Author: Hambik Zargarian

Armenia and Russia have launched a large-scale project of modernization of the T-72 main battle tanks under Armenia’s possession, reports.

The tanks will be upgraded to T-72B4 sports class, which the teams used during the Tank Biathlon.

The modernization has already started, Spokesman for the Armenian Ministry of Defense Artsrun Hovhannisyan confirmed to Izvestia. He did not specify the number of the military vehicles to be modernized and the terms.

The agency reports, quoting its sources, that dozens of tanks are going to be upgraded, the main modernization works will take place in Armenia, which will help cut the costs.

 

Armenia’s border guards are better trained to counter the illegal transport and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction thanks to border security and interdiction training provided by the U.S. The 10-day training session is the latest part of a joint U.S.-Armenian project to improve Armenia’s abilities in this fight against contraband.

From October 10 to 21, 27 Armenian border guards who serve along the Armenian-Georgian border attended training on viable border interdiction strategies that stressed the necessity for interagency cooperation. The border guards were introduced to new tools that can be used to maintain security and aid in border monitoring. The course also included sessions on basic tracking skills, operations management, safety, and evidence control.

The course, which was moderated by border security subject matter experts, consisted of lectures and practical exercises, culminating with several full-scale interdiction exercises. The training was conducted by the U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) Cooperative Threat Reduction Program’s WMD-Proliferation Prevention Program.

Out of the dozens of agents participating in this month’s course, 12 will go on to receive additional training to become instructors. This will enable Armenian authorities to institutionalize the training locally and ensure all Armenian border guards eventually receive the training they need to succeed.

The U.S. Embassy in Yerevan, the U.S. Department of Defense, the National Security Service of Armenia, and the Armenian Border Guards have a long history of cooperative efforts aimed at reducing the threat of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.Since 2011, the U.S. Department of Defense, through DTRA’s Cooperative Threat Reduction Program, has provided $21.3 million in aid to properly train and equip Armenian border guards

The George C. Marshall Center (GCMC) of Security Studies hosted an alumni outreach event in Yerevan, Armenia on September 29^,  2016.  Thirty alumni and guests from multiple Armenian institutions attended the event which was led by GCMC staff.  The event featured two distinguished GCMC alumni – Ms. Hayarpi Mkhitaryan from the Armenian National Security Council and Ms. Yelizaveta Margaryan from the Ministry of Finance – who presented their views on the topic of “Corruption as a National Security Threat.”  Their presentation was followed by a question and answer session.

U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Richard M. Mills, Jr. welcomed the Marshall Center alumni and congratulated them on the important role they have played in “collectively contributing to a better and more robust understanding in Washington and many European capitals of the unique security and defense challenges facing Armenia and the Caucasus region.”  Ambassador Mills added that “the intersection of corruption and national security is an issue of critical importance in Armenia and around the world, and I am pleased to see these two professionals, and the distinguished alumni and guests who have gathered here today, address this subject with such seriousness.”

The U.S. and German-sponsored George C. Marshall Center of Security Studies offers a unique opportunity to examine global and regional trends, contemporary security issues, national security strategies, defense planning, approaches to crisis management, countering corruption, and other related areas.  Armenia has participated in this program since 1995, sending 15 students per year on average to the GCMC.  Currently there are approximately 240 GCMC alumni in Armenia who hold a broad range of positions within the Armenian government, as well as other agencies and institutions.  GCMC carries George C. Marshall’s vision into the 21st century, following the motto “Democracy through trust and friendship.”

On September 28, political consultations between the Foreign Ministries of Armenia and Georgia were held at the MFA of Georgia. The Armenian and Georgian delegations were headed by Shavarsh Kocharyan, Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia, and Gigi Gigiadze, Deputy Foreign Minister of Georgia, respectively.

In the course of political consultations the sides discussed a wide spector of issues related to the current situation of bilateral political, trade and economic relations and perspectives of their development. The agenda of the consultations focused on the deepening of cooperation in the areas of transport, energy, culture and education. Moreover, the necessity of inventory of the existing legal field was emphasized.

The interlocutors also touched upon the intensification of cooperation within the framework of international organizations, as well as exchanged views on a wide range of international and regional issues.

Having served as the spiritual leader for Catholic Armenians in Turkey for 78 years, Archbishop Hovhannes Tcholakian has passed away, Agos reports. 

The spiritual leader of Catholic Armenians in Turkey Hovhannes Tcholakian has passed away at 97. He had served as the Archbishop of Istanbul for 78 years.

The funeral ceremony will be held in Surp Hovhannes Vosgeperan Church in Istanbul on September 23 at 2.30 pm.

On August 29 Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian received the delegation of the German-Armenian Forum headed by Member of Bundestag Albert Weiner.

Minister Nalbandian hailed the activity of the Forum targeted at the further reinforcement and expansion of bilateral ties.

The interlocutors praised the high-level cooperation established between Armenia and Germany and discussed steps towards the deepening of relations.

Albert Weiner briefed Minister Nalbandian on the current activities and plans of the Forum.

Edward Nalbandian hailed the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the German Bundestag and valued the efforts of the German-Armenian Forum in the process.

During the meeting reference was made to Armenia-EU relations and the ongoing negotiations on a new legal framework with the EU.

The Armenian Foreign Minister briefed the German lawmakers on the efforts of Armenia and the OSCE Minsk Group targeted at the peaceful settlement of the Karabakh issue.

The State Security Service of Georgia says it has thwarted a planned terrorist act on the Russia-Armenia gas pipeline, Gruzia Online reports.

According to the source, seven people have been detained on suspicion of plotting the blast, employee of the Poti Patrol Police Levan Mamporia among them.

The detainees are accused of being linked to a terrorist organization.

The suspects prepared to carry out an explosion of an open section of the gas pipeline near the Saguramo village, some 20 kilometers from Georgia’s capital Tbilisi, teh State Security Service said.

Photo: AP

 

A Russian balloonist has set a new record for flying non-stop around the world, his support crew have said, the BBC reports.

Fyodor Konyukhov’s balloon was said to have passed directly over the airfield in the Australian town of Northam where he began his journey 11 days ago.

If his record is confirmed by the World Air Sports Federation he will have taken more than two days off the record set by American Steve Fossett in 2002.

Konyukhov, who is 65, is expected to land later on Saturday.

Konyukhov’s route took him from Australia to above New Zealand, the Pacific Ocean, South America, the Cape of Good Hope and the Southern Ocean.

His crew said the balloon, which is 56m (183ft) tall and uses helium and hot air, covered the route in 11 days and six hours, beating Fossett’s record by more than two days.

The American, who also started from Northam, took 13 days and eight hours in setting his record.

Tens of thousands of Icelanders gathered in the capital Reykjavík to welcome home the nation’s football team after their Euro 2016 quarter-final, the BBC reports.

Led by drummers, the players made their way through the city in an open-top bus to the hill of Arnarholl, where fans greeted them with wild cheers.

Iceland’s first major tournament ended on Sunday when the tiny nation, one of Europe’s smallest, lost to France.

But not before they had dumped out the England side in the round of 16.

On their way to the last eight of the European tournament, they had also beat Austria and, in qualifying, the Netherlands, Turkey, and the Czech Republic.

Ahead of Pope Francis’ visit to Armenia from 24 to 26 June, La Stampa interviewed Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, who knows the country very well and will be accompanying the Pope on his trip.

By Cristina Ugoccioni

Your Eminence, what is the essence of the Pope’s visit to Armenia?

“I think this visit is first and foremost a sort of pilgrimage: the Pope’s gesture is one of affection and admiration for this ancient Church with its century-old Christian tradition; it is an act of devotion towards this country, the first to adopt Christianity in 301 when St. Gregory the Illuminator led the entire nation to conversion and baptism. The Pope will bring his gratitude and esteem for a people who were moulded by the Christian spirit and managed to protect the precious treasure of faith and their own identity for centuries. This is the spiritual power upon which Armenia can build a future of peace and hope. I also believe this trip will very important for the entire Armenian diaspora, all those men and women living in Europe, the US, South America and many other countries, who are shining examples of the values and human and Christian wealth of this people. Francis’ word and blessing will be a great comfort to them and act as a stimulus.

You have been to this country a number of times, the last time being in 2015, when you celebrated the consecration ceremony of the Holy Martyrs Armenian Catholic Church in Gyumri: what is it about the Armenian people that strikes you the most?

“What strikes me about this people, arousing my deep admiration, is their spirit of sacrifice, their ability to face each historical event – both in times of freedom and in times of persecution and suffering – with an authentic Christian spirit, remaining rooted in Christ’s cross. Khatchkars (carved, memorial stele bearing a cross) are effective symbols of this connection with the cross; they are present across the country, almost like a visible bone structure. Perseverance in the faith, humility and a spirit of service are Armenia’s strong points and what has helped this huge Christian community to get through and overcome the terrible hardships of the 20th century which affected over a million and a half Armenian Christians.”

What impact have these great hardships had on the soul of the Armenian people and their spirituality?

“These incredibly painful events have left an indelible mark on them. I am thinking of the Armenian liturgy: what I find most striking about it are the chants: they are heart wrenching, they seem to come from somewhere deep within the soul. They express a spirit of devotion to God, a faith that has never been denied or sold but preserved at a high price, with suffering. This is a people that is very familiar with suffering. The prayer I feel rising up spontaneously in my heart as I think of Pope Francis going to touch the Armenian nation with the oil of consolation and compassion, is that all of this pain will beget greater hope and love.”

How do you view current relations between the Catholic Church and the Armenian Apostolic Church?

“I perceive them to be very fraternal and particularly friendly. The Catholic community is tiny in terms of numbers and we need to be grateful to the Lord for the fact that the Armenian Apostolic Church – thanks to the generosity of Karekin II and his predecessor Karekin I – has allowed the Catholic Church to exist and to live the faith and acts of charity in service of the people fully. I am thinking, for example, of the work carried out by the Missionaries of Charity in Spitak and Yerevan and at Ashotks hospital, which until today has been run by the Camillians and the Little Sisters of Jesus. This hospital was donated by Caritas Italy at the request of John Paul II, after the devastating earthquake of 1988. I am certain that Pope Francis’ visit will forge even closer ties between the two Churches, fostering stronger and more fruitful ties of fraternity, friendship and mutual support that will lead to an industrious cooperation in many fields.”

Do you foresee that Pope Francis and Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians will draft a “Joint Declaration” as St. John Paul II and Karekin II did back in 2001? 

“I presume a Joint Declaration will be drafted on this occasion too, underlining and emphasizing the common faith in Christ our Saviour and expressing the intention and willingness to build ever growing fraternal ties between us with the grace of the Lord.”

Do you think Pope Francis’ visit will sway the OSCE Minsk Group, the group of mediators who have sought a solution – so far unsuccessfully – to the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over who has control of the Nagorno-Karabakh region?

“I definitely think this visit will be an opportunity to draw attention to and encourage those values that are the backbone of every human community: the rejection of violence, the use of arms that cause immense suffering and the tenacious pursuit of peace through diplomatic means, dialogue, understanding and negotiations. I think that during his visit to Armenia, the first leg of his journey to the Caucasus region (in September Francis will go to Georgia and Azerbaijan), the Pope will send out a strong appeal for peace and a heartfelt invitation to work towards turning the Caucasus into what it already is in geographical terms: a bridge between East and West.”