Author: Diana Dabaghian

On April 27 Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan had a meeting with Iranian Minister for Defense and armed Forces Hossein Dehqan on the sidelines of an annual security conference in Moscow.

The parties expressed concern over the escalation of situation at the line of contact between armed forces of Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan. They emphasized the need to ease the tension and establish an atmosphere of mutual trust.

The interlocutors noted that the “consequences of the four-day April war come to prove the unacceptability of a military solution.

During the meeting reference was made to the current state of cooperation between the Defense Ministries of the two countries and the perspectives of future cooperation.

US President Barack Obama on Friday marked the anniversary of the Ottoman Turks’ massacre of 1.5 million Armenians in 1915, but once again stopped short of labeling it a genocide. The statement released by the White House reads:

“Today we solemnly reflect on the first mass atrocity of the 20th century—the Armenian Meds Yeghern—when one and a half million Armenian people were deported, massacred, and marched to their deaths in the final days of the Ottoman empire.

As we honor the memory of those who suffered during the dark days beginning in 1915—and commit to learn from this tragedy so it may never be repeated—we also pay tribute to those who sought to come to their aid.  One such individual was U.S. Ambassador Henry Morgenthau, Sr., who voiced alarm both within the U.S. government and with Ottoman leaders in an attempt to halt the violence.  Voices like Morgenthau’s continue to be essential to the mission of atrocity prevention, and his legacy shaped the later work of human rights champions such as Raphael Lemkin, who helped bring about the first United Nations human rights treaty.

This is also a moment to acknowledge the remarkable resiliency of the Armenian people and their tremendous contributions both to the international community as well as to American society. We recall the thousands of Armenian refugees who decades ago began new lives in the United States, forming a community that has enormously advanced the vitality of this nation and risen to prominence and distinction across a wide range of endeavors.   At a moment of regional turmoil to Armenia’s south, we also thank the people of Armenia for opening their arms to Syrian refugees, welcoming nearly 17,000 into their country.

As we look from the past to the future, we continue to underscore the importance of historical remembrance as a tool of prevention, as we call for a full, frank, and just acknowledgment of the facts, which would serve the interests of all concerned.  I have consistently stated my own view of what occurred in 1915, and my view has not changed. I have also seen that peoples and nations grow stronger, and build a foundation for a more just and tolerant future, by acknowledging and reckoning with painful elements of the past.  We continue to welcome the expression of views by those who have sought to shed new light into the darkness of the past, from Turkish and Armenian historians to Pope Francis.‎

Today we stand with the Armenian people throughout the world in recalling the horror of the Meds Yeghern and reaffirm our ongoing commitment to a democratic, peaceful, and prosperous Armenia.”

The agreement on ceasefire was mostly respected at the line of contact between the armed forces of Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan last night.

The NKR Ministry of Defense reports that the rival violated the ceasefire in the northern line of the line of contact, opening fire from 82mm mortars and 12 mm D-30 howitzers.

the front divisions of the NKR Defense Army remain committed to the agreement on ceasefire and confidently carry out their tasks.

President Serzh Sargsyan, who is in Germany on official visit, met today with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany, OSCE Chairman-in-Office Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

Noting that his visit to Germany is taking place in the period when Azerbaijan has seriously challenged security of Nagorno Karabakh as well as of Armenia, the President of Armenia spoke in detail about the existing tense situation, which resulted from the violation by Azerbaijan of the ceasefire and unprecedented escalation of the situation, and the latest developments.

“The very fact that at this difficult moment I am here is more than just a testimony to the importance which Armenia attaches to the bilateral relations as well as to Germany’s role as the country presiding in the OSCE,” said the President of Armenia. He underscored that since the OSCE Co-Chairs are entrusted with the resolution of the NK problem, expectations from the OSCE are great. The President said that steps aimed at the establishment of peace are anticipated, and after the re-establishment of the ceasefire regime of 1994 it will be necessary to implement mechanisms which are aimed at the strict adherence to its terms.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany reiterated his appeal to the parties of the conflict regarding the situation and underscored once again that the NK conflict has no military solution; the parties must manifest political will and return to the negotiations conducted in the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs. Minister Steinmeier stressed the importance of the implementation in the area of the conflict of the confidence building measures as well as the resumption of the monitoring in the Line of Contact by the Office of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman—in-Office.

At the meeting, the parties stressed also the importance of the establishment of the mechanisms for the investigation of the ceasefire violations. With this regard, President Sargsyan viewed as important the extension of the mandate of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman—in-Office and amplification of the capacities of his Office.

The President of Armenia and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany discussed the dynamically developing agenda of the interstate bilateral relations, and preset opportunities for developing cooperation in a number of areas.

President Serzh Sargsyan has sent a telegram of condolences to Charles Michel, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Belgium, over the blasts in Brussels airport and metro stations this morning that claimed tens of innocent lives, President’s Press Office reports.

“At this difficult moment I offer my condolences and support to you, the friendly people of Belgium and the relatives of the victims, wishing them strength of spirit and patience,” the President said.

“Armenia strongly condemns any expression of terrorism and is committed to contributing to the international struggle against that evil,” the President’s message reads.

President Serzh Sargsyan, who is in Greece on official visit, met with the representatives of the Armenian structures in Greece. At the beginning of the meeting, the President expressed gratitude for the opportunity to communicate in a warm and sincere atmosphere and informed on the extensive agenda of his official visit to Greece, results of his negotiations with President Prokopis Pavlopoulos, issues under discussion, and answered questions raised by the participants.

Serzh Sargsyan stated with contentment that the centuries-long Armenian-Greek warm relations have not only been preserved, but have entered the stage of the interstate and political ties in which according to the President, the Armenian community has had an important role. “I am living blissful moments each time when our Greek partners speak about the input of the Armenian community to the development of the Greek state, when they speak with special warmth about the diligence, dedication, and organized nature of the Armenians,” said President Sargsyan. Along with the Armenian-Greek relations, the President spoke about the issues on the internal and external agenda of our country which this year celebrates the 25th anniversary of independence, process of Armenia’s advancement, ideas and priorities, the most important issues facing Armenia and Spyurk, current regional and international challenges, numerous events organized as a result Armenia’s and Diaspora’s coordinated efforts and dedicated to the centennial of the Armenian Genocide, including activities aimed at the international recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide. “Greece is among the countries which was not only among the first to recognize the Armenian Genocide (in 1996) and announce April 24 the official day for commemoration of the victims of the Genocide, but also in 2014 criminalized the denial of the genocides of the Pontiac Greeks and Armenians. We will never forget the invaluable assistance of Greece and the Greek people extended to the Armenians during the Metz Eghern and in consequent years, when boats loaded with the Armenian refugees anchored at the seaport of Piraeus. With the help of Greeks, Armenians settled in Athens, Salonika, Thessaly, on the vast plains of Macedonia and Thrace and elsewhere and received unconditional support and assistance of the Greek authorities. Today too, we are witnessing active participation of the high-level officials of Greece in the commemoration of the Armenian Genocide, particularly in the events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Genocide. We are watching closely activities carried out by the Armenian community and with this regard I would like to give special thanks to the working group which was coordinating the events dedicated to the anniversary, its supporters, to all structures and individuals for the exceptionally high level of the events. We are fully aware that the centennial was a milestone which gave our struggle a new impetus. We should use this experience and achievements to move the Armenian Cause further in the most organized and synchronized way.

Dear attendees,

We truly have only two lasting values – Armenia and the Armenian nation. Everything else is subordinate to them. Thus, our strategic task is to have a strong and organized Spyurk, and the crucial task for the Spyurk is the preservation of the Armenian identity, in the name of our future generations fight against assimilation and loss of our culture and language. We have to make joint and persistent efforts on this direction, we should develop and call to life the most purposeful and far-reaching programs. I am confident that a strong Fatherland is the primary key for the preservation of the Armenian nation. By amassing the entire potential of our nation, we must build a strong and secure Armenia. Among the critical issues that Armenia and Spyurk face together is assistance to our compatriots who find themselves in a dire situation. Over 17000 of them have relocated to Armenia, and the Fatherland has been striving to support them in every possible way. I am glad that our plea to help the Syrian Armenians was joined by the Armenian communities all over the world, including your community which allowed to considerably alleviate their daily needs, especially in Syria.
Dear Compatriots,

This year our entire nation will celebrate the 25th anniversary of Armenia’s independence with a great splendor. After the collapse of the Soviet Union we have had ups and downs, accomplishments and losses. Last twenty-five years have been full of difficulties and situations which seemed impassable. We became independent under really complex conditions – on the north the country had been struck by a devastating earthquake, we were in a war which was forced on us, Turkey and Azerbaijan imposed a blockade; in addition, the imperative to carry out fundamental reforms in the political and economic structures positioned us face to face with multiple challenges. But we didn’t give up: we won in the war imposed on us and stepped on the road leading to state building and development. Today, there still exist numerous factors and negative phenomena which hinder our normal advancement, but in this context I would like to mention an important fact: state is an absolute value – we must believe in our statehood and be devoted to it. Statehood, just like our families, needs a day by day care. In our state we represent both the positive and the negative; we cannot ascribe all good things to ourselves and reject the negative, or speak only about shortcomings, disregarding the accomplishments. We are the ones who create our state, each and every one of us, through our endless dedication and all together – through our united and common work.

Despite difficulties, in a quarter of century of our independence, we have had success which makes our progress irreversible. We have formed democratic institutions, civil society, and created vital prerequisites for the development of our economy. In these 25 years, our country became a full member of the international community, bringing its modest contribution to the international peace and security. Thanks to our transparent and consistent foreign policy, we have been able to avoid perilous geopolitical upheavals, establishing mutually beneficial partnership with various forces involved in our region. Nevertheless, state building is an incessant process: democratic institutions and the legal field should be upgraded constantly to bring their best to our citizens and expedite the achievement of our goals. As you know, recently we have introduced the most important changes to the Main Law of Armenia – the Constitution. This process propels us to a qualitatively new level of development which in my deep conviction will greatly promote the creation of the most open, most just and fair society, the most inclusive participation of the political units in addressing problems facing the country and will create the foundation for making the life of our future generations more favorable and more secure. Empowered with the twenty-five years of independence, today we look into the future with a greater confidence; we see and acknowledge our problems and we are making steadfast steps forward,” said President Serzh Sargsyan at the meeting with the representatives of the Armenian structures of Greece.

Thomas Tuchel’s side will head into the second leg of their Europa League last-16 tie against Spurs in high spirits after winning the opener by three goals to nil

Henrikh Mkhitaryan admits he never imagined Borussia Dortmund would beat Tottenham so convincingly in the Europa League on Thursday, according to Goal.com.

Dortmund put one foot in the quarter-finals thanks to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s first-half opener and Marco Reus’ double against a second-string Tottenham side at Signal Iduna Park.

Tottenham coach Mauricio Pochettino made seven changes to his team with regular first-teamers Harry Kane, Erik Lamela and Kyle Walker among those named on the bench.

But despite Spurs naming a heavily-changed outfit, Mkhitaryan was still surprised by the scoreline and feels the tie is far from over heading to White Hart Lane.

“It was an incredible game for our fans and us,” the Armenia international told UEFA.com.

“We couldn’t imagine that we were going to win 3-0 because we had analysed Tottenham and we know they have been doing well in the Premier League and Europe League. So we had been expecting a tough game.

“I thought the first half was like that but in the second half it changed a little bit because we made the most of our chances.

“But we have one more game. In 90 minutes anything is possible.”

Triada Studio, the Armenia-based creator of the Apple Design Award-winning Shadowmatic Game, is the latest technology firm to call upon the Obama Administration to negotiate a bilateral U.S.-Armenia Double Tax Treaty, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

In a letter sent today to President Obama, Triada Studio CEO Ara Aghamyan explained that his company is helping to drive the growth of Armenia’s tech economy, contributing to the expansion of U.S.-Armenia commerce, and – more broadly – fostering Armenia’s continued integration into the international community.”  He noted, however, that: “Unfortunately, barriers to continued progress remain, including the prospect of double taxation.  A U.S.-Armenia Double Tax Treaty would eliminate this risk, establishing a clear legal framework for companies that operate in both jurisdictions.”

Triada Studio joins Armenian technology firms, such as PicsArt, and global business leaders Microsoft, FedEx, NASDAQ, Marriott, Grant Thornton and others that have been on record for years supporting stronger bilateral economic relations efforts, including through a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA), which was adopted in May, 2015, and a modern Double Tax Treaty.  Other firms in support of these common sense measures include: Ameria Banking Group, Prudence Legal Advisory and Counseling, Baker TilleyArmenia, Synergy, Tufenkian Heritage Hotels, Altacode, Leda Campus LLC, Levon Travel, Unicomp, Synopsys, Megerian Carpet, National Instruments, Mentor Graphics, First Mortgage, Geoteam, Hylink, LC Distribution, and Linkgard Systems.

In August of last year, senior ANCA officials met with U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew in Washington, DC to press for a new U.S.-Armenia Double Tax Treaty.  The current treaty governing double taxation issues between the two countries is the 1973 U.S.-U.S.S.R. Tax Treaty, an outdated forty year-old accord.  The lack of an updated double tax treaty between the United States and Armenia creates legal uncertainty that deters potential U.S. investors, diverts investment flows and disadvantages American businesses seeking to invest in the Republic of Armenia.

U.S. Representatives Judy Chu (D-CA) and Ted Lieu (D-CA) have appealed to Treasury Secretary Lew to begin negotiations for new Double Tax Treaty to address these concerns.

Photo: Reuters

The UN says it plans to deliver aid to about 150,000 Syrians in besieged areas over the next five days amid a partial truce in the country’s civil war, the BBC reports.

It said it was ready to help an estimated 1.7 million people in hard-to-reach areas by the end of March.

A cessation of hostilities began on Saturday and there have been complaints of breaches from both sides.

But it otherwise appears to be intact with a key Syrian opposition group saying the situation is much better.

The UN’s humanitarian co-ordinator in Syria, Yacoub el-Hillo, called the truce “the best opportunity that the Syrian people have had over the last five years for lasting peace and stability”.

The organisation plans to use the lull to deliver food, water and medicine to towns like Madaya, where residents have reportedly been starving to death.

It says it needs the approval of Syria’s warring parties before it can further expand its deliveries.

Efforts to deliver aid to Islamic State-besieged Deir al-Zour by air last week failed when several pallets were damaged, disappeared or landed in no-man’s land.

Almost 500,000 people are living under siege in Syria, the UN estimates.

The cessation of hostilities was agreed as part of a plan by the US and Russia.

 

Prosecutors in the northern Italian city of Bologna are investigating the son of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as part of a money laundering probe, ANSA sources close to the matter said Tuesday, reports.

The inclusion of Erdogan’s son Bilal in the list of people under investigation follows a petition to authorities from Turkish businessman Murat Hakan Uzan, a political opponent of Erdogan who is wanted by Turkish authorities and is in exile. The petition asks Italian police to investigate potential sums of money brought to Italy by Bilal, who has been studying at John Hopkins University in Bologna since last autumn.

Bilal, 35, officially came to Italy to resume PhD studies he began in 2007. However, Turkish anti-government sources say he flew to Italy in the fall with a “large sum of money” as part of a “getaway operation”, according to Uzan’s petition.

The petition also states that Bilal arrived in Bologna with a team of armed body guards who were not granted access to Italy until they were conferred Turkish diplomatic passports.

Uzan says he and his family are victims of a political and judicial campaign launched by Erdogan.