Author: Manouk Vasilian

Turkey on Monday called on German lawmakers to “act reasonably” when considering a bill next month on recognizing the deaths of Armenians in 1915 as “genocide”.

Tanju Bilgic, a Foreign Ministry spokesman, said Ankara had been following the preparation of the resolution and its “politicizing” of history, reports.

“It is possible that if the resolution is approved Turks living in Germany and Turkey will react seriously,” he said at a weekly news conference in Ankara. “In this framework, we expect the German parliament to act in common sense and reasonably.”

German lawmaker announced in Armenia Friday the Bundestag would consider a resolution on recognizing the events of 1915 as “genocide” on June 2.

Last year, parliamentary parties approved the resolution in principle but sent it to committee for further work.

“These [politicians] are further complicating the issue,” Bilgic said. “Genocide is not an issue that can be abused with political aims.”

He reiterated Turkey’s call to establish a joint commission to investigate the killings.

On 9 May within the framework of celebrations to mark the Victory Holiday, the Day of the Nagorno Karabagh Republic Defense Army and the Liberation of Shushi Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan together with Armenian Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan and NKR second President Arkady Ghukasyan attended the Stepanakert Memorial Complex, laid a wreath and flowers to the monuments commemorating martyrs perished in the Great Patriotic War and the Artsakh Liberation Struggle.

On the same day Bako Sahakyan, Hovik Abrahamyan and Arkady Ghukasyan visited the town of Shushi and laid garlands and flowers to the pedestal of the tank-monument and the monument of Sparapet Vazgen Sargsyan. They partook in the opening of “Karabakh’s Revival” photo-exhibition of prominent photographer Martin Shahbazyan and his “Artsakh-Revival” book presentation, as well as were present at the candle lighting held at the Ghazanchetsots Church of Christ the Savior.

Primate of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan, NA chairman Ashot Ghoulyan, prime-minister Arayik Haroutyunyan, high-ranking officials from Artsakh and Armenia, guests from the Diaspora and abroad partook at the festive events.

The NKR Defense Ministry has released photos, proving the shelling of populated areas in Karabakh by Azeri forces.

It was reported earlier that the Azerbaijani side used an MM-21 Grad multiple rocket launcher as it shelled the settlements of Martakert and Mataghis.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan signed decrees today, dismissing three high-ranking officials of the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff of the Armed Forces.

Major General Komitas Muradkhanyan was relieved of the duties of the Head of Signal Troops.

Major General Arshak Karapetyan was dismissed from the post of the Chief of the Department of Intelligence of the Armed Forces.

Lieutenant-General Alik Mirzabekyan was relieved of the duties of Deputy Defense Minister, Chief of the Logistics Department.

The Azerbaijani side kept firing the Armenian positions last night nad this morning, the Armenian Defense Ministry informs.

The Ministry reported reduced intensity of firing and said irregular shooting was registered in the northern section of the Armenian-Azerbaijani state border (Tavush province).

The front divisions of the Armenian Armed Forces confidently control the situation at the border and resort to retaliatory measures only in case of extreme necessity.

President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan had a meeting with Bundestag President Norbert Lammert today, President’s Press Office reported.

The interlocutors attached importance to the role of inter-parliamentary cooperation in the development of interstate relations.

President Sargsyan emphasized Mr. Lammert’s personal contribution to the development of bilateral relations. “You not only encourage inter-parliamentary ties, which have formed a practical platform for full comprehension of reciprocal interests, but also keep issues related to the Armenian people in the spotlight,” the Armenian President said.

As a testament to his words, President Sargsyan noted Mr. Lammert’s participation to the events conducted in Germany in commemoration of the Armenian Genocide, as well as his statement at the special session of the Bundestag dedicated to the Armenian Genocide. Norbert Lammert expressed confidence that the official visit of the President of Armenia and meetings with the leadership of Germany conducted in the framework of the visit to Berlin, will elevate the Armenian-German political dialogue to a new level and will expand cooperation of the two countries.

The parties discussed also issues related to the future development of the Armenia-EU relations and expressed hope that the new framework Agreement, which will institutionalize the RA-EU relations, will be signed in the nearest future. In response to Mr. Lammert’s question regarding the constitutional changes conducted in Armenia, President Sargsyan informed him on the forthcoming developments conditioned by the changes and expressed gratitude to the German side for the consultative assistance to the process.

At the meeting, discussed were also the latest developments related to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

 

 

 

Georgia hopes the situation at the Armenian-Azerbaijani line of contact will not grow into large-scale war. The Georgian authorities are closely following the development of events and hope the situation will not lead to unpredictable consequences, MP from the ruling “Georgian dream” coalition Levan Berdzenishvili told .

The military actions at the Armenian-Azerbaijani line of contact will inevitably have their influence on the countries of the region, including Georgia, Berdzenishvili said. “Georgia has always avoided interfering with the Karabakh conflict, because relations with neighboring countries and peace in the region are important to us,” he added.

“Georgia must be ready to get involved in all types of negotiations if necessary, and if there is an offer from Armenia or Azerbaijan,” the lawmaker said.

He hopes, however, that “there will be no more large-scale war in the Caucasus.”

David Darchiashvili of the opposition United National Movement Party said “the unsolved Karabakh conflict is a threat to the Caucasus security and requires the attention of the world powers.”

“Georgia is part of this region and any developments here cannot bypass Georgia,” Darchiashvili said.

President Serzh Sargsyan signed a decree today reorganizing the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Emergency Situations into two Ministries

• Ministry of Territorial Administration
• Ministry of Emergency Situations

The President instructed the Government to take decisions deriving from the decree within a month.

President Sargsyan also appointed new Ministers

• Armen Yeritysan – Minister of Emergency Situations
• David Lokyan – Minister of Territorial Administration
• Levon Mkrtchyan – Minister of Education and Science
• Artsvik Minasyan –  Minister of Economy

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed a US-Russia agreement over a truce deal in Syria and urged all sides to stick to the peace deal to reportedly take effect on February 27.

The cessation of hostilities is meant to be “a first step towards a more durable ceasefire,” UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters Monday about the agreement, which is meant to take effect on February 27.

“The Secretary-General strongly urges the parties to abide by the terms of the agreement,” he said.

Ban said the truce that was announced Monday “contributes to creating an environment conducive for the resumption of political negotiations,” which had been scheduled to resume this week.

The Azerbaijani side fired more than 600 shots from weapons of different caliber in the direction of the Armenian positions last night.

The NKR Armed Forces keeps control of the situation at the line of contact and confidently continue with their military duty.