Category: News

Turkey welcomes Russia’s efforts towards settlement of the Karabakh issue, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said after talks with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Antalya, Ermenihaber.am reports, quoting the Turkish Haberler.

“Today we discussed regional issues. Many issues will find their solution if Turkey and Russia work together,” Cavusoglu said at a joint press conference.

“Russia is taking efforts towards settlement of the Karabakh issue and other problems between Armenia and Azerbaijan, in general. We welcome and support those efforts. We are ready to make our contribution,” Cavusoglu added.

On a working visit to the Russian Federation, Armenian Defense Minister Vigen Sargsyan had a meeting with Russia’s Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov.

The parties discussed issues related to the bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the fieldof military industry.

During the meeting reference was made to the process of implementation of the agreements reached during Denis Manturov’s recent visit to Armenia.

Russia will remain Kyrgyzstan’s strategic partner, but the republic must rely on its own power when it comes to the military, Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev told a year-end press conference today, reports.

“I think we did absolutely right with the Hansi base (the US air base at the international airport of Kyrgyzstan’s capital that was withdrawn by Atambayev’s decision),” the Kyrgyz President noted. “Five years have passed, and time has shown that it was the right decision.”

Kyrgyzstan must rely only on its own power in the future, he said, adding that the decision concerns the Russian base, as well.

Atambayev also noted that after the expiry of the agreement, the Russian base “will have to leave” the territory of Kyrgyzstan.

He added that the Russian authorities have responded with understanding.

“Someone may dislike this, but I managed to convey the idea to the Russian President and he understood me,” Atambayev said.

The joint Russian military base is stationed on Kazakhstan’s territory. Under bilateral Kyrgyz-Russian agreements, the countries operate four military facilities. In 2009, the term of the agreement was extended for 49 years with the possibility of automatic extension for another 25-year periods.

Photo: Raul Roa/Glendale News-Press

 

– Glendale educators will undergo additional training in order to better instruct students about the Armenian Genocide and other atrocities as part of the school district’s focus on genocide education.

In Glendale schools, students currently learn about genocide in their history classes in the seventh and 10th grades.

As part of an upcoming two-day workshop in January, school officials will bring genocide experts to work with about 25 teachers of history or literature courses.

The training will largely focus on the Ottoman Turks’ massacre of 1.5 million Armenians beginning in 1915.

The teachers will learn about the literature and oral history as it’s related to the Armenian Genocide, said Jacqueline Perez, assistant superintendent of Glendale Unified.

“This has very strong implications for our community, and we definitely want to be the leader in ensuring our teachers are well prepared to deliver this instruction,” Perez said.

Beginning in 2013, Glendale school officials have given both students and teachers the day off on April 24, the date recognized around the world to commemorate the Armenian Genocide.

Earlier this year, Glendale school officials took a unanimous vote to designate April 24 on district calendars as “Armenian Genocide Commemoration Day.”

Armina Gharpetian, president of the Glendale Unified School Board, said the school district was the first in the country to both close school on April 24 and designate that day on the district’s calendars.

Now, it’s only fitting that the school district also take steps to provide training for teachers, she said.

“I think we should take the lead on this,” she said.

Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan called a consultative meeting to discuss ways of promoting exports and providing Armenian manufacturers access to new markets.

Per-sector investment packages were presented to the Prime Minister, covering transport, communications, information technology, energy and agriculture.

The meeting focused on those sectors strong with specific export potential. To make the steps more effective, Karen Karapetyan instructed to intensify contacts with the private sector.

The Aurora Humanitarian Initiative and the $1 million Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity were established on behalf of the descendants of the survivors of the Armenian Genocide, and in gratitude to those who risked their own wellbeing to help them survive.  At the inaugural awards ceremony, held in Yerevan, Armenia, on April 24, 2016, Marguerite Barankitse from Maison Shalom and REMA Hospital in Burundi became the first laureate.

Barankitse was recognized for the extraordinary impact she has had in saving thousands of lives and caring for orphans and refugees during the years of civil war in Burundi. Consistent with the rules of this unique prize, the laureate selected the following three organizations as recipients of $1 million in humanitarian support: the Fondation du Grand-Duc et de La Grande-Duchesse du Luxembourg, Fondation Jean-François Peterbroeck (JFP Foundation), and the Fondation Bridderlech Deelen Luxembourg.

In a continuing effort to transform the Armenian experience from that of ‘victim’ to dignified, active global citizen, each year’s Aurora Prize ceremony is a celebration of the spirit of shared humanity – and resilience.  This time, that celebration will culminate on May 28, in Yerevan, Armenia.

Known as First Republic Day, May 28 embodies the resilience of survivors who, just three years after the Genocide, declared and sustained an independent Armenian Republic from 1918 to 1920. The ceremony and accompanying events will highlight this journey from death to life, from horror to hope, from tragedy to revival.

The 2017 Aurora Prize finalists will be announced on April 24, 2017, the annual day of remembrance for victims of the Armenian Genocide.  One of these finalists will then be named as the 2017 Aurora Prize Laureate at a special ceremony on May 28, 2017, in Yerevan, Armenia. The Laureate and finalists will be chosen by the Aurora Prize Selection Committee from a total of 558 nominations submitted from 66 countries around the world.

Noubar Afeyan, Co-Founder of the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative, observed: “Underpinning the Aurora Prize is a desire to pay tribute to those who have dedicated their lives to help others survive and thrive. It is gratifying that in such a short time this initiative has found resonance and appreciation in communities and countries around the world.”

Ruben Vardanyan added, “On May 28, Armenian survivors dared to declare independence in the aftermath of the Genocide and in the midst of regional tumult. Their plight embodies our conviction that victims very soon became not just survivors but also active, committed members of global society.  The Aurora Humanitarian Initiative highlights the promise of transformation from helpless to hopeful, a possibility that is the right of all people.”

During the month between April 24 and May 28, the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative will organize a global program of activities to profile the inspirational stories of the 2017 finalists, as well as broader humanitarian endeavors.  The Aurora Dialogues – a series of thought-provoking discussions featuring international humanitarian figures – debuted in Yerevan during the inaugural Aurora weekend. Those dialogues will also be expanded and shared with communities around the world and will also be a major component of the Aurora May 28 weekend, in Yerevan.

President Serzh Sargsyan sent a letter of condolences to the President of the Federal Republic of Brazil Michel Temer on the plane crash near Medellin town in Columbia which killed dozens, President’s Press Office reports.

At the this difficult for Brazil times, the President of Armenia expressed condolences and support to President Temer, the friendly people of Brazil and families of the victims, wishing them tenacity and patience.

At the same time, according to the President of Armenia, the very fact that there are survivors in the crash, gives strength to move forward.

Armenian Defense Minister Vigen Sargsyan participated in the 71^st regular sitting of the Council of Defense Ministers of CIS participating states in Moscow.

A number of documents regulating the cooperation between the Defense Ministries of the CIS participating states were discussed, key directions of joint work were outlined at the meeting.

Issues related to the joint air defense system, development of communication systems, humanitarian mine clearance, training of military personnel and joint field exercises, implementation of joint educational programs were discussed.

Armenian Defense Minister Vigen Sargsyan had meetings with his Russian and Belarusian counterparts.

The Defense Ministers of Armenia and Russia signed the agreement on Joint Group of Forces and approved the 2017 cooperation program.

According to the minister counselor at the Armenian Embassy in the US, Armenia will continue economic cooperation with the US during the next US Administration.

Economic cooperation between Armenia and the United States will continue during the next US Administration, Minister Counselor at the Armenian Embassy in the United States Hrachia Tashchian told .

“We do not see any reason that could stop or halt the economic cooperation between Armenia and the United States,” Tashchian said on the sidelines of the third annual “Doing Business With Eurasian Economic Union” Conference in Washington. Tashchian stressed that the United States was a key economic partner for Armenia. “US-Armenia Intergovernmental Joint Task Force is among the main tools fostering cooperation and discussion of a wide range of issues – from energy security to the technical assistance in implementing civil aviation and tax administration reforms”, Tashchian said.

Trade and Investment Framework Agreement – another important tool of cooperation – signed last year and tailored to help the parties identify areas conducive to the development of mutual trade and investments.

Tashchian noted that over the last two years there have been two major US investments in the energy and mining sectors of the Armenian economy. The diplomat also mentioned the large presence of US IT companies in Armenia. Information Technology is one of the fastest-growing sectors of the Armenian economy, and the Government strongly supports its further growth, Tashchian concluded.

President Serzh Sargsyan sent a congratulatory message to Giorgi Kvirikashvili on his re-appointment as Prime Minister of Georgia.

The President of Armenia expressed hope that the readiness of the two friendly countries to strengthen the existing potential of cooperation and partnership will allow to continuously develop the brotherly relations of the Armenian and Georgian peoples and will give a new impetus to the mutually beneficial cooperation.