Category: News

With the latest revelations regarding Lieutenant General Michael Flynn’s opposition in concert with Turkey against a U.S. military operation that had been planned for months, the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) renewed its call for a thorough investigation of Turkey’s surreptitious influence over U.S. officials to the detriment of U.S. national security.

Today, the Assembly sent to the Senate Intelligence Chairman Richard Burr (R-NC), Vice Chairman Mark Warner (D-VA), House Intelligence Chairman David Nunes (R-CA), and Ranking Member Adam Schiff (D-CA) highlighting key concerns on this matter.

“Time and time again, we have seen Turkey’s corrosive attempts to influence U.S. policy. Given the aforementioned issues, we respectfully renew our request for a thorough investigation of Turkish activities that compromise America’s national security and democratic institutions,” Assembly Co-Chairs Anthony Barsamian and Van Krikorian said.

Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. stated: “It is even more troublesome that [Flynn] failed to disclose his actions and that he may have compromised our efforts to defeat ISIS in order to please his former client. With Mr. Flynn’s willingness to conceal relationships with foreign powers, we must investigate if there are other interactions that have yet to be revealed.”

According to a report in McClatchy Washington Bureau, “Flynn’s rejection of a military operation that had been months in the making raises questions about what other key decisions he might have influenced…”

This new revelation follows Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn’s November 8th op-ed in The Hill wherein Flynn argued that “we need to see the world from Turkey’s perspective.” Flynn was paid over $500,000 for his work on behalf of Turkey according to his recent FARA filing, which he failed to disclose until he was caught.

News about Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn comes just after a brutal attack by Turkish bodyguards against those peacefully protesting in front of the Turkish Ambassador’s residence.

The Azerbaijani forces used 60 mm mortars as they shelled their own positions from 12:19 to 13:32 today, which led to blasts at Seysulan-Yarimsha section of the frontline, Artsakh Defense Ministry reports.

The Ministry said the actions are “beyond common sense” and follow the Azerbaijani attempts to deliberately aggravate the situation at the line of contact with Artsakh forces.

“The incident comes to prove the lack of vertical management in the Azerbaijani army,” the Ministry said in a statement, adding that “it could also be a preparation for a new provocation.”

The Defense Ministry informs that the Armenian side has strongly observed the ceasefire regime throughout the day.

Baku continues the gross violations of the trilateral cease-fire agreements in defiance to the consistent calls of the Co-Chair countries and the international community, Armenia’s acting Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said, addressing the 127th Session of the Committee of the Ministers of the Council of Europe in Cyprus. Edward Nalbandian’s full speech is provided below:

Mr. Chairman,
Mr. Secretary General,
Dear Colleagues,

Dear Ioannis, dear friend, congratulations for your successful chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers. The priorities of the Cyprus Chairmanship were well placed to address the current challenges that the Europe faces.

Protection of cultural heritage is important for the Armenian people that have suffered immense losses of cultural legacy throughout its history and most recently in Azerbaijan by the hands of its government and in Syria by the terrorist groups. In this regard we welcome the adoption of the Convention on Offences relating to Cultural Property,

Another focus of the Chairmanship on Democracy through Education is an important dimension of fostering inclusive and tolerant societies. The right of people to their memory, their right to teaching and learning history of past tragedies through education and remembrance has a pivotal role in preventing genocides and crimes against humanity.

Dear Colleagues,

It is commendable that in his annual report on the “State of Democracy, Human Rights and the Rule of Law” the Secretary General has highlighted populism, which is particularly dangerous, when combined with state sponsored hate speech and xenophobia. Free media, education for democratic citizenship and human rights, active civil society are essential in overcoming this phenomenon. Moreover, the notion of “rule of law” represents a concept that is diametrically opposed to “the rule by force” or “use of force”.

We already had an opportunity to share another view of the Secretary General on the concept of “Democratic Security”, according to which democracies are less likely to go to war. Obviously, authoritarian regimes do not face this dilemma.

Such a case was witnessed during new large-scale offensive in April 2016, when Azerbaijan committed gross violations of international humanitarian and human rights law against the people of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Two Summits were convened after the April aggression of Azerbaijan, where agreements were reached aimed at creating conducive conditions for advancement of the peace process. Baku refuses to implement these agreements although their importance has been highlighted on numerous occasions, including during April 28 trilateral mebakueting of ministers of foreign affairs of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. Moreover, Baku continues the gross violations of the trilateral cease-fire agreements in defiance to the consistent calls of the Co-Chair countries and the international community.

We value the recent initiatives that call on the equal application of the pan-European human rights instruments to the whole continent without distinction, including in the conflict zones. It is the primary goal of Council of Europe to ensure that the common values and individual rights guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights are not dependent on the status of the territory where people live.

Dear Colleagues,

On the April 2nd the parliamentary elections were held in Armenia. They were marked by unprecedented high number of international observers, who stated that the elections were well administered, fundamental freedoms were respected, and the results reflected the will of the population.

Armenia highly appreciates the contribution of international partners to its reforms aimed at consolidating the democratic institutions and the electoral process, in particular the expertise provided by the Council of Europe and the Venice Commission. We look forward to the continuation of fruitful cooperation in this regard.

Regarding the recent institutional crisis and credible reports on corruption in the PACE, we join the calls for full investigation of the situation in order to rectify the damage done to this Organization.

And finally, I want to use the opportunity to wish all the success to the incoming chairmanship of the Czech Republic.

Thank you.

U.S. Senator John McCain, one of the leading foreign policy voices in Congress, on Thursday urged the expulsion of Turkey’s U.S. ambassador after during President Tayyip Erdogan’s recent visit.

The Armenian Parliament voted 88 to 12 to elect Ara Babloyan as Chairman of the National Assembly of 6th convocation.

Of 100 MPs that participated in the voting only 12 cast their ballot for opposition candidate Edmon Marukyan.

Kurdish lawmaker Knyaz Hasanov chaired the first sitting of the Armenian National Assembly today. He retained the right to open the session as the most elderly Member of Parliament.

“This is a great honor to open a parliament session,” he said.

“I want to express gratitude to Armenia’s leadership on behalf of ethnic minorities for an opportunity to be represented in the Parliament,” Knyaz Hasanov said.

Hasanov represents the Kurdish community in the newly elected National Assembly of sixth convocation. Three other national minorities – Yezidis, Assyrians and Russians –  also have representatives in the new Parliament.

On May 18 Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan visited the town of Shushi.

At the ministry of culture and youth affairs the Head of the State held a working consultation on the realization of a range of projects in the corresponding spheres.

Thereafter the President got acquainted with the Shushi Culture Center reconstruction process and excavations being carried out in the former Meghretsots church.

Bako Sahakyan also participated in a meeting of young naturalists during which intellectual game “Brain Ring” was held. President Sahakyan considered important such events from the viewpoints of recognizing the native land and deepening the knowledge.

OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier said today that the Organization had to start the process of closure of the Office in Yerevan, since no consensus could be reached on the future mandate of the Office.

The closure of the OSCE Office in Yerevan follows months of negotiations and extensive efforts by the 2016 German OSCE Chairmanship and the 2017 Austrian OSCE Chairmanship to resolve the deadlock on the extension of the Office’s mandate.

The OSCE opened its field presence in Armenia in 2000. Zannier said that the Office in Yerevan, with its dedicated staff, had made a significant contribution in assisting and advising the Armenian authorities on the implementation of OSCE commitments. “Co-operation with Armenia has always been very fruitful,” he said.

The OSCE’s activities in the country included, among others, assistance with police reforms and support for reviewing and streamlining the national regulatory frameworks affecting business activity and the daily lives of citizens. In 2006, the Office in Yerevan established a Programme Implementation Presence in the Syunik region to contribute to sustainable development.

Secretary General Zannier emphasized that the OSCE will seek to continue its engagement with Armenia in line with existing OSCE commitments across all three security dimensions – the politico-military, the economic and environmental and the human dimension.

The Office in Yerevan will discontinue its operations on 31 August 2017.

On May 16, the Supreme Spiritual Council, which was convened in Moscow under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; reflected on the recurring provocations on the Artsakh – Azerbaijan border, the most recent incident which occured on May 15, and issued an announcement.

The announcement states in part: “After being informed about the provocative actions undertaken by the Azerbaijan armed forces on the Artsakh- Azerbaijan border on 15 May, we express our concern and strongly condemn the incident.

Azerbaijan has adopted a military resolution to the conflict in Artsak (Nagorno-Karabakh). The continuous escalation of the situation and resulting loss of human life, greatly endangers the move towards a peaceful settlement of the conflict; and the success of the negotiation process that has been initiated through the efforts of the international community.

Faithful to her mission, the Armenian Apostolic Church, will continue to exert every effort for the sake of the peaceful settlement of the conflict, and a safe and secure life for our children living in Artsakh (Nagorno Karabagh)”.

President Serzh Sargsyan has signed a decree appointing Karen Karapetyan as Prime Minister of Armenia.

The government stepped down earlier today. The Ministers will continue to perform their duties until a new government is formed.