Category: News

On September 17, within the framework of the program of Worldwide Reading Commemorating the Centenary of the Armenian Genocide, the Stockholm City Library held an Armenian literature and music evening, Press Service of the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports.

The event was organized by the International and City Libraries of Stockholm in cooperation with the Embassy of Armenia in Sweden and the Assembly of Armenians of Europe.

Ambassador of Armenia Artak Apitonian addressed the audience with opening remarks. Renowned Swedish actress Ida Gyllensten presented in Swedish the novels of Krikor Zohrab,  author and translator Max Edenborg presented the poetry of Daniel Varoujan and Siamanto.

In the musical part of the evening the melodies of Komitas were performed on duduk by Swedish Armenian musician Hayk Hakobyan. The biographies of the authors were presented by the Chairman of the Assembly of Armenians of Europe Garo Hakobian and the Armenian originals of poetry were read by Nancy Khachadurian.

Croatia has closed seven of its eight road border crossings with Serbia following a huge influx of migrants, the BBC reports.

Officials said they had no choice after more than 11,000 people entered the country since Hungary fenced off its border with Serbia earlier this week.

 

Huge numbers of people heading north from the Mediterranean have created a political crisis in the European Union.

Croatian officials said roads leading to the border crossings had also been shut.

The crossing on the main road linking Belgrade and Zagreb – at Bajakovo – appeared to be the only one left open.

The Armenian Catholic Church in Diyarbakir became the target of attacks by Turkish policemen during the curfew announced in Sur municipality of Diyarbakir, Akunq.net reports, quoting Turkish Dicle News Agency.

According to the source, the policemen not only attacked the church, but also stole some historic items.

Armenians are going to take the case to court, President of the Armenian Association of Mesopotamia Arat Karagozyan told the agency. He said the loss amounts to 300 thousand Turkish liras.

Karagozyan added that the Police broke the historic doors to enter the church. He said six large historic faience pictures and a number of carved stones were stolen.

Remind that the as a result of clashes between PKK and the Police.

The Armenian Government approved a draft decision today on the sale of the 100% of shares of the Electric Networks of Armenia CJSC to Liormand Holding Limited.

The Government has assigned the Ministers of Energy and Natural Resources, Justice, Finance and Economy to study all documents and present a conclusion.

INTER RAO Holding B.V. had earlier informed the Armenian Government about the intention to expropriate 100% of its shares of the Electric Networks of Armenia.

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian participated in the reception dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the signing of Helsinki Final Act. Minister Nalbandian’s full speech at the event is provided below:

Honorable ambassador Sorokin,
Honorable ambassador Peshko,
Excellencies, ministers,
Ladies and gentlemen,

This year marks important commemorations, the Centenary of the Armenian Genocide, the 70th year of memorial of the Holocaust, 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, 70th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Charter and the creation of the UN, 40th anniversary of signing of the Helsinki Final Act. They do not only refer to our past and history, but also steer our future actions towards creating in the shared OSCE area a comprehensive, inclusive and indivisible security community free of genocides, wars, conflicts and dividing lines.

It is impossible to underestimate the importance of the Helsinki Final Act in the implementation of this objectives. Its signature has been crucial in post war Europe both in defining relations and cooperations between countries of the region and considerably influencing the future development of the international relations, as a whole.

The conference convened in Helsinki in 1975 was different from the other major international events of the 20th century history of Europe, because it did not bring together the winners and defeated nations for drafting the new postwar world order, but heads of states and nations with the goal to contribute to peace, security, justice and cooperation in Europe, as stated in the preamble of the Final Act.

Although the Helsinki conference did not put an end to wars, it importantly proposed a new model of Pan-European peace which is anchored on cooperation of the participants states and security on the one hand and the protection of human rights on the other.

Armenia honors its OSCE commitments and is an active participating state. Close cooperation has evolved with the OSCE structures, including the Office in Yerevan which is the only fully-fledged office of the OSCE in the South Caucasus, which in itself speaks of Armenia’s attitude towards international cooperation and other regional realities.

In 1975 the Helsinki final act was signed by 35 countries. It is now an organisation of 57 participating states. The significant growth of the OSCE family is driven by the implementation of the principals of the Helsinki Final Act, in particular the right of peoples to self-determination.

The unequivocal implementation of the norms set forth by the Helsinki Final Act 40 years ago, which we have inherited is one of the essential prerequisites for peace, security and prosperity in Europe. Therefore, constant care and attention to it should occupy a pivotal place in current international relation.

Thank You.

Chile has evacuated one million residents along its coastline, following a powerful earthquake that caused buildings to sway in the South American country.

The quake, with a magnitude of 8.3, struck around 144 miles north-west of the capital Santiago.

It also triggered tsunami waves of up to 4.5 metres in some places.

Five people have died and at least one person has been reported missing, officials say.

Tsunami alerts were also issued for Peru, Hawaii, parts of California and as far away as New Zealand.

 

High level representatives from the Armenian government, civil society and media gathered today in Yerevan to participate in the celebratory event organized by the OSCE Office in Yerevan on the occasion of the 40^th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act, the founding document of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

“The role of the Helsinki Process in bringing about the end of the Cold War cannot be overestimated. Yet with the end of the East-West stand-off in the 1990s we saw the emergence of new challenges to security and sources of conflict,” said Marcel Peško, OSCE Director of the Conflict Prevent Centre. “The foundations of the security system which served us for so long are now in jeopardy. We need to look for creative ways to overcome growing divisions, to engage in a meaningful dialogue to address the old and new security challenges. Armenia can and should play an important role in this process.”

The Armenian Foreign Minister, Edward Nalbandian, said: “Armenia has established a close cooperation with the OSCE bodies, the Office in Yerevan – the only full-fledged OSCE office in the South Caucasus, vividly demonstrating Armenia’s attitude towards the international cooperation and the existing regional realities. 35 states signed the Helsinki Final Act in 1975. Today the OSCE comprises of 57 participating states. This considerable enlargement of the OSCE family is the result of the implementation of the principles of the Helsinki Final Act, in particular the right of people to self-determination.

The full implementation of the norms set forth by the Helsinki Final Act 40 years ago, which we have inherited is one of the essential prerequisites for peace, security and prosperity in Europe. Therefore, constant care and attention to it should occupy a pivotal place in current international relation”.

The Helsinki Final Act, signed by presidents and prime ministers from 35 countries on 1 August 1975, was seen as a major step in reducing Cold War tensions and led to the formation of a permanent forum for dialogue on security – the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe, now the OSCE. The Act established a unique comprehensive definition of security – encompassing the politico-military, the economic-environmental and the human dimensions – and along with the commitments subsequently agreed by the participating States continues to guide the OSCE’s work. Its ten basic principles guide the conduct of the participating States vis-a-vis their citizens, as well as among each other.

The Special Envelope with an OSCE postage stamp and special postmark was prepared for the occasion by the Haypost National Operator of Armenia and officially launched at the event. Also launched at the event were a photo exhibition and an anniversary publication with messages from high officials, brief information on the Helsinki Final Act and activities of the OSCE and the Office in Yerevan.

Singapore’s oldest church, the 180-year-old Armenian Apostolic Church of St Gregory The Illuminator in Hill Street, will soon have an Armenian heritage museum, reports.

Venture capitalist Pierre Hennes, 43, one of its four trustees, says the tiny, close-knit Armenian community  and about 15 Armenians overseas have been discussing setting it up since 2005.

Before that, the community was focused on sprucing up the church, which was declared a national monument in 1973.

Hardly any Armenians here worship in the church and Armenians say there is no pressure on them to attend church regularly, as religion is a very personal and private matter to them. But building churches everywhere they landed was their way of preserving their roots.

The premises are often rented out to other Orthodox Christians, such as the Coptics, for their services. What they earn goes towards maintaining the church.

If all goes well, the museum will open next year in the 110-year-old house across the church.

The two-storey building was originally a parsonage but there has not been a resident priest since 1933.

The trustees hope the museum will have maps, religious relics and Armenian literary works.

Last November, the world leader of the church, the Catholicos of All Armenians, was there to bless the Armenian congregation and the church.

 

More than 100 people were killed in South Sudan when an oil truck exploded as a crowd tried to gather fuel from the vehicle after it had veered off the road, a regional official said on Thursday, a day after the incident, Reuters reports.

In addition to those killed in Wednesday’s blast, Charles Kisagna, the minister of information in Western Equatoria, said about 50 people were seriously injured.

“We don’t have medical equipment and these people may not survive because we do not have the facilities to treat the highly burnt people,” he told Reuters, adding the truck had been travelling from the capital Juba to the Western Equatoria area.

Such incidents have happened before in the east African region where fuel tankers often have to travel long distances along potholed roads and pass through poor communities.

A special cover dedicated to the 40^th anniversary of OSCE founding document Helsinki Final Act took was cancelled in Yerevan on September 16.

The Special cover represents a unique philatelic product – a thematic cover, on which the stamp dedicated to the OSCE and issued in 2012 is attached and which will be cancelled with a Special postmark. The Special cover has been designed with a print run of 1000 pcs. It depicts the logotype of the 40^th anniversary of Helsinki Final Act.

The participants of the cover signing ceremony were “HayPost” CJSC Trust Manager Mr. Juan Pablo Gechidjian, Deputy Minister of Transport and Communication of the RA Mr. Gagik Tadevosyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the RA Mr. Edward Nalbandyan, Director of OSCE Conflict Prevention Center Mr. Marsel Peszko, Head of OSCE Office in Yerevan Mr. Andrey Sorokin, President of the Union of Philatelists of the RA Mr. Hovik Musaelyan.

“HayPost” CJSC pays great attention to the development of the Armenian philately and enhances the interest of the broad segments of the society with regard to the philately and stamps through issuing similar philatelic products.