Author: Lilit Nahapetian

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sargsyan will meet in Moscow on Wednesday to discuss bilateral cooperation.

The Armenian president will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday to discuss bilateral cooperation in political, trade, economic cultural and humanitarian areas, as well as prospects of further integration in the Eurasian bloc.

“The two presidents will meet on March 15 to discuss key aspects of bilateral cooperation in political, trade and economic, cultural and humanitarian areas and examine the prospects for developing integration cooperation in the Eurasian region,” the press service of the Russian president said.

Asbarez – The American Hellenic Council on Monday released a statement urging the Greek American community and all descendants of the Armenian, Greek, and Assyrian Genocide, to boycott the new Turkish-produced film “The Ottoman Lieutenant,” expressing the AHC’s solidarity with the Armenian Youth Federation Western United States, which issued a similar call last week.

“The film is a blatant attempt to repudiate the upcoming movie, The Promise, and mislead impressionable youth into believing the Genocide was a ‘two-sided’ event, reads a part of the statement.

AHC Executive Director Ioannis Fidanakis, who signed the statement, asks the Greek community to join “an AYF-initiated letter writing campaign to local theaters to educate them about the purpose of the film.”

Below is the text of the AHC’s statement.

Dear Supporter,
We, the American Hellenic Council (AHC), in solidarity with the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) Western United States, urge the Greek-American community, as well all descendants of the Armenian, Greek, and Assyrian Genocide, to jointly boycott the recently released film, The Ottoman Lieutenant.

The movie, which was produced by a Turkish production company, was released on March 10 and stars Michiel Huisman, Hera Hilmar, Josh Hartnett, and Ben Kingsley, is set in Ittihadist Turkey at the time of the Genocide. The film is a blatant attempt to repudiate the upcoming movie, The Promise, and mislead impressionable youth into believing the Genocide was a “two-sided” event.

Although we at the AHC, acknowledge that Ottoman Turks were affected by the state of war throughout the Empire, like all Ottoman citizens, their suffering cannot be equated with a systematic campaign of extermination, which befell the native Greek, Armenian, and Assyrian peoples of Eastern Thrace and Anatolia.

Therefore, we ask the Greek-American community to refrain from paying to watch this film in theaters or supporting it in any way.”

Turkey affords steps and statements unacceptable in European diplomatic practice, Director of the Oriental Studies Institute, political scientist Ruben Safrastyan told a press conference today.

He refrained from calling the current stage in Turkey-EU relations as a period of distancing from each other, but noted some negative trends in the integration processes. “Europeans dislike many things, but do not burn bridges in the relations with Turkey,” he said.

“The European integration process, which is stalled for now, remains on the agenda,” Safrastyan added.

“This is part of Turkey’s adventurist policy. Turkey is raising the betting odds and playing a riskier game with Europe. We see Turkey has managed not to lose and even succeed in its gambles until now. This is what the calculations of policy-makers in Turkey are based on – to grab the utmost from Europe,” he said.

Ruben Safrastyan stressed that judging from history, one can assert that “Turkey does not meet the European values, the diplomatic methods, the system used in Europe.” He concluded, however, that based on geopolitical considerations, Europe leaves the door half-open to Turkey.

The Artsakh Defense Ministry has dismissed Azeri claims of having hit Armenian headquarters in Martuni.

The Azerbaijani said it had hit several positions, which were being used as headquarters by Armenian soldiers in Martuni region.

A statement released by the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said that Azerbaijani forces responded to an “intrusion attempt by Artsakh Forces.”

The NKR Defense Ministry described the statement as “fabrication” that has nothing to do with reality.

The Ministry stated “the Artsakh forces never attack first, but are ready to respond to any provocation with a crushing blow.”

President Sargsyan has issued an address on the occasion of Diplomat’s Day

Dear Diplomats,

I congratulate you on the occasion of Diplomat’s Day.
This year marks a jubilee, because 25 years ago, on this very day Armenia joined the United Nations Organization, thus fulfilling the cherished aspiration of our people to become a full-fledged member of the international community.

A quarter of a century ago, when Armenia appeared again on the world political map, the link between our country and the outside world was established first of all through our diplomats. It is no coincidence that this symbolic day has been declared and is traditionally celebrated as the professional holiday of Armenian Diplomats.

Indeed, the responsibility to protect the interests of independent Armenia, which has a millennia-old history, rich traditions and culture, and those of its citizens is a great responsibility. One of the peculiarities of diplomatic service is that most of its activities remain invisible to public eye. Be assured that your work is visible to us and is praiseworthy.

Today again our country faces multiple challenges. In the efforts to withstand those challenges we have great expectations and requirements from you, our diplomats. Just like the Armenian soldier on the frontline, so do you, abroad and in the central apparatus of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, should remain vigilant and always ready to counter any threat directed against our state and national interests.

The surrounding geopolitical realities have left their unique mark on our diplomatic service as well. Along with high professional requirements, which may be even higher than in case of diplomats of other countries, your work requires a selfless dedication to and love for Homeland. That is the case when you represent a country, which has to live under the conditions of war and blockade.

Armenia is a peace-loving country. We, the Armenians, have struggled for centuries for the right to live on the land of our ancestors, so we fully realize the value of peaceful life. Diplomats carry on their shoulders the most important share of the responsibility to ensure necessary conditions for a peaceful and sustainable development of our country. I am confident that you understand that responsibility and are ready to bear it with honor.

I am sure that you will continue to properly represent our country, our stance and approaches and through your active engagement will make them more audible and understandable within international platforms; that you will continue to bring your considerable contribution to the strengthening of our country’s external security.

Dear Diplomats,

Once again I congratulate you on the occasion of Diplomat’s Day and wish you an unlimited vigor to fulfill to the best possible extent the mission entrusted to you. I also wish you new achievements for the benefit and development of our Homeland.

On February 28, a telephone conversation between Foreign Ministers of the Republic of Artsakh and the Transdniestrian Moldovan Republic (TMR) Karen Mirzoyan and Vitaly Ignatyev took place at the initiative of the Transdniestrian side.

The TMR Foreign Minister appreciated the conduct as well as the results of the February 20 referendum held in Artsakh on the new draft Constitution in the context of consolidation of democratic values, respect for human rights and the rule of law and further development of the statehood. In turn, Karen Mirzoyan expressed his satisfaction with the active participation of the observation mission of the Transdniestrian Moldovan Republic in the referendum to monitor the voting process.

Vitaly Ignatyev expressed his deep concern over the attempted attack on the positions of the Defense Army of the Republic of Artsakh by the Azerbaijani armed forces in the early hours of February 25 and its consequences, as well as conveyed his support for the Artsakh side.

Karen Mirzoyan briefed his counterpart on the situation on the Line of Contact and the efforts of the Artsakh side aimed at stabilizing the situation and ensuring conditions for the resumption of the negotiations.

During the conversation, the TMR Foreign Minister also expressed his condolences in connection with the Armenian massacres committed 29 years ago in Sumgait, conveying his support for the relatives of those murdered or injured during the tragic events. The sides noted that the impunity of such crimes paves the way for new crimes against humanity.

The sides also discussed a range of issues related to the cooperation between the foreign offices, stressing the importance of further consolidation and expansion of the traditional friendly relations between the Foreign Ministries of the two countries.

Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzō Abe hosted the Armenian parliamentary delegation led by Speaker Galust Sahakyanon January 30.

The Prime Minister hailed the development of Armenian-Japanese parliamentary ties and stressed their importance for the inter-state relations.

Galust Sahakyan, in turn, voiced hope that the effective cooperation between the two countries would deepen on international platforms, as well.

The Speaker conveyed to Shinzō Abe President Serzh Sargsyan’s invitation to visit Armenia.

Japan’s Prime Minister pledged his willingness to deepen and develop cooperation in Armenia in all possible domains.

The interlocutors referred to issues related to the cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, culture and tourism.

The Azerbaijani side used firearms of different calibers as it violated the ceasefire regime 70 times last night, the NKR Defense Ministry reports.

The rival fired over 600 shots in the direction of the Armenian positions. The Azeri forces used different types of sniper rifles in the southern, eastern and northeastern directions of the frontline.

The front divisions of the NKR Defense Army confidently continued with their military duty all along the line of contact and resorted to response actions in case of extreme necessity, the Ministry said.

Photo: EPA

 

A huge search operation is continuing “round the clock” in Russia, after a Russian military plane with 92 people on board crashed into the Black Sea, the BBC reports.

Some 3,500 people on ships, jets, helicopters and submersibles are involved in the operation near Sochi.

The Tu-154 plane – carrying soldiers, members of a famed army music ensemble and reporters – was heading for Syria.

All those on board are feared dead after Sunday’s crash. Monday has been declared a national day of mourning.

Search teams – including 139 divers – worked through the night in three shifts, and the operation “did not stop for a minute”, Defence Ministry spokesman Maj Gen Igor Konashenkov said at a briefing on Monday morning.

He said that 11 bodies and “154 fragments” have been found since the operation began.

Overnight, he added, powerful spotlights were used to search the crash area.

The 10.5 sq km search area just off the coast had been extended, the spokesman said.

“Fragments of the Tu-154 plane of the Russian defence ministry were found 1.5km  from the Black Sea coast of the city of Sochi at a depth of 50m to 70m,” the defence ministry said on Saturday.

 

 

 

The village of Talish in Artsakh’s Martakert region was one of the hot spots of the April war. The population here counted 500, but only a dozen live here today and try to restore the native village.

Nine months after the military actions unleashed by Azerbaijan the traces of war are still fresh in Talish, but for two weeks now the silence here has been interrupted by the noise of construction works, not the shots of the rival.

Head of Talish village Vilen Petrosyan says the resettlement process will start after the winter. It has been decided not to recover the districts targeted by the Azeri forces. A new school will be built in the center of the village.

There are currently 12 men living in Talish. They say their families will return from neighboring Alashan after the reconstruction works are completed.

“There is no need to persuade the residents to return to the village,” Vilen Petrosyan says. According to him, favorable conditions will be created for all families willing to return.”

Shots from the Azerbaijani side could be heard all through the conversation with Vilen Petrosyan. “It’s a common thing,” he says and adds that “the shooting has always been there, but I don’t think it has frightened or dissapoiunted anyone here.”

According to Vilen Khachatryan “the priority now is to return the village to its former glory.”