Category: News

Turkey affords steps and statements unacceptable in European diplomatic practice, Director of the Oriental Studies Institute, political scientist Ruben Safrastyan told a press conference today.

He refrained from calling the current stage in Turkey-EU relations as a period of distancing from each other, but noted some negative trends in the integration processes. “Europeans dislike many things, but do not burn bridges in the relations with Turkey,” he said.

“The European integration process, which is stalled for now, remains on the agenda,” Safrastyan added.

“This is part of Turkey’s adventurist policy. Turkey is raising the betting odds and playing a riskier game with Europe. We see Turkey has managed not to lose and even succeed in its gambles until now. This is what the calculations of policy-makers in Turkey are based on – to grab the utmost from Europe,” he said.

Ruben Safrastyan stressed that judging from history, one can assert that “Turkey does not meet the European values, the diplomatic methods, the system used in Europe.” He concluded, however, that based on geopolitical considerations, Europe leaves the door half-open to Turkey.

The Azerbaijani side used firearms of different calibers as it violated the ceasefire about 55 times at the line of contact with the Artsakh forces last night.

The rival fired over 550 shots in the direction of the Armenian positions, Artsakh Defense Ministry reported.

The Azeri forces also used an anti-tank grenade launcher in the southern direction.

The front divisions of the NKR Defense Army keep the situation under control and confidently continue with their military duty.

Armenia will establish a Consulate General in Erbil, Iraq. A corresponding decree has been signed by President Serzh Sargsyan.

According to the decree, the consular district will encompass the Kurdistan Region (Ebril, Suleymania, Dohuk).

Children in Armenia start thinking about their careers at a very young age — around six months or so, Bryant Rousseau writes in . 

When an infant’s first tooth arrives, typically in four to seven months, a celebration takes place known variously as the “agra hadig” or “atam hatik.”

As part of the ritual, objects symbolizing different professions are arrayed in front of a child: a microphone for an entertainer, a stethoscope for a doctor, scissors for a tailor or money for a banker. Whichever object the baby chooses first is thought to be a sign of where the child’s professional aptitude lies.

With the appearance of teeth, a child can begin to eat solid food, and the acquisition of this skill is believed to be a propitious time to foretell what the future holds, said Yulia Antonyan, a professor in the department of cultural studies at Yerevan State University in Armenia’s capital.

There are no obligatory objects, but sets available for purchase will often include traditional artisan tools and choices epitomizing a more modern lifestyle. Parents are free to add to or omit from the mix as they wish.

The ceremony begins by pouring various cereal grains over and around the child. Typically but not always, the baby’s head is protected by a piece of fabric, a pair of hands or sometimes even an umbrella.

The ritual sprinkling is thought to ensure that the child will have healthy, even teeth. It could also have fertility associations, akin to throwing rice at a wedding, according to Levon Abrahamian, a cultural anthropologist in Yerevan.

Today, teeth-shaped cakes, toys, candy and balloons are popular party favors at these celebrations, which are widely practiced in Armenia and across the Armenian diaspora.

In the earliest written references to the ritual, from the 19th century, just two objects were put before the teething child. The prediction then was not about an adult profession but the sex of the next sibling: Grasping a knife meant a brother was on the way, a comb (or mirror) a sister.

“The divination for the future profession was developed much later in the urbanized and modernized environment of Soviet Armenia and the diaspora,” Professor Antonyan said, “when the future career would determine the baby’s life.”

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed she will ask for permission to hold a second referendum on Scottish independence, the BBC reports.

Ms Sturgeon said she wanted a vote to be held between the autumn of 2018 and the spring of the following year.

She said she would ask the Scottish Parliament next week for permission to request a Section 30 order from Westminster.

The move would allow a fresh legally-binding referendum to be held, if consent is granted.

Speaking at her official Bute House residence in Edinburgh, Ms Sturgeon said the people of Scotland must be offered a choice between a “hard Brexit” and becoming an independent country.

Ms Sturgeon said the UK government had not “moved even an inch in pursuit of compromise and agreement” since the Brexit vote, which saw Scotland vote by 62% to 38% to remain the EU while the UK as a whole voted to leave.

The Scottish government has published proposals which it says would allow Scotland to remain a member of the European single market even if the rest of the UK leaves, which Prime Minister Theresa May has said it will.

Photo: EPA

 

Several EU leaders have criticised Turkey, amid a growing row over the Turkish government’s attempts to hold rallies in European countries, the BBC reports.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Germany and the Netherlands of “Nazism” after officials blocked rallies there.

Dutch PM Mark Rutte called his comments “unacceptable”, while Germany’s foreign minister said he hoped Turkey would “return to its senses”.

Denmark’s leader has also postponed a planned meeting with Mr Erdogan.

Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said he was concerned that “democratic principles are under great pressure” in Turkey.

He added that he had postponed the meeting because: “With the current Turkish attacks on Holland the meeting cannot be seen separated from that.”

The rallies aim to encourage a large number of Turks living in Europe to vote yes in a referendum expanding the president’s powers.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan insists Manchester United are ready to face Chelsea in the FA Cup despite their hectic fixture schedule, the Evening Standard reports.

Asked about the potential impact United’s fixture schedule is having on results, Mkhitaryan told the club’s website: “It doesn’t bother us.

“We just have to get ready for that game. It’s not going to be easy as everyone knows but we know how we’re going to play and we’re hoping for a good game and a good result for us.

“We have to play with everyone. It doesn’t matter whether we’re playing away or at home, we just have to do our best and to keep playing very well. That’s the most important thing.

“There is no sense to think about avoiding Chelsea or someone else [in cup draws] because you’re probably going to meet them in the final.

“I think it’s better to play them now, to see if you can win or not and then you move forward.

“It’s going to be very important to stay in three different competitions.

“We’re going to try to do that. It’s not going to be easy because as you go further it gets difficult but we have to try.

“We’re having a good time now, we’re having good games, we have a good squad and we can reach the maximum that we want.”

Students, who were on military duty during the April aggression against Artsakh, will get additional tuition discounts, Spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Artrun Hovhannisyan informs.

The Armenian Ministry of Defense and the Youth Foundation of Armenia have reached an agreement, under which students who were on military duty during the April war, but were not directly involved in military actions, will get an additional 20 percent discount at higher educational establishments.

Added to the previously set 30 percent the discount will amount to 50 percent overall. Funds will be allocated by the Development Foundation of Armenia.

President Serzh Sargsyan will leave for Moscow on March 14 for a two-day official visit, President’s Press Office reports.

The President of Armenia will hold meetings with the highest leadership. During the high-level negotiations reference will be made to pivotal issues on bilateral agenda related to the cooperation of the strategic partners in the political, trade and economic, humanitarian, and cultural areas, as well as issues related to the integration processes in the Eurasian area.

Presidents Serzh Sargsyan and Vladimir Putin will exchange views on the pressing international and regional issue and will discuss the NK peace process.

Within the framework of the official visit to the Russian Federation, President Sargsyan will be hosted at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations where he will meet with the faculty and students.

The lack of talks on Nagorno Karabakh is connected with the huge blow to the negotiation process caused by the aggression against Artsakh last April, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said at a joint press conference with visiting Foreign Minister of Greece Nikolaos Kotzias.

“This pushed the negotiation process back,” Minister Nalbandian said. He added that Armenia and the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing countries are making efforts to create conditions conducive to the furthering the negotiation process.

The comments come after Azerbaijan Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov accused Armenia of freezing the Karabakh talks.

“It’s well known that the international community, the Minsk Group Co-Chairs and Armenia are speaking the same language, while Azerbaijan is speaking a different language,” Edward Nalbandian said. He blamed Azerbaijan for the failure to implement the agreements reached at Vienna and St. Petersburg summits.

Minister Nalbandian stressed that there is no alternative to the negotiations, and the OSACE Minsk Group Co-Chairs maintain efforts to further the negotiation process.

“The Co-Chairs will arrive in Armenia on March 27 and will visit Stepanakert, as well,” Edward Nalbandian informed.