Author: Khoyetsian Rose

Photo:  Studio Venus

Asbarez – On Friday, December 25 2015, in a festive atmosphere, families from Emmanuel, Bethel, Martyrs’ and Syriac churches gathered in Bethel Church to celebrate Christmas in the Church’s “Poladian” Hall.  The program started with welcoming words from Maria Boshgezenian as well as a greeting with a short message from Rev. Haroutune Selimian, President of the Armenian Evangelical Community in Syria.  “The New Year brings new hope to our lives, the hope that something will change for the better.  As the old year comes to an end and the New Year unfolds we will thus feel renewed with new hope and promises of something good and beautiful things to come” said Rev. Selimian.

The celebration reached its climax when Santa Claus arrived, and with the financial support of the Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA) distributed gifts of pajamas to family members.  At the conclusion of the event Sona Keosgherian, on behalf of the Armenian Evangelical Social Action Committee, thanked Rev. Selimian for his steadfast support to the Armenian Community in Syria.

The following day, Rev. Selimian, along with Pastor Simon Der Sahagian and some members of the Church visited the Armenian Old People’s Home at “Gulbenkian Hospital” in Nor Kyugh, Aleppo. Rev.  Selimian warmly greeted the residents of the home and with his encouraging words wished them a Blessed Christmas and a healthy and peaceful year.  With the financial support of the AMAA, gifts were distributed to the elderly.

The same day, Rev. Selimian along with a few members of the Church also visited the Armenian Orphanage in Nor Kyugh.  In attendance were the Board of Trustees of the Armenian Orphanage and the children of people martyred during the Syrian Civil war.  During the meeting, Rev. Selimian thanked the board members for their devoted service and care towards these orphans and distributed gifts which were made possible through the support of the AMAA.

Dear compatriots,

We wrote and now close together one more page of our history with the resoluteness of passing to the next one, convinced that it will be better and more successful.

The passing year was a year of ordeal both for the whole world and the Republic of Armenia, a year of political and economic trial , ordea l for peace and spirit. We confronted with dignity those trials, accepting the difficulties as an impetus forself- encourag ement , more solidarity and further activ ity . Unfortunately, we also confronted at the price of the li ves of the soldiers defending our peace and ensuring our security. They obligate those who live to be more tolerant and well-disposed towards each other, more caring and tender-hearted towards the Motherland, and strengthen all that with new achievements and victories.

In 2015 , on the occasion of the Armenian Genocide Centennial we once again documented that keeping in memory the tear and pain, we have sought and reached, we reach and we’ll reach theresult which will give us victory and tears for those, who try to cause pain and wound to us.

Dear compatriots,

The year 2016 sees the 25^th anniversary of our statehood. The Armenian Parliament stands at the sources of that process. And in the passing year the parliament, in the name of the National Assembly, became the decisive participant in one more key process in the life of the state – the Constitutional A mendments. Armenia turns into the parliamentary system of government.

The year of 2016 is a pre-electoral year. The period preceding the elections supposes more active dialogue between the politicians and voters. It is extremely important and necessary that it be useful and effective for the state and society.

Stepping into a space of the next year, we should not forget that we achieved the independence at high price, and today our duty is to actively continue building a developed state with international greater weight, where the people will live and work better both today and tomorrow. That is the best tribute to those, who built the independence, who died for it.

Dear compatriots,

On the threshold of New Year let us share our kind thoughts and wishes not only with our families, close relatives, but also with the people, who due to different circumstances are deprived of home and family warmth, who at this moment ensure our security and peace, who keep high the authority of our state abroad as peacekeepers, with our compatriots, who live or temporarily stay in foreign countries.

Let the good mood of New Year be with you during the whole year, and let there always be warmth, love and solidarity in your homes.

Happy New Year and Holy Nativity!

President Serzh Sargsyan participated in a New Year and Christmas reception at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today.

Addressing the participants, President Sargsyan summed up the passing year, referred to the achievements, omissions, difficulties and challenges of 2015 and spoke about the plans for and expectations from 2016.

Underlining that 2015 was a memorable year for all Armenians, the President emphasized the role of the Foreign Ministry in the organization of the events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

Serzh Sargsyan also referred to Armenia’s membership in the Eurasian Economic Union, the start of talks on a new legal document with the European Union, stressing that the realistic decisions on involvement in integration processes will be of great significance from the perspective of Armenia’s further development.

Speaking about the Karabakh conflict settlement, President Sargsyan said he regrets no progress was achieved in the negotiations this year, but added that the process continues and renewed efforts are needed in that direction next year.

Valery Permyakov, Russian soldier charged with murdering a family Gyumri, stood befor the Armenian court today.

Permyakov was provided an interpreter and advocate. The sitting was attended by relatives of the Avetisyan family.

On January 12, 2014 private of the Russian Military Base #102 in Gyumri Valery Permyakov killed seven members of the Avetisyan family, after which he tried to illegally cross the Armenian state border.

In August Permyakov was already tried by Russia’s military court and sentenced to 10 years in prison on desertion and arms and ammunition stealing charges.

The next sitting in the case will be held on January 18.

Photo: Alexander Scherbak/TASS

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday he is ready to meet with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu on the sidelines of the OSCE Ministerial Council due on December 3-4 in Belgrade, TASS reports.

“The Turkish side has been insistently calling for organising a face-to-face meeting with the Turkish foreign minister on the sidelines of the OSCE Ministerial Council,” Lavrov said after talks with his Cypriot counterpart in Nicosia.

“We will not avoid this contact. We will listen to what (Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut) Cavusoglu says. Maybe something new compared with what has been said in public.”

Lavrov said he spoke with his Turkish counterpart the next day after the November 24 downing of the Russian Su-24 jet. “I heard nothing new compared with what the Turkish leadership said in public, justifying its unacceptable criminal act.”

The Russian foreign minister noted that relations between Moscow and Ankara could no longer develop in accordance with the ‘business as usual’ principle after the attack on the Su-24 jet.

“It is clear that the relations between Russia and Turkey cannot develop in this situation on the basis of the ‘business as usual’ principle,” he said. “We regard this step by Turkey as contravening the task of combating terrorism.”

Lavrov also pointed out that Russia’s relations with Turkey cannot continue in accordance with the ‘business as usual’ principle after the attack on the Sukhoi Su-24 jet.

“It is clear that the relations between Russia and Turkey cannot develop in this situation on the basis of the ‘business as usual’ principle,” he said. “We regard this step by Turkey as contravening the task of combating terrorism.”

Pope Francis has  confirmed that next year he plansto visit Mexico and hopes to be able to visit Armenia, Reuters reports.

“But I am old and these trips are heavy,” he said.

The pope made the statement in an hour-long news conference aboard the plane returning him to Rome at the end of a six-day trip to Africa.

“I think this is one of the best seasons of my career so far and I am obviously very happy with it,” Armenian international Henrikh Mkhitaryan said at a press conference preceding the encounter with Hamburg.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan warned his team-mates not to underestimate Hamburg, before voicing his delight with his sublime form this campaign.

“We have worked hard over the past two weeks and are ready for the game against Hamburg,” Mkhitaryan added.

“We are calm and optimistic ahead of the game. It is an important match for us. We have had some tough games in Hamburg in recent years.

“I think this is one of the best seasons of my career so far and I am obviously very happy with it.”

Photo by Uriy Shipilov, Sputnik

Russia has signed a contract with Iran on the delivery of S-300 missile defense systems and as soon as the first part of the contract is fulfilled, Tehran will rescind its court case against Russia for non-delivery, the head of Russia’s state technologies corporation Rostec said Monday,  reports.

“The contract on delivery of S-300 to Iran has not only been signed by the sides but has already entered into force,” Sergei Chemezov said at the Dubai Airshow-2015.

He added that as soon as the first part of the contract is fulfilled, Iran would rescind its court case against Russia for the non-delivery of the system, basically due to economic sanctions that were in place against Tehran.

Chemezov didn’t elaborate exactly which variations of the S-300 missile defense systems will be supplied to Iran.

Moscow and Tehran signed an $800-million deal for the delivery of five S-300 missile systems in 2007. In 2011, Iran sued Russia in the Geneva Arbitration Court after Moscow suspended the contract in 2010, citing a UN Security Council resolution that placed an arms embargo on Tehran.

Russian President Vladimir Putin lifted the S-300 delivery ban in April 2015, shortly after the P5+1 group of international negotiators and Iran reached a framework nuclear agreement to remove all economic sanctions against Tehran in exchange for its pledge to ensure that all nuclear research in the country will be for peaceful purposes.

Flights to Egypt have been suspended at the instruction of Russian President Vladimir Putin until proper security level is ensured, Putin’s presssecretary Dmitry Peskov told journalists on Friday, TASS reports.

“I would like to explain the following: [Russia’s Federal Security Service chief] Alexander Bortnikov referred to Putin recommendations of the National Anti-terrorist Committee to suspend air service with Egypt and the president agreed with these recommendations,” Peskov said. “The government has been instructed to elaborate a mechanism of transporting Russian citizens back home.”

“I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the president meant air service with Egypt is to be suspended until a due level of air service security is ensured,” he stressed. “We will work with the Egyptians to ensure due level of security taking into account all the risks.”

When asked how long it might take to solve this task, the Kremlin spokesman said, “We hope for close cooperation” with Egypt.

He stressed that this decision did not mean that terrorist attack was the main theory of the Russian plane crash on the Sinai peninsula. “Undoubtedly, none of the versions can be still dominating as there are no clear indications in its favor,” Peskov said.

Peskov also said he would not comment on whether Russia would tight security for flights to other Arab states after the Russian plane crash in Egypt. “I have nothing to tell you so far,” he said in reply to the question.