Author: Greg Madatian

Dear Compatriots,

Year 2016 becomes history; it was the 25th year of the reestablishment of our independence. It was a period full of events and challenges.

In April, there was a four-day war. On the battlefield our people proved once again that its unified strength is unbreakable, the resolve to defend our Fatherland is unshakable. The unity of Armenia, Artsakh and Spyurk will not succumb to the perfidious and treacherous attacks. We will emerge from every calamity even stronger.

Let year 2016 in our memory remain as a year of national unity. In the passing year, we have demonstrated to ourselves and the entire world the meaning of the national spirit, of freedom and resolve to fight for the Homeland.

We will enter the second twenty-five-year period of our independent statehood with the same national unity. The first one was the phase when we withstood the war and difficulties. In the process, we shaped the victory in the Artsakh Liberation War and established the foundation for the eternal Armenian statehood.

Here is the source of my optimism; this also the source of our future success. The faith that we will build a better country and are able to defend it has already made us stronger. Every week, every month we will make maybe small but steady steps towards a better, more dignified, and a more prosperous future.

We enter the new year confident of our strength. The coming 25 years will be the years of advancement, a period when a stronger and a more prosperous Armenia will emerge. In that very spirit, we will be moving forward on the road towards the implementation of the visible and tangible reforms. We are entering the new year with serious and realistic programs. The positive outcome of the consistent and large-scale reforms in the area of economy and other areas will be visible to everyone and soon. I am confident, the new government will be able to do that, and it will be our common success.

The coming year will be fateful in many regards. In spring 2017, there will take place the Parliamentary elections. Our society through the joint efforts can organized a political process which will be trusted by everyone. We need elections like that so that the ship of our state doesn’t hit the underwater reefs known in the past.

Dear Fellow Citizens,

Around the festive tables, we all raise our glasses for the Armenian Army, for the people who are guarding at this very moment our peace. We also commemorate the immortal soldiers and officers who fell in 2016 and before that. We wish strength to their families and friends.

I also propose to raise our glasses for our new generation, for our children. This is a generation of independence, which keeps our borders unbreakable. Because of them, the Armenian tricolor is waving at the Olympic Games. Representatives of this generation return home from the world school subject Olympiads with dozens of medals. Their creative mind opens the doors of the most prominent cultural and scientific establishments.

We will spare no means to ensure their education and growth. I strongly believe that only this way we will be able to create a better Armenia.

Dear Friends,

In the new year 2017, I wish you and your families happiness, peace, and love.
Happy New Year and Holy Christmas!

Phto: AFP    

The Syrian army says it has retaken full control of Aleppo, following the evacuation of the last group of rebels, the BBC reports.

In a statement, the army said it had “returned security to Aleppo” and called it a “crushing blow” for rebels.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) confirmed “all civilians who wished to be evacuated have been, as well as the wounded and fighters”.

This is the biggest victory for President Bashar al-Assad since the uprising against him began in 2011.

A high-level delegation of the Armenian Jewelers Association (AJA) will attend the 6th International Diamond Week in Israel (IDWI), from February 13 – 16, 2017, as guests of the Israel Diamond Exchange (IDE), according to the website of the .

The visit of the delegation, to be headed by AJA President Sarkis Nourian, will mark the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Israeli exchange. A signing ceremony will take place at IDWI, under the auspices of the President of the World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO) Dr. Gaetano Cavalieri.

AJA is a professional association to connect Armenian jewelers around the world and to increase communication and cooperation among them. The organization has representatives in the United States, Armenia, Russia, the Middle East, Europe, South America and Australia.

IDE President Yoram Dvash said, “I am pleased that the AJA will be sending an official delegation to Israel’s Diamond Week. Armenian jewelers have a unique and longstanding heritage as jewelry makers, and they have made an important contribution to the jewelry industry around the world. We are very happy that AJA has agreed to cooperate with the Israeli diamond industry to advance the diamond jewelry sector, especially in light of the investments we have made to strengthen this area.”

AJA President Sarkis Nourian said, “We are very pleased to have been invited by the Israeli Diamond Exchange to attend the International Diamond Week in Israel. We are bringing a delegation in order to explore channels of cooperation and to create a formal framework for collaboration. We know that this exhibition is of great importance to the bourse, and it offers us an excellent opportunity to learn about the industry and to meet its members,” he said.

The MOU will outline areas of cooperation between the two institutions in Israel and other countries of mutual interest.

Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan has sent a letter of condolences to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on the barbaric murder of the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov.

The Armenian President has strongly condemned ‘this act of terrorism’ and offered condolences to the Ambassador’s family and friends, the Russian diplomatic service and the whole Russian nation.

Valérie Boyer, spokesman of François Fillon, was the guest of France 2 this Sunday November 27 to comment on the victory of his candidate at the primary of the right. The cross she wore attracted more attention than the speech she gave.

The deputy of Bouches-du-Rhône, known for her conservative positions, displayed an “Armenian cross,” a religious sign representing the “divine nature” of Christ, according to the .

“This is something I never take away, I always have it on me,” explained Valerie Boyer. According to her, “there is no comment to make, since it is not a symbol of.”

The cross was not seen as Valérie Boyer appeared on BFMTV a few hours later.

The cross raised a wave of criticism on social media, as under French legislation, the public display of religious symbols is prohibited in the country.

Vice-Speaker of the Armenian National Assembly Edward Sharmazanov received today Syrian MPs Omar al-Arab and Alan Bakeri.

The Vice-Speaker welcomed the visit of Syrian lawmakers to Armenia and noted that the Armenian-Syrian friendship has centuries-old history, which has been reinforced after Syria’s provision of refuge to Armenian genocide survivors.

Edward Sharmazanov attached importance to the cooperation between the two countries, particularly the reinforcement of inter-parliamentary ties. He expressed gratitude to the Syrian Parliament for holding a debate on the Armenian Genocide.

“The denial of genocide is fraught with threats of reoccurence of the crime. Turkish denialism and impunity bore terrorists like the Islamic State,” Sharmazanov said.

During the meeting reference was made to the Syria crisis. The Armenian Vice-Speaker wished strength to the Syrian people and voiced hope that peace and law would be reestablished in the country. He stressed Armenia’s stance on the fight against terrorism and assured of the willingness of the Armenian lawmakers to raise their voice for the sake of peaceful settlement of the Syrian issue.

The Syrian MPs, in turn, conveyed the words of gratitude of the Syrian authorities and people to the Armenian nation for supporting them at times of hardship. They also attached importance to the deepening of inter-parliamentary and informed that discussions on recognition of the Armenian Genocide are under way in Syrian parliamentary commissions.

Photo: Viktor Drachev/TASS

The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) plans to hold large-scale collective forces’ drills dubbed Combat Brotherhood on the territory of Armenia, Kazakhstan and Russia in October 2017, Chief of the CSTO Joint Staff Colonel-General Anatoly Sidorov said on Friday, TASS reports.

“This year, four CSTO exercises have been held on the territory of various states and at different time. Next year, we’re planning to unite the maneuvers and hold them under a single scenario simultaneously with all the components of the CSTO collective forces. So far, the name Combat Brotherhood has been proposed for the drills,” Sidorov said.

The CSTO’s unified drills will be held in October 2017. “That is, we won’t hold drills separately in April, August, September and October as was the case this year and in October 2017 we’ll practice joint measures within a short period of time on the territory of three states: Russia, Armenia and Kazakhstan. This will be more efficient to optimize the joint system of the CSTO collective forces’ control,” he said.

“The drills will approximately last for three weeks and a counter-terror operation will be devised under a single scenario: first reconnaissance, then the use of the rapid response collective forces with the support of aviation and then the post-conflict settlement with the employment of peace-keeping forces. This will be an experiment,” the colonel-general said.

The CSTO rapid response collective forces comprise over 17,000 servicemen from Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan. These troops allow adequately responding to all existing challenges and threats – to counter terrorism, extremism and drug trafficking. The CSTO peacekeeping forces comprise about 3,600 servicemen.

Zorya Luhansk visit Old Trafford as virtual unknowns to Manchester United fans on Thursday, yet Henrikh Mkhitaryan knows all about the Europa League foes from his time in Ukraine, according to . 

The summer signing played for Shakhtar Donetsk across three seasons from 2010, before moving to Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund to continue his personal ascension through the European leagues.

Mkhitaryan did not feature in two matches against Zorya during his debut season with Shakhtar, but his first appearance against them in 2011/12 was a great success, scoring twice in a thumping 5-1 away win at Avanyard Stadium that contributed to his team-mates winning the title that campaign.

The 2012/13 season was also particularly fruitful for Mkhitaryan in both home and away matches against Zorya as he netted in consecutive 3-0 wins. Those two finishes helped him to break the record for the most goals scored by a single player in a Ukrainian Premier League season (25).

In total, Mkhitaryan has scored four goals in three matches against Thursday’s Europa League opponents and the Armenian will undoubtedly hope to improve his impressive tally at Old Trafford, if fit and selected.

Henrikh has not featured for the Reds since the Manchester derby on 10 September, but Jose Mourinho suggested he is close to being available and may update that situation during his pre-match media conference on Wednesday at 13:30 BST, which you can follow live on ManUtd.com.

MKHITARYAN’S RECORD V ZORYA LUHANSK

Zorya Luhansk 1 Shakhtar Donetsk 5 | 16 April 2012 | Two goals
Zorya Luhansk 0 Shakhtar Donetsk 3 | 15 September 2012 | One goal
Shakhtar Donetsk 3 Zorya Luhansk 0 | 13 April 2013 | One goal

Photo: ICRC

Aid has been delivered to four besieged towns in Syria for the first time in almost six months, the International Committee of the Red Cross says, the BBC reports.

Seventy-one lorries reached rebel-held Madaya and Zabadani, near Damascus, and government-controlled Foah and Kefraya, in Idlib province, on Sunday.

They brought food, medical supplies and hygiene kits for 60,000 people.

Last week, the UN suspended aid deliveries across Syria for 48 hours after a deadly attack on a convoy.