Author: Hovik Karapetian

Those trying to eliminate our nation failed to succeed, as we are living a new revival today, Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan says.

He believes it’s important for Armenia to draw lessons from the genocide to prevent any future crime not only against Armenians, but also the world at large.

Speaking to reporters at Tsitsernakaberd Memorial, Shavarsh Kocharyan said “recognition of the Armenian Genocide by any country is important, but the utmost objective is to reach recognition by Turkey.”

“Recognition by every country reminds the humanity that the threat of genocide is still there. “If uncondemned, a crime against humanity leads to new crimes,” Kocharyan said.

With the recent constitutional referendum Turkey further distanced itself from the European Union, which is a serious challenge to Armenia, he said

He noted that the ‘football diplomacy’ [initiated by Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan] made it clear whether Turkey was striving to move towards the EU or not.

“Erdogan’s rejection of the policy meant Turkey was distancing itself from Europe and moving towards autocracy, and the constitutional changes were the last stone Erdogan and his party put on the road to Europe,” Kocharyan said.

Today, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Mongolia to the
Republic of Armenia (residence in Moscow) Banzragch Delgermaa presented her credentials to President Serzh Sargsyan.

The President of Armenia congratulated the Ambassador on her appointment and wished every success. Serzh Sargsyan noted that Armenia attaches great importance to the development of the relations with the countries of the Asian region and expressed hope that the appointment of the Mongolian ambassador will promote and strengthen the Armenian-Mongolian interstate relations. In this context, the President of Armenia stressed the importance of creating a necessary legal field.

Ambassador Delgermaa thanked the President and assured that during her tenure she will do her best to re-establish the traditionally good relations between Armenia and Mongolia and to find new avenues for the development of cooperation in the mutually beneficial trade, economic, humanitarian, and other areas.

Mrs. Delgermaa underscored that she was very proud to be Mongolia’s first ambassador to a wonderful country such as Armenia which established diplomatic relations with Mongolia 25 years ago. According to Madam Ambassador, the jubilee is a good occasion to reevaluate the past and to deepen the relations. The Mongolian Ambassador noted that her country is interested in the market of the Eurasian Economic Union and expressed hope that Armenia, which is a member to the Union, will support Mongolia’s efforts aimed at the establishment of cooperation.

At the meeting, Ambassador Delgermaa also congratulated President Sargsyan on the successful parliamentary elections held recently in Armenia.

Initiatives for the Development of Armenia Foundation (IDeA Foundation) continues providing support to Syrian Armenians. With the support of the Foundation, the Aleppo Compatriotic Charitable Organization’s (ACCO) Save A Life programme has led to 64 people being resettled from Syria to Armenia up to now. An additional 30 Syrian Armenians have expressed the desire to relocate to Armenia in the next three months.

In October 2016, the IDeA Foundation announced the allocation of $250,000 to support Syrian Armenians. This financial aid package is distributed among the four partner organizations, the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), Mission Armenia, ACCO and Repat Armenia – to develop and implement programmes for Syrian Armenians.

Since January 2017, with the funds provided by IDeA Foundation, Mission Armenia has covered the cost of rental accommodation for 40 Syrian Armenians who resettled in Armenia. Thanks to the efforts of the partner organizations, a number of meetings and events have been held in Armenia aimed at helping the integration process of Syrian Armenians.

Earlier this week, the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) sent letters to the Senate and House Select Committees on Intelligence expressing concern regarding the undue influence of Azerbaijan on America’s democratic institutions.

In their letter to the Senate Intelligence Chairman Richard Burr (R-NC), Vice Chairman Mark Warner (D-VA), House Intelligence Chairman David Nunes (R-CA), and Ranking Member Adam Schiff (D-CA), Assembly Co-Chairs Anthony Barsamian and Van Krikorian stated: “We are writing to express our concern regarding the undue influence of yet another foreign government on America’s democratic institutions, namely Azerbaijan. We are deeply troubled by recent reports about Azerbaijan’s ties to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its nexus to both the Mammadov family and the highest levels of the Azeri government. We therefore respectfully request that the congressional investigations of Russian influence be expanded to include Azerbaijan’s influence peddling and any materials it may have potentially compromising U.S. officials.”

The Justice Department has previously brought some cases involving Azerbaijan through the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), but much more is needed. According to the “Azeri Oil Money Got a Pass From This Ethics Committee” article in Bloomberg News, Azerbaijan continues to shell out over $45,000 monthly to the Podesta Group, of which the columnist states “It’s hard to tell whether it’s this creativity and generosity or any real U.S. strategic interest that makes the U.S. overlook the country’s brutal dictatorship. A combination of both is likely: Without the ‘caviar diplomacy,’ Azerbaijan might be considered too small to defy declared U.S. values and principles for its sake.”

“When it comes to the integrity of America’s democracy, the rule of law, and our governance process, we must not turn a blind eye to Azerbaijan’s influence peddling, authoritarian regime and human rights atrocities,” Assembly Co-Chairs Barsamian and Krikorian said. “Further, we must ensure that Azerbaijan’s rampant corrupt practices do not compromise U.S. policies and objectives. Additional evidence on Azerbaijani as well as Turkish wrongdoing is available and growing; we would welcome the opportunity to help advance a thorough investigation and United States response.”

In addition to the U.S., Azerbaijan’s caviar diplomacy is also amply documented in the December 2016 European Stability Initiative (ESI) report, wherein expensive watches, jewelry, computers, and large sums of money, among other gifts, were provided to several politicians from a number of countries in Europe. ESI states that “the ease with which democratic institutions and safeguards can be undermined has emerged as a fundamental threat to European democracy.”

The Artsakh Defense Ministry has dismissed Azeri claims of having hit Armenian headquarters in Martuni.

The Azerbaijani said it had hit several positions, which were being used as headquarters by Armenian soldiers in Martuni region.

A statement released by the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said that Azerbaijani forces responded to an “intrusion attempt by Artsakh Forces.”

The NKR Defense Ministry described the statement as “fabrication” that has nothing to do with reality.

The Ministry stated “the Artsakh forces never attack first, but are ready to respond to any provocation with a crushing blow.”

On February 16, Edward Nalbandian, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia met with the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs Igor Popov, Stéphane Visconti and Richard Hoagland, as well as Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office.

Minister Nalbandian emphasized that in defiance to the commitments and numerous demands of the Co-Chair countries of the Minsk Group, Azerbaijan continues violations of the 1994-1995 trilateral cease-fire agreements and accompanies it with threats to solve the issue by military means.

Interlocuteurs stressed the necessity of implementation of agreements reached at Vienna and Saint-Petersbourg Summits aimed at creation of conducive conditions for advancing the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process

Vietnam will now be granting electronic visas for Armenian citizens.

Vietnam began granting electronic visas for foreign citizens from 40 countries worldwide as from February 1, 2017, the reports.

According to the State news agency, the application will be submitted and the payment will be made online. It will take three days to process application for an e-visa valid for 30 days. The visa does not require letters of guarantee or invitation.

Foreign citizens will be granted  e-visas for exit and entry through international border gates.

The 40 countries include Azerbaijan, Argentina, Armenia, Ireland, Poland, Belarus, Bulgaria, Brunei, South Korea, Germany, Chile, China (not applicable to Chinese e-passport holders), Colombia, Czech Republic, Cuba, Denmark, Timor Leste, United States of America, Hungary, Greece, Italy, Kazakhstan, Russia, United Kingdom, Luxembourg, Myanmar, Mongolia, Japan, Panama, Peru, Finland, France, The Philippines, Romania, Spain, Sweden,  Uruguay, Venezuela, Norway, and Slovakia.

The Azerbaijani forces undertook an infiltration attempt in the northern (Talish) direction of the line of contact with the Karabakh forces at about 15:00 today, taking advantage of the foggy weather conditions, the NKR Defense Ministry informs.

The front divisions of the NKR Defense Army were quick to spot the advancement of the Azeri special forces and resort to preventive measures to force the rival back.

The Armenian troops have taken an Azeri soldier hostage. The private of the Azeri army is identified as Elnut Husein Zade (born in Barda in 1995).

The NKR Defense Ministry reports that at least one Azeri servicemen has been wounded in clashed. The information has been confirmed by the Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan.

The NKR troops confidently continue with their military duty all along the line of contact and are ready to neutralize any assault, the Ministry said.