Category: News

President Serzh Sargsyan took part today in the congress of the European People’s Party (EPP) in Madrid. It was presided over by EPP President Joseph Daul. The congress was joined by the Presidents of the European Council and the European Commission, Donald Tusk and Jean-Claude Juncker, heads of EU and European Partnership states and governments representing the EPP member parties.

Among the congress’ agenda items are the elections of EPP President, as well as the discussion and approval of the party program and the amendments to the party rules. From 21 to 22 October, the congress delegates will focus on some issues of pan-European importance, e.g. the refugee problems, the consequences of the economic crisis and the opportunities to overcome thereof. The parties will touch upon the European Neighbourhood issues, the developments in the area of the Eastern Partnership and upon contemporary international challenges.

Armenia’s president delivered a speech at the congress.

Statement by the President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan at the European People’s Party Statutory Congress

Dear Colleagues,

At the outset I would like to thank the EPP President Daul for the invitation to take part in this meeting. Thank You Mr. Prsident.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Eastern Partnership Summit of Riga welcomed the common understanding reached on the scope for a future agreement between the EU and Armenia. Today I am glad to note that we have reached a new responsible milestone in our relations with the EU: last week the EU Council in Luxembourg adopted mandate to open negotiations on a new, legally binding and overarching agreement with Armenia. I strongly believe that negotiations will result in an elaborate document outlining comprehensive cooperation in all areas of mutual interest, and it will become the best assurance for our joint commitment to elevate Armenia-EU relations to a new stage.

There is no doubt that our journey should not have been unclouded unless it was supported by our partners, not least of the EPP family. I strongly hope that the EPP will stand by us also in the course of negotiations in order to conclude it as soon as possible and continue with the European agenda of Armenia upon a new legally binding foundation.

In our country we continue development of the democratic institutions, balance separate branches of power, protect human rights and independence of judiciary. We have taken an important step in this direction by initiating constitutional reform in our country, which is implemented in close cooperation with the Venice Commission. Should our people approve the Constitutional amendments on December 6, Armenia will transform its semi-presidential model of governance into the parliamentary one, which in its turn will make more efficient interaction of the separate branches of power, lay ground for more intensive economic development, increase the level of the human rights protection and institutional role of the opposition. We have invited the EU, PACE, OSCE and other international structures to observe the referendum. I am confident that you participation and best practices will give a further impetus to the progress of the democratic process in Armenia.

Dear Attendees,

In conclusion I would like to note once again that the Armenian nation highly values the EPP contribution to the adoption of the European Parliament resolution to condemn the Armenian Genocide, as well as the adoption of the resolution dedicated to the Armenian Genocide Centennial titled “The Armenian Genocide and European Values” by the EPP Political Assembly. They came to prove that the European People’s Party, as the largest political group represented in the European Parliament and the force that advances the European identity and idea, notwithstanding the most diverse set of political considerations, is committed to the protection of the fundamental human rights.

Last but not least I wish this unique platform of dialogue continuous and fruitful work.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said during a meeting with his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad, which took place in Moscow on Tuesday, that Damascus achieved positive results in the fight against the Islamic State terrorist group, TASS reports.

Assad arrived in Moscow on the first trip abroad since the civil war began in Syria in 2011.

“The Syrian people have been resisting practically single-handedly, fighting with international terrorism for several years now. They are sustaining heavy losses, but recently they have achieved significant positive results in this struggle,” the Kremlin’s website quotes Putin as saying.

The Russian president also said Moscow is concerned about the participation of nationals coming from the former Soviet states in the fighting against Syria’s government forces.

“This concerns us, I mean Russia, as unfortunately on the Syrian territory there are descendants of the former Soviet republics with arms in hands against the government forces, there are around 4,000 of them, at least,” the Russian leader said.

Putin noted that “the attempts of the international terrorism to put under control significant territories in the Middle East and to destabilize the situation in the region arouse legal concerns in many countries of the world.”

The Russian leader stressed that Russia’s authorities cannot allow that these people return to the country after receiving combat experience and ideological training.

Russia is ready to make its contribution not only to the fight against terror in Syria, but also in the political settlement in contact with other powers and with the participation of all political forces, ethnic and religious groups, Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with Bashar Assad.

“With regard to the settlement in Syria, we proceed from the assumption that based on the positive dynamics in the combat operations, the long-term settlement can be finally achieved through a political process with the participation of all political forces, ethnic and religious groups,” the Russian leader said as quoted on the Kremlin website. Putin also said that ultimately, “the Syrian people certainly must have the final say.”

The Russian president said that Syria is a friendly country to Russia. “We are ready to make a fair share of contribution not only in the fight against terrorism, but also in the political process — of course, in close contact with the other world powers and with the countries of the region that are interested in the conflict’s peaceful settlement,” Putin said.

TBS has decided to postpone Conan O’Brien’s Armenia special for a week to avoid Republicans debates. It will air on November 17 instead of 10.

Before that Conan speaks of his 4-day ‘fascinating’ trip to Armenia and tells about the millions of crazy Armenian experiences.

“It’s going to be a great show. The people of Armenia are amazing. It was a glorious experience,” Conan says.

Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan received the head of ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross) delegation to Armenia Caroline Douilliez and the newly appointed Regional Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia Patrick Vial.

The parties discussed issues on the agenda of cooperation between the Armenian Defense Ministry and the ICRC Delegation and referred to the future joint programs.

The ICRC delegates praised the role of Armenian government bodies and particularly the Ministry of Defense in the activities of the State Commission for Prisoners of War, Hostages, and Missing Persons.

Referring to the Karabakh conflict, Seyran Ohanyan noted that the Baku’s misinformation about the number of missing as a result of the Artsakh war and the information about mass burial sites, as well as the ungrounded accusations against the Armenian side aim to incite anti-Armenian sentiments among the Azerbaijani public.

Minister Ohanyan thanked the ICRC and its representation in Armenia for the high level of cooperation and expressed the willingness of the Armenian government agencies to support all humanitarian initiatives.

The Armenian-American group is being honored by the Parajanov-Vartanov Institute at an Oct. 21 event to be held at Los Angeles’ Chateau Marmont hotel, according to the .

Jurgen Klopp is set to take charge of his first European match at Anfield tomorrow night. Liverpool restart their European campaign in the Europa League against Rubin Kazan having drawn their opening two fixtures with Bordeaux and Sion.

Looking back at Klopp’s record year-by-year, the reveals that Jurgen Klopp’s first European campaign came via the Fair Play League, when his Mainz faced Armenia’s Mika in a qualifier in 2005.

2012/2013 season was the best in Klopp’s career, as  Borussia Dortmund become everyone’s second-favorite team in Europe.

They escaped unbeaten from the ‘Group of Death’ alongside Real Madrid, Manchester City and Ajax. They lost in an all-German final against Bayern Munich, who won the game in the 89th minute through Arjen Robben.

Dan Yessian hopes his first classical music trilogy teaches an Armenian history lesson that leaves listeners wanting to learn more.

“Maybe, just maybe having listened to the work, they will be spurred on to dig a little deeper from a cultural perspective and historical perspective to see what it’s all about,” said Yessian, founder of Yessian Music, Inc., in Farmington Hills,  reports.

Yessian’s An Armenian Trilogy focuses on the Armenian massacre by the Turkish Ottoman Empire in 1915. He wrote the 13 ¹/₂-minute piece for violin and piano, but plans to score it for orchestra next year. Its three movements reflect on freedom, fear and faith..

It will debut at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, at the Macomb Center of the Performing Arts, 44575 Garfield, Clinton Township. Violinist Sonia Lee and pianist Shawn McDonald will perform the work during Hope Dies Last, a multidisciplinary program commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. The Detroit Chamber Wind and Strings also will play a new composition for chamber ensemble by Alexandra du Bois, which will be accompanied by photographer Michelle Andonian’s works.

Yessian said he was at a concert in church when his parish priest, the Rev. Garabed Kochakian of St. John Armenian Church in Southfield, asked him to write the commemorative music.

“I said yes. It would be a tremendous challenge. It’s not in my wheelhouse of music that I’d customarily write. I started in January or February writing. I was writing that music in between writing apple pie, hot dogs and Chevrolet,” he said, referring to his commercial compositions. “I’ve written thousands of ads in 40-plus years of doing music. Although I’ve written serious music, this is more involved and complex. It was a labor of love.”

While growing up Yessian occasionally heard his grandparents talk about the massacre. He remembers hearing that his grandfather saw his spouse die. There were other stories of enforced marches, with women, children, and the elderly left to die in the desert. Children were stabbed, women were raped and bodies were thrown into the river.

”I told my wife of 43 years I didn’t feel like I was writing it myself. I felt like it was writing itself. Maybe God was in control,” said Yessian, who composed the piece mostly by ear at his Milford home on a piano formerly owned by Burt Bacharach.

Yessian studied classical and jazz clarinet and saxophone, but didn’t formally study piano. After he wrote and recorded the trilogy, one of his staff composers transcribed the work.

“I’m an ear musician and that is a good thing and not such a good thing. You worry less about technicalities of it and work off of emotion more than anything else,” he said, adding that the trilogy is influenced by jazz.

“The thing that grates me about Armenian hymns is that it’s sad stuff. It’s like funeral music. I wanted to take a western spin on it. I wanted to put myself through a reflection of history and bring some Americana into it.”

Petition launched on the of Quebec’s National Assembly urges to make the study of genocide compulsory in Quebec high schools.

The text of the petition reads:

Considering that racial and cultural intolerance and discrimination are the preconditions associated with the beginnings of genocide, defined as the systematic destruction of a racial, ethnic or cultural group;

Considering that  education is the key to recognizing and preventing discrimination and acts of hate amongst our youth, and that knowledge of genocides is essential to preventing such acts in the future;

Considering that  significant numbers of Quebec students have no knowledge of genocides, past or present, including the Holocaust, the Armenian genocide, Rwandan genocide, and the cultural genocide of our First Nations;

Considering that the study of genocide is not currently a mandatory part of the high school curriculum in Quebec, and that the Foundation for the Compulsory Study of Genocide in Schools is able to provide such a course to be implemented in the schools;

We, the undersigned, ask that the National Assembly and the Minister of Education, Higher Education and Research act to make the study of genocide compulsory in all Quebec high schools as a means to creating a tolerant and peaceful society which is accepting of all cultures and religions.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke on the phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Oct. 21 to discuss Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s surprise visit to Moscow, the latter’s first official international trip since the civil war broke out in Syria over four years ago, the Hurriyet Daily News reports.

Erdoğan reportedly expressed his concerns over the Syrian military’s recent strikes in Aleppo and its environs, which he said could trigger a new wave of refugees, according to sources.

Reuters reported that he also stressed the importance of “fighting all terrorist groups,” underlining the link between the People’s Protection Units (YPG), the military wing of the Kurdish PYD in northern Syria, and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).