Author: Jhanna Virabian

 

 

 

The Public Radio of Armenia has undertaken to improve its Overseas Service with a view of paying greater attention to the problems of ethnic minorities, their religious and cultural peculiarities.

Kurds are  one of the largest compactly living ethnic minorities in Armenia. Representatives of the Kurdish community were hosted at the Public Radio of Armenia today to present their views and proposals on the format and content of the Kurdish-language programs.

Kurds have always had the best opportunities in Armenia for launching activity in the scientific-education and cultural spheres, and the Public Radio of Armenia has always been an important platform.

Knyaz Hasanov, President of the Kurdish National Council of Armenia, hailed the role of Public Radio of Armenia in the preservation of the Kurdish language and culture.

“More than 40 million Kurds in Turkey, Iraq, Syria and Iran listen to the Kurdish-language programs of the Public Radio of Armenia, which have played an extremely important role in the preservation of our language and culture. The Public Radio of Armenia was the first place Diyarbakir’s Mayor Osman Baydemir visited during his stay in Armenia last year,” the leader he said.

“The Kurdish community of Armenia has always valued the work we are doing, but it’s high time to improve the Kurdish Service and give it a new breath,” says Gayane Gasparyan, Head of the Overseas Service of the Public Radio.

Representatives of the Kurdish community want the programs to last 90 minutes instead of the current 30 and want greater access to the recordings of Kurdish songs kept in Public Radio’s ‘Golden Fund.’

In response to the request, Public Radio’s Executive Director Arman Saghatelyan noted that “international broadcasting envisages a serious financial burden, and extension of the program is a serious issue,” but pledged to find other mechanisms to meet the demands of the Kurdish-speaking listeners.

As for the access to the recordings, the Directors said “they could be released on CDs.”

Attending the event was Aram Ananyan, head of the Armenpress News Agency. Speaking to “Radiolur” news program, he stressed the importance of such meetings and discussions with representatives of the national minorities.

Two suicide bombers who attacked the international airport in Brussels have been named by Belgian media as the brothers Khalid and Brahim el-Bakraoui, the BBC reports.

The RTBF broadcaster said the pair were known to police. A third man pictured with them at the airport is still being sought.

Twin explosions at the airport and another at a metro station on Tuesday left about 34 dead and 250 wounded.

Belgium is observing three days of national mourning.

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

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

The Azerbaijani side used weapons of different caliber as it fired more than 1,700 shots in the direction of the Armenian positions last night.

The rival used RPG-7 grenades in the northern direction and 60 mm mortars in the northeastern direction of the line of contact.

The front divisions of the NKR Defense Army keep control of the situation at the frontline and confidently continue with their military duty, the NKR Defense Ministry said in a statement.

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian received today High Representative of the ‪‎European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Federica‪ Mogherini.

Minister Nalbandian said her first visit to Armenia would positively impact the development and deepening of Armenia-EU relations. Federica‪ Mogherini said, in turn, that the establishment of closer cooperation between Armenia and the European Union will benefit not only the two parties, but also the region, as a whole.

The parties discussed a wide range of issues related to the development of Armenia-EU cooperation, the negotiations on creating a new legal framework for bilateral relations.

Minister Nalbandian reiterated Armenia’s willingness to reinforce and expand the comprehensive cooperation in all fields of mutual interest. The parties referred to the joint steps needed for the further development of bilateral ties – political dialogue, mobility, human rights, economic reforms, Armenia’s participation in different EU programs.

The Armenian Foreign expressed gratitude to the EU for the long-term support and assistance, which has played a considerable role in the implementation of reforms and capacity development in Armenia.

The interlocutors exchanged views on the situation in the Middle East and stressed the importance of mobilizing the efforts of the international community to fight terrorism. Edward Nalbandian noted that Armenia has provided refuge to more than 20 thousand refugees, thus becoming the third country with the number of Syrian migrants per capita. The Minister said the Armenian side values the possible EU support.

The implementation of the agreement on Iran’s nuclear program was also on the agenda.

Edward Nalbandian briefed the EU High Representative on the negotiations on the settlement of the Karabakh conflict under way within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group. Federica‪ Mogherini reiterated the EU support to the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group towards the resolution of the conflict. The parties agreed that the non-constructive steps and belligerent rhetoric serve to drag out the status quo.

Minister Nalbandian assured of Armenia’s willingness to maintain the consistent efforts towards an exceptionally peaceful resolution of the Karabakh conflict.

President Serzh Sargsyan will hold a series of consultations with Armenian Ambassadors and heads of diplomatic missions in foreign countries and international organizations to discuss the opportunities of furthering Armenia’s economic interests, the perspectives of implementation of new projects, development of ties in a number of spheres.

The first meeting of the series was dedicated to issues on the agenda of Armenia-Iran relations, the ongoing programs and new initiatives. The discussion featured Armenia’s Ambassador to Iran Artashes Tumanyan, Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Karen Chshmarityan, Minister of Transport and Communication Gagik Beglaryan, other officials.

President Sargsyan asked Armenia’s Ambassador Artashes Tumanyan to report on a wide range of issues on the bilateral agenda.  “Naturally, the lifting of sanctions against Iran has opened perspectives for the implementation of new programs in a number of fields. I would like to know about Armenia’s chances of becoming a key transit route for Iran,” the President said.

Cooperation in the field of energy was the second important issue outlined by President Sargsyan. He stressed the need for establishment of additional infrastructures and generating capacities.

Another issue high on the agenda of today’s consultations was Armenia’s investment capacity, especially considering that it’s the only member state of the Eurasian Economic Union sharing a land border with Iran.

Ambassador Tumanyan reported that the constriction of the third high-voltage power line is under way and will be completed by 2018. He said that serving as a transport corridor is of fundamental importance to Armenia. He referred to a recent statement by Iran’s Transport Minister about his country’s state policy of “four corridors,” one of which passes through Armenia.

“Two important political events have taken place in the region. First, the economic and financial sanctions against Iran have been lifted. Second, our country has become a member of the Eurasian Economic Union. The two developments are fundamental for building our economic policy,” Artashes Tumanyan said.

At the end of the consultations, President Sargsyan gave instructions to the participants of the consultation and involved agencies.

On 15 February NKR President Bako Sahakyan received Armenia’s newly-appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United States Grigor Hovhanissyan, NKR President’s Press Office reported.

The President congratulated Grigor Hovhanissyan on assuming the responsible position.

The meeting touched upon a range of issues related to providing truthful information about Artsakh in various US platforms and deepening the inter-Armenian ties.

NKR foreign minister Karen Mirzoyan was present at the meeting.

A Turkish tribunal has confirmed a medical diagnosis that Armenian Orthodox Patriarch Mesrob II of Constantinople is no longer capable of making his own decisions because of advancing dementia, and a guardian should be appointed to handle his duties, according to .

Patriarch Mesrob has been suffering for years from Alzheimer’s disease, and since 2008 a patriarchal vicar has been handling the daily affairs of the Armenian Church in Constantinople. But other Armenian prelates have been reluctant to elect a successor while the Patriarch is alive.

In November 2014, during his trip to Turkey, Pope Francis made an unscheduled private visit to meet with Patriarch Mesrob. The Armenian prelate’s physical health, as well as his mental condition, has reportedly been deteriorating since that time.

Turkish pro-government Bugün newspaper has run a front-page story in the paper’s Tuesday edition targeting a spokesperson from the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), Selin Sayek-Böke, for her Christianity, reports. 

The daily stated that one of their reporters phoned the Izmir parliamentarian and asked, “Are you Christian?” To which Sayek-Böke told the reporter to ask her party’s headquarters. The pro-government daily claimed that her Christian identity has caused “serious disturbances” within the party due to her high rank in the party.

The article also highlighted the Armenian Christian Orthodox beliefs of CHP deputy Selina Doğan, who is from Istanbul.

Social media users criticized the report, saying that it is targeting her religious identity. Journalist Ismail Saymaz stated, “The racists and religious people think Selin Sayek Böke being Christian is a ‘defect’ or ‘an offense’.”

 

 

 

The bears from Gyumri zoo will be moved to Romania in a month. The story of starving bears and lions went viral after the Daily Mail published an article titled

Animal rights organizations have applied to a number of strictures, but have not received any support. After the Yerevan Zoo’s refusal to take care of the animals, a Romanian organization has expressed willingness to ensure favorable conditions for them.

Environmentalists Silva Adamyan, member of the “Save the animals of Gyumri Zoo” initiative, told reporters today “the owner of the zoo is ex-Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan’s brother, who is unable to care for the animals today.”

A task group has been established at the Ministry of Environmental Protection to take urgent steps to solve the issue. a number of international organizations are also involved in the case.

The US Embassy in Armenia has issued a statement on the resignation of Human Roghts Defender Karen Andreasyan:

“We note with regret Karen Andreasyan’s decision to step down as Armenia’s Human Rights Ombudsman.  He has been a tireless and effective champion for those who were defenseless; those who feared their voices might be silenced if they voiced unpopular messages;  and any Armenian who fought for his or her rights as a citizen to be respected.  We wish him the greatest success in his future endeavors.  He will remain a friend, colleague, and contact of the U.S. Embassy and the U.S. Government.

Mr. Andreasyan’s work was buttressed by the professionalism and dedication of the staff at the Office of the Human Rights Ombudsman.  One of Mr. Andreasyan’s lasting legacies will undoubtedly be the expansion of the number, and the quality, of staff at this invaluable Armenian institution, which we trust will continue to serve the best interests of the Armenian public under his successor.  We are committed to maintaining our close cooperation and partnership with the Office and its staff on issues related to the protection of human rights in Armenia.  We look forward to working with the new Human Rights Ombudsman.

The United States remains dedicated to working with the Armenian Government and our Armenian partners to advance the cause of democratic development and human rights in Armenia.  Our  ultimate goal has been, and will remain, a democratic and prosperous Armenia, living in security and peace with its neighbors.”