Category: News

Germany’s government has plans to distance itself from a resolution recognizing the historic Ottoman slaughter of Armenians as genocide, a magazine report says. Berlin reportedly hopes the move might appease Ankara, reports.

The German news magazine “Der Spiegel” reported on Friday that Berlin planned a gesture to appease Turkish government anger over the Bundestag’s Armenia resolution.

By doing so, the report said, Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government hoped to resolve a dispute that has seen German parliamentarians barred from visiting Bundeswehr troops stationed at the Incirlik airbase in eastern Turkey.

“Der Spiegel” reported that a deal had been agreed between the German Foreign Office and Merkel’s Chancellery that would see the government directly distance itself from the Armenia resolution.

Germany’s lower house backed a resolution in early June that explicitly declared the ethnic slaughter of Armenians by the Ottoman regime during World War I to have been a genocide.

In response, Ankara blocked German parliamentarians from visiting German troops stations at Incirlik, where the Bundeswehr is engaged in operations against “Islamic State” (IS). Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogandenounced the vote, recalled his ambassador to Berlin for consultations and threatened further action.

Germany’s Foreign Ministry has sought to resolve the dispute in recent weeks, with officials reportedly being told that Ankara wanted the German government to distance itself from the legislature’s vote. According to “Der Spiegel,” Merkel’s spokesman Steffen Seibert would reiterate that the resolution had no binding legal effect on the actions of the German government. Even when it passed the Bundestag, it was clear to lawmakers that the resolution was non-binding.

Discussions had taken place about who should make the announcement, the report said, with neither Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier nor Merkel prepared to do so personally. Both politicians are said to privately support the parliament’s position.

Steinmeier is a member of Germany’s Social Democratic Party (SPD), which has said Germany should redeploy its troops to another support base in the Middle East, should German parliamentarians continue to be barred from visiting personnel.

Although Germany is not directly engaged in combat operations against IS, it has deployed a number of surveillance aircraft to assist the US-led coalition. The German parliament is scheduled to decide on a mandate to extend the mission in December.

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.

Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan arrived in Stepanakert today to participate in the events dedicated to the 25th anniversary of proclamation of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

At Stepanakert Airport President Sargsyan was welcomed by NKR President Bako Sahakyan.

 

“The construction of the radio station in Yerevan has been completed. The station will start operating in five days,” the “Soviet Armenia” newspaper informed on August 27, 1926.

The Voice of Yerevan was first heard on air on September 1, 1926. The Public Radio of Armenia celebrates the 90th anniversary today.

Yerevan is speaking… these words have been on the air for 90 years now, spreading the voice of the Armenian state worldwide. With a rich history, but always young, the Public Radio of Armenia celebrates the anniversary with a new season.

“We present more than 20 new programs, which aim to serve the public interests and enhance the legal awareness of the citizens,” says Arman Saghatelyan, Executive Director of Public Radio of Armenia.

“The schedule of the Public Radio will be enriched with new programs covering political, social, economic, healthcare and other spheres. New voices will be heard along the familiar ones, which, I’m confident, will become no less beloved in a short period of time,” he adds.

The respectable age and the glorious past of Public Radio of Armenia are both a source of inspiration and a great responsibility for its employees.

According to Arman Saghatelyan, the Public Radio of Armenia is not alone on the sphere. “On the contrary, it works in a competitive field and an environment where interests collide, where there are several factors needed to reinforce the success – effective governance, international experience and staff potential,” the Executive Director says.

He’s confident that the decades-long experience and the modern approaches of media governance are promising a brilliant outcome.

“The radio is moving forward with an aim of adding the socially-active segments of society to the list of its active and devoted listeners,” Saghatelyan says.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed a compensation deal with Israel Wednesday in an attempt to mend fences between the two countries, Anadolu Agency reports.

In line with the deal, Israel would pay $20 million compensation to the families of the victims of a 2010 Israeli raid on the Mavi Marmara, a Gaza-bound aid ship.

The sum will be transferred in a one-time deposit to a bank account opened by Turkey and shared through diplomatic channels, and the transaction will be completed within 25 business days after the bilateral agreement comes into force.

Diplomatic ties between Turkey and Israel were disrupted in May 2010 when 10 Turkish activists were killed on the Mavi Marmara, which was headed for Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid.

After the transfer, distribution and delivery of the sum will be handled by Turkey, with Israel playing no role.

The agreement will come into force when both sides notify each other through diplomatic channels that the internal legal procedures have been fulfilled.

In addition to the compensation, Israel has agreed to Turkey’s humanitarian presence in the Gaza Strip.

A contemporary art exhibition hall opened at “Zvartnots” International Airport of Yerevan today. The exhibition opened at the airport departures hall will not only make the passengers’ journeys more interesting, but can also be a serious support for contemporary Armenian artists.

ArtAm at the airport’s departures hall is an artistic space aimed at dissemination and development of the Armenian culture and artists. Located at Zvartnots International Airport, its aim is to bring the Armenian culture closer to the community by making art and cultural heritage an active element of cognition and delight for its visitors.

By creating this artistic space to serve the society, Zvartnots International Airport expresses its commitment to the development of the Armenian culture.

The first collection of twenty-five paintings to be staged at ArtAm is authored by Hasmik Avetisyan.

The exhibitions will be changed every month, thus letting each painting to be displayed for a month in a place, where a vast number of people pass through.