Author: Emil Karabekian

 AP Photo/Sergei Grits

 

Talks on the Syrian crisis have begun in Kazakhstan’s capital of Astana, TASS reports.

The issues topping the meeting’s agenda include strengthening the ceasefire and advancing the negotiation process in order to hold consultations in Geneva on February 8.

On the whole, seven delegations are participating in the meeting including those of the Syrian government and the armed opposition, as well as Russia, Turkey and Iran, who act as guarantors of the ceasefire agreements adopted on December 29. Besides, UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura’s team is also taking part in the talks while US Ambassador to Kazakhstan George Krol acts as an observer.

Russia’s delegation is headed by Special Presidential Envoy for the Syrian Settlement Alexander Lavrentyev, Iran’s delegation is led by Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Jaberi Ansari and Turkey’s delegation is headed by Deputy Undersecretary for the Middle East and Africa at the Foreign Ministry Sedat Onal. Syria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Bashar Jaafari leads the Damascus delegation.

The Syrian opposition delegation comprises representatives of the groups active, first and foremost, in the northern and central parts of the country, as well as some of the groups from southern Syria. Jaish al-Islam member Mohammed Alloush is one of the negotiators.

The talks are scheduled to be completed on January 24 at 13:00 local time (7:00 GMT) while at 14:00 local time (8:00 GMT) the final press conference is expected to start. However, the organizers and the participants do not rule out that, if necessary, the talks may be prolonged.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan scored an acrobatic back flick to wrap up Manchester United’s 3-1 win over Sunderland in the English Premier League on Saturday, ensuring a miserable return to Old Trafford for former United manager David Moyes,  according to the Associated Press.

On as a second-half substitute, Mkhitaryan met Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s right-wing cross with a flicked finish with the heel of his right foot that flew into the corner in the 86th minute.

Mkhitaryan was in an offside position but it didn’t stop home fans at Old Trafford saluting a player who is growing in importance in his first season at United.

Ibrahimovic also set up the opening goal for Daley Blind in the 39th before scoring his 16th goal of the season in the 82nd after being played through by Paul Pogba.

Sunderland’s consolation was scored by Fabio Borini in stoppage time.

It was Moyes’ first game at Old Trafford since he was fired by United in April 2014, 10 months into his ill-fated tenure as Alex Ferguson’s hand-picked replacement.

United has won its last four league games to power back into contention for the Champions League qualification places.

 

 

 

There is no military solution to the Karabakh conflict, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Hassan Rouhani told reporters in Yerevan after his talks with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan.

“Armenia and Azerbaijan are friendly countries for Iran, and we hope to witness establishment of peace and stability in the region. This meets the interests of the region. The issue has no military solution. We want to see a peaceful settlement,” Iran’s President said.

Speaking about economic relations between Iran and Armenia, Hassan Rouhani said there is a huge potential for cooperation, which should be fully utilized. He stressed that further efforts are needed for deepening the cooperation in the field of energy.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan noted that the gas and power exchange continues under bilateral agreements reached between the two countries.

Hassan Rouhani attached importance to finding new transit routes. In this regard, he emphasized the importance of completing the work to link the Persian Gulf to the Black Sea. He said the implementation fo the program will facilitate the international cargo shipments and will make it possible for the Iranian goods to reach the European market through the shortest transport route.

“This will not only be the shortest and safest route for Iranian goods, but will also seriously boost the commodity turnover between the two countries,” President Sargsyan said.

One of the classrooms in Yerevan’s basic school #147 will be named after Artsakh Hero Robert Abajyan.

Abajyan, who fell as a hero during the four-day war in April, was a graduate of the school. He would be 20 today.

Students and teachers of the school recalled stories from Robert’s life. The schoolchildren pledged to keep his memory bright and vowed to assume the sacred mission of defending the Motherland, if necessary.

The honor of opening of the classroom was reserved for Robert Abajyan’s father.

Iran’s Deputy Oil Minister for International Affairs Amir-Hossein Zamani-Nia will hold talks with Vitaly Markelov, Deputy Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee.

According to daily, Amir-Hossein Zamani-Nia will try to convince the Russian companies to get involved in Iran’s oil and gas projects.

The source says increased supplies of Iranian gas to Armenia will be on the agenda of the talks.

Gazprom currently supplies gas to Armenia through Georgian territory, but the transit agreement will expire by the end of the year, and Gazprom seeks reduction of transit fees.

 

 

 

There is no room for concern connected with Donald Trump’s election as US President, Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan told reporters today. He added, however, that there is always room for work.

“We deal with a well-established system with a stable expert field, with stable, well-developed programs,” Shavarsh Kocharyan said. He added, however, that “we have to wait to see what king of foreign policy the new head of the White House will adopt.”

Trump once said in an interview a few years ago he’s not aware of the Karabakh conflict. Shavarsh Kocharyan says it’s not a cause for concern.

“As I said the US has a very stable system with its institutional memory, its experts and structures. Therefore, it’s not a problem. It’s not a must for a candidate to have a full comprehension of the developments at every corner of the world. Naturally, he will have the complete information, when he has to deal with concrete issues,” the Deputy Foreign Minister noted.

Speaking about the large-scale military exercises planned in Azerbaijan, Shavarsh Kocharyan said “Baku, actually, keeps torpedoing the agreements reached at Vienna and St. Petersburg summits.”

Besides, he said, it’s a violation of the provisions of the Vienna Document [on Confidence and Security Building Measures], under which the states have to give notification in writing to all OSCE participating states 42 days or more in advance of the start of military activities, if the activity involves at least 9,000 troops.

Asked about the possible aggravation of the situation at the line of contact, Mr. Kocharyan said “We have to be always ready for any step on the part of the rival.” “It’s an axiom for all of us, especially after the April events,” he added.

The 200-year-old Armenian Beyaz Church in Bahcesaray district of Van province, also known as Dera Geli (in Kurdish), is being destroyed by treasure hunters, Akunq.net reports, quoting the Turkish Dicle agency.

According to the source, obscene notes can be seen on the walls of the church, many sections of it have been destroyed by treasure hunters, while shepherds use it as a barn.

The church has been left to the mercy of fate, and the authorities are doing nothing to save it.

Photo: AFP 2016/A MAJEED

 

A suicide bomber killed at least 16 people and wounded 35 others as they attended Friday prayers at a mosque in northwestern Pakistan, officials said, AFP reports.

The bombing took place in the village of Butmana in the Mohmand tribal district bordering Afghanistan where the Army has been fighting against Taliban militants.

“The Friday prayer was in progress at the mosque when a suicide bomber blew himself up killing at least 16 worshippers and wounding 35 others,” a senior tribal administration official told AFP.

On 7 September Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan visited the Getavan village of the Martakert region and partook at a solemn opening ceremony of memorial complex devoted to the memory of freedom fighters from Getavan perished during the Artsakh Liberation struggle.

The Head of the State highlighted the significance of such initiatives from the viewpoints of keeping the nation’s devotees memory bright and patriotic upbringing of the younger generation.

On the same day Bako Sahakyan was present at a “Hrashapar” service held at the Gandzasar monastery with the participation of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos fo All Armenians.

National Assembly chairman Ashot Ghoulyan and other officials partook at the events.