Category: News

In a statement released today, ex-Defense Minister of Armenia Seyran Ohanyan has outlined his views on the Karabakh conflict.

“Armenia has to find a dignified formula of peace with its neighbors, including Azerbaijan,” Seyran Ohanyan said, adding that “all resources and efforts of the Armenian people should be targeted at this purpose.”

“The Artsakh issue is not an obstacle on the way of having a developing and safe Armenian statehood, just the opposite. The opinion that Armenia cannot develop without the soonest resolution of the Karabakh issue is a fundamental mistake or a result of sincere delusion,” the former Defense Minister said.

“We have to develop Armenia to solve the Artsakh issue and ensure lasting peace instead of rapidly solving the Artsakh issue at any cost to ensure Armenia’s development. Unilateral or hasty and unjustified “mutual concessions” will not ensure peace, but will instead increase the possibility of resumption of war,” he added.

“The OSCE Minsk Group, separate states, and primarily, the Russian Federation, the international community are carrying out an important mission, trying to find a formula of peaceful resolution. I think the key to the settlement of the Karabakh issue is in Yerevan and Stepanakert, and the two have to find a way of reaching an agreement with Baku. The Nagorno Karabakh Republic – as a full party to the conflict, has to achieve the international recognition of its sovereignty,” Seyran Ohanyan added.

“I believe the Karabakh issue can be solved in a peaceful way through negotiations. We can reach an agreement with Azerbaijan and have to work in that direction,” he said, adding, however, that “it is hard to achieve tangible progress in the negotiations unless an atmosphere of mutual trust is established.”

Singer George Michael has died at his home at the age of 53, the BBC reports.

The star, who launched his career with Wham! in the 1980s and had huge success as a solo performer, “passed away peacefully” on Christmas Day in Goring, Oxfordshire, his publicist said.

Thames Valley Police say they are treating the death as unexplained but there were no suspicious circumstances.

Former Wham! bandmate Andrew Ridgeley said he was “heartbroken at the loss of my beloved friend”.

Writing on Twitter and referring to Michael as “Yog”, a nickname for “Yours Only George”, he added: “Me, his loved ones, his friends, the world of music, the world at large. 4ever loved. A xx”

President Serzh Sargsyan has sent a letter of condolences to the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin on the crash of the aircraft in the Black Sea that killed dozens.

“I express my deep condolences, support and sympathy to you, friends and families of the victims and the brotherly people of Russia. I wish tenacity and courage to overcome this tragedy,” reads the letter of condolences of the President of Armenia.

Armenian Defense Minister Vigen Sargsyan visited the Russian Embassy in Armenia today to express condolences over the crash of the Tu-154 plane of the Russian Defense Ministry that claimed dozens of lives.

Vigen Sargsyan conveyed a message of condolences address to his Russian counterpart Sergey Shoygu.

“It’s painful to realize that the terrible tragedy has claimed the lives of dozens of innocent people – the experienced crew of the plane, servicemen, members of the Alexandrov Choir, journalists.

I offer my deepest condolences over this irreversible loss, the relatives and friends of the victims, the staff of the Russian armed Forces, the friendly people of Russia,” the message reads.

Photo: Marina Lystseva/TASS

A Russian military plane with 92 people on board has crashed into the Black Sea, Russia’s defence ministry says.

The plane disappeared from radar 20 minutes after taking off from the resort of Sochi at 05:20 (02:20 GMT). Fragments have now been found and one body has been retrieved.

The defence ministry said the Tu-154 was carrying service personnel, members of the famed Alexandrov military band, and reporters.

The plane was flying to Latakia, Syria.

The flight originated in Moscow and had landed at Adler airport in Sochi for refuelling.

The defence ministry said in a statement: “Fragments of the Tu-154 plane of the Russian defence ministry were found 1.5km from the Black Sea coast of the city of Sochi at a depth of 50 to 70 metres.”

So far no survivors have been found, local rescuers told the Interfax news agency.

Defence ministry spokesperson Igor Konashenkov confirmed that the “body of a person killed as a result the crash… was found 6km off the coast of Sochi”.

The Russian State Duma delegation led by Leonid Kalashnikov, Chairman of the Committee on for CIS, Eurasian Integration and Relations with Compatriots visited the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial today.

On behalf of the State Duma, the Russian lawmakers laid a wreath at the memorial to the Armenian Genocide victims and paid tribute to their memory with a minute of silence.

The guests visited the Armenian Genocide Museum Institute and familiarized with the documents and testimonies of the Armenian Genocide.

“Innocent people keep dying today. It is necessary to combine efforts to prevent new universal tragedies,” Leonid Kalashnikov said.

Photo: AP    

Two men have been arrested in Germany on suspicion of planning an attack on a shopping centre in Oberhausen near the Dutch border, police say, the BBC reports.

The brothers, aged 31 and 28 and born in Kosovo, were detained early on Friday in Duisburg.

Germany is on high alert after Monday’s attack in Berlin, which left 12 dead.

A Europe-wide manhunt continues for Anis Amri, the Tunisian man suspected of driving a lorry into the Breitscheidplatz Christmas market.

Police said the Oberhausen attack had been intended to target the CentrO shopping centre.

Chaired by Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan, another discussion on the development of information and communication technology (ICT) was held in the Office of Government.

The Prime Minister was briefed on the proposals on short and long term development of the ICT sector and the status of the projects under development. He was informed that discussions are underway within the joint working group of stakeholders’ representatives.

Karen Karapetyan stressed the need to push ahead with the public-private cooperation process and increase the number of ICT-minded people in civil society.

“I am pinning great hopes on you. You can be the locomotive that will change the economy, the environment and culture,” the Preme Minister stated and expressed readiness to support any constructive initiative.

The ongoing activities will be finalized and a package of specific measures will be submitted to the Prime Minister in mid-January of 2017.