Author: Jirair Kafian

The bust of Missak Manouchian, National Hero of France, who participated in the Resistance Movement in France, was solemnly opened in Perdiguier Central Park of Avignon, France.

Attending the event were the Mayor of Avignon, Cécile Helle, Armenia’s Honorary Consul in Marseille Samvel Lalayan, President of the Armenian-French Cultural Association of Avignon Véronique Bruna-Mardoyan, Members of French Senate and National Assembly, author of the sculpture Marcella Kratz, representatives of local and regional governments, political and public figures, clergymen and French Armenians.

Mayor Cécile Helle presented the Missak Manouchian’s glorious path, emphasizing the respect and love he earned in France in response to his contribution to the anti-Fascist struggle.

Consul Samvel Lalayan referred to the friendly relations between Armenia and France, the effective cooperation between the Armenian community and the local authorities of Avignon.

The ceremony was followed by the screening of Robert Guédiguian’s film “The Army of Crime” (L’Armée du crime), dedicated to Manouchian and his group.

The event was widely covered in the local press.

Chairman of the National Council of Slovakia Andrej Danko visited the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial today accompanied by Vice-Speaker of the Armenian National Assembly Edward Sharmazanov and President of the Standing Committee on Foreign Relations Artak Zakaryan.

Members of the Slovakian delegation laid a wreath at the memorial to the Armenian Genocide victims and paid tribute to their memory with a minute of silence.

The guests visited the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute and left a note in the guest book.

Sharing his impressions from the visit, Andrej Danko said: “Sharing the sorrow and bowing before this memorial with huge respect, I never try to hide my tears.”

Prime Minister of Armenia Karen Karapetyan participaed in the regular meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council in the Belarusian capital Minsk. The narrow-format meeting of EEU heads of government was followed by a joint photo session, after which the heads of government immediately proceeded to the Council’s enlarged meeting.

Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan delivered a speech at the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council’s enlarged meeting.

Statement by Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan

Dear Heads of Government,

Dear Andrey Vladimirovich, please accept my vote of thanks for hospitality and good organization of the meeting.

We have already considered a number of key issues of the integration agenda in a narrow format. Concerning the items on the plenary session agenda, I wish to state that Armenia is for the adoption of the draft documents agreed for this meeting. However, I would like to dwell on some of them.

I think we all equally share the approach that the international activity, which goes in line with the formation of foreign policy of the EEU, the deepening of the Union’s economic relations with third countries and key integration associations, is above all intended to promote the modernization of the national economies of the Member States and enhance their competitiveness.

In this context, I would highlight the need for consistent efforts with the specialized agencies of the UN system, as well as toward outlining the scope of interaction with the European Union, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and other organizations.

We believe that the ongoing talks with China, Israel and Serbia, in particular, need to be broadened through the launch of substantive consideration of the expediency of negotiations with other countries.

Taking into account the work on the conclusion of a possible the free trade zone agreement the Republic of India, it seems reasonable that the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council should also consider the question of starting talks over the EEU-India track in December, 2016 without linking it to the issue of cooperation in the multilateral EEU-SCO format.

I believe it to be in our common interest to conclude a relevant agreement with Iran. We believe that there is an opportunity to simultaneously work on the scheme ensuring the implementation of an interim agreement in parallel with the EEU-Iran negotiations on conclusion of a free (preferential) trade agreement.

We believe that the expansion of international and multi-format cooperation must be based on real premises and structured so as to take into account the actual willingness of third countries to establish cooperation with both individual EEU-member States and the Eurasian Economic Union, as a whole.

Dear Colleagues,
Considering the differences in the regulatory frameworks of member States, we fully share the approach that focuses on ensuring the legitimacy of the turnover of goods across the EEU customs territory through the introduction of a traceability mechanism.

Given the importance of the issue and its complexity, it is important to build further work proceeding from the belief that it should not lead to additional tax and customs encumbrances, higher prices for goods and services and, at the same time, would not adversely affect the member States’ investment attractiveness and macroeconomic indicators.

This mechanism needs to be introduced in such a way that its activation would not lead in any way to the opposition of one of the pillars of our Union – the free movement of goods. Therefore, we are ready to actively cooperate with the countries in a bid to work out the problems existing in this regard.

I believe that the joint efforts to implement the agreements reached today will allow significant progress on the integration path. The Armenian side is ready for close cooperation with all partners.

Thank you.

***

The enlarged meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council discussed and approved a number of documents. In particular, the Council approved the unified budget for 2017 and the 2015 budget performance of EEU bodies.

The meeting highlighted the need for closer cooperation with third countries, as well as deepening of economic and trade relations between the Member States. In particular, the speakers emphasized that a number of countries have shown interest in cooperation with the Eurasian Economic Union in various formats, and appropriate steps are being taken to that effect.

The meeting participants congratulated the prime ministers of Armenia and Kazakhstan for assuming the office of head of government and attending the proceedings of the Council for the first time.

Jamaica’s Minister of tourism, Edmund Bartlett, says plans are under way to market brand Jamaica in Armenia, the  reports.

“We were able to establish a new partner in Armenia that now will be selling destination Jamaica with Qatar Airlines to bring new arrivals into the country,” he said.

Bartlett, who was speaking at a recent press conference held in New Kingston, said the partnership will provide new opportunities for a diversified local tourism market, while boosting arrivals to the country.

Initial discussions were held during the minister’s attendance at the 38th plenary session of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) affiliate members in Armenia from October 1 to 4.

Further details on the partnership are to be announced later this year.

Armenian Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan has applied to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, the EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, the European Ombudsman Institute, the International Ombudsman Institute and the leaders of the International Committee of the Red Cross with a request to ensure the safety of Armenians in Syria and provide them with assistance.

In a letter to international structures, the Ombudsman has expressed deep concern over the casualties among Armenians as a result of shelling over the past months and has asked for a practical support on the part of the above-mentioned international bodies.

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has postponed a planned visit to France amid a row over Syria, French presidential sources say.

Mr Putin had been due to go to Paris on 19 October for talks and to open a new Orthodox church.

On Monday, French President Francois Hollande suggested Russia could face war crimes charges over its bombardment of Syria’s second city, Aleppo.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will not arrive in Paris on a visit on October 19, a source in the Kremlin told TASS on Tuesday.

“The visit of the president to Paris on October 19 won’t take place,” the source said commenting on media reports.

An NKR Defense Army vehicle has been damaged as a result of intensive firing from the Azerbaijani side.

The NKR Defense Army reports more than 50 cases of ceasefire violation by the Azerbaijani side at the line of contact with Nagorno Karabakh.

The rival fired more than 1,800 shots from weapons of different calibers in the directions of the Armenian positions.

More intensive firing was reported in the northern and northeastern directions of the line of contact, where the rival used DShK large-caliber machine guns, Istiglal rifles and sniper rifles and HAN-17 grenade launcher.

The front divisions of the NKR Defense Army resorted to response actions to pressure the activeness of the rival and confidently continued with their military duty.

Asbarez – Armenian-American designer Vicken Derderian showed off his Spring 2017 collection at LA Fashion at a show on October 1 at the Hollywood Athletic Club.

 (Women’s Wear Daily), the preeminent industry publication, called pieces in Derderian’s collection “a refreshing addition to the wardrobe of a woman who leads a busy life but still wants to look polished with a creative flair.”

This was the second collection for Derderian, who teamed up with his classmate from the fashion design program of the Academy of Art University, Kyung Hwa Kim, to create knits, dresses, high-waisted palazzo pants, culottes and separates, with sweater dresses highlighting the collection.

Derdian and Kim retreated to Armenia, where they set up an atelier and made the meticulously constructed pieces featured on the runway.

WWD said that Derderian’s collection for his eponymous label was informed by his background as an architect, saying the designer “is always thinking about movement.”

Dederian himself qualified that by telling WWD that “at the end of the day, for me, it’s a more intimate architecture of the body — the knits, softness, the textures.”

Derderian was born and raised in Pasadena. He graduated with a Bachelors of Architecture from the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-ARC) and received his Masters of Arts in Fashion Design from the Academy of Art University.

His love of design and fabrication became clear at a very young age. He has always been fascinated with the way objects are assembled and the ideas they bring forth once they are assembled. Due to his constant desire and willingness to learn different methodologies of design and fabrication he has been able to bring to fruition a series of his concepts.

Prior to pursuing his masters in fashion design Vicken received his Bachelor of Architecture from SCI-ARC. Architecture is his specialization, his broader interest in the world of design which has prompted him to look outside his specific field to other industries to explore new ideas to try and push his current design methodologies. His interest in Fashion is parallel to architecture due to its constant dialogue with its surroundings. He views Fashion as an intimate architecture of the human body.

Egypt’s short film Wintry Spring (Rabie Chetwy) scooped-up the Best Short Film Award at the Sose 2016 International Film Festival, which took place between 23 and 30 September in Yerevan, Armenia, according to Ahram Online.

Released in 2015 and directed by Mohamed Kamel, the 16-minute film depicts a relationship between a father and his daughter Nour. In an apparently otherwise regular relationship and life, typical youth problems emerge with Nour and create a rift between the two.

The film screened across over 90 film festivals around the world and received many awards.

Sose International Film Festival highlights women’s rights in the language of art. This year the festival featured 104 films from 38 countries. For the complete list of winners click .

Photo: ICRC

 

Aid has been delivered to four besieged towns in Syria for the first time in almost six months, the International Committee of the Red Cross says, the BBC reports.

Seventy-one lorries reached rebel-held Madaya and Zabadani, near Damascus, and government-controlled Foah and Kefraya, in Idlib province, on Sunday.

They brought food, medical supplies and hygiene kits for 60,000 people.

Last week, the UN suspended aid deliveries across Syria for 48 hours after a deadly attack on a convoy.