Author: Markos Nalchajian

Armenia’s First Deputy Defense Minister David Tonoyan met with Mrs. Caroline Douilliez, Head of the ICRC delegation in Armenia

The parties discussed issues related to the search for and recovery of the bodies of the soldiers killed as a result of the military actions unleashed by Azerbaijan.

David Tonoyan expressed gratitude to the Head of the ICRC Delegation for organizing the exchange of bodies with the mediation of the ICRC and OSCE representatives.

The Deputy Defense Minister informed Mrs. Douilliez that all 18 bodies handed over the Armenian side were mutilated, which not only violates the second paragraph of  Common Article 3 of all 1949 Geneva Conventions (…To this end, the following acts are and shall remain prohibited at any time and in any place whatsoever with respect to the above-mentioned persons: (a) violence to life and person, in particular murder of all kinds, mutilation, cruel treatment and torture), the 1st paragraph of Article 130 of the 1949 4th Geneva Convention, the provisions of  Article 4.2. of the Second Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions, but also constitute a heavy crime under the criminal jurisdiction of any legal state.

David Tonoyan noted that the Armenian side will pursue the condemnations of the crimes committed by the Azerbaijani armed forces by the international community and specialized bodies.

On March 13 Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian participated in the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the European People’s Party (EPP) initiated by Austrian FM Sebastian Kurz.

Attending the meeting were Foreign Ministers of twelve countries, EPP President Joseph Dole, Chairman of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee Elmar Brok, Commissioner Johannes Hahn, other high-ranking officials.

Issues on the agenda included fight against terrorism and radicalism and migration.  Discussions focused on issues existing in the Western Balkans and the South Caucasus and the ways of their resolution. Reference was made to cooperation within the framework of the Eastern Partnership.

Speaking about the flow of migrants, Minister Nalbandian said: “Armenia has provided refuge to about 20 thousand Syrian refugees, being the third European country with the number of migrants hosted per capita.”

The Armenian Foreign Minister stressed that “when seeking solution to migration issues, it’s first of all necessary to refer to their causes.” Minister Nalbandian attached importance to the joint fight against migration and the political process of settlement of the Syrian crisis.

Edward Nalbandian referred to the relations between Armenia and the European Union, emphasized the talks on a new legal framework, noting that the new agreement would reflect the depth of cooperation and the achievements.

The Armenian Foreign Minister briefed his counterparts on the efforts of Armenia and the OSCE Minsk Group towards the resolution of the Karabakh issue and stressed that there’s no alternative to a peaceful settlement.

Syria’s electricity network is down across the whole of the country for unknown reasons, state media say, the BBC reports.

They cited sources as saying power had been cut in all provinces and teams were trying to determine the cause.

In most parts of war-torn Syria, electricity is already available only two to four hours a day, if at all.

The central Fresno house where famed Armenian-American author William Saroyan spent the last 17 years of his life may soon be turned into a museum to host literary and cultural events, reports.

The simple stucco tract house at 2729 W. Griffith Way, just west of Cooper Middle School, was purchased last summer by theIntellectual Renaissance Foundation based in Studio City, according to Fresno County public records.

The foundtion plans to renovate the 1,228-square-foot house built in 1964. The organization belongs to Artur Janibekyan, a Moscow-based media mogul born in Armenia who is a big supporter of Armenian arts and culture.

The house, which has had three different owners since Saroyan’s death in 1981, was a rental home for years and attracted squatters. Last summer, the boarded, vacant house fell into foreclosure and was scheduled to be sold at auction, but it was purchased before the public sale, said Berj Apkarian, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Armenia in Fresno.

Public records show Brian J. and Fatima B. Mosby of Fresno bought the property in May and sold it to the foundation in August.

The Fresno consulate has been collaborating with the foundation since last year to create a new museum and cultural center for “people to truly enjoy what William Saroyan represented as an author, as a writer and as an artist,” Apkarian said.

“The Republic of Armenia and its Ministry of Diaspora and the consulate are very much interested to preserve this historical property,” he said.

While details about the project were not available Monday, Apkarian mentioned possibly relocating the house outside of the residential neighborhood where it currently is located.

The three-bedroom, one-bathroom house is on the local register of historic resources. A plaque honoring the Oscar- and Pulitzer Prize-winning author was installed outside the house in 1989. It lists 10 pieces of Saroyan’s work written while living in the home.

“This is fantastic news for the Armenian community, but most of all for the Fresno community,” Apkarian said. “Restoring an icon’s house is a great project and it should bring, hopefully, visitors and create excitement in the community.”

Larry Balakian, who was involved with the William Saroyan Festival in 2002 and the centennial in 2008, was pleased to hear about the preservation plans and encouraged people to embrace it.

“I think anything to preserve the William Saroyan legacy in this community, worldwide, is definitely the right step forward,” Balakian said. “I think the entire community needs to embrace the project.”

Photo: AP

Germany has been sending an increasing number of migrants back to Austria every day since the beginning of the month, Austrian police say, the BBC reports.

Many had no valid documents, whilst others did not want to apply for asylum in Germany but in other countries, notably in Scandinavia, police said.

New Year’s Eve attacks on women in Cologne, blamed on migrants, have put pressure on Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Most of those sent back to Austria are not Syrians, who usually get asylum.

Instead, they are migrants mostly from Afghanistan as well as Morocco and Algeria, Austrian police said.

Germany and several other nations are to discuss with Turkey ways of settling thousands of Syrian refugees ahead of the final EU summit of the year, the BBC reports.

Those attending the meeting will discuss a proposal to resettle Syrians straight from camps in Turkey.

But German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the driving force behind the plans, faces resistance from other EU states.

Thursday’s full EU summit in Brussels is seRecord numbers of people have arrived in Europe this year, prompting some states to build fences and introduce border controls in defiance of the EU’s border-free Schengen area.t to focus heavily on the migrant crisis which has divided members.

The hotly-anticipated latest addition in the Star Wars franchise, The Force Awakens, has had its world premiere in Los Angeles, the BBC reports.
Stars from the original series Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher were joined by newcomers like John Boyega and Daisy Ridley at the event.

Security was tight, with a giant tent shrouding the red carpet.
The plot of the film remains a closely-guarded secret and a media embargo on reviews is in place until Wednesday.
But this did not deter fans camping out for days outside the TCL Chinese Theatre, which along with other LA venues screened the seventh Star Wars instalment.

Stormtroopers joined robots C-3PO and R2D2 on the red carpet as the human stars arrived.

“Now we have to live up to what the first films delivered,” said Harrison Ford, who is returning to his role as Han Solo.

Star Wars’ creator George Lucas said of the new entry in the series “it’s a film about families and what one generation leaves behind another generation has to deal with”.

Photo:  Sputnik/ Dmitry Astakhov

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Thursday that Moscow has already taken and will take diplomatic and military measures after the downing of a Russian Su-24 bomber by Turkey, Sputnik News reports.

The Russian prime minister said that the downing of the Russian warplane over Syria was an “act of aggression” committed by Turkey.

“This was certainly an act of aggression against our country by Turkey, our neighbor and a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.”

“Military and diplomatic measures with regard to this crime have already been taken and more will be taken,” Medvedev said during a governmental meeting on Thursday.

On Tuesday, a Russian Su-24 jet crashed in Syria. Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the plane was downed over Syrian territory by an air-to-air missile launched by a Turkish F-16 jet, and fell 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) from the Turkish border. Putin described the Turkish attack as a “stab in the back” carried out by “accomplices of terrorists.”

Dmitry Medvedev has instructed the Russian government on Thursday to work out measures against Turkey after Tuesday’s downing of a Russian military jet.

Moscow may freeze economic cooperation, limit trade spheres as possible measures against Ankara, Medvedev said.

“[The measures include] the suspension of the implementation of programs of economic cooperation, restrictions on financial transactions and on foreign trade transactions, changes in customs duties of import and export, measures in the tourism sector, with regard to transportation, including transit.“

Dmitry Medvedev said that Moscow’s response actions would not contradict WTO norms.

According to Medvedev, measures taken by Russia will be temporary and depend on the development of Moscow-Ankara relations and international situation.

The prime minister said that Russian authorities were considering the introduction of bans on Turkish companies’ activities in the country.

Qatar Airways will start operating Yerevan-Doha regular flights in 2016. “Armenia” International Airports” CJSC has successfully completed negotiations with Qatar Airways. Recently the negotiations were most active after Etihad Airlines announced its intention to suspend flights to Armenia.

Qatar Airlines has been awarded the Best Airline of the Year for three consecutive years.

Qatar Airways is one of the largest air companies in the Middle East, with very extensive network operating flights to more than 140 destinations.

Qatar Airways fleet is equipped with more than 340 modern aircraft, including: Airbus A350, Airbus A380-800, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 777-300, Boeing 787-8 (Dreamliner) etc.

Doha International Airport can be a convenient transit point for those who travel to the USA, the Middle and Far East from Armenia.