Author: Karapet Navasardian

Armenia and the European Union are close to the final stage of negotiations on a new Framework Agreement, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian told a press conference today.

“We have held eight rounds of negotiations since the start of the talks in December 2015. The next round of negotiations is expected in February. I think we are close to the final stage, as we’re reached agreement on the overwhelming majority of the provisions of the new agreement, both political and economic ones,” Minister Nalbandian added.

An important EU delegation will visit Armenia in the near future, and it will provide another opportunity to make corrections in the negotiation process.

“I think we’ll be able to declare in the near future that we have completed the negotiations,” Edward Nalbandian stated.

“We have special allied relations with Armenia and we always have what to discuss,” Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said as he greeted his Armenian counterpart Karen Karapetyan.

Medevedev said he hopes that the documents to be signed within the framework of the Armenian Prime Minister’s visit will further enhance the development of economic ties.

“Our commodity turnover has been stable, despite the international conjuncture and the change in energy prices,” Dmitry Medvedev said.

“If we speak of our country’s imports and supply of products from Armenia, we stated a 70% growth last year which, to my mind, is the result of Armenia’s accession to the Eurasian Economic Union and strengthened economic ties,” he added.

Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan said, in turn, that “the meeting is a good opportunity to discuss directions of the Armenian-Russian cooperation.”

“We have been traditionally boasting quite a hectic agenda of bilateral relations. As you noted, our governments have been able to move on amid a complicated international situation faced in recent years. You may know that the Russian capital is widely represented Armenia’s economy. However, I believe that we should not relax, and today we can explore and outline new directions of cooperation,” PM Karapetyan said.

“A series of reforms are underway in Armenia aimed at creating a favorable environment for investors. In this respect, we would highly appreciate the commitment of the Russian capital. We have come along with a number of new proposals, which will allow us to diversify and expand the vectors of cooperation. I am confident, too, that we are in for a constructive conversation,” Karen Karapetyan stated.

On the sidelines of the working breakfast, the official delegations of the two countries will discuss a wide range of issues of mutual interest and sign a number of documents.

European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy (EAFJD) also known as ANC-Europe Chair Kaspar Karampetian and EU Affairs Officer Heghine Evinyan visited Berlin to personally deliver the Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region (ANCA-WR) 2016 Freedom Award to German Parliament Member Cem Ozdemir and the entire German Bundestag. Also delivered were congratulatory certificates of support and solidarity from various American federal, state and local elected officials and bodies, including the California State Legislature, and the County and City of Los Angeles.  Ozdemir and the Bundestag were honored during the 2016 ANCA-WR Annual Gala back in October for their courage in resisting pressure from the government of Turkey to introduce and pass a resolution formally recognizing the Armenian Genocide as well as Germany’s complicity in this crime against humanity.

In her remarks introducing the award in front of a crowd of over 1,000 elected officials, supporters and activists at the Gala, ANCA-WR Board Member Souzi Zerounian-Khanzadian stated, “630. That’s the number of members of the German Bundestag. Mr. Ozdemir attained a majority of votes out of 630 members of Parliament, standing up against threats both to his government and himself, and relieving his government of the gag rule Turkey had imposed on them. The U.S. Congress is comprised of 435 members, 195 less than the Bundestag, yet the Speaker of our House of Representatives and speakers before him have cowered at the idea of bringing the Armenian Genocide to a floor vote. Our Presidents have cowered behind cheap excuses, refusing to address the issue of the Armenian Genocide.

 

“When the coup took place and President Erdogan used excessive force, the White House did not reprimand or comment. When Turkey provided assistance to ISIS, the U.S. still stood by Turkey. For fear of what? That the Ambassador to Turkey will be recalled? It only took 127 days before the German ambassador was returned; France and other countries have gone through the same routine,” continued Zerounian-Khanzadian.

Ozdemir, who was unable to attend the Gala due to election season back home, accepted the award and expressed appreciation for the recognition with a video message.

In his remarks, Ozdemir noted, “The fight for minority rights has been a cornerstone of my career in the past. …Since then we have seen commemorations of the Genocide and academic conferences on the subject in Turkey. What we have not seen, unfortunately, is any movement on the political level. Instead, the Turkish government is putting more and more pressure on the Turkish civil society that so bravely started the debate about the genocide. This is why we, as members of the German Bundestag, wanted no longer to wait for movement in Turkey.  However, the most important motivation for us to act now was the fact that Germany was guilty too. The German Kaiserreich was the closest military ally of the Ottomans at that time. Through diplomats, through missionaries they were well informed about what was going in Turkey at that time. Yet they decided not to intervene and let over one million innocent people die.

“The resolution clearly recognizes co-responsibility of Germany, even speaking of guilt. The fact that the Bundestag almost as a whole embraced the Armenian Genocide resolution shows that Germany is ready to accept this dark chapter of its history. The award you are giving me means a lot to me. It will serve as a reminder that we need to learn from the past in order to do what’s right in the present. Unfortunately, we still live in a world full of conflicts and violence. When I think of Syria, I also think of how places like Aleppo and Deir el-Zor — one hundred years ago these were the destinations of those Armenians who survived the death marches. Now Christians and countless more people in the Middle East have to flee again. So we still have a lot of work to do to make this world a better place for all of us,” concluded Ozdemir.

 

The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani will leave Tehran on Wednesday for a three-day tour to three Caucasian and central Asian states, Iranian president’s deputy chief of staff for communications and information, Parviz Esmaeili, said on Sunday, according to Iranian media reports.

Heading a high-ranking politico-economic delegation, Iranian Rouhani will visit Armenia and Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan to discuss ways of improving mutual relations, state TV reported.

The trip will take place at the invitation of Rouhani’s counterparts and in line with the Islamic republic’s policy to improve relations with neighboring and regional countries, said Esmaeili.

During his day-long visit to Armenia’s capital Yerevan on Wednesday, Rouhani will hold talks with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan on the expansion of cooperation, Esmaeili said, adding that senior Iranian and Armenian officials will also sign several trade and economic cooperation documents.

Rouhani will then leave Yerevan to the Kazakh capital, Astana and Bishkek.

Photo: Sputnik/ Ali Hassan

The Syrian government has suspended the evacuation of civilians and fighters from eastern Aleppo, accusing rebels of breaking terms of the deal, the BBC reports.

Government sources said rebels had blocked the evacuation of civilians from two pro-government towns elsewhere in Syria, agreed under the truce.

A report said militias had fired on buses leaving Aleppo.

At least 6,000 people have left the city since Thursday, but the UN says at least 50,000 are still trapped.

Syria’s army, backed by Russia, has taken nearly all rebel-held districts.

President Serzh Sargsyan received today the RF culture figure, the well-known musician and artist of the Armenian descent, director and producer Stas Namin – Anastas Mikoyan, who has arrived to Armenia to participate in the events to be held in Yerevan on December 14-20 on the occasion of his 65th birth anniversary conducted in the framework of the Armenian-Russia cooperation.

Welcoming the celebrated artist to Armenia, President Sargsyan noted that the Armenian people have a great respect towards their talented compatriot who has always stood by our nation in difficult times and today celebrates his anniversary in Armenia through a number of cultural events which will raise the spirits and will introducing the public to exceptional pieces of art.

The President hailed years-long activities of Stas Namin in different areas and added that he carries on worthily the best traditions of his wonderful family.

Stas Namin noted that the visit to Armenia is a great honor for him and underscored that in his perception Armenia has always been a fairytale land. He said that he was truly happy to be able to demonstrate here his works.

“I was raised in the Armenian spirit and I am profoundly thankful for the invitation and warm welcome,” said the celebrated performer at the meeting with the President of Armenia.

Less than six months after knee surgery Canberra walker Matt Griggs (ACT) claimed the Australian 50km Road Walk Championship at Fawkner Park on Sunday.

As most of the elite walkers were on a break following their Olympic campaigns Griggs was the only man in the field, making his solo time of 4:36:14 even more impressive.

The 38-year-old has been based in Armenia and upon his most recent trip back home in June he made a bold plan to get fit enough to line up for the longest race in track and field.

In early July he clocked a time of 12min 43sec for a 2km road walk but pushed on from there to eventually lose 15kg, which saw him line up on the weekend tipping the scales at just 80 kilograms.

“Six months ago I’d actually just had knee surgery living in Armenia, weighed about 95 kilos and I came back to Australia after my wife got a visa and started training in June,” Griggs told AthsVicTV after the race.

“I wanted to walk 50 kilometres, and I set myself that goal and just wanted to come here and race – obviously I had no idea I’d be doing it by myself.

“Lucky for me, good timing all the Olympic guys were having a rest, and I’m here.

“You know 50K, respect to the distance it’s a bloody long way, anyone that’s done it props to you – after 30K I didn’t look at the time, I just tried to keep going.”

Griggs was a top junior walker in the late ‘90s, taking bronze in the 1996 Australian U18 8km walk and silver in the 1997 Australian U20 20km, before leaving the sport and later living for a period overseas in Armenia.

President Serzh Sargsyan, who conducted a working visit to the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh on December 8-11, in the evening of December 11 in Stepanakert met with art workers of Armenia who are visiting Artsakh.

The President of Armenia expressed readiness to hold such gathering days ago during his meeting with the Minister of Culture of Armenia Armen Amirian. The meeting, which took place in the capital of Artsakh was also attended by the Ministers of Culture of Armenia and NKR.

First, at the request of the participants, the President of Armenia spoke about the purpose of his visit to Artsakh, meetings and discussions held in the framework of the visit, results of his visits to the defense positions of the Defense Army and then answered the questions raised by the art workers, listened to their concerns regarding problems existing in the area and proposals on the possible avenues to address them.

A Pakistan International Airlines flight carrying more than 40 people crashed on Wednesday en route to Islamabad from the northern city of Chitral, a regional police official said, Reuters reports.

The national flag carrier confirmed in a statement that Flight PK-661 had lost contact with air traffic controllers on Wednesday afternoon.

Laiq Shah, a senior police official in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province told Reuters by telephone that the plane had crashed in that region, near the town of Havelian.

He said rescue personnel were en route to the scene.

Photo: AFP

 

Magnus Carlsen of Norway has won the World Chess Championship for the third consecutive time after defeating challenger Sergey Karjakin of Russia, the BBC reports.

Carlsen sealed victory following three weeks of play and a series of tiebreakers in New York.

Karjakin tied against Carlsen in 12 regular rounds but was beaten in the final phase of four quickfire games.

Organisers said the event was followed by about six million chess fans around the world.

Hundreds of spectators paid between $100 and $500 to watch the games at a former fish market in Manhattan, separated from the two grandmasters by soundproof glass.

After his victory, Carlsen’s supporters greeted him by cheering and singing “Happy Birthday”, to mark his 26th birthday.

The prize of $1.1m is divided between the two players with the winner taking 60%.