One of the few remaining links to the U.S. “gilded” era of robber barons, he was the son of John D. Rockefeller Jr., who developed New York’s Rockefeller Center, and was the last living grandson of oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller, founder of Standard Oil and the family dynasty. He also embodied an era when globe-trotting bank chiefs worked with the world’s most powerful politicians.

Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan received today a delegation led by Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotsias, Government’s Press Office reports.

“This year ushers in the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Greece. Our friendly relations are at a very high level, but we are keen to intensify the cooperation with Greece and take it to a new level,” Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan said addressing the guests.

Stressing the need to boost economic exchange, the Prime Minister said there is great untapped potential in this area. Karen Karapetyan welcomed the ongoing bilateral cooperation within international institutions and the fact that the two countries have similar positions on a number of issues on international agenda.

Pleased with his stay in friendly Armenia, the Greek Foreign Minister conveyed warm greetings on behalf of Prime Minister of Greece Alexis Tsipras.

“We have always been brotherly peoples. The purpose of my visit is to create a strategic partnership,” Nikos Kotsias said. Highly appreciating the Armenian-Greek political dialogue, the Greek Foreign Minister agreed in that economic relations are on a low level, and there is a need for their harmonious development.

As they discussed issues of bilateral and multilateral economic cooperation, the parties highlighted the role of the Armenian-Greek joint commission on economic, industrial and scientific-technical cooperation. In particular, the interlocutors discussed the possibility of holding an Armenian-Greek business forum. In this context, Prime Minister Karapetyan suggested clarifying the areas of mutual interest to the two countries’ business circles and actively working on joint projects.

Karen Karapetyan and Nikos Kotsias exchanged views on cooperation within the European Union and the Eurasian Economic Union, the furtherance of EAEU-EU dialogue, as well as on the prospects for regional cooperation.

Photo: Sputnik/ Mikhail Voskresenskiy

 

The Syrian Army, supported by the Russian Aerospace Forces, has completed the operation to liberate the historic city of Palmyra from so-called Islamic State terrorists, according to the Kremlin spokesman citing Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu’s report to President Vladimir Putin, reports.