Author: Anna Tamamian

President Serzh Sargsyan today sent a congratulatory message to Aleksandar Vucic on being elected President of Serbia.

President of the Republic of Armenia wished success and new achievements to President-elect Vucic in this high and responsible position.

Emphasizing the fact that the centuries-old friendship between both people is based on the historical and cultural commonalities, which serves as a solid basis for further expansion of intergovernmental relations, President Serzh Sargsyan stressed the importance of cooperation with Serbia, both on bilateral and multilateral platforms.

An explosion struck a metro station in Russia’s second-largest city St. Petersburg, leaving several people injured, a local law enforcement source told TASS on Monday.

“A blast occurred at Sennaya Ploshchad metro station, several people have been injured,” the source said, adding that the station has been overtaken by smoke.

Evacuation is under way at a blast-hit subway station. Seven metro stations in the city have been closed following the blast:

“Park Pobedy, Elektrosila, Moskovskiye Vorota, Frunzenskaya, Tekhnologichesky Institut, Sennaya Ploshchad and Gostiny Dvor metro stations have been closed,” the metro’s press service reports.

A spokesman for the regional department of Russia’s Emergencies Ministry said it was checking reports on the smoke in the metro. “There is a complaint about the smoke, the staff members are going to the scene,” he said.

The Council of Europe Platform to promote the protection of journalism and safety of journalists has raised an alert over blogger Alexander Lapshin’s detention and his expected trial in Azerbaijan. The reads:

Aleksandr Lapshin, an Israeli-Russian travel blogger, was detained in Minsk, Belarus, on 15 December 2016, at the request from Azerbaijan and extradited to Baku on 7 February 2017.

Lapshin faces a maximum sentence of eight years in prison on charges of illegally crossing Azerbaijan’s state borders during his April 2011, October 2012, and June 2016 visits to Nagorno-Karabakh, and for making “anti-state calls to the public” and criticizing Azerbaijani policies.

Currently, Alexander Lapshin is in the Kurdakhani Pre-trial Detention Centre of the Baku Investigative Prison Nr 1.

The European Parliament has lifted French far-right leader Marine Le Pen’s immunity from prosecution after she tweeted pictures of so-called Islamic State (IS) violence, the BBC reports.

Ms Le Pen is under investigation in France for posting three graphic images of IS killings in 2015, including the beheading of US journalist James Foley.

Her position as an MEP has so far meant she could not be prosecuted.

Ms Le Pen is currently running to be French president.

MEP Frank Engel and Ruben Melikyan, Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) of Nagorno-Karabakh, presented on  14 February 2017, a report on the human rights implications of the four-day war that took place in Nagorno-Karabakh in April 2016.

They also discussed the need for international observers to be present during such incidents in order to ensure that the human rights of the local population are safeguarded and that violations are reported.

Please follow to read the report.

 

In a meeting in Tehran with Armenia’s Defense Minister Vigen Sargsyan, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif hailed the expanding relations between Tehran and Yerevan, hoping that the ties would contribute to regional peace and stability.

The parties attached importance to the expansion of cooperation between the two countries in the field of security. Issues related to the reinforcement of bilateral cooperation, the deepening of friendly ties between the two peoples were discussed. Reference was made to regional issues, as well.

“In today’s world where extremist tendencies are growing in the name of different religions, the ties between Iran and Armenia can be exemplary,” Zarif said.  “We are witnessing the growth of relations in different fields,” he added.

Sargsyan, for his part, said Armenia attaches great significance to its ties with the Islamic Republic of Iran. He also referred to a recent visit to Yerevan by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, saying there have been new developments in the bilateral ties since the trip.

The interlocutors praised the cooperation in different spheres and attached importance to the deepening of relations. They also emphasized the impotance of regional peace and security as a prerequisite for the consistent development of the countries in the region.

Vigen Sargsyan briefed Javad Zarif on the situation at the line of contact between the armed forces of Nagorno Karabakh and the OSCE Minsk Group efforts towards the settlement of the conflict. The parties stressed the need to solve the issue in a peaceful way through negotiations and reiterated their commitment to contribute to the establishment of peace and stability.

Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzō Abe hosted the Armenian parliamentary delegation led by Speaker Galust Sahakyanon January 30.

The Prime Minister hailed the development of Armenian-Japanese parliamentary ties and stressed their importance for the inter-state relations.

Galust Sahakyan, in turn, voiced hope that the effective cooperation between the two countries would deepen on international platforms, as well.

The Speaker conveyed to Shinzō Abe President Serzh Sargsyan’s invitation to visit Armenia.

Japan’s Prime Minister pledged his willingness to deepen and develop cooperation in Armenia in all possible domains.

The interlocutors referred to issues related to the cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, culture and tourism.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan praised Manchester United for eventually finding some fluency to down Wigan Athletic 4-0 in the fourth round of the FA Cup, Goal.com reports.

The holders put in a laboured showing during the first half, with former Borussia Dortmund star Mkhitaryan guilty of a terrible miss, but Marouane Fellaini settled any nerves with a headed opener in the 44th minute.

Anthony Martial crossed for Chris Smalling to make it 2-0 and the France international was involved once more, with United clicking sublimely through the gears, Mkhitaryan adding a third with 15 minutes remaining.

Schweinsteiger, on his first United start for 386 days, completed the rout with an improvised finish from Ander Herrera’s knockdown and, on a weekend of shocks and surprises, Mkhitaryan was able to reflect on booking a spot in the last 16 with the minimum of fuss.

“It feels good. It was not our best game in the first half, but in the second we were very good,” the Armenia midfielder told BBC Sport.

“In the first we couldn’t find free space, but in the second we had more of that. The most important thing is we won 4-0 and go through.

“[My goal] was a very nice counter-attack. Everything happened very quickly.

“It doesn’t matter if I am playing or not I am trying to do everything I can, working very hard. I am trying to do my best for the team.”

 

The resolution of the Karabakh conflict is impossible without Artsakh returning to the talks, Spokesman for the NKR President David Babayan said in an interview with Public Radio of Armenia.

Speaking about the expectations from the settlement process,the Spokesperson said “the emphasis will be put on the maintenance of stability, as there is no other option at this point.”

“It is impossible to reach a comprehensive settlement without Artsakh returning to the negotiating table, but there are no prerequisites to believe that this will happen in the near future,”David Babayan said.

However, he sees changes in the behavior of the international community.

“The international community is trying to open at least one of the brackets. The criticism of Azerbaijan has grown, the term ‘Nagorno Karabakh Republic is being used by international structures more frequently,” Babayan said.

Member of the NKR National Assembly Hayk Khanlaryan has no expectations from the negotiation process.

“It would be desirable for Artsakh to return to the negotiating table as soon  as possible, but it’s nearly impossible considering Azerbaijan’s stance and the current political conjuncture,” he said.

A meeting between Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mamadyarov and OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs Igor Popov, James Warlick and Stéphane Visconti had a meeting in Hamburg yesterday, Spokesman for the Armenian ministry of Foreign Affairs Tigran Balayan said in a Twitter post.

The meeting was initiated by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs and was held on the sidelines of the OSCE ministerial council meeting in Hamburg.