Author: Greg Madatian

Moscow, Washington and Paris are ready to host high-level talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the OSCE Mink Group Co-Chairs said in a statement issued after their meetings with the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session in New York. The statement reads:

The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Ambassadors Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, James Warlick of the United States of America, and Pierre Andrieu of France, as well as the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, met separately with the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan in New York on the margins of the UN General Assembly to continue discussions on a settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

“During the meetings, we paid special attention to implementation of decisions taken at the recent summits in Vienna (May 2016) and St. Petersburg (June 2016). In particular, we discussed further steps that could create an atmosphere for advancing substantial negotiations that could lead to a settlement.

We also exchanged views on proposals that could be discussed between the sides.

Our governments are prepared to host another meeting of the Presidents or Foreign Ministers at the appropriate time.

We plan to visit the region in the near future.”

The delegation headed by Vice-President of the Armenian National Assembly, Head of the Armenia-Argentina Deputy Friendship Group Edward Sharmazanov had a meeting with Rodolfo Zlauvinen, Argentina’s Undersecretary of State on Foreign Policy Affairs, Ambassador Gustavo.

The interlocutors emphasized the dynamic development of relations between the two countries. They attached importance to the further expansion and reinforcement of economic ties, which, they said, could be enhanced by the conduct of a business forum.

Edward Sharmazanov hailed the recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide by the legislative, executive and judicial bodies of Argentina. He noted that “by condemning the Genocide, Argentina reiterates the indisputable fact of being a democratic country.”

During the meeting reference was made to regional issues, the process of settlement of the Karabakh conflict.

Edward Sharmazanov said “the world has taken the triumphant path of self-determination. He said the lack of progress in Karabakh talks is a result of the non-constructive policy of Azerbaijan. He added that progress can hardly be achieved unless the agreements reached at Vienna and St. Petersburg summits are implemented.

Rodolfo Zlauvinen noted, in turn, that Argentina stands for exceptionally peaceful resolution of the Karabakh conflict.

The chief strategist of the Islamic State group, whose calls for attacks against the West during Ramadan led to mass bloodshed, has been killed in Syria, IS-affiliated media say, the BBC reports.

The Amaq news agency said Abu Muhammad al-Adnani died in Aleppo province.

The Pentagon said an air strike had targeted Adnani in the town of al Bab and the results were being assessed.

Reports of his death come as IS is suffering a series of military reverses in both Syria and Iraq.

Adnani – who was also the group’s spokesman – was “martyred while surveying the operations to repel the military campaigns against Aleppo”, Amaq said, without giving details about how he died.

Fighting has escalated around the city in recent weeks, with rebels breaking a siege by government forces and Syrian and Russian warplanes bombing rebel-held areas.

Russian President Vladimir Putin does not plan to attend a friendly match between football teams of Russia and Turkey in Antalya on August 31, press secretary of the President Dmitry Peskov said on Monday, TASS reports.

“No,” Peskov said responding to a question whether such a trip is in Putin’s working schedule. “We will root remotely,” he added.

The Armenian national team has returned from Rio. The team was welcomed at the airport by hundreds of fans and supporters.

 

 

The U.S. Embassy continues to monitor the ongoing standoff in the police building in Erebuni and the ensuing protests.

“We reiterate our call for all parties to exercise maximum restraint, act within the confines of the law, and work for a peaceful resolution of the standoff. We are deeply troubled by the ongoing hostage situation, and call for the immediate, safe, and unconditional release of medical personnel held captive since Wednesday, and any others who may wish to leave the police building in Erebuni,” reads a statement on the Embassy’s Facebook page.

“We reiterate that threats and violence are not acceptable means of achieving lasting political change in Armenia. We urge the Armenian government and security forces to maintain order in a manner that upholds ALL Armenian citizens’ rights to freedom of expression and to peaceful assembly, and to ensure that all individuals detained by the police receive just treatment and are afforded due process under the law,” the Embassy said in a statament.

Photo: Getty Images

 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says he is ready to reinstate the death penalty “if the people demand it”, following the recent coup attempt, the BBC reports.

He was addressing supporters outside his Istanbul residence who were chanting for capital punishment to be restored.

EU officials have warned that Turkey’s bid to join the bloc would be finished if Ankara restored the death penalty.

Mr Erdogan has overseen a crackdown since the coup attempt was quashed.

Thousands of police officers, military personnel and judges have been suspended or arrested. Turkey’s Western allies have expressed concern and urged President Erdogan to respond in a measured way.

But speaking to his supporters on Tuesday morning, the president said Turkey was “a democratic state run by the rule of law”.

He said he was ready to reinstate the death penalty if the Turkish people demanded it and parliament approved the legislation, adding: “You cannot put aside the people’s demands.”

“Today is there no capital punishment in America? In Russia? In China? In countries around the world? Only in European Union countries is there no capital punishment,” he said.

Turkey abolished the death penalty in 2004 as part of its bid to become a member of the EU.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan provided a fascinating glimpse of his quality on Saturday by producing an eye-catching first-half display during Manchester United’s 2-0 win at Wigan Athletic.

The Armenia international joined the Reds from Borussia Dortmund earlier this month and made his unofficial debut at the DW Stadium, where Jose Mourinho oversaw a comfortable victory in his first match as manager thanks to second-half goals from Will Keane and Andreas Pereira.

Mkhitaryan started the match in the number 10 position and impressed the 7,000 United fans in attendance with an energetic, creative performance behind striker Will Keane. The 27-year-old was taken off during the break in a planned substitution, yet he had already made his impact.

Speaking on MUTV during a live broadcast of the match, Denis Irwin explained why he was bowled over by Mourinho’s third signing of the summer. “When he is receiving the ball, he is always available, his body shape is always right and he let it run across him a couple of times,” Irwin said.

“He looks like a player who wants to go forward as well and carry the ball forward to the opposition. We know from last year at Dortmund alone what he can achieve in terms of scoring goals, creativity and assists.

“So it has all been good. I know people will say it is Wigan, but you can see his ability to take the ball under pressure. He is at a good age, he has good experience and you can see that.”

Wales reached the semi-finals of a major tournament for the first time after a stirring fightback to defeat Belgium in the European Championship quarter-final in Lille, the BBC reports.

Radja Nainggolan put Belgium ahead with a thunderous 25-yard strike but Wales captain Ashley Williams headed in from a corner to equalise in a breathless first half littered with chances at both ends.

Welsh celebrations reached stratospheric levels when Hal Robson-Kanu, a striker without a club, gave them the lead with a divine turn and finish.

After withstanding late Belgium pressure, Wales sealed victory through a header from substitute Sam Vokes that set up a semi-final against Portugal and a mouth-watering duel between Real Madrid team-mates Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo.

On June 29, Edward Nalbandian, Foreign Minister of Armenia, met in Yerevan with Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Federal Foreign Minister of Germany and the OSCE Chairperson-in-office.

The meeting started in a tete-a-tete format, and proceeded in the extended format with the participation of delegations.

Welcoming the guests, Edward Nalbandian stressed, that regular high-level visits create a solid basis to discuss perspectives of the development of multilayer Armenian-German relations.

The Ministers commended the dynamic development of bilateral cooperation. The interlocutors shared the view, that it derives from the mutual aspiration to further develop and deepen relations between the two friendly countries.

Edward Nalbandian and Frank-Walter Steinmeier reflected on the process of implementation of agreements reached between the President of Armenia and Chancellor of Germany in April in Berlin.

The sides also praised the high level of the Armenian-German inter-parliamentary ties and attached importance to the cooperation established within the international parliamentary assemblies.

Edward Nalbandian mentioned that Armenia highly values the adoption of Resolution on the Armenian Genocide by German Bundestag on June 2, which complimented the Statement made by the Federal President Joachim Gauck on April 23, 2015. “By this step, Germany not only makes a remarkable contribution to the international recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide, as well as to the efforts of the international community for prevention of genocides and crimes against humanity, but also recognizes its part of responsibility for the Armenian Genocide”, said Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia.

The Ministers attached importance to the regular consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and further strengthening the cooperation within international organizations.

Ministers discussed numerous issues of bilateral agenda, including the expansion of legal framework, steps towards the development of cooperation in the fields of trade and economy, education, culture, healthcare. The sides emphasized the role of the Office of German Business Association, opened in Yerevan in April, in the advancement of bilateral trade and economic relations.

Edward Nalbandian and Frank-Walter Steinmeier discussed steps aimed at further strengthening of relations between Armenia and the European Union, and in particular, the process of negotiations over the new comprehensive agreement with the EU.

Ministers addressed issues related to the OSCE agenda. Edward Nalbandian reaffirmed Armenia’s support to the priorities of the OSCE German Chairmanship. It was mentioned that Armenia appreciates the support of the German Chairmanship to the efforts of OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs aimed at exclusively peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Edward Nalbandian also valued the activities of the OSCE Office in Yerevan, and emphasized that the Office is the only OSCE full fledged mission in the region, which yet again demonstrates Armenia’s commitment to cooperation within the OSCE.

At the end of the meeting, Edward Nalbandian and Frank-Walter Steinmeier signed an Agreement between the Republic of Armenia and the Federal Republic of Germany on Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and Capital.