Category: News

– Armenian institutions in Argentina have issued a joint statement “rejecting” the visit of the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, to Argentina and South America.

“Not only is Çavuşoğlu the representative of the State that committed the crime against humanity, but his figure constitutes the executing arm of the negationist policy historically adopted by Turkey,” denounces the text, noting that as Minister of Foreign Affairs “Çavuşoğlu devoted his work to intimidate anyone who recognizes or even names the Armenian Genocide, as were the cases of Russia, the European Parliament and the Vatican in 2015 and Germany and the United States in 2016.”

“On several occasions, Çavuşoğlu repeated that any pronouncement on the matter not coming from the parties (Armenia-Turkey) prejudices the reconciliation between the two peoples. However, they only criticize the statements that are not ‘favorable’ to Turkey, as they do not issue statements when the Azerbaijani denialist president, Ilham Aliyev, speaks of the ‘Armenian lies’, for example. Another pattern of double standard and lies of Çavuşoğlu are seen in what they call ‘just memory,’ a concept very similar to the infamous ‘theory of the two demons’ in Argentina, when they appeal to ‘the sufferings of all parties’ as a new stage of negationism. This implies that Armenians and Turks were two different parties to a conflict, and did not constitute a State-citizen relationship. Çavuşoğlu went on to say that Pope Francis ‘discriminated between the sufferings’ when he spoke of the Armenian Genocide.”

“We consider that his work as Minister of Foreign Affairs consists solely in exporting the model of censorship to freedom of expression maintained by the regime of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan against his own people,” said the statement. “This is evidenced in the many occasions when Turkish diplomacy lobbied to block resolutions of solidarity with the Armenian people throughout the region of South America.”

“Law 13.326 of Uruguay and Law 26.199 of Argentina, as well as resolution 550/2015 of the Federal Senate of Brazil are pillars of the Human Rights policy in our region, and they form an indispensable standard. In this context, we urge the authorities responsible for the foreign policy of our countries to avoid joining any of the manifold manifestations of the negationism and totalitarianism of the Turkish State,” finished the statement.

AFP Photo/Oli SCARFF

 

AFP – Henrikh Mkhitaryan insists Manchester United are taking all four competitions they are involved in seriously as they struggle to cope with a demanding fixture schedule.

Jose Mourinho’s club is the only one in England still retaining an interest in a quartet of competitions — the Premier League, Europa League, FA Cup and the League Cup, in which they can look forward to a Wembley final against Southampton next month.

Their success means United could face as many as 67 games, should they advance to the finals of the other two cup competitions, and has led Mourinho to criticise the English fixture schedule as “nonsense”.

But after a weekend in which a number of Premier League teams were eliminated from the FA Cup after choosing weakened line-ups, Mkhitaryan claimed United want to succeed in every tournament.

“We are taking all the competitions seriously,” he said. “For Manchester United, every cup is very important.

“A trophy is a trophy. It doesn’t matter if it is the League Cup, the FA Cup or the Europa League. We want to do our best to try to win them all.”

The Research Center for Western Armenian Studies recently published documents on its website, proving that the King of Spain during the Genocide.

The Center has now published an official letter from Spain’s Representative to the Ottoman Empire addressed to Turkish Foreign Minister Halil Bey. In the letter dated May 10, 1916 Spain’s Ambassador Julian del Arroyo wrote that His Majesty King Alfonso XIII was asking Sultan Mehmed V to spare the lives of Aknuni, Daniel Varuzhan, Siamanto, and other prominent Armenians, reports.

Regrettably the Spanish King was unaware that these Armenians had been killed long before his praiseworthy intervention.

Several recently obtained documents indicate that Interior Minister Talat finally made up a fake story about the fate of these prominent Armenians. Talat wrote to Foreign Minister Halil Bey on July 25, 1916, asking him to advise the Spanish Ambassador that the Armenians in question, while being led to the Diyarbakir Military Court, had overcome their guards and escaped to Russia. Talat concealed the fact that the Armenian prisoners had been killed months before the Spanish King’s inquiry.

The Armenian National Committee of America on Monday issued the following statement regarding the January 27, White House Executive Order on immigration, titled, “Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into The United States”.

The complete text of the ANCA statement is provided below.

ANCA Statement on the White House Immigration Executive Order

The Armenian National Committee of America remains engaged and concerned regarding the developing situation surrounding the White House’s January 27th immigration Executive Order, both at the level of U.S. policy and in terms of this action’s impact on Armenian individuals and families.

As has been widely reported, the Executive Order, titled, “Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into The United States,” places restrictions on travel to the U.S. by citizens of Syria, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Yemen, Somalia and Sudan.

This travel ban has been applied to refugees and visa holders from these designated countries as well as to those with green cards who already have permanent residency or other legal status in the US. The ban, initially in effect for a period of 90 days, may become permanent. We have witnessed uneven and inconsistent enforcement of the order, reflecting apparent confusion among government officials and within the travel industry. The federal courts have issued a stay on the enforcement of the order, but the extent of this legal action, and how it will affect non-U.S. citizens, remains unclear. Future Congressional and court action may also influence how non-U.S. citizens and their families are impacted.

As the ANCA continues to engage relevant stakeholders – including Congress and the White House – we offer the following recommendations:

1. The ANCA encourages Armenians whose relatives or friends have been detained at U.S. ports of entry or who have been blocked from re-entry to the U.S. to contact us immediately at [email protected] or (202) 775-1918. Please be prepared to share basic information, including a description of the situation and the name of any legal counsel. (This information will remain confidential.)

2. Until there is greater clarity regarding the full legal scope and nature of these restrictions, the ANCA recommends that Armenians from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen, who are not U.S. citizens, refrain from leaving the U.S., due to the increased risk that they will be denied re-entry, regardless of their immigration status.

3. The ANCA is regularly consulting with civil and legal rights organizations for the most up to date information on this unfolding situation and will provide community updates, as they become available.

As Americans of Armenian heritage – a community of proud immigrants, many descended from the families of Armenian Genocide survivors with roots in Syria, Iraq, Iran and other countries cited in this order – we remain deeply concerned by the moral, legal and humanitarian implications of these new restrictions. We will act vigilantly to protect the human and legal rights of Armenians harmed by this executive order. As a matter of public policy, we are communicating our concerns, on a bipartisan basis, with both houses of Congress and the White House. Consistent with our mission, we will remain vigilant in protecting the welfare of our community and advancing our shared interest in a strong Diaspora, a secure Armenia, a free Artsakh, and a just resolution of the Armenian Genocide.

“The Minsk Group Co-Chairs have proposed to meet with the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan ahead of the Munich Security Conference,” Armenia’s Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian told a press conference today.

He added that the Co-Chairs have offered to organize a meeting between the Foreign Ministers of the two countries. Minister Nalbandian said “Armenia never refuses from any meetings on the ministerial or other levels.”

Minister Nalbandian added, however, that “we’re not sure about a meeting between the Foreign Ministers. “The meeting will take place if the Azerbaijani side agrees.”

As for the change of the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group Minister Nalbandian said: “The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs express the positions of their respective countries, and the change of persons can hardly have a serious influence on the mediating efforts.”

Minister of Defense of the Republic of Armenia Vigen Sargsyan, who arrived in Tehran on Monday evening at official invitations of his Iranian counterpart met with Iran’s Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehghan to exchange views on bilateral, regional and international issues, reports.

The independent global travel search site has included Armenia’s capital Yerevan among the best budget holiday destinations of 2017.

The website writes: “Give in to the minibus chaos to criss-cross your way through the city – for 100 Dram, and a loudly shouted “stop!” you’ll be dropped off at the Yerevan’s prized monuments. The pedestrian Northern Avenue takes you from the opera to the fountains at Republic Square. Imposing Soviet era buildings by day, elegant backdrop to a light and water show at night, the Republic Square is inevitably a must-see.

Enjoy the long summer nights in the pink city, as it’s called due to the pinkish stones of the buildings, at the café terraces, while snacking on lamehjun (Armenian-style pizza). Rebuilt to hide the scars of wars and natural disasters, most of Yerevan’s current attire is only a century old. Yerevan’s oldest heritage lies along the outskirts of the city where the Hrazdan River and deep gorge create a natural border.”

Other cities in the list include: Sofia (Bulgaria), San Antonio (Texas, USA), Valparaíso (Chile), Braga (Portugal), Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Spain), Belfast (Northern Ireland), Lviv (Ukraine), Pristina (Kosovo), Panama City (Panama), Kalamata (Greece), Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Armenia and the European Union are close to the final stage of negotiations on a new Framework Agreement, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian told a press conference today.

“We have held eight rounds of negotiations since the start of the talks in December 2015. The next round of negotiations is expected in February. I think we are close to the final stage, as we’re reached agreement on the overwhelming majority of the provisions of the new agreement, both political and economic ones,” Minister Nalbandian added.

An important EU delegation will visit Armenia in the near future, and it will provide another opportunity to make corrections in the negotiation process.

“I think we’ll be able to declare in the near future that we have completed the negotiations,” Edward Nalbandian stated.

A new World Bank policy report urges developing countries and international development agencies to rethink their approach to governance, as a key to overcoming challenges related to security, growth, and equity.
The 2017 World Development Report: Governance and the Law explores how unequal distribution of
power in a society interferes with policies’ effectiveness. Power asymmetries help explain, for example,
why model anti-corruption laws and agencies often fail to curb corruption, why decentralization does not always improve municipal services; or why well-crafted fiscal policies may not reduce volatility and
generate long-term savings.
The report notes that when policies and technical solutions fail to achieve intended outcomes, institutions often take the blame. However, it finds that countries and donors need to think more broadly to improve governance so that policies succeed. It defines better governance as the process through which state and non-state groups interact to design and implement policies, working within a set of formal and informal rules that are shaped by power.
“As demand for effective service delivery, good infrastructure, and fair institutions continues to rise, it is vital that governments use scarce resources as efficiently and transparently as possible,” World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim said. “This means harnessing private sector expertise, working closely with civil society, and redoubling our efforts in the fight against corruption. Without better governance, our goals of ending extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity will be out of reach.”
The report looks at country examples, including state building in Somalia, anti-corruption efforts in Nigeria, growth challenges in China, and slums and exclusion in India’s cities. It identifies three winning ingredients of effective policies: commitment, coordination, and cooperation. As three core functions to produce better governance outcomes, institutions need to:
● Bolster commitment to policies in the face of changing circumstances. This would help, for example,
in cases where decision makers spend windfall revenues instead of saving them for the future, or when
leaders renege on peacebuilding agreements in the absence of binding enforcement.
● Enhance coordination to change expectations and elicit social desirable actions by all. Challenges
occur in many contexts, from finance to industrial clusters and urban planning. Financial stability, for
example, relies on beliefs about credibility. Just consider how despite the rationale for leaving their
money in the bank during times of distress, the public may rush to withdraw their deposits if they believe that others will too – ultimately causing the banks to lose liquidity and crash.

● Encourage cooperation: Effective policies help promote cooperation by limiting opportunistic behavior
such as tax evasion- often through credible mechanisms of rewards or penalties. Individuals may have
incentives to behave opportunistically. Not paying taxes does not prevent them from enjoying public
services that others are funding. Similarly, when groups fail to benefit from policies or feel short-changed (for example, by low-quality public services), it can further weaken compliance.

“Government officials do not act in a vacuum. Their decisions reflect the bargaining power of citizens who jockey with each other to advance competing interests,” said World Bank Chief Economist, Paul Romer.
“So this report launches a very important discussion for governments, their countries, and people in the
development community about how we can make sure that society is on a path that’s generating progress.
We need to confront a complicated political process in every country where power can influence the
outcome of that process and we have to ask how can make sure that process leads to progress for
everyone.”
According to the report, unequal distribution of power can exclude groups and people from the rewards
and gains of policy engagement. Yet meaningful change is possible with the engagement and interaction
of citizens, through coalitions to change the incentives of those who make decisions; elites, through
agreements among decision makers to restrict their own power; and the international community, through indirect influence to change the relative power of domestic reformers.
Based on extensive research and consultations in many countries over the past two years, the report
proposes principles to guide reform and change the dynamics of governance for equitable development.
The report finds that good policies are often difficult to introduce and implement because certain groups in society who gain from the status quo may be powerful enough to resist the reforms that are needed to
break the political equilibrium.
“This year’s World Development Report ‘Governance and the Law’ has a wealth of insights that will inform and further strengthen the Bank’s work on governance,” said Debbie Wetzel, Senior Director of the World Bank’s Governance Global Practice. “As the report notes, successful reforms are not just about
“best practice”. They require adapting and adjusting institutions in ways that build more effectively on local dynamics and address specific problems that continue to stand in the way of development that serves all

citizens.”

Photo: Khone Saysamongdy/The Collegian

 

It was an afternoon of remembrance and solidarity as Fresno State welcomed Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia, Grigor Hovahannissian, to campus Saturday, reports.

The ambassador was accompanied by Fresno State President Dr. Joseph Castro and honorary consul for the Republic of Armenia Barj K. Apkarian for a tour of the Armenian Genocide Monument, which was unveiled in 2015.

“This monument is a powerful pride point for us because it’s the only one of its kind on a university campus in the United States,” Castro said. “I think it says to our Armenian community and to all communities that we stand with them, that we support them.”

Castro said the monument also honors the memories of those who paid a heavy price for people to be here today.

“To have one of the finest universities in the state of California dedicate a place to erect this amazing monument, this [is a] powerful symbol that contains symbolism that we feel radiates solidarity,” said Hovahannissian.

The visit took place on the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Armenian Armed Forces. The ambassador noted how significant the republic’s rebirth was to the Armenian people.

“[The anniversary] is a very symbolic day for us,” said Hovahannissian. “I wanted to spend it with a powerful dynamic, a beautiful community that I like so much.”

Following a moment of siouvenilence for those lost to the genocide 100 years ago, Castro gave the ambassador an official Fresno State sr. The two shook hands.

Castro said the ambassador’s visit as an important representation of the growth in Fresno State’s relationships with universities in Armenia.

“I think that is very important for our students to be able to have the opportunity to go abroad to study and for students outside of the United States to come and study,” Castro said. “It enriches the educational opportunities for everyone. So we’re honored to have the ambassador here today.”

Among those in attendance was Congressman Jim Costa, who paid respect to the Armenian community and honored the ongoing relation between the Armenian presence in the San Joaquin Valley and Armenia.

Costa said, “I’m very proud of the Armenian families that have made this Valley what it is today. Truly, generations after generations of Armenians have come to our country and have come to this Valley to have a better opportunity for themselves and their families. Their success has been our success.”