Author: Yeghisabet Vorskanian

Euronews has named the Tbilisi tree as one of the most unusual Christmas trees in the world.

An illumination resembling a Christmas tree set at the monument to St. George at the Freedom Square in the capital of Georgia is listed among world’s six unusual trees.

Christmas tree stands in Park Simon Bolivar in Bogota.

Cars on a street illuminated by Christmas lights in Tbilisi, Georgia.

A Christmas tree made of 121 old wooden-framed, coloured windows, put together by local carpentry students, is seen in Rakvere in Estonia.

A couple hug while standing near a Christmas tree made out of plastic bins and plastic hampers outside the Museum of History in Monterrey, Mexico.

A Christmas tree stands in Byblos, north of Beirut, Lebanon.

People enjoy the Christmas festivities amongst Supertrees structures at the Gardens by the Bay in Singapore.

On December 9, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Karen Mirzoyan had separate meetings in Washington with members of the U.S. Congress, Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues Frank Pallone and Robert Dold, as well as Congresswoman Anna Eshoo. On the same day, accompanied by Chairman of the Armenian National Committee of America Ken Khachikian and Kate Nahapetian, who is responsible for the Committee’s relations with the U.S. Government, Karen Mirzoyan met with U.S. Senator, member of the Appropriations Committee Mark Kirk.

During the meeting, a range of issues related to the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict peaceful settlement process, provocations on the Line of Contact by Azerbaijan, as well as the U.S. humanitarian assistance rendered to Artsakh were discussed.

On the same day, the NKR Minister of Foreign Affairs took part in a traditional event dedicated to the anniversary of Artsakh’s independence in the U.S. Congress, which was organized under the auspices of the Co-Chairs of the U.S. Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues and through the joint efforts of the Armenian National Committee of America, the Armenian Assembly of America, the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia to the USA, and the NKR Permanent Representation to the USA.

The event, which started with the prayer of blessing by the Armenian Church’s North American Eastern Diocese Legate, Archbishop Vigen Haykazian, was attended by representatives of the American Armenian organizations and communities, staff members of Congressmen’s Offices, experts, and journalists.

A number of Congressmen attended the event and delivered speeches, including Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Ed Royce, Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues Frank Pallone and Robert Dold, Congressman Adam Schiff, and others. The Congressmen expressed their support for the Nagorno Karabakh Republic’s independence and democratic development and underlined their readiness to continue to focus on the issues related to Artsakh. The speakers also stressed the necessity of taking immediate steps for reducing the tensions on the Line of Contact between the armed forces of Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan.

RA Ambassador to the USA Tigran Sargsyan also welcomed the participants of the event with his address.

The NKR Foreign Minister briefed on the state-building process in the NKR, stressing that the path that Artsakh people have gone through serves as a proof that it is impossible to limit the strive of people to decide their own future and fate.

The NKR Foreign Minister expressed his gratitude to the Congressmen for their continued support in the issues related to the NKR.

Karen Mirzoyan also touched upon the current stage of the process of peaceful settlement of the conflict between Azerbaijan and Nagorno Karabakh and briefed on the situation on the Line of Contact aggravated due to Azerbaijan’s provocative policy.

The Minister stressed that the NKR is an established state with all the attributes and institutions of statehood, its Constitution, an active civil society and a vibrant economy. Artsakh is also an important geopolitical factor in the region, which contributes to the stability and peace.Throughout its independence, the NKR has proven to be a reliable, predictable, and responsible partner for the international community and is consistent in its actions aimed at maintaining regional peace and stability.

At the end of his speech, Karen Mirzoyan expressed confidence that the time had come for the international community to accept the reality and to recognize the free and democratic Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

On 10 December President Bako Sahakyan sent a congratulatory address on the NKR State Independence Referendum and Constitution Day.

The address runs as follows:

“Dear Artsakh people,

On behalf of the republic’s authorities and myself personally I would like to convey cordial congratulations on the NKR State Independence Referendum and Constitution Day.

Our people cherish this holiday as it symbolizes their strive towards building a free and independent, democratic and legal state marked with supremacy of law, where human rights and freedoms, legal interests and security of the citizens and the state are protected.

Following proclaiming its independence in 1991 Artsakh went through the imposed war, overcame numerous difficulties and challenges, registering glorious victories and achievements on its path.

Among the most important achievements of the state building process has been the adoption of the Constitution, our country’s basic law. The referendum held in 2006 once again witnessed the fact that the path chosen by our people was right and steady, with nobody and nothing being able to disrupt it. Our rival, who never misses the opportunity to turn to provocations, must also realize it.

Joining hands with our sisters and brothers from Armenia and the Diaspora we will do our best to further strengthen the Artsakh statehood, safeguard our people’s security and ensuring their well-being, increase the defense potential, develop economy and improve living standards of the citizens. Artsakh must become a developed and modern country and take its deserved place in the international community.

Dear fellow citizens,

I once again congratulate all of you on this memorable holiday and wish peace, robust health and all the best”.

Speaking to representatives of Armenian TV Companies President Serzh Sargsyan voiced his support for the shift from presidential to parliamentary system of governance.

“I declare with all responsibility that the absence of a Supreme Commander-in-Chief in the proposed parliamentary system is a result of well-thought approach. If the reforms pass, the whole executive power will concentrate with the Government, and I think that attributing the duties of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief to the Prime Minister would include damages in peacetime. Why? Because when we say Supreme Commander-in-Chief, we assume the unequivocal approach of using the troops by him. But where can the troops be used in peacetime? I don’t want to go much into detail, but having so much authority and enjoying the right to use troops in peacetime is a very dangerous provision,” President Sargsyan said.

He said the duty of the Commander-in Chief is to ensure the combat readiness of the Army in peacetime and mobilize the whole resources in case of war to solve the military-political situation. “If all the resources are under the disposal of the Government, who can better ensure those functions – the one who is assigned by the Constitution to coordinate the activities of the state bodies or the one who leads the activities of the state bodies? I think that we’re making the changes to have the responsibility and right concentrate in one place.”

“I sincerely state that had there been a pure presidential system in our country, we would probably not undertake these reforms, because both the presidential and parliamentary systems have their advantages. For example, the presidential system is much better in wartime and contains no dangers, while we cannot say, either, that the parliamentary system is not viable in war situation. It is this semi-presidential system that is unviable. Israel has a parliamentary system. But doesn’t Israel face threats? I can bring a better example. What do you think was the system of governance during the military actions in Karabakh? Of course, parliamentary. I state again that in war situation the Prime Minister becomes the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, and he can be braver and more confident in his decisions, when enjoying the support of the parliament. The parliamentary system of governance envisages that a priori the Prime Minister enjoys the support of the parliamentary majority, but does not assume that the President has a majority in the Parliament,” President Sargsyan stated

NATO foreign ministers welcomed tiny Montenegro into their fold on Wednesday in the alliance’s first expansion since 2009, Reuters reports.

Jens Stoltenberg, the head of Nato, said it was a “historic decision,” according to BBC.

While Montenegro has now been invited to join NATO, it can take up to 18 months for a country to formally join. NATO diplomats say membership is likely to be cemented at the summit of alliance leaders next July in Warsaw.

– 70-year-old Armenian ArArAt brandy was sold at a Sotheby auction in London for 80 thousand pounds—over $120,000.

The special auction was dedicated to the 50th anniversary of former United Kingdom Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s death.

The auction was sponsored by Albert II, Prince of Monaco. The organization of the auction was supported by Monaco’s Ambassador to the UK Evelyne Genta, Armenia’s Ambassador to the UK and former prime minister of Armenia Armen Sargsyan, and Saudi Prince Al Waleed.

Churchill’s favorite drinks, cigars and, clothing brands and various other items were put up for the auction.

During the auction, special attention was paid to Churchill’s bust by sculptor Oscar Nemon and 70-year-old brandy from an exclusive collection of the Yerevan Brand Factory, which was donated by Armen Sargsyan.

The amount raised at the auction will be donated in its entirety to charities supporting Prince Albert’s initiatives to reduce the impacts of climate change, biodiversity preservation, and combatting desertification.

Regional Program “Public Financial Management in the South Caucasus” of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH has signed a co-financing agreement with the EU Delegation to Armenia for the “Strengthening the Independence, Effectiveness and Transparency of the Armenian External Audit system”. The contribution to the Program form EU is 880 thousands Euro which was equal to 458.576.800 AMD on date of concluding the contract. The overall objective of the above-mentioned cooperation between the Chamber of Control, the European Union and GIZ is strengthening the independence, effectiveness and transparency of the Armenian External Audit System. The specific objectives target at to align the processes of Performance Audit and Audit of the Government’s Annual Budget Execution Report as well as the related follow-up mechanisms with INTOSAI Standards and European good practice.

The cooperation to achieve these ambitious results is ongoing and necessary introductory steps have been carried out. The Chamber of Control, the EU Delegation and GIZ have agreed to create a structure for the joint steering and monitoring of the cooperation and hence to raise its effectiveness. The basis for the steering structure will be a Memorandum of Understanding assuring the close cooperation of all parties in all relevant areas of responsibility to achieve the following three accumulated results:

1. A standardized assessment that provides detailed information for future evidence-based reform planning as an output of the standard analysis and assessment of the external audit environment (legislative framework, key Public Financial Management  actors, communication between Executive, Parliament and Civil Society) and the Chamber of Control itself (capacities, procedures, regulations, etc.);
2. Capacity and methodology development to conduct INTOSAI Standards compliant audits;
3. Regulatory framework and practices of the external control system reviewed and aligned with INTOSAI Standards and European good experience.

The realization of the planned objectives is envisaged for the time period till March 2017 and regular steering meetings are preliminary scheduled on December 2015 and March, June, September and December 2016.

Turkey has again summoned the Russian ambassador after a second violation of its airspace by a Russian warplane operating in Syria in two days, the BBC reports.

It did the same after the first violation on Saturday, after which two Turkish F-16 jets were scrambled.

Turkey said the second violation occurred on Sunday.

Russia said Saturday’s violation was for just a few seconds and due to poor weather. It has not officially reacted to Sunday’s incident.

Saturday’s interception took place near Yayladagi in the southern Hatay region, Turkey says.

On 5 October Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan issued a congratulatory address in connection with the Day of Teachers.

The address runs as follows:

“Dear teachers,

On behalf of the Artsakh Republic authorities and on my own behalf, I cordially congratulate you on the professional holiday.

This day is traditionally marked every year as an assessment of a teacher’s extremely significant and honorable work and a manifestation of our gratitude towards them. It is among the unique professions that has been always highly appreciated by people, enjoyed the love and respect of the public. Over the centuries teachers have not only educated and brought up the younger generation but also helped the people with their wise advices and recommendations in the most difficult situations. It is not accidental that in ancient times people named their prominent representatives as teachers.

Today too the teacher occupies his worthy place in our society. I am confident that all the disciples remember their teachers with love and warmth, those who remaining adherent to their noble title, diligently convey their knowledge and experience to pupils, help them become worthy individuals for their Motherland.

The state always keeps the sphere of education and science in the spotlight of attention, prioritizes solving issues existing here, implements various programs for building and reconstructing schools, creating conditions corresponding to modern standards, continuous raising the education level.

Dear friends,

I once again congratulate all of you on the Day of Teachers and wish peace, robust health, happiness and all the best”.