Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will arrive in Armenia for a working visit on Novemver 9 at the invitation of Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian.
Within the framework of the visit Sergey Lavrov will have meetings with President Serzh Sargsyan and Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian.
The negotiations of the Foreign Ministers will be followed by a joint press conference.
On November 6 Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian participated in the 38th General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The same day Minister Nalbandian addressed the plenary sitting of the Conference.
The event has brought together high-level delegations from 195 UNESCO member states. The participants are expected to approve the action plan and the budget for the coming years.
Elections of the UNESCO governing bodies are also envisaged.
Two people injured in a bus crash in Russia’s Tula region are in grave condition, Armenian Minister of Healthcare Armen Muradyan told reporters today. He noted that their transportation to other medical institutions is now impossible.
“Doctors have arrived at Tula hospital with all necessary equipment to organize their treatment,” the Minister said. He added that Russia covers all costs of the treatment in Russia, while the Armenian Government takes the expenses in Armenia.
Armen Muradyan said 10 people were taken to St. Gregory the Illuminator Medical Center in Yerevan last night, five are still in hospital. He informed that twelve of the injured passengers continue the treatment in Russia, two are in grave condition.
“The Cut” – a historical epic about the Armenian Genocide directed by Turkish-German filmmaker Fatih Akin will screen in Tbilisi today within the framework of the Russian Movie Festival held in the Georgian capital from November 4 to 8.
The festival features 30 films from Georgia, Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Turkey and Iran.
Beginning in Armenia in 1915, “The Cut” follows one man’s journey through the Ottoman Empire after surviving the Genocide. Nazaret (Tahar Rahim), a young blacksmith from Mardin, Turkey, is ripped from his family and is forced to work as a slave laborer. Years later, he begins a continent-crossing quest to reunite with his twin daughters.
About 100 cases of ceasefire violation by the Azerbaijani side were registered at the line of contact between the armed forces of Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan last night.
The rival used weapons of different caliber, including 60mm mortars as it fired 1,800 shots in the direction of the Armenian positions.
The front divisions of the NKR Defense Army confidently continue with their military duty along the line of contact and resort to retaliatory measures if necessary.
In an exclusive interview with , Garo Paylan speaks about the recent parliamentary election in Turkey, the future of the peace process, and the problems of Armenian community.
According to unofficial results, Garo Paylan was elected to parliament as the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) representative for Istanbul. He answered the questions of Agos’ chief editor, Yetvart Danzikyan.
“The moment the peace process was ended, the sides were rearranged”
Assessing the HDP’s reaction to the decline in their votes, Garo Paylan said, “Our expectation was higher. In the local elections in 2014, we received 2,900,000 votes. Just in a year, our votes have doubled. However, the moment the peace process was ended, the sides were rearranged and the polarization intensified. In such cases as this, new supporters get naturally confused. When the statements got harsh, people began to be worried. We see that the voters distanced themselves from us.”
HDP’s votes declined all around Turkey and Paylan assessed HDP’s position in Kurdish region, saying that, “people are more tired there. The peace was so close, but then the negotiations ended abruptly. The state used all of its apparatuses to increase AKP’s votes. It is said that they cannot talk about peace if there is only HDP. We also say this. Other political parties should be involved in this process, but there must be people who want peace. We hope that AKP [parliament members] in the region will focus on the peace.”
“AKP should use its power for peace again”
Evaluating the future of the peace process, Garo Paylan said, “AKP is able to convince its supporters to [do] almost anything. Two years ago, when they said that they want to stop the tears, their supporters didn’t react. When they ended the process, again, none of their supporters reacted. We want AKP to use its power for peace, for parliament again. We continue to challenge them through democratic politics.”
“Our key phrase is constructive opposition”
Garo Paylan, as an Armenian parliament member, said that he will also speak for the Armenian community and the problems it faces. “Like many other issues, the Armenian Question is thrown aside. In this term, our key phrase is constructive opposition. We have issues like foundation elections, patriarchal election and problem of status, and I have bills for these issues. We held some talks before the election and we continue to work now that the election is over.
Photo by George Ourfalian, AFP
With the support of Russian airstrikes, the Syrian Army has taken control of approximately 250 square kilometers in Aleppo province, reports.
“Operation Army ATS continues in the south-eastern province of Aleppo,” said Latakia representative of the Syrian Army, Brigadier General Ali Mayhoub, according to RIA Novosti. “In cooperation with civil defense groups we control more than 250 square kilometers, and returned stability in dozens of villages and towns in the region.”
“The army in collaboration with the civil defense forces managed to open the way to Aleppo…to ensure the safe passage of this important route,” Mayhoub added.
The general also said that terrorists sustained a large number of casualties and loss of equipment.
“The survivors fled toward Raqqa,” Mayhoub said, referring to the self-proclaimed capital of the Islamic State terrorist group.
“Also, our army has strengthened control over the strategic height of Mraga and working to expand its control of the area. In addition, the air force is delivering pinpoint strikes against concentrates of IS and al-Nusra terrorist groups in the vicinity of the airport and near Kueres military air school in the village of Umm Arkile,” Mayhoub said.
Also on Thursday, Syrian government forces gained a key hill in a northern suburb of the capital of Damascus. The Syrian Army has captured al-Mashtal Heights, as well as a number of buildings in the suburb of Harast.
“Many terrorists have been killed and their weaponry and fortifications destroyed,” Mayhoub said.
A large number of foreign fighters have also been killed in Damascus’ southwestern suburb of Darayya.
The Syrian Army is now making a “serious advance” toward the ancient city of Palmyra.
“Our armed forces have taken control over two heights in the Homs Province. We have also made serious advance toward the city of Pal myra near al-Barayat,” Mayhoub added. “Islamic State terrirst sustained heavy losses. Six vehicles and over 25 terrorists have been killed in the western outskirts of the Mheen village.”
Flights to Egypt have been suspended at the instruction of Russian President Vladimir Putin until proper security level is ensured, Putin’s presssecretary Dmitry Peskov told journalists on Friday, TASS reports.
“I would like to explain the following: [Russia’s Federal Security Service chief] Alexander Bortnikov referred to Putin recommendations of the National Anti-terrorist Committee to suspend air service with Egypt and the president agreed with these recommendations,” Peskov said. “The government has been instructed to elaborate a mechanism of transporting Russian citizens back home.”
“I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the president meant air service with Egypt is to be suspended until a due level of air service security is ensured,” he stressed. “We will work with the Egyptians to ensure due level of security taking into account all the risks.”
When asked how long it might take to solve this task, the Kremlin spokesman said, “We hope for close cooperation” with Egypt.
He stressed that this decision did not mean that terrorist attack was the main theory of the Russian plane crash on the Sinai peninsula. “Undoubtedly, none of the versions can be still dominating as there are no clear indications in its favor,” Peskov said.
Peskov also said he would not comment on whether Russia would tight security for flights to other Arab states after the Russian plane crash in Egypt. “I have nothing to tell you so far,” he said in reply to the question.
Asbarez – The President of Israel Reuven Rivlin said that his previously voiced position that the events of 1915 were Genocide of the Armenians remains unchanged.
Rivlin told the participants of an international conference, entitled Genocide: History and Memory – Marking 100 years of the Armenian Genocide, whom he met in his residence on the last day of the conference on Wednesday.
The meeting was not open to the press but Panorama.am interviewed the conference participants who attended the meeting. They all said that the President reiterated his previous position and that he is a supporter of the Armenian cause; however for some reason he has to refrain from making an official statement about it.
The fact that the President invited the participants of the conference that was on the Armenian Genocide, itself speaks about his support for this cause and this fact was highly praised by everyone – the organizers, the president of the Open University of Israel and the participants.
One of the participants of the conference, Dr. Israel Charny, said that Rivilin, indeed, did refer to the events of 1915 as Genocide adding that the Israeli leader had other political considerations. Charny said he did not agree with that position but found it positive that Rivlin has continued his support for Genocide recognition.
Israel officially continues not to recognize the Armenian Genocide and remains in the camp of the deniers for one political reason or the other. Many of the Jewish participants called this stance a “shame”. It can only be hoped that this conference, being the first of its kind on this topic was a step forward.
International organizations should consult with OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs before issuing reports on Nagorno Karabakh, US Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group James Warlick has said.
“The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and other international organizations should consult with the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs before issuing reports or resolutions on Nagorno Karabakh,” Warlick said in a Twitter post.
Remind that with a vote of 24 to 16, the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), approved an anti-Armenian report entitled “Escalation of Violence in Nagorno-Karabakh and Other Occupied Territories of Azerbaijan” by Robert Walter (United Kingdom, EC), a rapporteur of the PACE Political Affairs Committee.