Author: Diana Dabaghian

Presidents of Armenia and Artsakh Serzh Sargsyan and Bako Sahakyan visited the Kashen mining complex of the “Base Metals” CJSC today.

The Presidents were briefed on the capacities of the mine, the problems connected with its exploitation, the achievements and development plans.

 – An academic ceremony commemorating the 102nd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide was carried out in the Legislative Palace of Uruguay in the afternoon of Tuesday, April 25 and in the presence of dozens of Uruguayan Legislators and other authorities.

In addition to political representation, the event organized by the Presidency of the House of Representatives and the Armenian National Committee of Uruguay was attended by the archbishops of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Hagop Kelendjian, and the Catholic Church of Montevideo, Cardinal Daniel Sturla. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uruguay Rodolfo Nin Novoa, Minister of Tourism Liliam Kechichian, and Senator Luis Lacalle Pou, among others, sent an adhesion to the commemoration.

The event was headed by House Speaker Jose Carlos Mahia who said that “it is impossible under the characterization of genocide by the UN and the ample evidence presented, that the events in 1915 do not have its just qualification and recognition.”

Deputy Gloria Rodriguez analyzed the way in which Turkish denialism operates, stating that “the price that the whole humanity pays for the denial of the Armenian Genocide is very high.”

Uruguayan historian and political scientist Gerardo Caetano, who co-chairs the Nagorno-Karabakh Forum in Uruguay, coincided with Rodriguez in the current weight of denialism. “In the denialist practice of Turkey there is a continuation of the crime,” he said. He also added: “Those who undermine memory and justice regarding past traumatic are mortgaging the future.”

“No investment of Turkey or Azerbaijan is more valuable than the recognition of truth, than the defense of international law or than the claim for justice. And that’s not idealism, it’s realism,” concluded the renowned academic.

The human rights lawyer Oscar Lopez Goldaracena, who in February participated as an observer in the constitutional referendum of the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, chose as a central theme of his speech the cultural genocide committed against the Armenians. Lopez Goldaracena stated that it is imperative to put an end to the cultural genocide that Turkey continues to perpetrate and urged to avoid further atrocities in those places where the Armenian population remains exposed to xenophobic ideologies, citing the case of the Armenian community of Syria against the “Islamic State” or what the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh face.

In his view, Uruguay can prevent the Armenian people from being subjected to attacks if it “advocates for peace in the Caucasus, recognizing the legitimate right of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh to independence.” Noting that this does not imply a violation of any principle of international law, he concluded that “if Uruguay moves on principles and values ​​at the political level, it should be the first country in the world to recognize the State of Nagorno-Karabakh.”

To conclude, Shushanik Boyadjian expressed on behalf of the Armenian National Committee of Uruguay that “it is time that Turkey’s recognition of its criminal responsibility light a new stage in Turkish society and to the descendants of the victims of the Armenian Genocide.”

She also denounced that Turkey not only “puts unbearable pressure on the small Armenian community that still resists in the country and on the Republic of Armenia, which suffocates economically through the unilateral blockade of its borders”, but also “explicitly or implicitly supports any attack on Armenian civilians, whether in Syria, on the borders of Armenia or in Nagorno-Karabakh.”

On the morning of April 24, during the opening of the Open Council of Ministers held in Montevideo, the President of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, Dr. Tabare Vazquez, adhered to the commemoration of the Armenian Genocide. “We adhere to sadly commemorate one of the most nefarious episodes that mankind lived, as it was 102 years ago the Armenian Genocide,” said President Vazquez in a ceremony broadcast by official TV and with extensive press coverage.

 – On Thursday April 18 a Khachkar was inaugurated in a square of Cordoba, Argentina.

Cordoba is the second largest city of Argentina with a population of over 4,000,000 inhabitants and has a very important Armenian community of over 5,000 people. It also the place with the remains and a memorial of the Armenian hero Aram Yerganian.

The Khachkar, donated by young Argentine-Armenian Cristian Merdinian, was inaugurated with the presence of Vice Governor Martin Llaryora, the Mayor Ramon Mestre,Ambassador of Armenia in Argentina Esther Mkrtumyan,Archbishop Kissag Mouradian, Primate of the Armenian Apostolic Church for Argentina and Chile, Archbishop of the Catholic Church Carlos Nañez and Eduardo Tutuchian, President of the Armenian Community of Cordoba.

Asbarez – In its annual recognition of the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the Pasadena Unified School District’s (PUSD) Board of Education, at its well-attended meeting, issued on March 30 the Genocide Resolution to the attending Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), Pasadena Chapter’s Board of Directors.

The ANCA, Pasadena Chapter has grown accustomed to the School District’s recognition of the Armenian Genocide, and its esteemed board of Education’s solidarity in standing with the Armenian-American Community in paying homage to the 1.5 million victims, who in 1915, fell prey to the atrocities of the Ottoman Turks. With this being the commemoration of the 102nd anniversary of the Genocide, the world has much to do in correcting the wrongs of the past century in restoring lost Armenian lands, amongst other things, to its rightful owners, the Armenian people.

“For the past 102 years, humanity has not been at a good place when it comes to justice for the Armenians,” expressed Pasadena ANCA Board Member Shahe Jierian. “Humanity has failed us miserably! It’s time the world redeemed itself by acting to restore every lost inch of Armenia’s historical lands to its rightful heirs and exact appropriate punitive measures on the perpetrators of the unspeakable acts committed by the Turks.”

On the occasion of the Board of Education’s issuance of the resolution, Hoori Chalian, the School District’s Director of Innovative Programs, and ANCA Western Region Education Committee Member, conveyed her heartfelt message on the Genocide to the board of education, which was followed by her introduction of three teachers from Pasadena High School to whom she presented award certificates for their invaluable contributions in collaborating to enlightening students on the Armenian Genocide.

The collaborative efforts of Genely Chan, Graphic Arts Teacher, Mayte Hernandez, English Teacher and William Jenkins, Social Studies teacher are highly commendable especially for facilitating an integrated project on Genocide awareness at Pasadena High School this past year. Focusing particularly on the Armenian Genocide, the Social Studies, Art, and English classes collaborated to create a major art installation which included a graphic silhouette of an Armenian Genocide death march, as well as paintings created by students and Haiku poems which expressed their feelings and ideas about the Armenian Genocide. This project encourages student lifelong learning, self- expression as well as learning about genocide effectively.

Historians and researchers will now have access to more than 5,000 publications on Armenian Genocide.

The Armenian Genocide Library of the Armenian National Institute (ANI) opened in Washington on April 5, reports.

The Armenian and English books here do not present the Armenian history and national identity, but provide detailed information on the most painful page of Armenian history – the Armenian Genocide.

Director of ANI Ruben Adalyan says the library currently hosts 5,000 books, but they hope to increase the number.

“We have created a system, which will allow researchers to use the precious collection acquired by the Armenian Assembly of American and the Armenian National Institute over the past 40 years,” he said.

Attending the opening ceremony was Hayk Demoyan, Director of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute, who welcomed the creation of the library and the perspective of cooperation with Armenia.

“Opening of an Armenian information center in Washington is a very important event. The opening of such a center in the US capital is a huge achievement by itself,” Demoyan said.

He added that the center will become a venue for meetings, discussions and coordinated work.

No ‘Lavrov Plan’ on settling the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan has ever been compiled, Russia’s top diplomat said in an interview with Azeri-Press Agency.

The collective proposals of the OSCE Minsk Group are the only option currently on table, Sergey Lavrov said.

“I have publicly stated on many occasions that there is no Lavrov Plan,” he said. “The ideas that are now up for discussion are based on the proposals worked out collectively by the three states co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group.”

“To be more precise, those are the provisions of joint statements on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement by the presidents of Russia, the United States and France. They are well-known,” he added.

According to the Russian minister, the sides generally stick to these agreements, but have different approaches to the sequence of measures that have to be implemented to achieve the target.

“Any changes or new plans that change the system developed by the co-chairs are ruled out,” he said. “Above all, we need to help the sides find a balanced political solution that would allow drafting legally binding documents.”

Moscow, Washington and Paris speak with one voice on the issue of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, he went on.

According to Lavrov, co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group actively engage in discussions on the issue. “During their regular visits to the region, they, as a rule, speak with one voice at talks with the leadership of Armenia and Azerbaijan,” he said. “I believe that a team approach of this kind is an example of how (sides) should cooperate in settling international conflicts.”

“I expect our close cooperation on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement to continue with both Washington and Paris,” Lavrov added.

“The Nagorno-Karabakh settlement issue is a very delicate subject, so details of talks are confidential,” he said. “At the same time I can say that many aspects have already been agreed upon. A few questions remain. But they are most difficult.”

“No consensus has been reached so far,” the minister added. “But nevertheless the work continues.”

“We are concerned about what is going on in a nearby region,” Russia’s top diplomat continued. “That’s why we are interested in restoring peace and stability in the region, in opening borders, in bringing back refugees, in resuming trade and economic ties. This is why the solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict remains among the absolute priorities of our foreign policies.”

Lavrov denied allegations that no practical steps toward reconciliation have been made so far.

“The Karabakh issue is constantly in the spotlight of attention of international mediators, who take collective and individual efforts intended to solve this problem,” the minister said.

“As far as Russia is concerned – a three-party summit on the issue was held last year at the initiative of Russian President Vladimir Putin,” he said. “At all times, the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement issue holds a prominent place during Vladimir Putin’s meetings with the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia.”

According to Russia’s top diplomat, the issue was discussed in detail during Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s March 15 visit to Moscow.

“Naturally, top diplomats don’t stand aside. A detailed discussion on the matter with Armenian Foreign Minister Edvard Nalbandyan took place in February, and with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammedyarov in early March,” Lavrov added.

On 28 March Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan received the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, personal representative of the OSCE chairman-in-office and accompanying them officials.

At the beginning of the meeting President Sahakyan congratulated newly-appointed French and American co-chairmen Stéphane Visconti and Richard Hoagland on taking the responsible positions, wishing them success in their mission.

Issues related to the Azerbaijani-Karabagh conflict settlement and recent developments were discussed during the meeting.

President Sahakyan noted that Azerbaijan kept maintaining its unconstructive stance violating the ceasefire regime and continued to pursue anti-Armenian policy.

The Head of the State highlighted the necessity of elaborating the mechanisms of maintaining ceasefire regime and revealing violations considering it among pivotal components of the peace process.

Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan reaffirmed the commitment of the official Stepanakert to the peaceful settlement of the Azerbaijani-Karabagh conflict within the frameworks of OSCE Minsk group.

Armenia and the European Union initialed the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement today.

From the Armenian side the document was signed by Armenia’s chief negotiator, Deputy Foreign Minister Garen Nazaryan and First Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Investments Garegin Melkonyan.

Luc Devigne, Director of the EU Department for Russia, Eastern Partnership, the regional cooperation with Central Asia and the OSCE, and Petros Sourmelis, Head of Unit in the European Commission,  signed the document on behalf of the European Union.

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian welcomed the visit of the EU officials and noted that the document would open a new page in the relations between Armenia and the EU member states.

The Agreement to be signed later this year will reflect the depth, level and volume of relations between Armenia and the European Union, Minister Nalbandian said.

He added that “the document is a testament to the importance Armenia attaches to cooperation with the EU.”

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan visited the Bellecour Square in Lyon today and laid a wreath at the memorial to the Armenian Genocide victims, President’s Press Office reports.

Later the day President Sargsyan had a meeting with Lyon Mayor Gérard Collomb. The President expressed gratitude to the Mayor for careful attitude towards Armenia-related issued.

Serzh Sargsyan said that Mayor Collomb’s efforts aimed at reinforcement of friendship between the two peoples and his principled stance on Armenian Genocide do not go unnoticed.

The interlocutors discussed issues of decentralized cooperation, interaction in science and education and a number of other directions.

President Sargsyan also left a note in the guest book.  He awarded Gérard Collomb with a Order of Honor for his significant contribution to the reinforcement and development of Armenian-French ties.

The Mayor of Lyon hosted an official dinner in honor of President Sargsyan.

“We are concerned about recent reports of clashes along the Line of Contact in and around Nagorno-Karabakh,” Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the UN Secretary-General has said in a statement.

“The Secretary-General underlines his full support for the ongoing efforts of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs and the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office to reduce the current dangerous level of tensions and to prevent further escalation,” he said.

“He calls on all sides to refrain from any actions that would undermine the ceasefire agreement and urges the resumption of substantive negotiations leading to a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict without delay,” the Spokesman added.