The Turkish authorizes are constructing a 8km-long road to Mount Maruta – the highest peak in Sasssoun Province, Akunq.net reports, quoting the Anadolu Agency.
The construction works are expected to be completed within a month. The road will make it easier to reach the Armenian St. Astvatsatsin Church on the peak of the mountain.
Azerbaijanis are voting on whether to boost the powers of President Ilham Aliyev, who has ruled since 2003 and cracked down on dissent, the BBC reports.
The plan includes lowering the age limit for presidential candidates, creating a strong vice-presidency and extending the presidential term.
The opposition sees the vote as a move to cement the powers of the first family, with Mr Aliyev’s wife and 19-year-old son seen as potential heirs.
The ruling party dismisses the claims.
The constitutional changes would also create other vice-presidential posts and enable the president to dissolve parliament at any time.
The referendum comes after dozens of opposition activists were arrested in the oil-rich former Soviet state.
One of President Aliyev’s main opponents, Ilgar Mammadov, leader of the pro-Western opposition party ReAL, and other pro-democracy activists are still in jail.
Armenia’s First Deputy Defense Minister David Tonoyan had a phone conversation with the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk today.
The interlocutors discussed the situation at the line of contact between the armed forces of Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan.
David Tonoyan informed Amb. Kasprzyk that private of the NKR Defense Army Sevak Khachatryan had been killed as a result of firing from the Azeri side on September 25.
The Deputy Defense Minister deemed the fact of the ceasefire violation unacceptable and underlined that the Azerbaijani side is fully responsible for the deadly incident.
Andrzej Kasprzyk, in turn, expressed concern over the incident and the loss of life. He pledged to take steps to avoid further destabilization of the situation.
On 25 September President Bako Sahakyan signed a decree, according to which serviceman of the NKR Defense Army’s N division Sevak Khachatryan was posthumously awarded with the “For Service in Battle” medal for bravery shown during the defense of the Nagorno Karabagh Republic state border, NKR President’s Press Office reports.
Deacon Hovhannes Nersesian of St. Sarkis Cathedral of the Araratian Patriarchal Diocese, soloist at the National Opera and Ballet Theatre after Alexander Spendiaryan has won the second place at the 4th international Pavel Lisitsian Competition.
The contest featured 48 vocalists from 12 countries – Armenia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, China, Mongolia and others.
The event was held in North Ossetia from September 15 to 18. People’s Artist of Ukraine Larissa Gergieva was the President of the jury. She’s also the founder and director of the festival.
Newly planted trees now stand as a symbol of peace in Markham. On Saturday, the Canadian city hosted a park dedication ceremony to mark 100 years since the Armenian genocide, the reports.
Federal, provincial and municipal government officials and members of the Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee for Canada waited in anticipation as the Forest of Hope was unveiled.
The new Forest of Hope will be a place of peace and hope for the Armenian community across the GTA.
“This small forest conveys an enormous message of new life,” said provincial minister of international trade, Michael Chan, during the official opening ceremony of the memorial.
“These young trees will establish deep roots, grow tall and their branches will reach for the sky — just like the Armenian community.”
Canada is one of two dozen countries that recognize the events as the first genocide of the 20th century.
“We know the meaning of genocide, its history and the importance of education,” said Armen Yeganian, ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to Canada.
“We have to continue to educate, not just today, tomorrow or the first 100 years. But always, because unfortunately it still continues to happen.”
The Forest of Hope is one of about a 100 projects to commemorate the genocide’s anniversary across the country started by the Canadian arm of the Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee, which was founded four years ago.
“And this is the best one, because it calls for hope and peace,” Yeganian said.
The Forest of Hope is located in Ashton Meadows Park near Woodbine Avenue north of 16th Avenue.
The park was designed by renowned landscape architect Haig Seferian and consists of 100 different trees, with different blooming time throughout the year.
“Despite being displaced, the Armenian community is determined,” said mayor Frank Scarpitti.
“The next generation of Armenians will be just as proud as the first Armenians who came to Canada. That’s a wonderful thing.”
Photo: Sputnik/ Pavel Lisitsyn
The Russian government has approved an agreement with Armenia to establish a joint regional air defense in the Caucasus, a decree published on the official portal for legal information stated Monday, Sputnik News reports.
At the time of the signing, the regional air defense force was estimated to incorporate 19 aviation units, 47 anti-aircraft missile systems, 19 radio-technical units and three separate electronic warfare battalions.
“Approve and submit for ratification to the Russian president the agreement between Russia and Armenia to establish a joint regional air defense in the Caucasus region of collective security, signed in Moscow on December 23, 2015,” the decree reads.
Armenian Ambassador to Tehran Artashes Tumanyan called bilateral relations between Tehran and Yerevan as “historical,” calling for efforts to strengthen the ties in all spheres, economy in particular, reports.
Speaking to reporters at a press conference in Tehran on Sunday, Tumanyan said the Islamic Republic of Iran, which has great economic infrastructures, is a close friend of Armenia.
However, he said, bilateral trade between the two nations is at a low level as the volume of trade between the two countries does not exceed $300 million per year.
“We have good relations with Iran’s chambers of commerce,” the Armenian diplomat noted, but said the two sides need to know each other better.
Iran and Armenia, have enjoyed amicable relations in a whole host of fields. Armenia announced in early June that it has approved signing an agreement with Iran to abolish the visa regime between the two countries.
The agreement, signed during a visit to Tehran by Armenia’s Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian, allows Iranians and Armenians to travel to the other country without needing a visa.
Armenia’s Acting Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan visited the Armed Forces divisions located in the northeastern section of the country’s border.
He visited the military positions and examined the living conditions of the soldiers. He also followed the process of ongoing construction works.
Seyran Ohanyan visited the families of servicemen killed in the April war – Benyamin Yeghoyan, Armenak Urfanyan, Sargis Sahakyan and Vladimir Alikhanyan.
The Acting Defense Minister underlined that the feats and sacrifice of their sons will serve an example for the youth.
Seyran Ohanyan pledged the Defense Ministry’s support to the solution of the problems the families face.
About 50 cases of ceasefire violation by the Azerbaijani side were registered at the line of contact with the Karabakh forces over the weekend.
The rival used firearms of different calibers as it fired over 600 shots in the direction of the Armenian positions, The NKR Defense Ministry reports.
The front divisions of the NKR Defense Army confidently continue with their military duty and resort to response action sin case of necessity.