Category: News

“Who Killed the Armenians?”- the first Arabic film devoted to the Armenian Genocide, will be presented in the feature/documentary film category at the Socially Relevant Film Festival to be held in New York, member of the Armenian National Committee of Egypt Armen Mazlumyan told .

The film was produced by director Muhammad Hanafi and journalist and host Myriam Zaki. The film presents the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Turks 100 years ago, also as several archival photos and materials, most of which are released for the first time and affirm the Armenian Genocide of 1915.

The survivors’ eyewitness accounts affirm that the Genocide was previously planned. The shootings took place in Armenia, Egypt and Lebanon.

The first screening of the film took place on November 8 in Cairo.

Eagles guitarist Glenn Frey has died at the age of 67, the band has announced, the BBC reports.

He died in New York City on Monday from complications arising from rheumatoid arthritis, colitis and pneumonia.

“Words can neither describe our sorrow, nor our love and respect for all that he has given to us,” his family and fellow band members said.

The Eagles were one of the most successful bands of the 1970s, with multiple hit singles, including Hotel California in 1976.

Frey co-founded the Eagles in 1971 with Don Henley, Bernie Leadon and Randy Meisner.

He co-wrote Hotel California with Henley, and composed a number of the band’s biggest songs on his own, including Heartache Tonight and Lyin’ Eyes.

The Eagles notched up more than 150 million album sales worldwide, with Hotel California and their greatest hits among the best selling in history.

Amid calls for a boycott of the Academy Awards over its all-white acting nominees and Spike Lee and Jada Pinkett Smith both announcing they would sit out this year’s ceremony, the academy’s president said it was time for major changes and soon, the Associated Press reports.

Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences President Cheryl Boone Isaacs issued a statement promising more diversity, and quickly, after both Lee and Pinkett spoke out on Monday.

In a lengthy Instagram post, Lee said he “cannot support” the “lily white” Oscars. Noting that he was writing on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Lee who in November was given an honorary Oscar at the Governors Awards said he was fed up: “Forty white actors in two years and no flava at all,” he wrote. “We can’t act?!”

In a video message on Facebook, Pinkett Smith also said she wouldn’t attend or watch the Oscars in February. Pinkett Smith, whose husband Will Smith wasn’t nominated for his performance in the NFL head trauma drama “Concussion,” said it was time for people of color to disregard the Academy Awards.

“Begging for acknowledgement, or even asking, diminishes dignity and diminishes power,” she said. “And we are a dignified people and we are powerful.”

She added: “Let’s let the academy do them, with all grace and love. And let’s do us differently.” The video had amassed 4.5 million by mid-Monday afternoon.

Last year’s all-white acting nominees also drew calls for a boycott, though not from such prominent individuals as Lee and Pinkett Smith. Whether it had any impact or not, the audience for the broadcast, hosted by Neil Patrick Harris, was down 16 percent from the year prior, a six-year low.

Press Statement by Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian following the 16th meeting of Armenia-EU Cooperation Council

2016-01-18

Dear Colleagues,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

In the framework of the 16th session of Armenia-EU Cooperation Council, together with our EU colleagues, we have had extensive discussions on the further development of Armenia – European Union relations, which included such issues as: Political dialogue, negotiations on a new framework agreement between Armenia and the EU, that would adequately reflect the depth and essence of our partnership, mobility, human rights, pace of reforms and others.

2015 was a special year for the Armenia-EU cooperation. We witnessed high level visits, an intense and constructive dialogue with an impressive number of bilateral meetings, simultaneous negotiations on Armenia- EU agreements in various areas.

The Eastern Partnership summit in Riga in May 2015 was a success with Joint Declaration reaffirming our shared vision of the Partnership based on mutual interests and commitments, supporting sustained reform processes in partner countries and highlighting the main directions for the further developing and strengthening of comprehensive cooperation in all areas of mutual interest.

Armenia welcomed the European Neighborhood Policy review process. We highly appreciated the EU initiative to engage the partner countries in this process. We are pleased to note that on 14th December 2015 the EU Council endorsed the principle of differentiation to be applied to the partners, taking into account the progress made in implementation of their commitments and reforms.

We expressed our appreciation to the EU for its continued support and assistance provided to our country over the years which have been instrumental for the effective implementation and sustainability of the reform process and institutional capacity building in Armenia.

Last month’s launch of the negotiations on a new legal framework of Armenia – EU relations was a new threshold in our relations. We hope that the new agreement will reflect the depth and essence of our bilateral relations and set new guidelines for mutually beneficial cooperation.

Based on shared values, Armenia is interested in working with the EU on to the continuous promotion of human rights and rule of law, consolidation of democratic institutions and improvement of judiciary, good governance, fight against corruption, strengthening the civil society. We are thankful to the EU for its valuable support in this regard.

Constitutional reform in Armenia that the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe characterized as of “extremely high quality” and “ in line with international standards”, was approved by the nation-wide referendum last December. It is another important step also aimed at advancing many of the mentioned goals.

Dear Colleagues,

During recent months alongside the deliberations on the legal basis of our relations, the Armenian side has been actively engaged in negotiations with the relevant bodies of the European Commission regarding our participation in a number of EU programs. We are glad to state today that negotiations on Armenia’s participation in the EU Framework Program for Research and Innovation Horizon 2020 are successfully concluded and we expect the Agreement to be signed shortly.

We look forward to develop our cooperation in the transport area as well, in this respect we underlined the importance of timely starting of negotiations on the Common aviation area.

We attach great importance to people to people contacts, and view enhanced mobility of our citizens as an important prerequisite for bringing our societies closer. It is almost two years now that the EU-Armenia Visa Facilitation and Readmission agreements are being implemented. We believe that time has come to move forward towards the Dialogue on Visa liberalization as it is enshrined in Joint Declaration of Eastern Partnership Riga Summit.

I have presented our European colleagues on the worldwide events on Armenian Genocide centennial, which we marked last year. Several thousands commemoration events held on all continents, supported by the four fundamental pillars. Those are remembrance, gratitude, prevention, and revival. These four notions are also deeply symbolic for the commemoration of all other crimes of genocide committed throughout the human history. I have used this opportunity to express our gratitude to the European Parliament, EU countries for their principled position on this issue and expressions of support and sympathy to Armenia.

I also talked about Armenia’s active engagement in efforts of international community on prevention of genocides and crimes against humanity. We thank the EU countries for their support to Armenian initiatives within the UN formats.

I briefed the Council on latest developments related to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and in particular on the results of the meeting between the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Bern. The agenda of that summit was dictated by the escalation of situation as a result of Azerbaijan’s provocations, gross violations of cease-fire regime. Unfortunately, the relative calmness in the conflict area has ended with resumption of gross violations of cease-fire regime by Azerbaijan.

We also touched upon regional security issues and other topics of international political agenda.

Thank you.

Sarkis Eken, an 86-year-old known as one of the oldest Armenians born and residing in the southeastern province of Diyarbakir, passed away at Dicle University’s hospital, where he was receiving treatment, the Hurriyet Daily News reports.

Ekenwas born in 1930 in the Başbuk village of Diyarbakir’s Silvan district and was living in the Meryem Ana Assyrian Church in its central Sur district for 55 years.

He lived out his final years alone after losing his wife of 65 years, Baydzar Eken, in 2014, only two months after their official civil marriage.

His funeral was initially planned in Surp Giragos Armenian Church in Sur’s Fatihpaşa neighborhood, but the venue was changed due to the curfew in Fatihpaşa.

The one-hour ceremony, which was orchestrated by priest Yusuf Akbulut of Meryem Ana Assyrian Church, was attended by Diyarbakir Church spiritual leader Ahmet Güvener, Sur deputy mayor Azize Değer Kutlu from the Democratic Regions Party (DBP), local authorities,  artists and Eken’s relatives and friends.

Priest Akbulut said the ceremony would have been attended by many more from both Turkey and abroad if there were not any ongoing clashes in Sur district. He added that Eken was a beloved man who always aimed at being a good person.

Eken was laid to rest in the Christian church in Diyarbakır’s Urfakapı district.

An anti-Armenian graffiti appeared on the wall of the Armenian Kalfayan School in Istanbul on the 9^th anniversary of murder of Turkish Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, reports, quoting Turkish media.

The note reads “suffering to Armenians.”

The Kalafyan School was founded in 1866 by Srpuhi and Nshan Kalafyan

– Hrant Dink will be commemorated in Turkey and abroad on the 9th anniversary of his death.

Istanbul

–  On January 19, starting from 14.30, Hrant Dink will be commemorated in front of the former building of Agos, where he was murdered.

–   AKA-DER, DISK BASINIS, Halkevleri, HDP İstanbul, Kaldıraç, Nor Zartonk, Yeniyol and ODP will march to Agos from Taksim on January 19, at 13.30. There will be a “justice watch” between 19.00 and 21.00 on the sidewalk where he was murdered.

Ankara

–   On January 18 at 18.30, DSIP will hold a meeting titled “From Hrant Dink to Tahir Elçi”.

–   On January 19 at 15.00, there will be a ceremony in front of Human Rights Statue in Yüksel Street. At 18.00, democratic mass organizations will make a statement to the press.

Bursa

– On January 19 at 19.00, people will march to Heykel from Setbaşı Mahfel.

Armenia

On January 19, Hrant Dink will be commemorated with a march in Armenian capital Yerevan.

There is also a petition campaign in Armenia in memory of Hrant Dink. During the commemoration ceremony, people will sign a petition for naming a street in Yerevan after Hrant Dink.

The commemoration notice reads: “Our society shouldn’t forget the crime committed against Hrant. In order to embalm Hrant, naming a street in Yerevan after him is really important for us. We are all Hrant and this is our duty of loyalty to him.”

Armenians are invited to attend the petition campaign at 17.00 and the march following it.

Germany

–    On January 19 at 18.00, there will be marching in Kottbusser Tor in Kreuzberg in memory of Hrant Dink.

–    There will be a concert in memory of Hrant Dink in Studio R in Berlin. Muammer Ketencoğlu, Stepan Gantralyan, Mareike Beykirch, Mehmet Yılmaz and Deniz Utlu will perform Armenian songs. The concert will start at 20.30.

Sweden

–    Hrant Dink will also be commemorated in Swedish capital Stockholm. In ABF House, there will be a memorial ceremony at 18.00.

Canada

– On January 24, ‘Voices in Dialogue” will commemorate Hrant Dink and Tahir Elçi in Ottawa. It will be start at 14.00.

France

– On February 6, L’ACORT, CRC, AEC-HCA and RSF will hold a joint event in memory of Hrant Dink. The meeting that is titled as “Being a journalist in Turkey: the value of truth” will be held in the City Hall of 10th arrondissement. The meeting will start at 19.00 and Rakel Dink, Can Dündar’s wife Dilek Dündar and Uğur Mumcu’s son Özgür Mumcu will attend this meeting.

 

 

 

How will the change in oil prices affect the region, in general, and Armenia, in particular? Economist Babken Tunyan’s predictions are not optimistic.

Speaking to reporters today, he said “the economic instability in Russia caused by dropping oil prices continues. Therefore, Armenia cannot expect anything good.”

The economist said Azerbaijan, whose economy heavily depends on oil production, faces serious problems because of the dropping oil prices. The country has even declared that oil production will simply stop should the price fall below $30. The drastic cut in revenues envisages cuts in the military budget. How will this affect the situation at the Armenian-Azerbaijani border?

“Tension at the border will be maintained. They will try to divert the public attention from social problems by raising tensions at the border. This is what the experience of the past years shows,” Babken Tunyan said.

The developments of the past months make it clear that any country can face serious economic problems irrespective of the amount of natural resources, if the economic system is a ‘prehistoric’ one.

“Time has shown that all developments connected with oil are unpredictable. One year ago it would be absurd to assume that the oil price could fall from $100 to $30, while some prediction suggest it could drop to 10-15 USD,” the economist added.

According to him, the lifting of sanctions against Iran will only accelerate the process. Therefore, nothing should be excluded.

On January 15, Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian started an official visit to Bulgaria.

From the airport Foreign Minister Nalbandian headed to the Presidential Palace of Bulgaria, where he was received by the President Rosen Plevneliev.

Welcoming the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, the President of Bulgaria mentioned that Bulgarian and Armenian peoples are tied with historical friendly similarities, and Sofia is interested in the further development of bilateral cooperation. President Plevneliev stressed that Bulgaria is proud of its fellow Armenians, who made considerable input in the prosperity of the country and today continue to play an important role in public, economic and cultural life of Bulgaria.

Expressing gratitude for the reception, Minister Nalbandian conveyed to President Plevneliev the greetings and good wishes of Serzh Sargsyan, President of Armenia.

During the conversation, both sides highlighted their readiness to give a new impetus to the Armenian-Bulgarian relations towards the intensification of political dialogue, expansion of legal framework and development of trade and economic cooperation. As prospective areas of cooperation they outlined high technologies, agriculture, renewable energy and tourism.

Bulgarian President presented the country’s European policy, reforms being undertaken towards the economic development of the country.

President Plevneliev and Minister Nalbandian exchanged views on a range of international and regional issues and ways to resolve them.

In this context, Minister Nalbandian presented efforts exerted by Armenia and the OSCE Minsk group Co-Chairs for a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. Bulgarian President stressed the support of his country to the Co-Chairs’ activity, outlining that issue should be settled exclusively through peaceful means. “I believe that peace depends on the observation of rules and international agreements by all sides. The use of weapons is just proof of a lack of arguments”, stressed the President of Bulgaria.

Afterwards, Edward Nalbandian was hosted in the National Assembly of Bulgaria, where he had a meeting with Tsetska Tsacheva, Speaker of the Parliament.

Foreign Minister of Armenia expressed gratitude to the Bulgarian authorities for their caring attitude towards the Armenian community, mentioning that their ancestors mostly came to Bulgaria 100 years ago, surviving the Genocide.

Foreign Minister of Armenia thanked for the declaration of the Parliament of Bulgaria adopted on April 24 of the last year on the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide.

At the meeting the role of parliamentary diplomacy in the development of intergovernmental relations was stressed, and ways to activate inter-parliamentary ties and tighten cooperation within parliamentary assemblies of international organizations were discussed.

Speaker of the Bulgarian Parliament outlined the necessity to boost high-level political dialogue and ties between the Parliaments of the two countries. Tsetska Tsacheva reaffirmed her invitation to the Speaker of National Assembly of Armenia to visit Bulgaria and expressed hope that it will be possible to organize the visit this year. She also expressed confidence that the expansion of cooperation between the two Parliaments would contribute to the deepening of relations between Bulgaria and Armenia.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia attached importance to the activity of Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Groups and in this regard stressed importance of having Manvel Badeyan, Head of the Armenia-Bulgaria Friendship Group, in the delegation headed by him.

Foreign Minister Nalbandian presented to the Speaker the details of efforts exerted by Armenia and the OSCE Minsk group Co-Chairs for a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue.

On the same day negotiations between Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Bulgaria Edward Nalbandian and Daniel Mitov, correspondingly, were held, which started in the tête-à-tête format, then continued in the presence of delegations.

Welcoming Edward Nalbandian, Daniel Mitov mentioned that relations between Bulgaria and Armenia are more than just friendly: they go back for centuries. He found symbolic that in the Middle Ages some Bulgarian Kings married Armenian women. “Bulgarians and Armenians have fought side by side in a number of the Balkan Wars. Armenia is an important international partner of Bulgaria and an old friend. Today’s visit gives a new momentum to bilateral ties and provides an opportunity to discuss new projects”, said Daniel Mitov.

Expressing gratitude for the invitation to visit Sofia, Edward Nalbandian stressed that Armenia attaches great importance to the close historical relations with Bulgaria based on the traditional friendship and cultural ties of our nations, common destiny and mutual sympathy.

The Ministers outlined the necessity to give new impetus to political dialogue between the countries through mutual visits and undertake additional efforts for the further deepening and development of cooperation. “Political dialogue, cooperation in the areas of trade, economy and culture between Armenia and Bulgaria have a solid potential for development, and we are determined to undertake practical steps to provide new substance and dynamics to our cooperation”, mentioned the Foreign Minister of Armenia.

The Ministers touched upon numerous issues on bilateral agenda, discussed the prospects of development of cooperation in different fields of mutual interest.

Thoughts were exchanged on the strengthening of legal framework, development of inter-parliamentary ties, holding of regular consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the two states, enhancement of cooperation within the international organizations, in the areas of education and culture, trade and economy. The sides attached importance to the activity of Inter-Governmental Committee on Economic Cooperation.

In this regard, Foreign Minister of Bulgaria mentioned that the construction of infrastructure connecting the Black Sea and the South Caucasus, exploration of its potential is an important direction of bilateral relations.

Within the context of Bulgaria’s chairmanship in the Council of Europe the priorities of Bulgarian chairmanship were discussed.

The interlocutors touched upon the Armenia-European Union relations, on-going negotiations on the Armenia-EU new legal document. Minister Mitov reaffirmed Bulgaria’s support to the strengthening and development of cooperation of Armenia with the EU.

Views were exchanged on pressing regional and international issues, i.e. Ukrainian crisis, implementation of Iran nuclear deal, situation in the Middle East, in particular, Syrian crisis.

Edward Nalbandian presented to Daniel Mitov the recent developments in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process, the joint efforts by Armenia and the Minsk Group Co-Chairs for a peaceful resolution of the NK conflict.

FM of Armenia invited his counterpart to visit Yerevan.

The meeting was followed by a joint press conference.

Foreign Minister of Bulgaria hosted an official dinner in honour of the Foreign Minister of Armenia.

In the Bulgarian Parliament Edward Nalbandian met the members of Bulgaria-Armenia Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group. Foreign Minister of Armenia commended activities and initiatives of the members of the Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group aimed at the development of relation between the two countries.

On the evening of January 15, Edward Nalbandian had a meeting with representatives of the Bulgarian-Armenian organizations and unions, presented the purpose of his visit, meetings held and agreements reached, answered numerous questions on the agenda of Armenia’s foreign policy raised by the Bulgarian Armenians.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia mentioned, “It is a great honour to hear from the Bulgarian leadership during all the meetings word
s of appreciation addressed to the Armenian community in regard with the role and importance it plays in the country’s life.”