Author: Ophelia Vardapetian

To achieve progress in the settlement of the Karabakh conflict, it’s first necessary to restore the full format of  talks, Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan said in an interview with Regnum Agency.

“The resolution of the conflict is simply impossible without our participation as a full party. The fact is accepted by international mediators, e.g. the Minsk Group Co-Chairs. We are ready to hold direct negotiations with Azerbaijan and  discuss any issues, and we have declared this on many occasions,” Bako Sahakyan said.

“Status and security are two key political aspects of settlement. All other questions are derivatives. There no way back. Artsakh will never be part of Azerbaijan. This is excluded. Ensuring security to Nagorno Karabakh in all dimensions cannot be questioned, either. As to other questions, we are ready to discuss them with Azerbaijan. I believe this is a constructive stance based on existing realities,” the President said.

“Like any citizen in my country, I’m confident of the bright future of Artsakh. We’ll do our best to have strong, democratic, social and dynamically developing country, which will find its rightful place in the civilized world,” Bako Sahakyan said.

The Azerbaijani forces used Spike anti-tank guided missile  in the eastern (Martuni) direction of the line of contact around 15:40 today, Artsakh Defense Ministry reports.

“This comes to prove that the rival is escalating the situation on purpose,” the Ministry said, adding that “it’s fraught with unpredictable consequences.”

The Artsakh Defense Army has incurred no losses

The rival also used weapons of different calibers, including automatic grenade launcher and 60 mm mortar as it kept violating the ceasefire throughout the day.

The Artsakh Defense Ministry declares it’s ready for any development of events and noted that “Azerbaijani military-political leadership will bear full responsibility for further escalation.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and European People’s Party President (EPP) Joseph Dole discussed the perspectives of development of Armenia-EU relations as they met at EPP Headquarters in Brussels today.

The interlocutors referred  to the process of ongoing reforms in Armenia, including the transit to a new system of governance after the Constitutional changes, the steps towards future development and reinforcement of democratic institutions, preparations for the parliamentary elections scheduled for April 2.

Serzh Sargsyan and Joseph Dole discussed Armenia’s cooperation with EPP partners on the international arena, issues related to common issues and challenges. They also exchanged views on the reinforcement of inter-party relations.

President Sargsyan attached importance to the continuous deepening of cooperation between the European People’s Party and the Republican Party of Armenia and expressed gratitude for the willingness to support Armenia and RPA and for the practical assistance.

Serzh Sargsyan briefed Joseph Dole on the Armenian approaches towards the settlement of the Karabakh conflict, the situation at the line of contact between Artsakh and Azerbaijan, the periodic violations of the ceasefire regime by Azerbaijan, its provocative actions and the escalation of tension.

Noting that the Karabakh issue remains a most serious challenge for both regional and European security, President Sargsyan underlined that Armenia and the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing countries see no alternative to a peaceful resolution. “Unlike Azerbaijan, we are unwilling to see the region engaged in the nightmare of war once again,” he said.

Serzh Sargsyan reiterated that “Armenia will spare no effort to reach an exceptionally peaceful solution.”

On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the creation of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia, President Serzh Sargsyan awarded over two hundred military servicemen and freedom fighters with the highest awards of the Republic of Armenia, medals and orders, and bestowed on them high military ranks for the courage manifested in defending the borders of the Fatherland, valor, boundless dedication, as well as for their contribution to the army building and enhancement of the battle readiness of the troops.

The President of Armenia congratulated the servicemen and the freedom fighters on the occasion of the holiday and on receiving high state awards.

Congratulatory remarks of the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan addressed to the awardees

Dear Awardees,

I congratulate you on the occasion of the Army Day and on the receiving the Fatherland’s high awards and ranks.

We are grateful to you for the enormous work you have done and which is called the service to the Fatherland. First, we shall commemorate those immortals who are being awarded today posthumously. We, as a nation, stand by the parents who raised these heroes and send to their families the words of compassion and support.

Those boys fell defending their families, their friends and us all. They fell so that Armenia can live, so that aspirations of our people live on and become a reality. They became immortals and together with us will continue the millennia-long and incessant march of the Armenian nation.

I congratulate those present in this hall and those who in our Armed Forces carry on with the dedicated work of their fallen brothers in arms. Be aware that the Fatherland trusts you and believes in you. We are proud of you; you are the worthy sons of our nation, the power and reliance of our people,” said President Serzh Sargsyan. In the presence of the particiapats of the official award ceremony, the President sent his congratulatory message to the people of Armenia on the occasion of the Army Day.

Congratulatory message by President Serzh Sargsyan on the occasion of Army Day

Dear Compatriots,

I congratulate you on the occasion of the Army Day and the 25th anniversary of the creation of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia.

The Armenian Army was created along with the reestablishment of our statehood. However, the formation of the Army started earlier, and it started not from the top but from the bottom, spontaneously, through the instinct of self-defense of the people.

Hideous events, which had taken place in Sumgait, Baku, and other places in Azerbaijan, awaked our historic memory with the blood-chilling pictures of massacres and forced deportations. Formed spontaneously but deeply consciously the voluntary movement and first units of volunteers had become the axis on which the glorious and victorious structure – the Armenian Army would rise.

We, as a nation, had united. Last time, we had been united like this at Sardarapat. The superior resources of the foe did not scare us. On the contrary, that fact made us serious, organized, and focused. Our Army was formed at the battlefield. We were fighting agains the enemy literally inside our own home.

I recall a true story: a man with the arms in hands was fighting the enemy in his own home. He fought and retreated from the doorway to the kitchen, then still fighting he retreated to the living room, then he took back his kitchen and his doorway. This is not an allegory; this is a true story from the heroic battle of Karintak. The war imposed on us, made us all the Army; this is the truth.

On the other hand, we need officers – professional, experienced, and deeply knowledgable of the military science. We have been able to smoothly and effortlessly to intertwine the professional capabilities of the military and the strong battle spirit of the home guard. We were aware that the Fidai movement, even if of a heroic nature, had no prospects. The time had come to create a professional army. Military servicemen all over the Soviet Union answering the call of the Fatherland gathered here and carried out that tremendous task.

Dear Compatriots,

Twenty-five years ago, by the order of Vazgen Sarkissian our Army became a state structure. From that day one, we were fighting in the self-defense war at the state level. From that day on, the new and glorious history of the Armed Froces of the Republic of Armenia is being written. Many of the pages and heroes of that history have already appeared in history books. Moreover, that history has become an indivisible part of our national identity. That history is our self-respect, human and national dignity, the proof of our freedom.

I have stressed on many occasions that no military action, to say nothing of a new war can solve the Artsakh issue. Moreover, a new war will become an additional, thorny component of the issue which is complex enough, but not a solution.

Events of last April proved once again (and I stress “once again’) to our adversaries that the use of force or threats to use force is a tragic and dead-end road, which means it’s not a road at all.

Those events had also proved the vital and crucial importance of the safety zone created around Artsakh. We are not going to fight another elongated war in the doorway and kitchen of our own home, we have done it already.

Dear Fellow Citizens,

The blood of our martyrs is the price we have paid for our freedom and our future. Today, the thankful generation is bowing to the memory of our immortals and continues with honor the patriotic work of their grandfathers and fathers.

Today’s servicemen and conscripts, now with new structures and new weapons, continue to improve and develop, continue to be the unswerving shield for Armenia and Artsakh. Currently, it would be hard to find a stronger defender and a more ardent proponent of peace that the Armenian Army.

Next twenty-five years will be a period of a new qualitative rise for our Army. Officers, as a special stratum of our national intelligentsia, will have a greater public standing and weight, will have a greater professional, including technological, efficiency. For the conscripts, the military service will truly become a school of life, starting from the military skills and up to civil and psychological readiness.

The 25th anniversary of the creation of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia is a great holiday, a great holiday indeed. I once again congratulate us all and wish courage, indestructible resolve, and peace.

Thank you.

The Parliament of Denmark voted 89 to 9 with 11 abstention today to adopt an Armenian Genocide resolution, according to the website of the Danish Parliament.

On January 19 the Parliament had 2.5 hours of discussion on the document brought to the agenda by Nick Hækkerup (S) , Søren Espersen (DF) , Michael Aastrup Jensen (V) , Henrik Dahl (LA) , Martin Lidegaard (RV) , Naser Khader (KF).

The document reads, in part: “The Parliament confirms its decision no. V 54 of 19 May 2015 on the tragic and bloody events that took place in eastern Anatolia in the period 1915-1923. The Danish Parliament finds that the best path to reconciliation will be an open dialogue about the story on the basis of a free and uncensored history research, including the release of all official documents from the period. The Parliament regrets that Turkish law prohibits citizens and media to use the term “genocide” about the events, and considers this to be an unreasonable restriction of both academic freedom as freedom of expression relates to the use of this term. Parliament maintains its parliamentary tradition not to issue judgments about historical events.”

People in Armenia’s capital Yerevan have been laying flowers in front of the German Embassy in Armenia today as a sign of sympathy with the German people.

A man ploughed a lorry into a Christmas market in the heart of Berlin last night, killing 12 people and injuring 48.

The Islamic State (IS) group has retaken the Syrian city of Palmyra, hours after Russian air strikes appeared to have driven it back, the reports.

The governor of Homs province, Talal Barazi, said government forces were now regrouping outside the ancient city, preparing to launch a fresh assault.

IS held the city from May 2015 until it was forced out in March this year.

Correspondents say IS appears to have taken advantage of the government’s focus on Aleppo, further north.

Mr Barazi confirmed the withdrawal from Palmyra but insisted “the army is using all means to prevent the terrorists from staying”.

Activists in the city said militants were going door to door looking for any remaining forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad.

Cruz Beckham, the son of David and Victoria Beckham, has released his debut single, the BBC reports.

The 11-year-old’s recording of If Every Day Was Christmas received its first radio play on Wednesday before being made available online.

Profits from the song’s sales will go to Global’s Make Some Noise charity, which supports disadvantaged young people in the UK.

Beckham is being managed by Scooter Braun – who also signed Justin Bieber.

The United States has pledged to fund concrete measures designed to improve confidence in the election process and help prevent fraud in next year’s Armenian parliamentary elections. The Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) strongly encouraged the U.S. government support this initiative considering its importance to strengthening the democratic process in Armenia.

U.S. funding will support agreements signed by the Armenian government and three leading opposition parties on voting conduct for the April 2017 elections.  Funds will go toward equipment required for live online broadcasts of voting and ballot counting, as well as electronic verification of voters’ identity, and other amendments to Armenia’s Electoral Code. The United States joins the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Germany in providing financial support towards the new voting processes and equipment for the upcoming parliamentary elections.

“Both the government and the opposition deserve credit for working out the agreement which sets Armenia apart,” stated Armenian Assembly Co-Chairs Anthony Barsamian and Van Krikorian. “The need for national unity was dramatically reemphasized after the April war initiated by Azerbaijan and the ongoing ceasefire violations attempting to goad Armenia to respond,” the Assembly Co-Chairs continued.  “We commend the U.S. and the EU for providing financial assistance to support this initiative to further the rule of law in Armenia. We are nonpartisan in both the American and Armenian contexts but this type of support to improve confidence in the democratic process serves us all,” they concluded.

According to the statement by the United States Embassy in Armenia: “The U.S. Government welcomes the agreement that was reached in June and September between the Armenian government and parliamentary political factions – with input from civil society representatives – on strengthening the integrity and credibility of the Armenian election process. We consider this agreement a meaningful step towards restoring public trust and accountability in Armenia’s electoral processes.”

“With our fellow international donors, all of whom are working in partnership with the United Nations Mission to Armenia, the U.S. Embassy will help fund the efforts of the Armenian government, political opposition, and civil society to strengthen trust in the Armenian electoral process via same-day voter authentication and the publication of signed voter lists after the elections, all as agreed in the June and September agreements,” stated the U.S. Embassy in Armenia.

Photo: Getty Images

 

Colombia’s government says it will sign a new peace accord with Farc rebels on Thursday, after a previous deal was rejected in a referendum last month, the BBC reports.

The new revised agreement will be submitted to Congress for approval, rather than put to a popular vote.

But opposition groups say it still does not go far enough in punishing rebels for human rights abuses.

The deal is aimed at ending more than 50 years of civil war, in which more than 220,000 people have been killed.

In a televised address to the nation on Tuesday, President Juan Manuel Santos said: “We have the unique opportunity to close this painful chapter in our history that has bereaved and afflicted millions of Colombians for half a century.”

The original deal was signed two months ago in an emotional ceremony before world leaders but it was rejected in a referendum on 2 October.