Author: Aram Torosian

The Syrian army entered the strategic town of Maheen in the Central Province of Homs after weeks of fierce clashes with the Takfiri terrorists, reports.

The Syrian forces began their wide-scale attack at the village of Hawareen after advancing from the recently captured village of Hadath.

The troops reportedly destroyed Islamic State positions at the Sadad-Hawareen checkpoint, and took full control over the checkpoint before advancing inside Hawareen village and finally regained full control over this small village that is located directly North of the Maheen Orchards.

The Syrian army also seized back the al-Dawa region in the city of Palmyra in Homs province.

The Syrian forces launched a large-scale attack on ISIL positions in Al-Dawa, killing over 20 militants and destroying the terrorists’ primary weapons hub in Western Palmyra.

Later, the forces managed to take full control over the Al-Dawa region in Western Palmyra.

The Syrian army recaptured the villages of Umm Zilaylah, Tal Ayyoub and Umm Al-Marra in Aleppo province.

The Syrian army and its allies managed to retake the three villages located North of Jabboul Lake in Aleppo province after they launched a powerful attack on the villages and destroyed ISIS positions.

The agreement on the Iranian nuclear program opens new prospects for strengthening regional and international cooperation, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said on Friday, TASS reports.

“This agreement is important not only from the point of view of strengthening stability and security, but it also paves the way for developing mutually beneficial regional and international cooperation,” Nalbandian said at the opening of III International Forum of MGIMO (Moscow State Institute of International Relations) Graduates.

“We are now working with Iranian colleagues in several promising spheres,” the foreign minister said. “Iran’s more active international economic involvement can make the region much more attractive from the economic point of view,” he stressed.

Two explosions at a peace rally in the Turkish capital Ankara have killed at least 86 people and injured 186, according to officials, the BBC reports.

The blasts took place near the city’s central train station as people gathered for a march organised by leftist groups.

The attack is the deadliest of its kind in modern Turkish history.

Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the “loathsome attack that targeted our unity and our togetherness”.

Government officials are investigating reports that a suicide bomber was behind at least one of the explosions.

President Serzh Sargsyan, who has arrived in the U.S. on a working visit, had a meeting with Italy’s Prime Minister Matteo Renzi on September 28 in New York.

Serzh Sargsyan and Matteo Renzi discussed a broad range of issues pertaining to the political dialogue between Armenia and Italy and their trade and economic collaboration, and touched upon the two countries’ cooperation within the frames of international organizations.

The interlocutors expressed their satisfaction with the fact that Armenian-Italian interstate ties have always developed in the spirit of mutual understanding. However, they stated that the two countries’ potential allows for further intensification of bilateral relations. The RA president and Italy’ prime minister attached importance to the promotion of stable political dialogue between the two countries, to which the interlocutors are sure frequent reciprocal visits could considerably contribute. In that context, President Serzh Sargsyan warmly recalled his official visit to Italy in April this year and the meaningful and interesting meeting with President Sergio Mattarella.

Armenia’s president stressed that through concerted efforts, the two countries can elevate Armenian-Italian interstate relations, as well as their cooperation within the frames of the EU to a qualitatively new level.
Serzh Sargsyan underscored that Italy is important to Armenia also as a leading EU country, and the promotion of comprehensive cooperation with it continues to hold a serious place in Armenia’s foreign policy agenda. The president expressed the hope that Italy will continue to support the implementation of the current RA-EU agenda.

Armenia’s president placed importance on defense cooperation which has occupied a special place in the Armenian-Italian bilateral agenda since 2012, underlining that the defense cooperation is not limited to bilateral format: since last November, 32 Armenian peacekeepers have joined the UN peacekeeping forces under Italian command in Lebanon, which, according to the president, can truly be considered as a successful example of cooperation between Armenia and Italy.

At the meeting, the RA president and the Italian prime minister attached importance also to the role of parliamentary diplomacy to develop bilateral relations.

Noting that trade and economic relations are among vital components on the Armenian-Italian agenda, the interlocutors expressed satisfaction with the fact that in the last four years, despite the global financial and economic crisis, the two counties have witnessed considerable trade growth. Furthermore, according to the previous year’s indicators, Italy is the 2nd trade partner of Armenia among the EU countries (the first is Germany). The parties were sure that this bears testimony to the fact that there is serious potential for better results, at which vigorous efforts need to be directed.

The RA president and Italy’s prime minister touched upon regional issues and challenges, including the current stage of the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process and the present problems. President Serzh Sargsyan stressed that as a friendly country, Armenia values Italy’s stable and balanced position on the NK conflict.

On September 28, Serzh Sargsyan also had a meeting with Prime Minster Stefan Löfvén of the Kingdom of Sweden in New York.

The president spoke highly of the Armenian-Swedish cooperation, which, according to him, has experienced tangible development in recent years, marked by the active dialogue of foreign ministers, the increase in the number of embassies and by various reciprocal visits.

The RA president and Sweden’s prime minister highlighted the special place of Armenian-EU relations and collaboration in the Armenian-Swedish cooperation agenda. Armenia’s president stressed the role of Sweden, a co-author of the Eastern Partnership, in the reinforcement of Armenia-EU relations.

The interlocutors talked about the need to develop bilateral trade and economic ties, stating that unfortunately, the current economic indicators do not correspond with the huge economic potential of cooperation between Armenia and Sweden. The parties agreed that in order to reveal the full potential, there is a need to foster mutual contacts and exchange of information at a state level, develop a comprehensive legal framework, and hold business forums.

At the meeting, President Serzh Sargsyan attached importance to Sweden’s balanced position on the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process.

The parties also reflected upon issues pertaining to cooperation within the frames of international organizations.

Serzh Sargsyan and Stefan Löfvén placed importance on the intensification of parliamentary cooperation between the two friendly countries.

On September 23, Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan’s delegation arrived in Xi’an (Shaanxi Province) to attend the Eurasian Economic Forum due on September 24. On the same day, Prime Minister Abrahamyan met with Shaanxi Province Communist Party Secretary Zhao Zhengyong.

Highly appreciative of Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan’s visit to China and the meeting held with the Chinese Premier, Zhao Zhengyong noted that the friendship between the two countries keeps deepening and strengthening day by day.

He stressed the interest of China, in general, and Shaanxi Province, in particular, to promote, expand and deepen relations with Armenia in different fields of activity, highlighting the importance of enhanced cooperation between the regions. Taking the opportunity, the Shaanxi Province Communist Party Secretary introduced the Armenian guests to the history of his province.

Talking about the Eurasian Economic Forum, he said it provides a good platform for the establishment and development of economic ties. In terms of bilateral relations, both sides highly assessed President Serzh Sargsyan’s State visit to China.

Thankful for a warm welcome, Prime Minister Abrahamyan said to be deeply impressed by Xi’an city’s historic heritage and modern achievements.

“Being the cradle of Chinese civilization, Xi’an is one of China’s rapidly developing infrastructure and business centers. Noteworthy is that Shaanxi province was historically situated at the beginning of the Great Silk Road, and it is also emblematic that your province is hosting such an important event as the Eurasian Economic Forum, which is aimed at building up linkages between the bordering countries’ public authorities and business communities.” Hovik Abrahamyan pointed out.

According to the Prime Minister, Armenia welcomed the concept of Great Silk Road Trade Zone, put forward in 2013 by PRC President Xi Jinping. Targeted work is underway to push ahead with the implementation of the program as far as Armenia is concerned.

Mindful of the need to promote direct contacts between individual provinces, Hovik Abrahamyan highlighted the importance of establishing friendship ties between Gyumri and Xi’an in order to develop cooperation in fields of mutual interest. The Prime Minister of Armenia believes that the time has come to look at the possibility of expanding the scope of cooperation considering the successful experience with China’s Xinjiang-Uyghur Autonomous Region.

Following the meeting, the Prime Minister’s delegation visited the Terracota Museum of Soldiers and Horses. The Premier was shown the Museum’s three exhibition halls (viraps), as well as the hall of “bronze chariots and horses.” In conclusion, Hovik Arahamyane signed the Book of Honorary Guests.

In the evening, Hovik Abrahamyan and the members of his delegation attended a festive event staged for the participants of the Eurasian Economic Forum in Xi’an’s central square.

Season 10 of “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” returns to E! on Sunday, and the first four episodes will feature the sisters’ Armenia trip, the Latin Post reports, quoting E!

Khloé Kardashian and Kim Kardashian West are joined by Kim’s husband, Kanye West, and their daughter, North, on a trip to Armenia.

The sisters are descendants of Armenian immigrants on their father’s side of the family. They have always wanted to visit their ancestral homeland. Fans will get to see their emotional visit to Armenia where they learned about their family roots.

The Armenian Catholic Church in Diyarbakir became the target of attacks by Turkish policemen during the curfew announced in Sur municipality of Diyarbakir, Akunq.net reports, quoting Turkish Dicle News Agency.

According to the source, the policemen not only attacked the church, but also stole some historic items.

Armenians are going to take the case to court, President of the Armenian Association of Mesopotamia Arat Karagozyan told the agency. He said the loss amounts to 300 thousand Turkish liras.

Karagozyan added that the Police broke the historic doors to enter the church. He said six large historic faience pictures and a number of carved stones were stolen.

Remind that the as a result of clashes between PKK and the Police.

On September 10, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Karen Mirzoyan received parliamentarians of the Kingdom of Belgium, who arrived in Artsakh, accompanied by European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy (EAFJD) President Kaspar Karampetian.

Artsakh Foreign Minister welcomed the members of the delegation and stressed the importance of such visits in the establishment and deepening of cooperation in the framework of parliamentary diplomacy.

At the request of the guests, Karen Mirzoyan presented in detail the current stage of the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict settlement. He emphasized the importance of full-fledged participation of the NKR in the negotiation process as the main guarantee in reaching a final settlement of the conflict.

Karen Mirzoyan stressed the importance of the processes of state-building and democratization in Artsakh, noting that the people and authorities are united in their aspiration to build an independent democratic state.

Yevnige Aposhian Salibian, a survivor of the Armenian Genocide, who became an outspoken advocate for truth and justice as recently as April of this year, passed away Sunday aged 101, reports.

Salibian was a resident of Ararat Home in Mission Hills, Calif. With a sharp mind she articulated her family’s story of survival at community events, becoming one of the last remaining survivors of the Armenian Genocide.

She was just a baby when the Genocide began, but the she was able to recall things that happened a few years later to her family.

Born Jan. 14, 1914, one of five children in a middle-class family in the town of Aintab. Her family was among the last to leave. It was during this trip that she received a scar on her leg when she became trapped in the reins of a horse. She nearly bled to death and the scar has become a lifelong reminder of her early miseries. The family fled Aintab in 1921.

A deeply religious woman, she learned to speak English by comparing versions of the bible. After fleeing their home, her family lived in Lebanon until 1976, when she came to the United States.

In 2014, Salibian was by the University of Southern California’s Shoah Foundation, during the organization’s 20th anniversary gala, where Steven Spielberg and others honored the survivor.

Her story captured the attention of many, including renowned journalist Robert Fisk who her and her story in an edition of the London-based The Independent in 2014.