Author: Liana Toganian

Garo Paylan, an Armenian member of the Turkish parliament, has appealed to the Constitutional Court for interruption of his January 13^th speech and his further suspension from Parliament, Agos reports.

Paylan labels the incident as “the violation of the right to immunity and the freedom of speech.”

Garo Paylan has also applied to the Grand National Assembly, demanding to overturn the decision on his suspension, as it “contradicts the Parliament’s rules of procedure.”

Garo Paylan representing the People’s Democratic Party (HDP) on Saturday was suspended from parliament for three days after speaking about the Armenian Genocide during the legislature debate of a new Turkish constitution.

In his speech, which angered the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) members, Paylan said that from 1913 to 1923 the Armenians, Assyrians, Greeks and Jews registered in the country, were “exiled from these lands or subjected to tortures as a result of large massacres and genocide”.

“At one time we comprised 40% of the population,” Paylan said despite an uproar by AKP members.  “Today we are one among 1000. Something happened to us, and I call it genocide whatever you call it. The Armenian people know very well what happened to them. I know very well what happened to my father, grandfather. Let’s face [history] together,” he added.

AKP member Metin Külünk demanded that Paylan  “correct  the word genocide.” The legislative session ended, with parliament members condemning Paylan’s statements.

Gazprom Export has offered a guaranteed income from service on gas transit to Georgia, the company said in a .

A meeting between Director General of Gazprom Export LLC Elena Burmistrova and the Minister of Energy of Georgia Kakha Kaladze took place on January 10, 2017, in Minsk. The terms of gas transit to Armenia through the territory of Georgia, as well as gas supplies to Georgia were discussed at the meeting.

“Gazprom Export has made a package proposal to Georgia under optimal and mutually beneficial conditions, which will allow the Georgian party to raise guaranteed income from transportation services and improve the reliability of gas supply in Georgia,” Director General of Gazprom Export LLC Elena Burmistrova said.

Georgia serves as a transit country to transport Russian gas to Armenia.

Previously, Russia paid Georgia for gas transportation by supplying natural gas in the amount of 10% of the transported gas volume.

“In the global practice of gas trade they no longer apply payments with raw materials. The Russian party has proposed to the partners switching to money payments for gas transportation services on the basis of the rates used in the EU,” the statement reads.

“Gazprom has made an interesting proposal,” Georgia’s Minister of Energy Kakha Kaladze said, reports. He stressed that the offer ‘is a final one.’

Speaking to Imedi TV, Kaladze said the previous meetings had produced no result because of the difference between the positions of the sides.

The Minister called the latest offer “interesting” and said the decision would be made after discussions of the issue at the government.

The CSTO Secretary General’s statement on the incident at the Armenian-Azerbaijani border was very clear, Armenian Defense minister Vigen Sargsyan has said.

The comments come after CSTO Secretary General Nikolay Bordyuzha issued a on an Azeri infringement attempt at the Armenian border. “We consider these actions on the territory of a CSTO member state as a provocation, especially against the background of a rather serious incident in the Nagorno Karabakh Republic with application of heavy weapons and armored vehicles in April this year,” the then Secretary General said, in part.

“The CSTO member states gave their assessment of the Karabakh issue in a statement adopted during the summit in Yerevan,” Vigen Sargsyan said, adding that “the Secretary General’s statement on the incident was quite clear.”

“The Secretary General is one of the most important institutions of the CSTO and expresses the opinion of the organization between summits,” the Defense Minister added.

Speaking about the appointment of a new Secretary General, Minister Sargsyan said the issue will be discussed at the next summit.

Agencia Prensa Armenia – The institutions of theArmenian community in Argentina signed  an agreement to create an entity with an aim of better structuring and coordinating community joint efforts. The initiative was based on the successful experience of the commemoration of the Armenian Genocide Centennial.

The three Armenian historical parties ARF-Dashnaktsutyun, Hunchakian and Ramgavar, represented through the respective public non-profit organizations of Armenian Cultural Association, Armenian Cultural Union Sharjum and Armenian Democratic Liberal Organization, along with the Administrative Institution of the Armenian Church, the Armenian Cultural Union, the Armenian General Benevolent Union, the Armenian Fund and Logia Ararat, signed a historical document in the Saint Gregory Armenian Apostolic Church of Buenos Aires under the auspice of Archbishop Kissag Mouradian, the Primate of the Apostolic Armenian Church of the Republic of Argentina and Chile.

Professor Khatchik DerGhougassian, who was one of the two representatives of the Argentine-Armenian community that coordinated the activities with the Armenian Genocide Centennial State Committee in 2015, said: “We have given an important step towards the institutionalization of the space for a better coordination of the activities of the institutions of the Armenian community. This is not yet a representative body but it definitely opens the path to reach that goal in the near future.”

The document that the institutions of the working group signed was a first step. It included six principles known as a Basic Consensus, which will be sent to all the other institutions. Any institution in any part of Argentina that gives its official agreement to adhere to these principles will have its place within the structure described as “open, democratic, inclusive and horizontal.” Meanwhile, the group will continue to work on an official name, a working mechanism and a protocol of rules of conduct. “It is a work in process, they said, and we will proceed step by step listening to any healthy criticism and suggestion that any institution can make to improve the project.”

The six principles of the Basic Consensus are the following:

A) The demand for moral and material restitution of the consequences of the Armenian Genocide of 1915 and 1923 of Turkey as an heir to the Ottoman Empire responsible for the organization and implementation of the crime against humanity.

B) The repudiation of any attempt to silence, forget, question, deny, relativize or trivialize the Armenian Genocide.

C) The recognition of the Armenian Republic as guarantor of the survival of the Armenian people and the realization of their legitimate aspirations.

D) The evaluation of the historical role of the Armenian Apostolic Church, without any prejudice to the valuable contribution of other religious denominations or freedom of consciousness of each individual.

E) Respect for the role of community institutions as spaces for the preservation, development and dissemination of Armenian cultural values.

F) The prioritization of the education as the main factor for the formation, enrichment and development of the Armenian identity in its permanent and dynamic interaction within the social and cultural context of the country.

The welcome ceremony for Iran’s President was held at the Presidential Palace today.

The Presidents of Armenia and Iran Serzh Sargsyan and Hassan Rouhani held a private meeting, after which they were joined by the delegations of the two countries.

Armenia’s President welcomed his Iranian counterpart and voiced hope that the latter’s first-ever official visit to Armenia will give new spirit and breathe to the cooperation between the two countries.

“The Armenian-Iranian friendship dates back to the depth of centuries and based on that solid ground we established interstate relations on 1992. Twenty-five years on, we can state that no circumstance has ever cast shadow on our relations,” President Sargsyan said. He expressed gratitude to the leadership of the Islamic Republic of Iran for the attention towards relations with Armenia.

“We’ve always been frank and sincere in our relations and are willing to continue the same way,” he added. The Armenian President also asked to convey his respect and good wishes to Iran’s religious leader Sayyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei.

Hassan Rouhani, in turn, expressed his delight for being in “the beautiful country of Armenia and its capital Yerevan.

“We see Armenia as a friendly country and wish to further deepen and develop our bilateral relations. Our countries belong to the same culture and civilization. The relations between the two nations have always been warm and friendly,” Iran’s President said.

Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan received today Argentine Armenian businessman Eduardo Eurnekian.

The Prime Minister hailed Eduardo Eurnekian’s activity in our country, noting that he’s one of the largest and most successful investors in the Armenian economy. He pledged the willingness of the government to maintain the effective cooperation.

Karen Karapetyan and Eduardo Eurnekian exchanged views on the ongoing programs in Armenia, as well as the perspectives of launching new projects. In particular, the interlocutors discussed issues related to the construction of a solar station in Armavir province and an Hydro Power Plant in Meghri, development of infrastructures of Zvartnots and Shirak Airports and promotion of tourism, investment in the former building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Prime Minister presented the steps being taken towards the development of Armenia and its economy and informed about the government’s plans to establish a Center of Strategic Initiatives that will serve as a platform for the implementation of joint programs under the state-private sector cooperation.

Karen Karapetyan noted that the government attaches importance to the permanent contacts with investors and businessmen and is open for discussion of issues of reciprocal interest and creation of a convenient business climate.

Welcoming the reforms undertaken by the government, Mr. Eurnekian said he’ll keep implementing investment programs in Armenia and voiced willingness to engage in the work of the Center of Strategic Initiatives.

Famous  aircraft designer, co-creator of MiG-29 fighter jet Ivan (Hovhannes) Mikoyan has died aged 89, Sputnik reports.

Ivan Mikoyan was the nephew of the legendary Soviet MiG aircraft designer Artem Mikoyanand the son of politican Anastas Mikoyan.

Ivan Mikoyan was one of the co-creators of the MiG-29 fighter jet and worked as advisor at the Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG.

Spanish prosecutors have called for Barcelona forward Neymar to be sent to prison for two years for his part in a corruption case over his transfer from Brazilian club Santos in 2013, the reports.

Judge Jose Perals also called for a five-year sentence for former Barcelona president Sandro Rosell and a fine of 8.4million euros for the club.

It asked to drop charges against current president Josep Maria Bartomeu.

Rosell, Neymar and his father are set to stand trial.

The case stems from a complaint by Brazilian investment group DIS, which owned 40% of Neymar’s transfer rights and alleges it received less money than it was entitled to from transfer fee.

Rosell resigned as the club’s president in 2014 for his role in the affair and testified in court in February alongside Bartomeu, Neymar and Neymar’s father.

The club struck a deal with prosecutors in June to settle a separate case, paid a £4.7m fine and avoided trial on charges of tax evasion over the transfer.

Barcelona thought they had brought the affair to a close when judge Jose de la Mata archived the case in June, although Spain’s public prosecutor successfully overturned the ruling in September, allowing the case to proceed.

Since moving to the Nou Camp, the 24-year-old has won two La Liga titles, two Copa del Rey trophies, the Champions League, the European Super Cup, the Spanish Super Cup and the Club World Cup.

He signed a new five-year contract with Barcelona in October.

Defense Minister Vigen Sargsyan hosted members of the Public Council today.

The Defense Minister presented the proposed program of compensation for damage caused to the life and health of servicemen and the provisions of the “Nation-army” idea.

The participants exchanged views on the expediency of the proposed program, the need to create mechanisms for its effective implementation and transparent oversight, the willingness of the public to support servicemen and their families.

Members of the Public Council emphasized the importance of such discussions and exchange of views, taking into consideration the public interest towards the project.

A new kindergarten, now under construction, is the fourth major community-development project to be implemented by the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund in Karin Tak, a village in Artsakh’s Shushi Region. In recent years, the fund has built Karin Tak’s multifunctional community center and new potable-water network, and completely renovated the local school gym. The construction of the kindergarten is co-sponsored by the Devejian and Ekserciyan families as well as Krikor Simsiroglu of Argentina, the Greek-Armenian and the Cypriot-Armenian communities, and the government of Artsakh. Proceeds from the upcoming Phoneathon of the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund’s affiliate in Greece will likewise benefit the kindergarten-construction project.

The future kindergarten is designed to accommodate up to 50 children. The facility will feature a complement of state-of-the-art amenities, including a boiler room, a central-heating system, and an outdoor playground with various play equipment, all of which will make for an enriching and comfortable learning environment. The structure is already up and the roof is finished. In the next phases of the project, crews will work on the exterior and interior decoration, the installation of the boiler room, and the landscaping of the grounds. When completed in the summer of 2017, the campus will open its doors to the community’s 40 kindergarteners.

Karin Tak has a population of over 650, with a large percentage of young people. According to Mayor Mkhitar Arushanyan, the necessity of a kindergarten has long been felt in the community, given its steady demographic growth. “Our villagers feel a very strong bond with their native land,” Arushanyan says. “Even during the war years in the 1990s, when the village was under constant bombardment, our residents refused to abandon their birthplace. Today, thanks to a string of marvelous development projects, Karin Tak’s quality of life is improved significantly, and our residents have great faith in their future.”

Located five kilometers from the city of Shushi, Karin Tak was founded in the 18^th century. It is among villages that were utterly devastated during Artsakh’s war of liberation. Every year on January 26, the residents of Karin Tak commemorate their community’s heroic battle and victory in 1992.