An ethnic Armenian identified as George Mutafyan has been wounded in a shelling on the Armenian General Athletic Union field located in the Armenian-populated Azizieh neighborhood of Aleppo, Kantsasar newspaper reports.
According to the source, the French rocket attack has left two killed and 10 wounded.
Due to shortcomings in situation of democracy and political freedoms prior to and during the Referendum, including the voting day, the Referendum failed to meet requirements of election legislation and international commitments of the country with regards to democratic elections.
As a result of amendments to the NGO legislation, independent civil society is not able to operate freely in the country. Criminal investigation and large tax fines lingering over some foreign and domestic NGOs, along with restrictions of accessing the foreign funding prevented civil society organizations from meaningfully participating in the referendum and engaging in voter education and election monitoring.
Political repressions intensified during the Referendum resulting in increased number of political prisoners.
The Referendum day was marred with violations including ballot-box stuffing, multiple voting, group voting (carousel) and voting of persons without registration, similar irregularities from the previous elections. EMDS observed that voter turnout was artificially raised in majority of polling stations through multiple voting and ballot-box stuffing. The official turnout do not correspond to real figures.
Following the opinion of the Constitutional Court of Azerbaijan on the Constitutional Act on amendments to the main law of the country, EMDS published its opinion about the proposed changes and preparations to the Referendum, and called for consulting with the European Commission for Democracy through Law of the Council of Europe (the Venice Commission).
EMDS believes that comprehensive assessment of 26 September 2016 Referendum requires consideration of all stages of the referendum including evaluation of awareness raising among public on proposed changes, political situation and conditions prior to the referendum, the election legislation, conduct of the referendum day and vote tabulation against the international commitments of the country.
EMDS notes with regret that there was no open public debate or adequate awareness raising campaign among public on proposed changes to the Constitution which are essential for expression of people’s true will. Increased restrictions on freedoms of expression, assembly and association in the last few years, along with very short official campaigning period (22 days) and refusal to register opposition campaign groups contributed to the lack of vibrant debate during the referendum.
EMDS believes that the government should demonstrate political will to restore mutual confidence in relations between the state and public, should create competitive environment for all political opponents and should release all political prisoners.
Moreover, as the Referendum fails to deliver adequate Constitutional reforms on separation of power and protection of human rights, the government should work together with the Venice Commission and civil society to address the issues in this field.
Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan introduced newly-appointed Minister of Culture Armen Amiryan to the staff of the Ministry.
The Prime Minister thanked ex-Minister Hasmik Poghosyan for the work done during her tenure in office.
Karen Karapetyan noted that “culture and history are the pride of our nation” and added that he expects the specialists to maximally value the legacy.
“Culture plays an important role in the formation of the taste and education of the citizen of the Republic of Armenia. We must think of ways to have the world familiarize with our culture and to create an environment that will allow the citizens of Armenia to get to know more about the world cultural legacy. For that very reason we expect a maximally effective work from the new Minister and your team,” PM Karapetyan said.
According to the Prime Minister, the Armenian culture can play a great role in attracting tourists. He wished an effective and creative work to Minister Armen Amiryan and his staff.
The Prime Minister also introduced the Ministers of Sports and Youth Affairs, Environmental Protection, Healthcare and Economy to the staffs of the respective Ministries.
Photo: Reuters
International prosecutors investigating the downing of flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014 say the missile that hit the plane was fired from territory controlled by Russian-backed rebels, the BBC reports.
They said the missile launcher was brought into Ukraine from Russia.
All 298 people on board the Boeing 777 died when it broke apart in midair flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.
The Dutch-led Joint Investigation Team (JIT) consists of prosecutors from the Netherlands, Australia, Belgium, Malaysia and Ukraine.
An inquiry by the Dutch Safety Board last year found that a Russian-made Buk missile hit the plane but did not say where it was fired from.
Pope Francis has once again appealed for peace in Syria. At his General Audience on Wednesday, the Pope said, “dramatic news concerning the fate of the people of Aleppo, with whom, through prayer and spiritual closeness, I feel united in suffering,” Radio Vatican reports.
The Holy Father continued, “In expressing my deep sorrow and lively concern for what is happening in that already battered city – where children, the elderly, the sick, young and old, all are dying – I renew my appeal to everyone to commit themselves with all their strength to the protection of civilians as an imperative and urgent obligation.”
Departing from his prepared text, Pope Francis appealed directly to those responsible for the bombing, warning them that they will be “accountable to God” for their actions.
Since a ceasefire collapsed last week, rebel-held areas of Aleppo have been heavily bombarded, raising international concern over the plight of their 250,000 residents. On Wednesday morning, the Syrian military announced it was launching “concentrated air strikes” in Aleppo and nearby areas, targeting insurgent-held areas in the surrounding countryside.
Photo: Getty Images
Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Wayne Rooney are reportedly facing a straight fight at Manchester United for their Premier League place, reports.
The attacking pair are currently struggling to nail down a regular place in Jose Mourinho’s first XI.
But both are set to start in tomorrow’s Europa League clash at Old Trafford against Zorya Luhansk.
It will be a chance to show their worthiness to the manager, especially after Mourinho dropped his captain from the side which beat Leicester 4-1 on Saturday.
According to the though, Mkhitaryan and Rooney are going head-to-head ahead of Sunday’s clash with Stoke.
United host the Potters in the Premier League with a spot potentially up for grabs, and Mourinho is said to be undecided yet between the duo.
The boss must be convinced he should change the team who comfortably saw off the reigning champions.
And the No.10 role could be the one altered against Stoke with it being both players’ main position.
The Russian Foreign Ministry considers the MH17 probe biased and politically motivated, the ministry’s spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday, TASS reports.
“Russia is disappointed to see the situation involving the air crash is not changing. The Dutch prosecutors’ conclusions confirm that the investigation is biased and politically motivated,” she said.
“Until now, the investigation keeps ignoring conclusive proof from Russia, in spite of the fact that Russia actually was the only side that channels trustworthy information and discloses new data,” Zakharova said.
International prosecutors investigating the downing of flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014 say the missile that hit the plane was fired from territory controlled by Russian-backed rebels.
On September 27, in the framework of the working visit to Belgium Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Karen Mirzoyan met with the leadership of the EU-Armenia Friendship Group headed by the President of the group Eleni Theocharous.
During the meeting, a range of issues related to Artsakh-Europe relations, settlement of the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict and regional processes were discussed.
On the same day Karen Mirzoyan met with the President of the Friendship group with Artsakh in the European Parliament Frank Engel and other members of the group. During the meeting, a number of issues related to the activity of the friendship group were discussed. The sides highlighted the importance of deepening ties with various European structures, including the European Parliament.
Later in the day, Karen Mirzoyan, as a keynote speaker, delivered a speech at a round-table organized by Frank Engel entitled “Nagorno Karabakh Republic: 25 years of state-building in a volatile region” at the premises of the European Parliament.
In his speech, the NKR Foreign Minister stated, in particular, that 25 years ago the people of Nagorno Karabakh voted for independence on a nation-wide referendum which became the logical continuation of Artsakh liberation struggle in response to decades of discrimination and oppression by Azerbaijan.
“In spite of the peaceful and legitimate nature of the Karabakh movement, from the very beginning Azerbaijan rejected any dialogue and resorted to the language of threats and intimidation which led to a large-scale war against Nagorno Karabakh and its peaceful population”, Karen Mirzoyan said.
The NKR Foreign Minister stressed that even today the people of Artsakh literally have to defend the young democracy in the conditions of constant attempts of Azerbaijan to return Nagorno Karabakh to the past. Karen Mirzoyan noted that the NKR had repeatedly spoken out publicly about Azerbaijan openly preparing for the resumption of war by, however, the international community did not react to these warnings. The impunity enjoyed by Azerbaijan led to the resumption of hostilities against Nagorno Karabakh on April 2, 2016.
Karen Mirzoyan stressed that the people of Artsakh cannot remain hostage to the destructive policy of Azerbaijan and will continue to develop even in the conditions of the unresolved Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict. In this regard the Foreign Minister mentioned that the NKR authorities attach great importance to the expansion and deepening of foreign relations of the NKR at all levels, its integration into the international processes.
Karen Mirzoyan expressed confidence that expansion of the international cooperation will be an important contribution to strengthening peace and security in the region.
“We believe that the time has come for the international community to support our struggle. It’s time to recognize and support the reality – existence and consistent development of the free and democratic Nagorno Karabakh Republic”, Karen Mirzoyan concluded.
The NKR Foreign Minister answered questions of participants.
Members of the NKR National Assembly delegation, members of the European Parliament and experts attended the discussion.
President Serzh Sargsyan sent a telegram of condolences to President of the State of Israel Reuven Rivlin on the demise of prominent politician of the Jewish people, former President of the State of Israel, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shimon Peres.
Linguist and writer Sevan Nishanian has been awarded William Saroyan Medal of the Armenian Ministry of Diaspora, reports.
Linguist and writer Sevan Nishanian has been awarded William Saroyan Medal by Armenian Ministry of Diaspora. Sevan Nishanian has been under arrest since January 2014 on the ground that he carried out “unlicensed construction work” in his private property. His lawyer Ergin Cinmen accepted the medal on behalf of Nishanian.
At a ceremony held in Istanbul on September 23, Aragats Akhoyan, an independent deputy from Armenian parliament, handed over the medal.
Armenians from Armenia, diaspora and Turkey, CHP Istanbul MP Selina Doğan, human right defenders, journalists and writers attended the ceremony.
Hrant Kasparyan, member of International Committee for Freedom and Justice for Sevan Nishanian gave the opening speech. After that, lawyer Ergin Cinmen provided information about the lawsuits against Nishanian and the ongoing legal progress.
Nishanian’s mother Sona Nishanian also spoke through video call. She said that she wants to consider this medal as a promising development in terms of his son’s release. Selina Doğan stated that she hasn’t received any response to her parliamentary question about Nishanian, which was addressed to Ministry of Justice.
In the ceremony, solidarity messages from Armenian National Committee of America. (ANCA), European Armenian Council, German historian, scholar and author Prof. Dr. Tessa Hofmann and historican Taner Akçam were also read.
“Armenian writer, linguist, intellectual and thinker Sevan Nishanian is in prison now. The body can be imprisoned, but is it possible to confine free thinking and a free heart?
Today, we are here to award a freedom-loving person with a medal of another freedom-loving thinker carrying the name of William Saroyan. Therewith, the Ministry of Diaspora duly appreciates Sevan Nishanian’s devoted activities, aiming to preserve and develop Armenian language and culture.”
“Today, Sevan Nishanian is awarded with a really meaningful prize. William Saroyan is not only a prominent figure in Armenian literature, but also in world literature. He was one of the last sons of Armenian motherland, Anatolia. Now, an award named after him is given to another Armenian intellectual of these lands.
Sevan is not only a writer, he is also a historian, linguist, sociologist and political scientist. His works in these areas, as can be seen his Turkish dictionary and the books on history of Turkish language, are more valuable than the works by the official institutions working in these fields. His sophistication and immense creativity give him an “uncontrollable” quality.
His limitless creativity baffled the ones who attacked him. This was such a bafflement that they couldn’t find a reason to arrest Sevan and they accused him of “violation of construction law”. He is sentenced with 17 years in prison and other sentences are coming…”
“Though we are outraged by your unjust imprisonment, we are not surprised by the way they treat you, since the head of this government performed the greatest violation of construction law in Turkish history with his presidential palace; not to mention his other countless crimes.”