Estonia does not need to start weakening relations with Turkey by recognizing the Armenian genocide, Chairman of the Riigikogu's Foreign Affairs Committee Marko Mihkelson (Reform) said on Tuesday, in response to a proposal by the foreign minister Margus Tsahkna (Eesti 200).

During an official visit to Yerevan last week, Tsahkna released a statement saying Estonia would work towards recognizing the 1915 genocide.

Tsahkna told ERR on Wednesday his proposal is nothing new and was first put forward by President Arnold Rüütel in 2004. Estonia's allies, such as the USA, Sweden, Germany, Latvia, and Lithuania, have also recognized the event as genocide, he added.

The issue must now be discussed in the Riigikogu and the ball is in its court, the minister said.

"And I know that there are such discussions. This is nothing urgent, but it is more of a question of values that goes along with our own broader concept of the rule of law, genocide, all the international crimes against humanity that we have been very clear about and that Russia is also carrying out today in relation to Ukraine. I have stated my position, and it is now up to the Riiigkogu to debate the matter," Tsahkna said.

Mihkelson: Issue should have been discussed with Riigikogu first

Mihkelson said Tsahkna's proposal was a "surprise" and the topic is not being discussed in the Riigikogu.

"We all read about it in the minister's social media post. The foreign minister apparently missed the little nuance that if we are seeking the widest possible support in the Riigikogu on this issue, it is better to engage with our partners and colleagues through the Parliament and see what the willingness is on the ground to get broad support for such a bill before announcing it on social media," the MP said.

"Communicating with representatives of various factions, I do not see that this is a topical issue at the moment and that such a bill be processed will by the Riigikogu," he added.

Mihkelson did not rule out putting forward a draft on the matter in the future, but said politics is always in the background. At the moment he believes prioritising relations with Turkey is more important.

"We understand perfectly well what has happened in history, and Estonia's foreign policy is, after all, more broadly set to stand up for these values, so that no crime against humanity goes unpunished or is repeated. But at this point in time, with a very turbulent world, and with the news coming out of Ukraine rather more worrying than it was six months ago, and with a number of serious problems to be solved in keeping the allied space together, any additional tension between the allies, not least because of our own actions, is certainly not in Estonia's security interests," said Mihkelson.

"What is important for Estonia in international foreign policy at the moment is precisely the issues of ensuring security and strengthening the alliance space, not weakening it. This is a clear priority in our foreign policy, this is my personal view," he added.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs communicates with Turkey

Mihkelson indicated that Turkey had a very clear and critical reaction to Tsahkna's statement.

"Estonia has concluded a very substantial defense cooperation agreement with Turkey for armored vehicles. Turkey is a very important ally in NATO. We have, of course, also conveyed these messages to our Turkish counterparts through direct contacts and diplomatic channels," he said.

Tsahkna said Turkish officials have asked what Estonia's plans are.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs told ERR the Estonian ambassador in Ankara has explained Estonia's positions. There has also been communication with the Turkish ambassador in Tallinn.

"In our discussions, we stressed the importance of bilateral relations and a continued strong alliance with Turkey. Estonia does not attribute the Armenian genocide to any of today's countries. We believe that speaking openly about what happened in history will contribute to the development of democratic societies and also prevent the recurrence of these crimes," the ministry said.

The Armenian genocide took place in 1915 when the Ottoman Empire systematically destroyed and deported Armenians, causing the death of an estimated 1.5 million Armenians.

The Armenian National Institute said 32 countries have recognized the killing of Armenians as genocide. However, Turkey does not believe the claim and some countries have allegedly not recognized the genocide to keep up good relations.

Last year, representatives of the Association of Estonian National Minorities called on the Riigikogu to recognize the Armenian genocide

 10:36,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 20, ARMENPRESS. Chess grandmaster Levon Aronian has endorsed Aras Ozbiliz for the presidency of the Football Federation of Armenia (FFA).

In a statement posted on social media, Aronian praised Ozbiliz’s career in football and expressed hope that he will win the vote.

“We now have the chance to elect someone who’s played in the national team and in strong clubs for many years, and proved to be a professional athlete, as president of the football federation. I hope that Aras Ozbiliz will get support on this path,” Aronian said.

Aras Ozbiliz is running for the presidency of the Football Federation of Armenia against the incumbent President Armen Melikbekyan. The election will take place on December 23.

[see video]

 11:58,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 20, ARMENPRESS. Former U.S. President Donald Trump is disqualified from serving as U.S. president and cannot appear on the primary ballot in Colorado because of his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by his supporters, the state's top court ruled Tuesday, Reuters reports.

The historic 4-3 ruling by the Colorado Supreme Court, likely to be taken up by the U.S. Supreme Court, makes Trump the first presidential candidate deemed ineligible for the White House under a rarely used constitutional provision that bars officials who have engaged in "insurrection or rebellion" from holding office.

The ruling applies only to Colorado's March 5 Republican primary but it could affect Trump's status in the state for the Nov. 5 general election. Nonpartisan U.S. election forecasters view Colorado as safely Democratic, meaning that President Joe Biden will likely carry the state regardless of Trump's fate there.

Trump vowed to appeal the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court, and the Colorado court said it would delay the effect of its decision until at least Jan. 4, 2024, to allow for an appeal.

The ruling sets the stage for the Supreme Court, whose 6-3 conservative majority includes three Trump appointees, to consider whether Trump is eligible to serve another term as president.

The lawsuit is viewed as a test case for a wider effort to disqualify Trump from state ballots under section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which was enacted after the U.S. Civil War to keep supporters of the confederacy from serving in the government.

The Colorado court concluded that the U.S. Constitution bars Trump, the frontrunner for the Republican nomination in 2024, from appearing on the ballot because of his role instigating violence at the Capitol as lawmakers met to certify the results of the 2020 election. The court's majority acknowledged the decision was "uncharted territory."

"We do not reach these conclusions lightly," the majority justices wrote. "We are mindful of the magnitude and weight of the questions now before us. We are likewise mindful of our solemn duty to apply the law, without fear or favor, and without being swayed by public reaction to the decisions that the law mandates we reach."

Trump's campaign called the court decision "undemocratic."

"The Colorado Supreme Court issued a completely flawed decision tonight and we will swiftly file an appeal to the United States Supreme Court," a spokesperson from the Trump campaign said.

 12:52,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 20, ARMENPRESS. Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Imangali Tasmagambetov will visit Yerevan on December 21, the organization said in a press release.

In Yerevan, the CSTO Secretary General will have a meeting with Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan to discuss the results of the CSTO summit in Minsk.

Armenia did not attend the CSTO meetings in Minsk.

The bloc’s secretary-general had previously announced plans to visit Armenia to present the agreements reached during the summit.

 12:53,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 20, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijan is doing everything to avoid signing a peace treaty with Armenia, Armenian Member of Parliament Armen Khachatryan has warned.

“Yes, Azerbaijan has a negative disposition, perhaps Azerbaijan isn’t interested in a peace treaty. Azerbaijan understands that a result [of a peace treaty] Armenia’s economy could grow rapidly, and there could be serious prospects for Armenia’s development. They study this very well and they draw conclusions. Naturally, they aren’t too excited over Armenia having such a prospect. Today we see that Azerbaijan is doing everything in order to avoid signing a peace treaty or signing the kind of treaty that would be clearly guaranteed. Even if it’s signed, Azerbaijan is now doing everything in order for it to be at least like the November 9 document, to be able to breach all terms, which we have witnessed and which we will not allow. But this isn’t up to Azerbaijan, there is the international community, the West, there are many countries, and of course today there is a lot of diplomatic pressure on Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan must be brought to the constructive field,” Khachatryan told reporters.

 14:22,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 20, ARMENPRESS. Armenia has accumulated scientific potential and it’s time for the government to make serious investments in science, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said.

Speaking at a ceremony celebrating the 80th anniversary of founding of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), PM Pashinyan emphasized the important role of supporting science given that the government has been continuously increasing science funding since 2019.

The government increased science funding by 151% in 2023 compared to 2018, and in 2024 the funding will grow by 181%.

Mentioning the salary increase in the sector, the PM said that in 2022-2023 the number of persons engaged in science grew by 296, most of whom are scientists below the age of 55.

“The glorious legacy of the NAS is viewed not just as a fact, but a necessary and highly important asset to make strategic investments in the future. Today, many active scientists in Armenia have concrete contributions in modern scientific achievements by being involved in international scientific teams, but their work isn’t sufficiently covered. But the society must know all renowned scientists involved in breakthrough achievements,” the Prime Minister said in his speech at the event.

He said that the government is investing in science not just for the scientists, but for Armenia’s future, because the government sees the country’s progress in serious scientific development and reforms.

“It’s impossible to envision Armenia’s future without a developed scientific-educational sector, and it is science and education where we see the strategic planning and guarantee of our country’s future,” the Prime Minister said, noting the project on creating the Academic City.

 16:59,

YEREVAN, 20 DECEMBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 20 December, USD exchange rate down by 0.27 drams to 405.54 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 0.32 drams to 444.19 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.01 drams to 4.48 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 2.17 drams to 513.25 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price up by 209.30 drams to 26615.96 drams. Silver price down by 0.53 drams to 311.75 drams.

 17:19,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 20, ARMENPRESS. Children are filled with excitement, and parents share in their enthusiasm. The concluding performance of the two-month internship program by Galaxy Group of Companies is prepared by the children. They reflect on the knowledge acquired and discuss future plans, including new projects and dreams that lie ahead. The graduation event was graced by the presence of the children's mentors, who are also company directors, along with the children's parents and employees of the group.

"Galaxy Group of Companies consistently promotes the involvement of its community members and their families in sports, cultural, and social initiatives, fostering greater unity and strength. Aram Khachatryan, co-founder and CEO of Galaxy Group of Companies, expressed delight during the official closing ceremony of The Futures Business Internship, emphasizing, "We are pleased to have hosted the most cherished members of our community, the children, as part of this initiative."

Business is the art of possibility and the science of calculation. To explore this realm, the children of employees across all companies within Galaxy community engaged in various activities over a month. They had insightful meetings with Galaxy business leaders, delved into the behind-the-scenes operations of the companies, participated in discussions, and collaborated on team projects. A total of 28 children, aged 10 to 14, participated in this initiative, attending seven meetings. The program provided them with the opportunity to visit Megafood, Paul Armenia, Time, Ucom, and Yerevan Mall, all part of Galaxy Group of Companies. Additionally, they interacted with business leaders and held discussions, allowing them to ask pertinent questions and receive valuable insights. The initiative also included visits to AxelMondrian and Partners, the reputation management company responsible for organizing the project.

“Through this initiative, the children of our community's employees enjoyed a wonderful and unique opportunity to spend a day at their parents' workplace, gaining practical insights into their daily activities. Reflecting on the project, we can affirm that it was not only an exciting experience for the participating parents but also a motivating one for the children. This initiative offers them a glimpse into potential future professions, allowing them to envision challenges and contemplate strategies to overcome them.” - Astghik Sargsyan, the Chief People Officer of Galaxy Group of Companies, shared these thoughts during the official closing event of The Futures Business Internship.

During the official closing ceremony of The Futures Business Internship, the future leaders showcased the culmination of their teamwork. They presented the most impressive aspects of their meetings, shared innovative business ideas, and outlined their visions for development to the executives of Galaxy Group of Companies.

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Galaxy Group of Companies, founded by Aram Khachatryan, Gurgen Khachatryan and Artyom Khachatryan, is an Armenian holding company that represents 15 companies in 3 countries. The company directs efforts and funds to the implementation of corporate social responsibility programs in Armenia for the development of thought leadership and intellectual capital in the fields of education, social development and art. In recent years alone, Galaxy Group of Companies has implemented 64 large-scale CSR projects, which directly benefited more than 10,000 people.

 17:54,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 20, ARMENPRESS.  A consultation  chaired by the Armenian  Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan was held , during which discussions continued regarding the development of the draft of Armenia's demographic strategy.

Within the consultation, the work done as a result of the previous discussion, the objectives of the strategy, as well as the plans and measures resulting from it were presented, the PM's Office said.

Afterwards, the participants of the consultation exchanged ideas on the draft. They presented their observations on the objectives of Armenia's demographic strategy and the expected measures.

"This is our fundamental strategy, as our objective is to ensure people feel comfortable while living in Armenia. Essentially, all our strategies, policies are largely aimed at this," the PM noted, emphasizing that there is a need to integrate and synchronize strategies and roadmaps.

According to the source, the Prime Minister also emphasized the need for continuous review of strategies, which will contribute to their full implementation and increase in efficiency.

Nikol Pashinyan instructed, based on the observations and discussions of the concerned parties regarding the draft strategy, to make appropriate amendments to the draft.

 18:31,