Category: News

Asbarez– Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA) on Wednesday released a statement commemorating the Sumgait Pogrom.

Rep. Schiff’s full statement is below:

Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the 29th anniversary of the pogrom against the Armenian residents of the town of Sumgait, Azerbaijan. 29 years ago Azerbaijani mobs assaulted and killed their Armenian neighbors. When the violence finally subsided, hundreds of Armenian civilians had been brutally murdered and injured, women and young girls were raped, and victims were tortured and burned alive. Those that survived the carnage fled their homes and businesses, leaving behind everything they had in their desperation.

The pogroms were the culmination of years of vicious anti-Armenian propaganda, spread by the Azerbaijani authorities. The Azerbaijani authorities made little effort to punish those responsible, instead attempting to cover up the atrocities in Sumgait to this day, as well as denying the role of senior government officials in instigating the violence. Unsurprisingly, it was not the end of the violence, and was followed by additional attacks, including the 1990 pogrom in Baku.

The Sumgait massacre and the subsequent attacks on ethnic Armenians, resulted in the virtual disappearance of a once thriving population of 450,000 Armenians living in Azerbaijan, and culminating in the war launched against the people of Nagorno-Karabakh. That war resulted in thousands dead on both sides and created over one million refugees in both Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Time has not healed the wounds of those murdered in the pogroms in Sumgait, Kirovabad, and Baku. To the contrary, hatred of Armenians is celebrated in in Azerbaijan, a situation most vividly exemplified by the case of Ramil Safarov, an Azerbaijani army captain who savagely murdered an Armenian army lieutenant, Gurgen Margaryan with an axe while he slept. The two were participating in a NATO Partnership for Peace exercise at the time in Hungary. In 2012, Safarov was sent home to Azerbaijan, purportedly to serve out the remainder of his sentence. Instead, he was pardoned, promoted, and paraded through the streets of Baku as a returning hero.

The assault on ethnic Armenian civilians in Sumgait helped touch off what would become a direct conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh. And today, Azerbaijan’s dangerous behavior on the Line of Contact threatens peace and stability in the region. Artillery and sniper fire across the Line of Contact has become a fact of daily life for civilians in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, causing numerous casualties. In April of last year, Azerbaijan launched its most aggressive attack in many years, resulting in the loss of many lives over the course of three days of intense fighting.

Along with other Members of Congress, I have consistently called for a direct international response to Azerbaijan’s aggressive behavior through deployment of international monitors and technology to monitor ceasefire violations. Azerbaijan’s continued rejection of these simple steps speaks volumes, but I believe they should not prevent the installation of these technologies within Nagorno-Karabakh. The anniversary of Sumgait is a reminder of the consequences when aggression and hatred is allowed to grow unchecked.

Mr. Speaker, this April we will mark the 102nd Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, an event the Turkish government, Azerbaijan’s closest ally, goes to great lengths to deny. We must not let such crimes against humanity go unrecognized, whether they occurred yesterday or 29 years ago or 100 years ago. Today, let us pause to remember the victims of the atrocities of the Sumgait pogroms. Mr. Speaker, it is our moral obligation to condemn crimes of hatred and to remember the victims, in hope that history will not be repeated.”

The tunnel mural of the Armenian Students’ Association (ASA) was found defaced and covered with propaganda posters on the morning of Feb. 27,  reports.

Serge Iskedijan, senior executive member of the ASA, said he and his club suspect the incident is a hate crime, and reported the incident to Campus Safety.

Iskedijan said Campus Safety has involved the Ottawa Police in the case.

“We were deeply appalled that they chose to attack the mural . . . The mural is a depiction of just our historical background,” he said. “There’s nothing political about the mural. We’re not sending a message, and we don’t want people to interpret it that way.”

According to a statement on the ASA’s Facebook page, the posters were not approved by the Carleton University Students’ Association, and were not found anywhere else on school grounds.

The ASA said in the statement that they condemn “any sort of hate speech and discrimination towards any race, ethnicity or faith.”

This mural defacing was not the first time his club has encountered hostility, according to Iskedijan.

The posters placed on the mural appeared to be part of Azerbaijani campaign  called “Justice for Khojaly.”

Iskedijan said Campus Safety has forwarded information about the case to the intelligence unit of the Ottawa Police, which will determine whether or not the incident will be considered a hate crime.

 

 

 

Zangi represents Armenia at 2017 Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona. Attended by a number of telecommunications companies of the world, MWC is the world’s biggest and best mobile industry event.

It provides IT companies worldwide with an opportunity to showcase their innovations, establish business ties, promote their production and follow global trends.

Established in 2013, Zangi began its life by developing cutting-edge communications technology. The Company officially released its Zangi application in early 2015.

The Messenger available on iOS and Android, offers users anywhere an extremely useful communication tool.

“The Armenian application Zangi challenges Skype, Viber and WhatsApp,” Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan said in a Facebook post.

Zangi CEO & Founder Vahram Martirosyan says they will return to Armenia with new agreements and a large cooperation packages that will open new perspective for the country and will make it better known in the IT world. New contracts will help create new jobs, as well.

Speaking to , Vahram Martirosyan assured that communicating through Zangi is ‘completely safe.’ The application does not store any data about users anywhere. “Therefore, even if the system is hacked, none of the users will be affected,” he said.

“The Armenian pavilion has been popular among visitors. Many have downloaded and tested the app over four days,” Vahram Martirosyan said, speaking through Zangi.

President Sargsyan has issued an address on the occasion of Diplomat’s Day

Dear Diplomats,

I congratulate you on the occasion of Diplomat’s Day.
This year marks a jubilee, because 25 years ago, on this very day Armenia joined the United Nations Organization, thus fulfilling the cherished aspiration of our people to become a full-fledged member of the international community.

A quarter of a century ago, when Armenia appeared again on the world political map, the link between our country and the outside world was established first of all through our diplomats. It is no coincidence that this symbolic day has been declared and is traditionally celebrated as the professional holiday of Armenian Diplomats.

Indeed, the responsibility to protect the interests of independent Armenia, which has a millennia-old history, rich traditions and culture, and those of its citizens is a great responsibility. One of the peculiarities of diplomatic service is that most of its activities remain invisible to public eye. Be assured that your work is visible to us and is praiseworthy.

Today again our country faces multiple challenges. In the efforts to withstand those challenges we have great expectations and requirements from you, our diplomats. Just like the Armenian soldier on the frontline, so do you, abroad and in the central apparatus of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, should remain vigilant and always ready to counter any threat directed against our state and national interests.

The surrounding geopolitical realities have left their unique mark on our diplomatic service as well. Along with high professional requirements, which may be even higher than in case of diplomats of other countries, your work requires a selfless dedication to and love for Homeland. That is the case when you represent a country, which has to live under the conditions of war and blockade.

Armenia is a peace-loving country. We, the Armenians, have struggled for centuries for the right to live on the land of our ancestors, so we fully realize the value of peaceful life. Diplomats carry on their shoulders the most important share of the responsibility to ensure necessary conditions for a peaceful and sustainable development of our country. I am confident that you understand that responsibility and are ready to bear it with honor.

I am sure that you will continue to properly represent our country, our stance and approaches and through your active engagement will make them more audible and understandable within international platforms; that you will continue to bring your considerable contribution to the strengthening of our country’s external security.

Dear Diplomats,

Once again I congratulate you on the occasion of Diplomat’s Day and wish you an unlimited vigor to fulfill to the best possible extent the mission entrusted to you. I also wish you new achievements for the benefit and development of our Homeland.

Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on the conflict dealt with by the OSCE Minsk Conference made the following statement:

“At the request of the sides, a humanitarian operation to retrieve the remains of Azerbaijani servicemen from the heavily mined no man’s land took place on Monday, 27 February with my staff fully mobilized in support of this operation.

The aim of our presence was to ensure the strict observance of the ceasefire by the sides through security guarantees, and to guarantee that the operation was carried out as agreed between the sides.

I would like to stress that my Office was consistently supported by local commanders in the field as well as representatives of the military authorities.

With their support, and with the International Committee of the Red Cross present, the operation was concluded successfully in the afternoon.”

NKR Defense Army’s contract serviceman Nver Babajanyan (born in 1980) was killed in Azeri shelling at 16:50 today, Artsakh Defense Ministry reports.

Probe into details of the incident is under way.

The Azerbaijani forces used  mortars and grenade launchers as they shelled the Armenian positions starting from 11:25 this morning.

 

The Defense Ministry said it shares the sorrow of the heavy loss and offers condolences to the serviceman’s family and friends.

A French police sniper has accidentally shot and injured two people during a speech by President Francois Hollande in western France, the BBC reports.

The shot was fired as the officer moved position on a roof about 100m (328ft) from a tent where Mr Hollande was speaking in the town of Villognon.

The bullet went through the canvas of the tent, where drinks were being made. It passed through a waiter’s thigh and lodged in another person’s calf.

The injuries were not life-threatening.

Mr Hollande was inaugurating a new stretch of railway when a gunshot was heard. He interrupted his speech for a few moments but reports say there was no panic.

“I hope it’s nothing serious – I think not,” Mr Hollande said as he paused his address to ask whether anyone had been hurt.

The president later visited the injured – the head waiter of a local hotel and an employee of a railway maintenance company.

One local report said the safety catch of the sniper’s weapon had been unlocked, allowing the gun to be discharged accidentally.

Local government chief Pierre N’Gahane said a judicial investigation had been launched.

To achieve progress in the settlement of the Karabakh conflict, it’s first necessary to restore the full format of  talks, Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan said in an interview with Regnum Agency.

“The resolution of the conflict is simply impossible without our participation as a full party. The fact is accepted by international mediators, e.g. the Minsk Group Co-Chairs. We are ready to hold direct negotiations with Azerbaijan and  discuss any issues, and we have declared this on many occasions,” Bako Sahakyan said.

“Status and security are two key political aspects of settlement. All other questions are derivatives. There no way back. Artsakh will never be part of Azerbaijan. This is excluded. Ensuring security to Nagorno Karabakh in all dimensions cannot be questioned, either. As to other questions, we are ready to discuss them with Azerbaijan. I believe this is a constructive stance based on existing realities,” the President said.

“Like any citizen in my country, I’m confident of the bright future of Artsakh. We’ll do our best to have strong, democratic, social and dynamically developing country, which will find its rightful place in the civilized world,” Bako Sahakyan said.

On March 1, 2017, in accordance with the arrangement reached with the authorities of the Republic of Artsakh, the OSCE Mission conducted a planned monitoring of the Line of Contact between the armed forces of Artsakh and Azerbaijan, in the direction of the Askeran region, near the settlement of Shykhlyar.

From the positions of the Defense Army of the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh Republic), the monitoring was conducted by Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk and his Field Assistants Ghenadie Petrica (Moldova) and Khristo Khristov (Bulgaria).

From the opposite side of the Line of Contact, the monitoring was conducted by Field Assistant to the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Jiri Aberle (Czech Republic), staff member of the Office of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Peter Svedberg (Sweden), and Personal Assistant to the CiO Personal Representative Simon Tiller (Great Britain).

The monitoring passed in accordance with the agreed schedule. No violation of the cease-fire regime was registered. However, the Azerbaijani side did not lead the OSCE mission to its front-line positions.

From the Artsakh side, the monitoring mission was accompanied by representatives of the Republic of Artsakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Defense.

President Serzh Sargsyan met with the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Federica Mogherini.

The President of Armenia stated that the meeting with Mrs. Mogherini was taking place at an important for Armenia and the EU juncture: a day before President Sargsyan and President Tusk announced the conclusion of the negotiations on the new framework agreement.

The parties discussed a wide range of issues pertinent to the further development and strengthening of the Armenia-EU relations. The President underscored that it is proper indeed to speak of joint accomplishments of the last two years.

The parties spoke about the reforms carried out in Armenia in different areas, large-scale works implemented after the constitutional changes aimed at the developing and strengthening of democratic institutions in Armenia, as well as about the upcoming parliamentary elections.

The interlocutors discussed the Karabakh peace process, existing problems and concerns.

The President of Armenia spoke in detail about the destructive position of Azerbaijan, about the provocations regularly incited by the Azeris at the contact line with Artsakh and Armenia’s state border, their refusal to implement agreements reached in Vienna and Saint Petersburg, which, according to President Sargsyan, challenges the years-long efforts of the international community aimed at a peaceful resolution of the conflict and the entire peace process.