Category: News

Turkey’s foreign minister says officials know the identity of a gunman who carried out the Istanbul nightclub attack on New Year’s Eve but he has stopped short of naming him, the BBC reports.

Mevlut Cavusoglu gave no further details about the inquiry into the murder of 39 people at the Reina club.

Jihadist group Islamic State (IS) has said it was behind the nightclub attack in which dozens more were hurt.

A number of suspects have been arrested in the western city of Izmir.

The police operation on Wednesday was said to have targeted families who had recently travelled to Izmir from Konya, a central city where the main suspect was said to have stayed for several weeks before the attack.

Turkish authorities released images of the main suspect on Tuesday but later discounted reports that he was a 28-year-old Kyrgyz national who had flown home from Istanbul.

Turkey is under growing pressure while the gunman remains on the loose. Checkpoints were set up in Istanbul on Wednesday as officers checked cars and taxis. Police arrested 12 people in raids in the city on Tuesday.

Photo: Getty Images

 

Singer Janet Jackson has at the age of 50 given birth to her first child, a baby boy, her publicist has confirmed, the BBC reports.

A statement said the musician and her Qatari businessman husband, Wissam Al Mana, were “thrilled” to welcome the infant, Eissa Al Mana.

“Janet had a stress-free healthy delivery and is resting comfortably,” the publicist added.

Speculation about her pregnancy surfaced last April when she postponed her Unbreakable tour.

She posted a video on Twitter at the time in which she told fans that she was postponing the tour because “there’s been a sudden change”.

OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Austria’s Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz, highlighted three key challenges facing the Organization and its participating States as Austria took over as the 2017 OSCE Chairmanship: deplorable and complex crises and conflicts in the OSCE area, a fundamental lack of mutual trust and confidence, and an alarming phenomenon of growing radicalization and violent extremism, especially among young people: “We must vigorously engage and address this situation. The OSCE is the right platform to do so,” said Kurz.

“It is my firm belief that a strong OSCE is the basis for a secure Europe – particularly in these agitated times. Austria stands ready to take responsibility and chair the Organization for a second time within two decades,” Kurz added.

Pointing to the OSCE’s experience as a facilitator, mediator and connector for a common space of 1.2 billion people, the Chairperson-in-Office emphasized that the organization can provide all necessary tools for promoting de-escalation and enabling sustainable political solutions to the conflicts in the OSCE area, not least the conflict in and around Ukraine.

Kurz stressed that, to respond effectively to current challenges and threats to our common security, the OSCE’s capabilities must be upgraded and its approaches in all three dimensions of security must be updated. “This concerns both the conflicts in the OSCE area and the threat from transnational radicalization. Open and constructive dialogue, credible confidence-building measures as well as reliable co-operation must be our common ground.”

“We must do whatever it takes to prevent further escalation of armed confrontation, including working through the established formats to peacefully resolve the protracted conflicts in the OSCE region. The safety and security of the affected populations must be a priority. This is achievable only if we all work together and take an inclusive approach,” said Kurz.

The Austrian Chairmanship will support all efforts within the OSCE to overcome divisions within and between participating States. At the same time, Austria will continue the 2016 German Chairmanship’s efforts to enhance informal and alternative channels of communication to improve mutual understanding and trust. “Instead of spending lots of resources on quarrels among ourselves, we should harness our energies to address the various external hazards,” said the Chairperson-in-Office.

Noting that more than 10,000 people from the OSCE area had served as foreign terrorist fighters, Kurz announced that Austria would organize a series of Chairmanship events aimed at fighting terrorism and preventing radicalization, especially among youth. These would include regional workshops as well as an informal meeting of foreign ministers in July 2017. “We must work together to identify and address root causes and triggers for the seduction and radicalization of young people. And we must empower our youth to address this phenomenon in our societies. Tolerance and respect will enhance their resilience against these con men,” Kurz said. He emphasized that the human dimension of security – including human rights and fundamental freedoms, democracy and the rule of law – was of prime importance within the OSCE’s comprehensive approach to security.

With regard to conventional arms control, Foreign Minister Kurz emphasized that, “the current situation is untenable. We need a meaningful dialogue on arms control and confidence- and security-building measures to address divergent security perceptions and find common ground. This is essential for ensuring military stability, predictability and transparency.”

The Austrian Chairmanship will also seek to address the increasing economic fragmentation in the OSCE space and to increase economic connectivity. “Connectivity can help improve overall relations within the OSCE,” said the Chairperson-in-Office. “Economic and environmental co-operation not only can help prevent conflict, but also can create vital confidence- and security-building mechanisms and promote economic development. Fostering dialogue on connectivity and avenues of integration will benefit everyone.”

“Taking over the OSCE Chairmanship is not an easy task – it is a team effort and it is worth it,” Kurz emphasized. He welcomed the commitment of Austria’s Troika partners, Germany and Italy, to make best use of the Organization to restore durable security on the European continent. “I personally look forward to closely co-operating with the Secretary General and his team in the Secretariat, the women and men serving in our Field Operations and the three Institutions – the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, the High Commissioner on National Minorities, and the Representative on Freedom of the Media – as well as the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and all our other partners, to ensure implementation of our common principles and commitments in the next year,” Kurz concluded. “But one thing is clear: the success of a Chairmanship also depends on a constructive approach by all participating States – including with regard to our presences on the ground. This support is a prerogative on the support of all participating States to defend and protect our steadfast commitment to democracy based on human rights and fundamental freedoms and our vision of prosperity through economic liberty and social justice as well as equal rights to security for all our countries,” he added.

Deputy Secretary-General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Valery Semerikov started fulfilling the duties of the post-Soviet security bloc’s chief on Sunday, CSTO Press Service reports.

The term of CSTO Secretary-General Nikolai Bordyuzha expired on December 31, 2016.

Bordyuzha had been the CSTO Secretary-General since 2003. At the organization’s Moscow summit in December 2015, a decision was made to extend Bordyuzha’s term until January 1, 2017.

In late December, Bordyuzha said the issue on the new chief of the organization would be solved in April 2017 at the meeting of the CSTO Council.

Asbarez – The American Armenian Rose Float Association, Inc. (AARFA) presented “Field of Dreams,” the 2017 float which was the winner of the “Past President’s Trophy” for the most creative design and use of floral and nonfloral elements. “Field of Dreams” depicts this year’s 128th Tournament of Roses Parade, themed Echoes of Success, is comprised of about 18,000 plus white and red roses and other flowers, placed on the artistic rendering of Mount Ararat with thousands of other non-floral elements such as pomegranates, artichokes, nuts, lentils and more that covered the Artsakh Stallion.

This is the third year that the American Armenian Rose Float Association, Inc. presents a float in the Tournament of Roses, which takes place annually in Pasadena, California.

In continuation with now a yearly tradition and to honor the role of the American Armenian community in the United States, the AARFA unveils a float to represent the strength, beauty and symbols of the Armenian community to the world. The three children upon the Artsakh stallion represent the echoes of success of the American Armenian community in science, literature and music.

A few of the float riders included Houry Gebeshian, gymnast; Michael Aram, artist; Claudette Stefanian, TV news Personality; Sarkis Mazmanian, Caltech Medical Microbiologist; Ralph Winter, Producer  of Armenian Genocide movie The Promise.

2017 New Year’s Message from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.

Dear Compatriots,

Year 2016 becomes history; it was the 25th year of the reestablishment of our independence. It was a period full of events and challenges.

In April, there was a four-day war. On the battlefield our people proved once again that its unified strength is unbreakable, the resolve to defend our Fatherland is unshakable. The unity of Armenia, Artsakh and Spyurk will not succumb to the perfidious and treacherous attacks. We will emerge from every calamity even stronger.

Let year 2016 in our memory remain as a year of national unity. In the passing year, we have demonstrated to ourselves and the entire world the meaning of the national spirit, of freedom and resolve to fight for the Homeland.

We will enter the second twenty-five-year period of our independent statehood with the same national unity. The first one was the phase when we withstood the war and difficulties. In the process, we shaped the victory in the Artsakh Liberation War and established the foundation for the eternal Armenian statehood.

Here is the source of my optimism; this also the source of our future success. The faith that we will build a better country and are able to defend it has already made us stronger. Every week, every month we will make maybe small but steady steps towards a better, more dignified, and a more prosperous future.

We enter the new year confident of our strength. The coming 25 years will be the years of advancement, a period when a stronger and a more prosperous Armenia will emerge. In that very spirit, we will be moving forward on the road towards the implementation of the visible and tangible reforms. We are entering the new year with serious and realistic programs. The positive outcome of the consistent and large-scale reforms in the area of economy and other areas will be visible to everyone and soon. I am confident, the new government will be able to do that, and it will be our common success.

The coming year will be fateful in many regards. In spring 2017, there will take place the Parliamentary elections. Our society through the joint efforts can organized a political process which will be trusted by everyone. We need elections like that so that the ship of our state doesn’t hit the underwater reefs known in the past.

Dear Fellow Citizens,

Around the festive tables, we all raise our glasses for the Armenian Army, for the people who are guarding at this very moment our peace. We also commemorate the immortal soldiers and officers who fell in 2016 and before that. We wish strength to their families and friends.

I also propose to raise our glasses for our new generation, for our children. This is a generation of independence, which keeps our borders unbreakable. Because of them, the Armenian tricolor is waving at the Olympic Games. Representatives of this generation return home from the world school subject Olympiads with dozens of medals. Their creative mind opens the doors of the most prominent cultural and scientific establishments.

We will spare no means to ensure their education and growth. I strongly believe that only this way we will be able to create a better Armenia.

Dear Friends,

In the new year 2017, I wish you and your families happiness, peace, and love.
Happy New Year and Holy Christmas!

Today, President Serzh Sargsyan accompanied by His Holiness Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II and the highest leadership of the Republic visited the Yerablur military Pantheon and paid tribute to the sons of the nation who gave their lives for the independence of Fatherland.

Ambassador Richard E Hoagland will assume the position of U.S. Co-Chair of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group on an interim basis starting in January 2017.

He replaces Ambassador James B. Warlick, who will step down on December 31, the US Embassy to Armenia says in an official press release.

Ambassador Hoagland brings over 30 years of diplomatic experience to the position. He served as US Ambassador to Tajikistan from 2003 to 2006, US Ambassador to Kazakhstan from 2008 to 2011, and as Deputy Ambassador to Pakistan from 2011 to 2013. Ambassador Hoagland most recently led US-Russian military coordination for the Cessation of Hostilities in Syria and served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs at the State Department in Washington. Prior to these assignments, Ambassador Hoagland led the Office of Caucasus and Central Asian Affairs in the Bureau of Europe and Eurasian Affairs and was Press Spokesman for the US Embassy in Moscow.

Ambassador Hoagland’s extensive diplomatic experience will be critical as the United States works with the sides toward a lasting and peaceful settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The United States continues to call on the parties to maintain their commitment to the ceasefire and to implement agreements reached at the Vienna and St Petersburg summits, and urges a return to negotiations on a settlement, which would benefit all sides.

The permanent replacement for Ambassador Warlick will be announced at a future date.

Hripsime Arakelyan has been appointed Acting Head of the Information and Public Relations Department of RA Government

Born in Yerevan, she graduated the Armenian State Pedagogical University after Khachatur Abovyan and the Public Administration Academy of the Republic of Armenia.

Hripsime Arakelyan has headed the news departments at Ar TV and Hay TV Company. She also worked at the Public TV Company of Armenia and headed the “Radiolur” program of Public Radio of Armenia.