Author: Jane Topchian

Belgium is observing three days of mourning following bomb attacks in the capital Brussels that left 34 people dead and about 250 wounded, the BBC reports.

A minute’s silence for the victims will be held at midday (11:00 GMT).

Police are continuing a huge manhunt for a suspect caught on CCTV shortly before two bombs exploded at Zaventem airport on Tuesday morning.

An hour later another blast tore through a metro train near the Maelbeek station.

So-called Islamic State (IS) has said it was behind the attacks and warned that more would follow.

Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, Personal Representative to the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, on 17 March, conducted a monitoring exercise on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan as part of his mandate.

“I received information from both sides on recent developments on the border, and listened to their concerns. Both sides highlighted the proximity of villages to the front lines, and that civilians have suffered greatly from ceasefire violations as a particular concern.”

Personal Representative Kasprzyk said: “In light of the upcoming Nowruz Bayram and Easter holidays, I call on the sides to strictly adhere to the ceasefire and to avoid any action on the line of contact or on the border that could lead to an increase in tensions.”

“I would like to take this opportunity to wish the people of the region all the best on the occasions of the upcoming holidays.”

Russia’s energy ministry is in discussion with Iran on laying an electricity power line between the two countries via Azerbaijan and Armenia, Energy Minister Alexander Novak was quoted by RIA news agency as saying on Monday.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with his Iranian counterpart, Hamid Chitchian, in Tehran, Novak said Iran and Russia can have constant exchange of electricity.

“We are seeking to lay an electricity power line between the two countries via Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia,” he said, adding that multilateral negotiations are underway to that end.

The Iranian Minister Chitchian told reporters that a joint meeting of officials from these countries is planned to be held in Tbilisi, Georgia, within the next few weeks to discuss and make a final decision on linking the power grids.

Back in December 2015, Iran, Russia, Armenia and Georgia reached a memorandum of understanding to synchronize their power grids by 2019, paving the way for electricity exchange between Tehran and Moscow as part of their expansive plans to boost cooperation in the post-sanctions era.

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s order to withdraw most part of forces from Syria is assessed from two different perspectives, Alexander Markedonov, Director of the Armenian branch of the CIS Institute, told reporters today.

“The dominant view is that Russia has completed its tasks and met its goals by overcoming the existing threat. According to the other approach, Russia is unable to solve its tasks, and the further military existence in Syria actually envisages additional expenses, which could, in turn, form a second ‘Afghan syndrome’ among the society,” the political scientist said. He added that Russian does not need negative sentiments in the lead up to the elections. Markedonov said, however, that the truth is between the two contradicting approaches.

“With its actions in Syria Russia has undoubtedly helped Assad by bringing the latter back to politics. It goes without saying that Russia has strengthened the positions of both government forces and officials ahead of the possible future talks set to start in Geneva today. Russia has also solved issues of its own image by demonstrating that Russia remains a power to be reckoned with. Russia has established itself as a role-player that can be negotiated with and has not acted as a party trying to play alone, let’s say in Syria,” Markedonov said.

The political scientist considers that Russia will now try to engage in the negotiation process to see what agreements the Syrian parties will reach and help Assad strengthen his position.

He noted that “Russia is not withdrawing all forces from Syria, which means it can resume activity if necessary to regain the past influence.” “Taking note of all this, Russia’s decision seems quite understandable,” Markedonov concluded.

Community organizations have come together once again to call for justice for Armenian Genocide. On Sunday, April 24, at 1 p.m., a community-wide RALLY FOR JUSTICE will be held in front of the Turkish Consulate at 6300 Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles to commemorate the 100+1 anniversary of the Armenian Genocide as we continue to fight for a just resolution and against denial of this still unpunished crime against humanity.

All leading religious, political, youth, and advocacy organizations of the community have come together once again after last year’s unprecedented Centennial March for Justice to organize the 2016 Rally for Justice. They call upon all segments of the community to join the Armenian Genocide Committee in making the  collective voice heard as one Nation for one Cause.

Ethnic Armenian member of the Georgian parliament Samvel Petrosyan criticized some of his colleagues on Wednesday for voting for a controversial Council of Europe resolution regarding access to water in Nagorno-Karabakh, reports.

The at the Council of Europe parliamentary Assembly on January 26  asserts that “inhabitants of frontier regions of Azerbaijan are deliberately deprived of water”. 98 MPs voted for it, 71 against, and 40 abstained.

Georgian MPs Tedo Japaridze, Irakli Chikovani and Giorgi Kandelaki voted for the resolution.

At a plenary session of parliament, Petrosyan called the resolution biased and said people in the community he represents, the southern town Akhalkalaki, were astonished by the way the Georgian delegates voted.

“Despite the anti-Armenian views of certain politicians, I am confident that brotherly ties between the Georgian and Armenian nations will deepen and develop in the future.”

Head of Georgian Dream’s faction Giorgi Volsky called Petrosyan’s statement ‘populist’ and said the Georgian delegation to PACE did not do anything to cause tension in Georgia’s neighborhood.

“The closer we get to the election the more populist statements there will be. Georgia is our common country for Georgians, Armenians and Azeri. Let’s keep stability in this state,” he said, adding that the energy supply problem has gotten worse and needs to be solved.

Armenia has been included in the UN Honor Roll for paying the regular budget assessments in full.

In January 2016 the Armenian Government transferred $150,039 to the United Nations Regular Budget as 2016 annual membership fee.

The Honor roll includes the countries that have paid their regular budget assessments in full within the 30 day due period specified in Financial Regulation. Only 27 of the 193 UN states have made to the Honor Roll this year.

AFP Photo/Francisco Cobo

At least 30 people died in a pre-dawn prison riot in the northern Mexican city of Monterrey on Thursday, as smoke billowed from the building, Agence France-Presse reports, quoting local media.

Riot police and ambulances were deployed at the Topo Chico prison as broadcaster Televisa reported that 30 died while Milenio television spoke of 50 victims, with inmates and prison guards among them.

The newspapers Milenio and Reforma reported that the riot broke out in an apparent escape attempt.

Families of the inmates flocked to the prison following reports of fatalities.

The incident erupted on the eve of Pope Francis’ trip to Mexico, during which he is due to visit another notorious prison in the northern border city of Ciudad Juarez.

On 5 February in connection with the 20^th anniversary of the Republic of Armenia’s Constitutional Court Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan sent a congratulatory address to the president of the court Gagik Haroutyunyan, Central Information Department of the Office of the Artsakh Republic President reports.

The address runs as follows:

“On behalf of the Artsakh people, authorities and myself personally I convey my cordial congratulations in connection with the 20^th anniversary of the Republic of Armenia Constitutional Court.

The necessity of establishing the Armenian Constitutional Court as an instance securing the supremacy of the country’s Mother Law and its immediate operation, defending human rights and freedoms has been confirmed during these 20 years.

Since the very day of its formation the court being the only instance executing constitutional justice has been working towards establishing constitutionalism, forming civil society, legal culture in the country and cooperating with different international and foreign legal institutions has been bringing the state’s legislation in compliance with the international standards.

I once again congratulate You and judges of the Constitutional Court on this memorable day wishing peace, robust health, new professional accomplishments and successes for the glory of the Republic of Armenia and our people”.