Author: Emil Karabekian

 

 

 

“Following the April developments, the day of recognition of Artsakh by Armenia is not far away,” California Courier editor-in-chief Harut Sassounian told reporters in Yerevan today. He’s a strong believer that Artsakh should be declared an integral part of Armenia.

“Armenia’s earlier position was understandable. Recognition of Artsakh could endanger the negotiation process, but the situation has changed after the April events.

As for the Armenian Genocide recognition, Harut Sassounian said “the US has long recognized it.”

“If Obama refrained from uttering the word ‘genocide’ in his April 24th address, that’s his problem, because he will be remembered in American history as a liar President,” the publisher said.

London-based Mahmud Uzuni, an ethnic Kurd, who served a sentence in Turkey for his pro-Armenian views, also urges Ankara to get rid of historic lies.

He’s visiting Yerevan as representative of the Turkish-German Association “Union Against Genocide,” whose members visit Tsitsernakaberd every April 24 to apologize to Armenians and join the civilized world to call for Armenian Genocide recognition by Turkey.

Uzuni says it’s his obligation to apologize for the crimes committed by Kurds against Armenians.

In a statement released today the Armenian Ministry of Defense reconfirmed that Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan exchanged bodies of the soldiers killed between April 2 and 5 as a result of the aggression unleashed by Azerbaijan. Eighteen bodies of the soldiers of the NKR Defense Army were handed over to the Armenian side.

Taking into consideration that there were signs of torture and mutilation on the bodies, a fact registered by the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Ministry declares that the actions of teh Azerbaijani armed forces amount to a gross violation of the international humanitarian law.

The authorities in Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh, in cooperation with international organizations, are collecting proofs of the crimes and launching criminal cases.

The Armenian Ministry of Defense pledges to be consistent in raising the facts of violation of the international humanitarian law (of armed conflict) and various conventions in different international structures with a view of holding Azerbaijan accountable for the crimes.

Armenian First Deputy Defense Minister David Tonoyan received today the Military Attachés of the Foreign Ministries accredited to Armenia.

David Tonoyan briefed them on the situation on the line of contact between the armed forces of Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan, and presented the actions of the NKR Defense Army aimed at ceasing the large-scale military actions launched by the rival. Issues related to the possible reasons of Azerbaijani aggression and the expectations were discussed.

The Deputy DM noted that “the Armenian side is ready for any development and will provide all kind of support, including direct military assistance, to Nagorno Karabakh.”

 

 

 

The investigation has revealed the sources of financing and the suppliers of weapons to the armed gang neutralized in Yerevan’s Nork Marash district in November 2015, Mickael Hambartsumyan, First Deputy Chief of the Investigation Department of the National Security Service, told reporters today.

Members of the group received funding amounting to $65,000, Hambartsumyan said, but refrained from mentioning any names. He said the funder is from Armenia and is one of those 33 charged. The official added that those who supplied the gang with weapons are also in custody.

According to preliminary results, the group plotted simultaneous attacks on the National Assembly building, the Government, the Presidential Palace and the Constitutional Court. The group had gathered information about 147 statesmen and politicians, including lawmakers, the first and second Presidents of Armenia.

The investigative body also possesses the video and the letter that had to be released after the attack.

“The facts prove that the gang was planning a military coup, violence against state institutions,” Mickael Hambartsumyan said.

On 2 April, the commemoration day of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist, with the blessing of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; the Mother See will solemnly transport the relics of St. John the Baptist from the Gegharkunik Diocese.

The 14th century cross reliquary will be taken to the Gavar Diocese, the Holy Mother of God Church. From there, at 10:30 a.m., the clergy and faithful will walk by procession, and take the relic to the St. Karapet Church, where a Divine Liturgy will be offered.

At the end of Holy service the relic will be used for the service of the blessing of the four corners of the world (Andastan).

The relics of St. John the Baptist will remain in the Church narthex until 5 p.m. for the faithful to have the opportunity to be blessed by the sacred relics.

On March 23, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Karen Mirzoyan met Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Edward Nalbandian who had arrived in Stepanakert on a working visit.

The foreign ministers exchanged opinions on a range of issues related to the foreign policy agenda. The current stage of the peaceful settlement process of the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict was also touched upon.

The sides emphasized the importance of coordinated activities on the international arena. In this context, they discussed the ways and methods of strengthening and expanding cooperation between the two ministries and their respective units.

Armenia’s Foreign Minister also met with the senior staff of the NKR MFA Central Office.

Armenian Minister of Finance Gagik Khachatryan and World Bank’s Regional Director for the South Caucasus Mercy Tembon signed a loan agreement today, under which the World Bank will provide Armenia with a loan of $55 mln with a 25 year maturity period, of which 14.5 mln will be soft loan.

The “Local Economy and Infrastructure Development Programme” loan agreement signed with the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) envisages improvement of infrastructure and institutional capacities in Ararat, Vayots Dzor and Lori provinces, thus boosting the development of tourism in the regions.

The Armenian Genocide will be commemorated at the German Bundestag.

The Alliance 90/The Greens will make mention of the Armenian genocide 100 years ago.

The Greens want the Bundestag to adopt a resolution to recognize the Turkish genocide of about one million Armenians this week.

The governing coalition of the CDU and SPD were unwilling to submit to the Bundestag a joint application, although that had been negotiated in November of the SPD, the CDU and the Greens, Green Party Chairman Cem Özdemir told the . He said “the absence of a statement is a dowry to Erdogan.”

Armenian shepherd Hakob Hambartsumyan, born in 1962, was killed as a result of firing from the Azerbaijani side from Istiglal anti-materiel rifle, the NKR Ministry of Defense reports.

Probe into the details of the case is under way.

The Ministry dismissed the reports of the Azeri side claiming that the Aremnain forces undertook acts of sabotage at different sectors of the line of contact and retreated, incurring 5-7 losses.

“The report is simple propaganda, and has nothing to do with reality,” the Ministry said.

The Defense Ministry reported growth of tension at the line of contact last night.

The rival used artillery weapons of different caliber, also as 60 mm mortars, RPG-7, HAN-17, HHN-9 and GP-25 grenades as it fired more than 4,500 shots from weapons of different caliber in the direction of the Armenian positions.

The front divisions of the NKR Defense Army took retaliatory measures to pressure the activeness of the rival.

The Turkish Parliament’s Commission on Planning and Budget has discussed the issue of increasing the number of large trade centers, reports.

Addressing the Commission, ethnic Armenian MP Garo Paylan referred to the closed border between Armenia and Turkey, noting that had the border been open, Armenia would do most of its trade with Turkey.

According to the Turkish Sondakika website, Paylan said: “The border with Armenia has been closed for 23 years now. Had the border been open, Armenia would do three/fourth of its trade with Turkey. People would come here, relations would develop.”

Paylan added that “this could help solve the Karabakh issue as well. The development of relations would benefit both parties.”