Category: News

The Federal Constitutional Court of Germany rejected an appeal to annul the bill on recognition of the Armenian Genocide adopted by the Bundestag on June 2, 2016.

The German Constitutional Court did not accept the appeal, stating that there was insufficient evidence that recognition of the Armenian Genocide violated the law, Ermenihaber.am reports, quoting the Turkish Dogan agency.

Ramazan Akbas, a lawyer from Turkey who demanded the cancellation of the decision of the Bundestag, has announced an appeal will be filed to the European Court of Human Rights.

Earlier this week a Cologne court (Alliance of German Democrats.

The Alliance of German Democrats was founded o by entrepreneur Remzi Aru, lawyer Ramazan Akbas and Halil Ertem to prevent the adoption of the resolution on the Armenian genocide by the German Bundestag.

Armenia is placed 33rd among 186 countries and is ranked as a “mostly free” country in the 2017 Index of Economic Freedom, an annual guide published by The Heritage Foundation. The Index covers 10 freedoms – from property rights to entrepreneurship.

Other countries in the region are placed as follows: Georgia 13th, Turkey – 60th, Azerbaijan 68th, Iran – 155th.

Armenia’s partners in the Eurasian Economic Union Russia and Kazakhstan are ranked 114^th and 42^nd respectively, Belarus is 104th, Kyrgyzstan is 89th.

Hing Kong tops the list, followed by Singapore and New Zealand.

“Considerable diversification of Armenia’s economic base has increased economic dynamism, and a decade of strong economic growth has reduced poverty and unemployment rates. Broad simplification of business procedures has facilitated regulatory efficiency. After years of expansionary fiscal policies, efforts have been made to limit the cost of government through more prudent management of public finance,” the report reads.

“Armenia performs relatively well in many categories of economic freedom, but more reforms are needed to enhance judicial independence and government transparency. Despite progress in tackling corruption, particularly in the tax and customs administrations, close relationships within political and business circles raise concerns about cronyism and undue influence,” The Heritage Foundation said.

– When President Donald Trump signed his executive order halting refugee admissions last month citing national security, he made it a point to say that religious minorities, especially Christians, would be given priority.

But some Christian refugees have been unable to enter the U.S. in the aftermath of the presidential order, even though the travel ban has been suspended for now by federal courts.

One family bound for Los Angeles is among the refugees held up in Iran.

George Haratoonian, a business owner who lives in Glendale and arrived himself as a refugee nearly three decades ago, was expecting his brother’s family to fly into Los Angeles on Feb. 4. They were planning to live with him until they got settled.

But just as the president’s order took effect in late January, the family received disappointing news: their visas to Austria, the first leg of their journey, had been canceled. Haratoonian was with them in Tehran when they got the news.

“We had hoped that this thing was a rumor,” he said. It wasn’t.

The Haratoonians are Armenian Christians, a religious minority in Iran. The family was traveling to the U.S. through what is known as the Lautenberg program, which benefits religious minorities. The program was originally enacted in 1990 to assist refugees from the former Soviet Union. Today, the program mostly benefits Christian, Jewish, Baha’i and other religious minority refugees from Iran.

Under the program, refugees transit from Iran to Austria, then on to the United States. Because the U.S. has no embassy in Iran, they must complete their paperwork in Austria before they continue on to the U.S. In order to get to Austria, they receive what’s known as a “D visa” from the Austrian government.

An Austrian government official confirmed in an email to KPCC that the visas of Iranian refugees in the program were canceled “following a procedural modification on the part of the United States.” The action occurred just ahead of the ban taking place. Refugee agencies believe that the Austrian government anticipated a policy change and didn’t want refugees stuck in transit.

Haratoonian said his family has lost much more than visas. They had quit their jobs, left school, moved out of their home and sold all their belongings.

“Now, they’ve lost everything. And now they are living like homeless. It’s ridiculous,” he said.

The family is staying in a vacant house in Tehran, owned by a friend. Haratoonian’s eldest niece spoke with KPCC from there.

“The house is totally empty, and all we have is the stuff we already packed for going to Austria,” said Haratoonian’s niece, a 21-year-old college student who withdrew from the university she attended as the family prepared to leave the country.

Administration officials are now weighing their options, which could include a revision of the travel ban to address legal issues and a request for the full Ninth Circuit to review the stay of the ban.

As his family waits for news, George Haratoonian calls his brother nearly every day. He dials them in the mornings, when it’s nighttime in Iran, calling from his party-rental business in Atwater.

“I just give them hope, I can’t do anything else,” said Haratoonian. “I can’t send a visa for them. I can’t send an airplane for them. What can I do? It’s devastating.”

Armenia Media Inc. reports that French-Armenian singing legend, Charles Aznavour will perform in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth as part of a “Farewell Tour” in June 2017.

Promoter VisionMax International has announced three Concert dates on June 17 (Perth), June 21 (Melbourne) and Jue 24 (Sydney).

Charkes Aznavour (born Shahnour Varinag Aznavourian) on 22 May 1924, is known for his unique tenor voice: clear and ringing in its upper reaches, with gravelly and profound low notes.

He has written over 800 songs and recorded over 1,200, sung in eight languages and sold more than 180 million records.

In 2009, he was appointed ambassador of Armenia to Switzerland, as well as Armenia’s permanent delegate to the United Nations at Geneva.

Aznavour is the longest standing “A list” star, still filling major venues all over the world. He started his most recent tour in 2014.

Civil society representatives of Armenia have addressed an open letter to Lamberto Zanier, Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) regarding the Possible Closure of the OSCE Office in Yerevan. The letter reads:

Your Excellency Mr. Zanier,

The OSCE Office in Yerevan (hereafter also referred to as the Office) has been established based on the July 22, 1999 decision of the OSCE Permanent Council and started its operation on February 16, 2000 after the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia ratified the memorandum of understanding signed between OSCE and the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Office is one of the key European institutions in the country. For many years it has played a vital role in prioritizing human rights principles in the work of the newly established political institutions of the Republic of Armenia.

Hereby we the undersigned civic organizations of the Republic of Armenia express our concern regarding the statements in the media on the possibility of closing the OSCE Office in Yerevan. It will cause significant damage to the development of democratic institutions and promotion of human rights in Armenia, where tangible breakthroughs have been achieved due to the work of the Office. Currently, it is one of the key actors in Armenia that manages to push forward democratic values in the agendas of the government.

It is noteworthy that the Office has had significant impact on the adoption of respective standards for conducting democratic elections in Armenia. Besides, it has actively monitored the implementation of these standards and provided recommendations for further improvements. Nowadays, its work is immensely important due to the upcoming parliamentary elections in and the challenges that the Armenia currently faces.

Finally, Armenian civil society institutions attach great importance to the active support of the OSCE Office in Yerevan to the work of civic organizations in the field of democratic institutions and human rights, specifically regarding law enforcement agencies, armed forces, and reforms on electoral processes. The latter has had much impact in shaping this sector. It has supported these organizations to tackle various issues more effectively and advocate for necessary government reforms in Armenia.

Considering the importance of the work that the OSCE Office in Yerevan does, we want to emphasize that its closure will hinder the process of building democratic institutions in the country. The Office is much needed in Armenia.

“Agate” center for women with special needs NGO

Analytical Centre on Globalization and Regional Cooperation

Armenian Constitutional Right – Protective Centre (ACRPC) NGO

“Asparez” Journalists’ Club

“Bambir” Cultural NGO

Caucasus Research Resource Center-Armenia Foundation

Collaboration for Democracy Centre

Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression

Ecolur Informational NGO

Economic Development and Research Center

Foundation Against the Violation of Law NGO

Gyumri Youth Civic Center

Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly–Vanadzor

Helsinki Committee of Armenia Human Rights Defender NGO

Hrazdan Youth Civic Center

Ijevan Youth Civic Center

International Center for Human Development

Journalists for the Future NGO

Lori Citizens Union BNGO

Media Initiatives Center

Meghri Women’s Resource Center NGO

“Mission Armenia” NGO

“National Center for Legal Researches” NGO

New Generation Humanitarian NGO

Open Society Foundations-Armenia

OXFAM in Armenia

OxYGen Foundation for Protection of Youth and Women’s Rights

Partnership and Teaching/P&T NGO

Peace Dialogue NGO

Protection of Rights without Borders NGO

Public Journalism Club

Real World, Real People NGO

Rights Information Center NGO

Transparency International Anti-Corruption Center

Union of Informed Citizens NGO

Unison NGO for Support of People with Special Needs

Vanadzor Youth Civic Center

Women’s Development Resource Center Foundation

Women’s Resource Center

Women’s Rights Center NGO

Yeghegnadzor Youth Civic Center

Yerevan Press Club

Davit Gevorgyan, Director of YSU Center of Applied Psychology

The NKR Defense Ministry reports 44 ceasefire violations by the Azeri side at the line of contact with the Karabakh forces overnight.

The rival used firearms of different calibers as it fired over 500 shots in the direction of the Armenian positions.

The Azeri forces used a 60 mm mortar and an antitank grenade launcher in the eastern direction of the frontline, the Ministry aid.

The front divisions of the NKR Defense Army keep the situation under control and confidently continue with their military duty all along the line of contact.

Armenia has expressed concern over the recent missile test by North Korea.

“We are deeply concerned by the recent missile test by the  Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, which violates Un Security Council resolutions and endangers the stability and peace in East Asia,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a Twitter post.

North Korea fired a ballistic missile on Monday.

The missile flew east towards the Sea of Japan for about 500km.

A 64-year-old woman has successfully given birth to healthy twins – a boy and a girl – in Burgos, northern Spain, the BBC reports.

The Recoletas Hospital delivered the twins by Caesarean section, the usual method in such rare cases.

The unnamed woman had undergone fertility treatment in the US, Spanish media report.

In 2012 the woman gave birth to a girl, who was later taken into care by social services, amid welfare concerns.

Social workers said the girl was being brought up isolated, poorly clothed and with bad personal hygiene, the Spanish daily El Pais reported.

No decision has been taken yet about the mother’s twins. They and the mother are reported to be in good health in hospital. The boy weighs 2.4kg  and the girl 2.2kg.

On February 16, Edward Nalbandian, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia met with the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs Igor Popov, Stéphane Visconti and Richard Hoagland, as well as Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office.

Minister Nalbandian emphasized that in defiance to the commitments and numerous demands of the Co-Chair countries of the Minsk Group, Azerbaijan continues violations of the 1994-1995 trilateral cease-fire agreements and accompanies it with threats to solve the issue by military means.

Interlocuteurs stressed the necessity of implementation of agreements reached at Vienna and Saint-Petersbourg Summits aimed at creation of conducive conditions for advancing the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process

Manchester United legend Paul Scholes believes that new signings Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba and Henrikh Mkhitaryan have significantly improved the Red Devils squad, the reports.

While United many not be challenging for the Premier League title this season, they have certainly made a lot of improvements and Scholes believes that the likes of Ibrahimovic, Pogba and Henrikh Mkhitaryan have been crucial to his former side’s turnaround in fortunes.

Asked if ‘Ibrahimovic and Pogba brought some star quality back’ to Old Trafford, Scholes told the Daily Mail: “Definitely. They’re big signings.

“Henrikh Mkhitaryan as well.

“The signings in previous years weren’t good enough.

“(Louis) van Gaal signed players who didn’t have enough character or presence to play at this club.

“We knew what stars Pogba, Ibrahimovic and Mkhitaryan were.

“They’ve all played at massive clubs and were ready-made special players. It was what was needed.

“It’s no surprise how well Zlatan has done, although he would have struggled in a van Gaal team.”