Author: Maral Takmazian

Diaspora Armenians will observe the parliamentary elections on April 2, thus ensuring a more active participation in the political life of the Motherland. More than 200 Diaspora Armenians have already applied for carrying out an observation mission, most observers are expected to arrive from Georgia.

After having actively reacted to the April and June events, Diaspora Armenians believe it’s high time to change the level of relationship with Armenia.

Those, who do not hold Armenian citizenship and are not eligible to vote in the elections, will participate in the electoral processes as observers.

Canadian Armenian actress Arsine Khanjyan, film director Atom Egoyan, frontman of the System Of A Down Serj Tankian have joined the initiative.

To correctly understand and interpret the processes taking place on April 2, the observers will take special training courses a few days before election day to get better understanding of the legislative and judicial fields.

On January 24, 2017, in accordance with the arrangement reached with the authorities of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, the OSCE Mission conducted a planned monitoring of the Line of Contact between the armed forces of Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan in the north-west of Seysulan village of the NKR Martakert region.

From the positions of the NKR Defense Army, the monitoring was conducted by Field Assistants to the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Jiri Aberle (Czech Republic) and Ghenadie Petrica (Moldova).

From the opposite side of the Line of Contact, the monitoring was conducted by Field Assistant to the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Khristo Khristov (Bulgaria), Personal Assistant to the CiO Personal Representative Simon Tiller (Great Britain), and staff member of the Office of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Peter Svedberg (Sweden).

The monitoring passed in accordance with the agreed schedule. No violation of the cease-fire regime was registered.

From the Karabakh side, the monitoring mission was accompanied by representatives of the NKR Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Defense.

South Korea’s special prosecutor is seeking an arrest warrant for Samsung heir apparent Lee Jae-yong, accused of bribery, embezzlement and perjury, the BBC reports.

The case is linked to a scandal that led to the impeachment of the country’s President Park Geung-hye.

Samsung is accused of giving donations to non-profit foundations operated by Choi Soon-sil, a friend of Ms Park, in exchange for government favours.

The firm said the issuing of the arrest warrant was “hard to understand”.

Seoul Central District Court must now decide whether to go ahead and issue the warrant.

If this happened, Mr Lee would be the first executive to be arrested in connection to the scandal.

He is currently vice-chairman of Samsung Electronics, but since his father, Lee Kun-hee, suffered a heart attack in 2014, he is considered de facto boss of the entire Samsung Group conglomerate.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan has been credited as the key player in Manchester United’s upturn in fortunes, accoridng to .

The Armenian was initially frozen out by Jose Mourinho but since being brought into the fray has excelled. It’s coincided with a run of results that sees Manchester United unbeaten in 11 Premier League games and on a nine-game winning run in all competitions.

Liverpool legend Didi Hamann believes Mkhitaryan deserves much credit.

‘Mkhitaryan has been a key man in United’s changing fortunes,’ said the German. ‘He’s played a far greater role in the league since the end of November, scoring against Sunderland and bagging the winner at home to Tottenham, and in that time United have won six and drawn two in the league. He’s been excellent playing just off Ibrahimovic and has helped shape United’s style of football.’

The Russian Federation Council, the parliament’s upper house, ratified an agreement with Armenia aimed at creating a joint air defense system in the Caucasus, at a parliamentary session on Friday, Sputnik reports.

The purpose of the agreement is to improve the air defense system in the Caucasus region.

The agreement, signed in Moscow on December 23, 2015, has been concluded for the term of five years, with the possibility of an automatic extention for a further five-year period.

The Armenian parliament, the National Assembly, ratified the agreement on June 30.

Chaired by Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan, another discussion on the development of information and communication technology (ICT) was held in the Office of Government.

The Prime Minister was briefed on the proposals on short and long term development of the ICT sector and the status of the projects under development. He was informed that discussions are underway within the joint working group of stakeholders’ representatives.

Karen Karapetyan stressed the need to push ahead with the public-private cooperation process and increase the number of ICT-minded people in civil society.

“I am pinning great hopes on you. You can be the locomotive that will change the economy, the environment and culture,” the Preme Minister stated and expressed readiness to support any constructive initiative.

The ongoing activities will be finalized and a package of specific measures will be submitted to the Prime Minister in mid-January of 2017.

Armenian Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan received today Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani.

Hassan Rouhani said a number of agreements had been reached during the meeting with President Serzh Sargsyan and viced hope the programs would be implemented in the near future.

PM Karapetyan, said, in turn, that the rich bilateral agenda creates a firm ground for the development and expansion of relations.

The Armenian Prime Minister presented a number of proposals, which, if implemented, will further reinforce the Armenian-Iranian ties and give new impetus to the future cooperation.

In particular, Karen Karapetyan offered to consider the idea of creating a food certification center in Armenia, which will contribute to the facilitation of assessment of compatibility of products and will boost the commodity turnover.

PM Karapetyan attached importance to the expansion of Iranian businessmen’s activity in Armenia, considering the capacities of the  Eurasian Economic Union’s market.

Karen Karapetyan reiterated Armenia’s willingness to contribute to the negotiations between Iran and EEU.

President Rouhani hailed the steps aimed at furthering the Armenian-Iranian cooperation and said Iran would welcome any constructive proposal.

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian had a meeting with the Foreign Minister of Kosovo Enver Hoxhaj on the sidelines of the Ministerial Conference of the International Organisation of la Francophonie held in Antananarivo.

The parties attached importance to the conduct of periodic meetings for getting to know each other’s approaches and continue the cooperation on a number of issues.