Category: News

On 19 January Permanent Representative of the Republic of Armenia to the United Nations, Ambassador Zohrab Mnatsakanyan today delivered a statement at the Security Council Open Debate on “Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict”.

In his statement Ambassador Mnatsakanyan stressed, that Armenia shares the concern of the Secretary General about the disturbing challenges for the protection of civilians in conflict-affected areas, which remain persistent as ever. While the humanitarian aspects of affected populations are of high concern, basic physical security of civilians continues to be wracked. The persistently rising numbers of civilian casualties call for a resolute action.

Ambassador Mnatsakanyan also emphasized, that the question of accountability requires amplified consolidation of the Council in demonstrating resolve against parties, responsible for denying basic security or humanitarian relief to affected populations. The idea of enabling the UN peace operations with a mandate for a preventive, protective and tactical use of force to protect civilians under threat of physical violence needs to be given thorough consideration. The reputation of the Organisation is judged not by words of condemnation, but by deliverable protection. Strengthening the capacities of field missions, including those of the relevant regional organizations, remains an on-going priority. Last, but not least, protection of civilians in armed conflicts is closely tied to the prevention of mass atrocities, including the crime of genocide. A culture of assessing every crisis situation affecting civilian populations through the prism of massive crimes, including the crime of genocide, should be further cultivated within the Organization, – underscored Zohrab Mnatsakanyan.

The Ambassador of Armenia referred to the recent situation in the region, stressing that Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh have been experiencing significant challenges to the security of its civilian populations as a result of the on-going disregard by Azerbaijan to respecting and upholding the 1994 cease-fire agreement. Increasingly, Azerbaijan continues to target civilians across the line of contact with Nagorno Karabakh and the border with Armenia. As a result of intensified cease-fire violations and massive shelling of populated areas with the unprecedented use of heavy artillery, considerable damage has been inflicted on the livelihoods of the bordering villages. In September 2015 three women were killed by Azerbaijani fire. Armenia strongly deplores the purposeful acts of Azerbaijan to violate the cease-fire regime and damage the on-going peace process within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmanship. Once again, Armenia urges Azerbaijan to heed the calls of the international community and agree without delay to establish an investigative mechanism into the cease-fire violations, and to withdraw snipers. By rejecting such mechanism, Azerbaijan bears full responsibility for the violations and the escalation of tensions.

In conclusion, Ambassador Mnatsakanyan underlined, that the on-going negotiations for the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmanship is a positive example of effective utilization of the capacity of regional organizations in conflict resolution. Armenia highly commends the support of the international community, of the United Nations and of the Secretary General rendered to the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairmanship in the peaceful resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. He stressed that Azerbaijan should be denied the attempts to undermine the efforts of the Co-chairs or to engage in forum and mediation shopping.

The Open debated was presided by José Luis Cancela, Deputy Foreign Minister of Uruguay. Representatives of about eighty state members, including Deputy Foreign Ministers of Spain and Ukraine, as well Jan Eliasson, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Christine Beerli, Vice-President of the International Committee of the Red Cross took part in the Debate.

Fifty-seven casualties were reported in the Armand Forces of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh last year, Spokesman for the Armenian Minister of Defense Artsrun Hovhannisyan said in a Facebook post.

He added that 38 soldiers were killed at the line of contact by Azerbaijani snipers or as a result of infringement attempts and other actions of the rival. Two were killed in traffic accidents, another two because of diseases.

One case of murder was registered. Six servicemen committed or were forced to commit suicide. Four died because of accidents.

In three cases the servicemen violated the rules of military duty and one death resulted from mine blast.

Gunfire and explosions were heard Wednesday morning local time from within Bacha Khan University in Charsadda, northwestern Pakistan.

There are still dead inside and the operation is ongoing, Bilal Faizi, a local emergency service spokesman told CNN. Fog and low visibility have been hampering military and police efforts to regain control.

Lt. Gen. Asim Bajwa, an army spokesperson, said on Twitter that four attackers had been killed and that government troops had resumed control of all buildings and rooftops. An updated tweet said that the gunfire had ceased and troops were clearing the site block by block.

Photo: Reuters

A loud explosion was heard on Wednesday in an area close to the Russian embassy in the west of the Afghan capital of Kabul, local media reported.

​The explosion was likely caused by car bomb; a number of casualties are feared, TOLOnews reported, citing eyewitnesses.

​Firefighters are currently battling fire in a building in front of the Russian embassy, Sputnik News reports.

Friends of Armenia will travel to Washington, DC from across America on March 15th for a two-day Capitol Hill advocacy campaign promoting peace, prosperity, and justice for the Armenian nation, organized by the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

“We look forward to building upon the success of December’s fly-in with a renewed grassroots drive this spring challenging Azerbaijan’s aggression, removing barriers to the growth of U.S.-Armenia economic relations, and overriding Turkey’s veto against a principled American stand for a just resolution of the Armenian Genocide,” said Elen Asatryan, ANCA Western Region Executive Director and Armen Sahakyan of the ANCA Eastern Region.  “We encourage constituents from across America to join us, once again, in making our case to Congress.”

Friends and supporters of Armenia and Artsakh are invited to register on the ANCA website at  and work with ANCA Regional and Washington, D.C. staff to coordinate meetings with Senate and House offices to share core ANCA public policy priorities. Registration is free; participants are responsible for their travel and lodging.  The ANCA will host a reception in the Aramian Conference Room of its Washington, DC office on the evening of Tuesday, March 15th.

Among the key requests that advocates will deliver to legislators during the fly-in are the following:

Congressional leaders will be urged to help save lives, avert war and create the conditions for a fair and enduring peace by demanding the immediate implementation of the Royce-Engel proposals for Nagorno Karabakh: 1) The withdrawal of snipers and heavy arms, 2) the addition of OSCE observers, and 3) the deployment of gunfire locator systems.  The U.S. government, the OSCE and both Armenia and Artsakh have endorsed these proposals. Only Azerbaijan ‘s objections are preventing their implementation.

Member of Congress will be encouraged to help remove a major barrier to U.S.-Armenia business ties – the double taxation of U.S./Armenia profits – through the negotiation of a long overdue bilateral Tax Treaty.  This accord, building upon last year’s landmark U.S.-Armenia Trade and Investment Framework Agreement, would help create jobs, foster hope, and generate economic opportunity in both countries.  Legislators will also be asked to support continued U.S. assistance to Nagorno Karbakh, for de-mining of civilian areas and the urgently needed expansion of a regional rehabilitation center providing health care services to disabled children and adults from throughout the Caucasus area and beyond.

U.S. Senators and Representatives will be asked to support the adoption of S.Res.140 and H.Res.154, the Armenian Genocide Truth + Justice Resolution. H.Res.154, a reparations-oriented measure, goes beyond recognition, actively seeking to engage the full force of  United States  diplomacy in ending Turkey ‘s denial of both truth and justice for this still-unpunished crime against humanity.

Turkish Science, Industry and Technology Minister Fikri Işık admitted that the investigation into the murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink had been delayed, and blamed the “parallel state” for the delay, the reports.

“We accept that there has been a delay [in prosecuting the murder of Dink] because of the attempts of the Parallel State Structure to shadow the probe,” Işık responding to questions in the parliament on Jan. 19, the ninth anniversary of the prominent journalist’s assasination.

Dink, an outspoken activist for minority rights and former editor-in-chief of weekly Agos, was shot dead outside his office in Istanbul’s Şişli district on Jan. 19, 2007 by 17-year-old Ogün Samast, who had traveled to Istanbul from the Black Sea province of Trabzon before the murder.

“I underline that no cause can legitimize any attempt on someone’s life. This incident is being worked on with all details,” said Işık.

“But nothing remains secret. If we had thought different, we would not make that much effort to investigate all details of this incident and we would not give complete support to the judiciary. At the moment, we want and hope that all related institutions will work effectively in enlightening this incident as well as other unsolved murder incidents,” he added.

Işık also added that he wanted to see the instigators of Dink’s murder found and brought to face justice.
Relatives and followers of the case have long claimed that government officials, police, military personnel and members of the National Intelligence Agency (MİT) played a role in Dink’s murder by neglecting their duty to protect the journalist.

On Dec. 9, 2015, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office approved the indictment prepared against 26 police chiefs into “negligence on public duty” in the killing of Dink.

A total of 26 police officers, including both current and former police chiefs, will be tried as the indictment in the nine-year-long investigation.

The indictment referred to U.S.-based Islamic cleric Fethullah Gülen, a former ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), who the AKP government now accuses of heading a terrorist organization. The officials currently being investigated were suspected of having links to the Gülen movement.

The 26 police officers were charged with one count each of “forming or heading an armed terrorist group,” “membership of an armed terrorist group,” “power abuse on duty,” “manipulating, destroying and/or concealing official documents,” “deliberate murder,” “fabricating official documents by public employees” and “deliberate murder on negligence” in the case filed into public officials at the time of the assassination. All of the 26 were on duty at the time of Dink’s murder.

Hakan Bakırcıoğlu, a Dink family lawyer, said on Nov. 4 that not opening a case against former police chiefs Ahmet İlhan Güler, Celalettin Cerrah, Reşat Altay, Engin Dinç and other suspects, would exclude their integral responsibility in Dink’s murder.

Laval’s 18-year-old Tina Garabedian, who has been with the Laval Figure Skating Club since she was four, along with her partner Simon Proulx-Senecal walked away with a bronze medal in Croatia last month at The Golden Spin of Zagreb tournament, according to .

“It was an amazing thing to see the Armenian flag raised,” Garabedian’s father John Garabedian said. “With tears in my eyes, I witnessed something I had not seen before. My mother nation’s flag slowly being raised alongside the Italian (first place) and the US flag (second place).”

Garabedian and Proulx-Senecal will be competing on Jan. 23 in the European Championships in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. The duo hopes to be wearing the colours of Armenia in the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

Garabedian holds dual citizenship granted to her when the Armenian skating federation enthusiastically accepted that she represent the country at the international level.

“As a proud Armenian, she jumped at the opportunity to represent Armenia when her coach, Shawn Winters, suggested the idea. Tina is very proud of her heritage. She went to Armenian school up to the Grade 7 at École Armenienne Sourp Hagop,” the proud father boasted.

The duo has begun a fundraising campaign to raise money for their competitions.

“Each international competition costs between $6,000-10,000. With no support from Armenia we need to be self-financing,” John explained. “There are Armenians all over the world. We are trying to encourage them to support the team so they can make sure the Armenian flag stands out on the world stage. They did it in Zagreb and I am certain they can do it again.”

According to John, the website donation page has already collected over $5,000 from Los Angeles, Lebanon, Toronto, Yerevan and London.

Learn more about the team or donate to their Olympic dream on their Facebook page @Ice Dance Armenia or see their donation page at

Photos by Tom Smart, Deseret News

ABC 4 Sports – Six years ago, after helping RSL win the MLS Cup, Yura Movsisyan could not pass up the opportunity and big money to play overseas. But after playing in Europe and Russia, Movsisyan was itching to come back to MLS, and Real Salt Lake was the only team he wanted to play for.

“When I decided to come back to MLS a couple years ago, I told them that I only wanted Salt Lake,” Movsisyan said. “Salt Lake is home for me. I had success in Salt Lake.”

Georgian Energy Minister, Kakha Kaladze, said he will meet chief executives of Gazprom’s export arm, Elena Burmistrova, in Vienna on January 20.

“We will try to get a result, which will be acceptable for the country and the [energy] sector,” Kaladze said in an interview with Tbilisi-based Rustavi 2 TV.

According to the Georgian Energy Ministry it holds talks with Gazprom on terms of transit of Russian gas to Armenia via Georgia – Gazprom wants to pay cash as a transit fee instead of giving Georgia 10% of gas transported to Armenia.

Negotiations also involve possible purchase of additional gas from Gazprom, which will be required to fill the gap amid increasing gas consumption, according to the Georgian Energy Ministry. It says that the country will face this gap during the peak consumption in winter period before Azerbaijan’s state energy company SOCAR upgrades capacity of pipeline infrastructure through which it supplies gas to Georgia and before the completion of the second phase of Shah Deniz project, scheduled for late 2018.

According to Kaladze, who met for three times with Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller since September, Russia’s share in Georgia’s annual gas supplies may increase from current 11% to about 20% if Georgia starts importing additional volumes of gas from Gazprom.

Georgia consumed over 2.47 billion cubic meters of gas last year 88.5% of which was supplied from Azerbaijan, according to data provided by the Energy Ministry.

By Arin Mikailian

Opponents of a proposed Armenian American Museum in Glendale voiced concerns over the potential for traffic and parking impacts, while backers endorsed the idea of creating a cultural hub and community resource during a public forum earlier this week.

More than 100 people packed a meeting room at St. Gregory Armenian Catholic Church for a forum organized by the museum development committee.

The contested site, a 1.37-acre, city-owned parking lot, is at Mountain Street and Verdugo Road, across from Glendale Community College and abutted by a residential neighborhood.

While concerned residents say they’re not against the idea of a 30,000-square-foot museum, they’re not a fan of the location.

“The museum should be in a central area of the city, where City Hall is, and there is a core civic center area,” resident Tom Searson said in a phone interview after the meeting. “I think that’s probably the best location; there’s an infrastructure there. There’s shopping, all these things that will attract pedestrian traffic.”

Adding a museum to the area could generate congestion that nearby streets can’t handle, he said.

Conceptual designs depict a two-story building with a façade resembling both local and Armenian mountains. Inside, a library with research facilities, exhibitions and a coffee shop are planned.

Teacher Taline Arsenian, who was among those at the meeting, called the location, which is within walking distance of the college, ideal.

“I’m looking forward to this museum opening, to students from our community and neighboring communities being exposed to all of the cultural awareness and education they’re going to get,” she said.

Berdj Karapetian, chairman of the museum’s project development committee, said half of the exhibits will be permanent, while the other half will be traveling collections that feature other cultures, including Korean and Indian.

He said the museum isn’t looking at other sites.

One resident asked why the design couldn’t reflect the architecture of nearby Spanish homes. Architect Aram Alajajian explained that differentiating the building was intentional, citing as examples the distinct designs of the Broad and Getty museums.

“A museum is an iconic project,” he said. “An iconic building needs to stand out.”

In response to concerns over potential activities, Tigranna Zakaryan, the museum’s outreach director, said the property would not host weddings or other events “completely unrelated to what the museum stands for.”

Several residents of the adjacent Rossmoyne neighborhood said they were worried about added traffic.

A traffic study is planned, as are future reviews by City Hall. The Glendale City Council eventually would have to give its approval for the project to move forward.

The traffic study likely will be conducted next month and take into account peak hours, especially when Glendale College students arrive in the morning, traffic engineer Jano Baghdanian said.

While data still has to be collected, some things already are known about museum traffic.

“One [factor] with museums is that they do not generate traffic during peak hours; they generate traffic during the day. … A majority of museum visits occur on Saturdays and Sundays,” Baghdanian said at the forum.

As for parking, the Verdugo and Mountain lot houses 176 spaces used by college students and visitors of the adjacent Glendale Civic Auditorium.

More than a year ago, the City Council granted an agreement with the museum’s committee not to lease the lot while a conceptual design was prepared.

While final details have a long way to go, the city already has stipulated that the museum’s construction must include an underground parking structure to replace the existing lot — accessible by students — in addition to spaces for visitors.

While there’s no price tag for the entire project, the first financial goal through fundraising is $10 million, Zakaryan said.

She declined to say how much has been raised.