Category: News

PHOTO: EPA/CHIP SOMODEVILLA/POOL

The meeting of Russian and US Presidents Vladimir Putin and Barack Obama went off well and lasted longer than planned. The Syrian issue and Ukraine were discussed first and foremost, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters following talks on Monday, TASS reports.

“The meeting lasted longer than planned. (The two presidents) discussed, above all, Syria and Ukraine. After that Obama and Putin held a one-on-one meeting behind closed doors,” the Kremlin spokesman said.

He added that the meeting went off well. “The work will continue,” Peskov said.

The Associated Press quotes a senior Obama administration official as saying that “President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed to keep up negotiations over a cease-fire agreement for Syria.”

The official says Obama and Putin met for 90 minutes on Monday on the sidelines of the Group of 20 economic summit in Hangzhou, China.

The official says Obama and Putin clarified the remaining gaps in the talks, which largely involve how the deal would be implemented.

The official says the two leaders directed their teams to meet again quickly, possible as soon as later this week.

On 5 September Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan received philanthropist Arthur Varzhapetyan, NKR President’s Press Service reports.

Issues related to the realization of various programs in our republic were on the discussion agenda.

For the assistance shown to the Motherland in the realization of significant socioeconomic projects and in connection with the 25^th anniversary of the NKR proclamation Bako Sahakyan handed in the “Mesrop Mashtots” order to Arthur Varzhapetyan.

Thereafter President Sahakyan and Arthur Varzhapetyan partook in the Stepanakert’s Renaissance square at a solemn ceremony of handing over keys from the cars donated by the philanthropist to a number of NKR state structures.

Photo: Reuters

 

Uzbekistan President Islam Karimov is critically ill, the Uzbek government has said in a statement carried by local media, the BBC reports.

He is reported to have been taken to hospital on Saturday after suffering a stroke. His health has sharply deteriorated over the past 24 hours, the government said on Friday.

Opposition news reports have suggested that Mr Karimov, 78, has died.

He has led the former Soviet republic since independence in 1991.

On Sunday, the Uzbek government said Mr Karimov was receiving treatment but did not give details.

The next day, the president’s daughter said he had suffered a brain haemorrhage.

On 2 September Artsakh Republic President sent a congratulatory address in connection with the Day of the Artsakh Republic.

Dear compatriots,

Today we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Artsakh Republic. On behalf of the republic’s authorities and myself personally I express my cordial congratulations to all our people in connection with this significant state holiday.

September 2 of 1991 has become a turning point in the life of the Artsakh people and changed the course of its history. Raising its decisive voice in favor of free and independent Artsakh our nation embarked on the state-building process, started to build a democratic state in correspondence with the international norms and principles.

Our chosen path was hard and difficult. Azerbaijan responded to the Artsakh people’s fair and legal claims with violence, massacres and unleashed a bloody war. We were forced to take up arms and by all means defend the freedom and security of our newly independent state, our people’s peace and tranquility, our historical land and our rights.

During the days of ordeal as well as at all times Mother Armenia and the Diaspora were beside Artsakh. Due to the practical support and active participation of the world-spread Armenians we managed to overcome all the trials and difficulties with flying colors, gained victory in the war imposed on us and started to develop and strengthen our precious and cherished Artsakh, our Motherland.
Kind and honest people from various corners of the world, who value humanity and defense of democratic principles above everything else, have been beside us too. The Artsakh people are deeply grateful to all the friends and appreciate their contribution to the formation and development of our independent statehood.

Dear compatriots,

On this festive day we remember with special gratitude all our martyrs, brave sons of the Armenian people, those, who on the cost of their lives paved the path to our Motherland’s bright future. We ought to always keep the memory of our devotees. The best way to do it is the consistent development and strengthening of the free and independent Artsakh.

I once again congratulate all of you on this memorable holiday and wish robust health, successes and all the best to you, peace and welfare to our people.

Photo: AP

 

The Uzbek government has confirmed the death of President Islam Karimov, six days after he was taken to hospital with a suspected brain haemorrhage.

One of Asia’s most authoritarian leaders, Mr Karimov, 78, died after 27 years in power.

Mr Karimov has no clear successor. There is no legal political opposition and the media are tightly controlled.

He will be buried on Saturday in his home city of Samarkand, Uzbek state TV announced.

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian participated in the OSCE Informal Ministerial Meeting in Potsdam. Minister Nalbandian’s full speech is provided below:

I would like to thank Minister Steinmeier for this important initiative to exchange views in preparation for the OSCE Ministerial Council in coming December, to deploy efforts to make Hamburg meeting joint success.

Indeed, success is not merely measured by the number of adopted decisions, but the quality of our dialogue.

It is evident that any challenge in the OSCE area needs to be dealt through dialogue. We can debate endlessly the essence and scope of the OSCE principles and commitments, which should shape this dialogue. However, if we do not agree on one basic principle then apparently all our efforts will be in vain. The non-use of force or threat of use force constitutes that very principle. Unconditional adherence to non-use of force is essential for any security related endeavor in the OSCE area.

The April preplanned large-scale military offensive of Azerbaijan against Nagorno-Karabakh, accompanied by atrocities and gross violations of the international humanitarian law was not merely another escalation of this conflict. It was a challenge to common security and stability of the OSCE area. It seriously threw back the process of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution.

Such attempts of using force as an instrument of pressure on the negotiating process, if not adequately addressed, may pave the way for serious destabilization with unpredictable consequences for entire region. To restore the trust in the process of the conflict resolution, measures should be taken to prevent use of force and create conditions conducive for the advancement of the peace process.

This was the main aim of the two Summits on Nagorno-Karabakh held in Vienna in May and in St. Petersburg in June. First of all, it is a necessity to implement what was particularly emphasized and agreed upon in the framework of these Summits – the full adherence to the 1994-1995 trilateral ceasefire agreements, which do not have time limitations, the creation of mechanism for investigation of ceasefire violations, the expansion of the capacity of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office.

Conflicts in the OSCE area are not identical when it comes to principles upon which they should be resolved. Each and every conflict has its own features and should be approached based on its specificities. There is one common principle that should be pushed in all conflict situations and that is non-use of force.

«Either our way or the war» approach is a dead-end. This type of language was used in the OSCE by Azerbaijani diplomats who, ignoring the approaches expressed in five statements of the presidents of the Co-Chair countries on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution, are trying to present their own perceptions or interpretations as the only peaceful way of the settlement. When even diplomats talk in such a language then the problem goes far beyond a mere lack of a good will.

The rights of people residing in the conflict areas need to be put in the heart of both crisis management and conflict resolution. The recognition and the realization of the right to self-determination of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh is essential in any substantive progress within this conflict settlement.

Dear Colleagues,

Effective arms control regime and its full implementation are crucial in ensuring practical application of the principle of non-use of force or threat of force.

We read with great interest the August 26 article of the Chairman-in-office containing a proposal to re-launch the arms control. Armenia has always been supporter of improved cooperative security arrangements aimed at enhanced transparency and predictability in the OSCE area based on the principles of restraint and risk reduction. It is in this vein that Armenia is going to engage in the discussions regarding the future of arms control in Europe. The uncontrolled and skyrocketing accumulation of offensive weaponry should be prevented.

We appreciate efforts aimed at updating the Vienna Document. But, we need also to employ more efforts to ensure the implementation of the current Vienna Document and OSCE commitments related to the arms control. We saw repetitive violations of essential provisions of the Document including those related to notification of military exercises and verification.

Dear Colleagues,
We have consistently highlighted protection of rights of people living in the conflict areas, enhancing OSCE capacities first and foremost in the conflict related field missions, strengthening confidence building measures in all three dimensions. Full implementation of commitments related to conflict cycle particularly the Vilnius decision should come first in this regard.

In conclusion I would like to stress that Armenia will continue its support to the German Chairmanship in preparation of the Hamburg Ministerial Council.

Thank you.

 

 

 

Turkey’s military actions in the north of Iraq continue. Armenian experts say the actions will be long-term and the result is hard to predict.

“There is an impression that everyone is playing with everyone, and everyone is playing against everyone,” expert of Turkish studies Levon Hovsepyan told a press conference today.

The power centers have lit a green light before Turkey, but have imposed certain restrictions. Meanwhile, Turkey is violating the restrictions, which may force the green light work against Turkey itself.

Levon Hovsepyan is confident Turkey has certain agreements with the power centers, namely Russia and the United States. He rules out that Turkey could have launched military actions without those agreements.

According to him, the green light may become a headache for those who have lit it.

“Turkey has actually created the security zone in Syria, which the US stands against, and which Russia is not interested in. However, it’s in Russia’s interest that the relations between the US and Turkey will continue to aggravate in that context,” Hovsepyan said.

Expert of Arabic studies Sargis Grigoryan shares the opinion. “Turkey made its presence in Syria more substantial. Now Ankara is represented there with its own forces, which gives it wide opportunities,” he said.

Experts say it’s hard to predict the developments, as there are a number of factors that need to be taken into account. They say, however, that one thing is clear – Turkey has entered a game, which is hard to withdraw from. It won’t be easy for the power centers, either, especially with regard to restraining Turkey, since the latter’s military presence in Syria is already a fact, and Ankara will strive to further expand this.

Dear Compatriots,

I congratulate you on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of independence of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh.

September 2, 1991 opened a glorious page in the modern history of the Armenian nation. A quarter of a century ago, the Armenians of Artsakh made their irrevocable choice. That critical step was conscientious and deliberate. That choice, that will and determination brought back from the brink of a deadly precipice to life and freedom the most endangered part of the Armenian nation – the Armenians of Artsakh.

You fought and won in the unequal war. You built a state and society which are free as never before. You created an army which is strong and combat ready as never before. You raised from the ashes a piece of land which never before was so cultivated and beautiful. You proved to yourselves, to the entire Armenian nation, and the world that the free Artsakh is not only viable but also possesses a huge potential for development.

There is no doubt that the potential has not been fully utilized yet. There is no doubt that there is still much to be done in Artsakh and in Armenia. And there is no doubt that we will fulfill our task. We will do it through the efforts of the entire Armenian nation. We will do it despite all difficulties and challenges.

Last April’s military actions once again or rather once more proved that if the enemy tries to solve the problem through military means, he will be thrown back with losses. It proved that no force in the world is capable of solving the Artsakh issue through military means. There is no such force because you live, because you are true to the choice you made 25 years ago. There is no military solution; solution is political.

Today, on this memorable day, I tell you once again: just as yesterday and today, tomorrow too you will decide your own destiny. We have no doubts about Artsakh’s bright future.

Long live the free and independent Artsakh!
Long live the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh!

Germany on Friday reiterated that a parliamentary resolution on Turkey’s World War I-era massacre of Armenians was non-binding but denied it was distancing itself from the vote to appease Ankara.

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman Steffen Seibert said it had always been clear that the June vote calling the Ottoman-era mass killing a “genocide” had no legally binding character, a question he said was of great interest to Ankara.

According to AFP, Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier also said Friday, when asked about the Spiegel report, that the German parliament “has the right and freedom to comment on political issues but, as the parliament says itself, not every resolution is legally binding”.

Steinmeier said there had been “many areas of friction, not just since the coup attempt”, and again urged Turkey to respect the rule of law in its treatment of the tens of thousands of detainees.

The minister also said that “of course it is the task of diplomats to reduce these areas of friction and to search for ways to maintain relations with Turkey and to provide a future perspective for them”.

“In recent talks we got the impression that this is an interest also shared by Turkey.”

The Armenian Museum of Fresno celebrates the 25th anniversary of the independence of Artsakh, the eastern province of historical Armenia referred to in modern terms as the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, Donal Munro writes in the .

Two exhibitions mark the historic event: “Spirit of Artsakh,” which through a series of panels offers 2,500 years of history, faith, culture and the struggle for self-determination of Artsakh-Armenians; and “Armenia: From BC to Christianity,” a collection of 31 history paintings by Clovis artist Rubik Kocharian.

The special guest of the event is Robert Avetisyan, who represents Nagorno-Karabakh in Washington, D.C., as the republic’s official “permanent representative” to the United States. He will be on hand for the opening reception. He will speak about current conditions in his country. Avetisyan returned from a visit just a few weeks ago.

A major reason for the show is to acknowledge the “strong expression of the deep-rooted commitment of the Armenian Diaspora’s link to our ancestral homeland Artsakh,” says Varoujan Der Simonian, curator along with Ani Grigoryan (who was born in Artsakh) of both exhibitions. But it can also be an opportunity for people who don’t know much about the region to get a grounding in a region that has received a lot of media attention over the decades.

“Spirit of Artsakh” was conceived, Der Simonian says, as a way to familiarize people with the historical and cultural situation in the region, which has experienced armed conflict and political upheaval. Such topics as history, literature, clothing and landscapes are covered in text and images.

Kocharian paints in a realistic style. In his series of oil paintings on canvas, he takes significant moments in Armenian history and interprets them. In his “Baking Lavash Bread,” for example, he pays tribute to the unusual technique for producing it and the role lavash plays in the community. Kocharian will be on hand at the opening reception.

The two exhibitions continue through Dec. 16.