Author: Hovik Karapetian

Armenian international Aras Ozbiliz was officially presented as Rayo Vallecano player today.

“I’m feeling better every day,” Ozbiliz said, adding that he hopes to help the team stay in La Liga.

“I knew the philosophy of Rayo Vallecano game and Paco Jemez and that made me come,” he said.

NATO supports the OSCE Minsk Group’s efforts in resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for the South Caucasus and Central Asia James Appathurai told reporters in Baku Feb.16, APA reports.

“We are not directly involved in the process of resolving [the conflict]. But our position is that we support Minsk Group’s efforts and a peaceful resolution to this conflict,” he added.

Appathurai said he has discussed the current status of the conflict with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov.

“NATO has a stance with regard to the conflict. The situation along the contact line causes escalation. This is a complicated situation. The Alliance thinks the sides should work to find a peaceful solution,” he stressed.

PHOTO: REUTERS/JANINE COSTA

 

Turkey’s patience may run out over the crisis in Syria and it could be forced to take action, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday, calling on the United Nations to do more to prevent what he said was “ethnic cleansing” in the country, Reuters reports.

Erdogan accused the United Nations of insincerity in calling on Turkey to do more to help Syrian refugees instead of taking action to prevent the bloodshed in its southern neighbor.

“There is a chance the new wave of refugees will reach 600,000 if air strikes continue. We are making preparations for it,” Erdogan said in a speech to a business forum in Ankara.

“We will show patience up to a point and then we’ll do what’s necessary. Our buses and planes are not waiting there in vain,” he said, adding that Turkey had information that Iran-backed forces in Syria were carrying out “merciless massacres”.

Turkey, already home to more than 2.6 million Syrian refugees, has long pushed for the creation of a safe zone in northern Syria to protect displaced civilians without bringing them over the border into Turkey.

The proposal has so far gained little traction with Washington or NATO allies who fear it would require an internationally patrolled no-fly zone which could put them in direct confrontation with Assad and his allies.

Erdogan said the Syrian crisis could not be resolved without safe zones, and said that ways of keeping Syrians in their country needed to be sought.

He also said he had previously told the European Union’s two top officials, Jean-Claude Juncker and Donald Tusk, that the time could come when Turkey would open the gates for migrants to travel to Europe.

“In the past we have stopped people at the gates to Europe, in Edirne we stopped their buses. This happens once or twice, and then we’ll open the gates and wish them a safe journey, that’s what I said,” he said on Thursday.

A Greek news website said on Monday that Erdogan, in a meeting in November with Juncker and Tusk, had threatened to flood Europe with migrants if EU leaders did not offer a better deal to help Turkey manage the refugee crisis.

The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs of the National Assembly of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic has adopted a statement on the 26^th anniversary of the mass killing of the Armenian population of Baku.

“On January 13-19, 1990 the Azerbaijani authorities organized and perpetrated the mass killing of the Armenian population of Baku. About 250 thousand Armenians were persecuted, massacred or exiled only for their nationality; as a result the city was completely cleansed of Armenians. More than 400 Armenians fell victim to Azeri violence, a figure confirmed by international human rights organizations.

The violence in Baku was the continuation of the unpunished 1988 massacres in Sumgait and other Armenian-populated cities of Azerbaijan perpetrated with the knowledge and permission of the USSR leadership.

The Azerbaijani authorities not only distort the essence of the “black January,” but also
consign to oblivion and silence the story of the “capital of three massacres,” trying to conceal the obvious consequences of the massacres and genocidal policy against Armenians in 1905, 1918 and 1990.

The terrible massacre of Baku Armenians has not been properly assessed by now. Furthermore, encouraged by impunity, the Azerbaijani authorities have been consistently implementing an anti-Armenian policy over the past 26 years, accompanied by periodic ceasefire violations and threats of resumption of war.

Paying tribute to the memory of the innocent Armenians that fell victims to the Baku pogroms and forced deportation and condemning any expression of xenophobia, radicalism and terrorism, the Foreign Relations Committee of the NKR National Assembly:

reiterates that the Baku pogroms fully comply with the legal formulation of the crime of genocide as defined by the UN Convention for the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide;

insists that the Republic of Ngaorno Karabakh (Artsakh) will be consistent to have the organizers and perpetrators of the genocide of Azerbaijani Armenians held accountable in compliance with international norms.

calls on the civilizes community and advocacy organizations to condemns the mass killing of the Armenian population of Baku and give it a legal assessment.”

Eagles guitarist Glenn Frey has died at the age of 67, the band has announced, the BBC reports.

He died in New York City on Monday from complications arising from rheumatoid arthritis, colitis and pneumonia.

“Words can neither describe our sorrow, nor our love and respect for all that he has given to us,” his family and fellow band members said.

The Eagles were one of the most successful bands of the 1970s, with multiple hit singles, including Hotel California in 1976.

Frey co-founded the Eagles in 1971 with Don Henley, Bernie Leadon and Randy Meisner.

He co-wrote Hotel California with Henley, and composed a number of the band’s biggest songs on his own, including Heartache Tonight and Lyin’ Eyes.

The Eagles notched up more than 150 million album sales worldwide, with Hotel California and their greatest hits among the best selling in history.

Shock and disbelief have erupted online after the wrong Miss Universe winner was crowned, the reports.

Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez was announced winner of the 2015 beauty pageant before organisers revealed she was actually the first runner-up.

Miss Philippines Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach was later declared the winner.

#MissUniverse2015 also became Twitter’s biggest trend of the night as thousands of social media users began to express disbelief using jokes and memes.

Facebook users also expressed their opinions on a post shared on the pageant’s official page.

Ms Wurtzbach has since told reporters that she wishes Ms Gutierrez well following the incident.

“I’m very sorry, I did not take the crown away from her and I wish her well in whatever she wants to pursue after this pageant,” she said.

Ms Gutierrez also addressed fans in a backstage video that has been shared on the pageant’s official page.

She said: “Everything happens for a reason so I’m happy for all that I did.”

At the end of the night, Ms Gutierrez was named first runner-up followed by Olivia Jordan from the United States.

Host Steve Harvey responded, saying it was “his mistake” and he would take responsibility for not reading the winning card correctly.

“I’d like to apologize wholeheartedly to Miss Colombia & Miss Philippines for my huge mistake. I feel terrible,” he said in a tweet that was re-tweeted more than 51,000 times.

“I don’t want to take away from this amazing night and pageant. As well as the wonderful contestants – they were all amazing.”

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian briefed journalists on the results of the meeting between the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan held in Bern with the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.

Question: Mr. Nalbandian, what mechanisms are being elaborated?

Edward Nalbandian. About two dozen meetings on the level of Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan, summits were held during the last seven years. Some of these meetings were very close to reaching an agreement, however, Azerbaijan has always backtracked.

Quite a long time has passed since the last summit held in Paris in October, 2014, almost a year ago, and it was very important to arrange a new meeting.

We are grateful to the Swiss authorities, which hosted this summit. We are also grateful to the Co-Chairing countries for organizing a new meeting on the level of presidents aimed at moving forward the negotiation process. In order to move this process forward such an intention should have Azerbaijan, which, in fact, not only has no such intention, but quite the contrary.

Question: What was the agenda of this meeting?

Edward Nalbandian: The agenda of this summit was dictated by the escalation of situation as a result of Azerbaijan’s provocations, gross violations of cease-fire regime. And, naturally, if the situation is so tense, the other issues are becoming secondary.

Azerbaijan cannot get rid of the delusion that it can translate the use of power, the escalation of the situation into a negotiation tool. In fact, it is their weakness. Baku wishes to compensate its insecurity in negotiations by such actions.

The strategists of Azerbaijan consider that it gives them some strength. But what has this policy given to Azerbaijan so far? It has not given, is not giving, nor of course will it give anything positive, any advantage.

Question: And in such situation is it rational to conduct negotiations?

Edward Nalbandian: There have been attitudes that because of this inadequate behavior of Azerbaijan, provocations, maybe there is no reason to continue the negotiations. And a question arises – what is the alternative to negotiations?

Armenia has been for the continuation of the negotiation process, the settlement of the issue through negotiations. And the participation of the President of our Republic in this summit proves that very fact, proves our approach that Armenia reaffirms its commitment to continue, along with the Co-Chairs, the efforts aimed at an exclusively peaceful settlement of the issue.

Question: In these conditions if there are no negotiations, will a peaceful settlement be possible?

Edward Nalbandian: If there are no negotiations, how will there be a settlement? How is peace established?

In fact, also during this meeting the sides expressed their approaches on different elements, different principles of the settlement of the issue, which they have presented. And we can reaffirm again that, unfortunately, the approaches of the sides are not close, or that they do not coincide.

However here the approaches of Azerbaijan not only do not coincide with the approaches of Armenia. We can also say that the approaches of Azerbaijan do not coincide and are not in line with the proposals of the Co-Chairing countries.

You know that there have been five statements on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict on the level of leaders of the Co-Chairing countries. Azerbaijan by all means avoids to make any reference to those statements, which state the principles, the elements that, as mentioned by the Co-Chairs on numerous occasions, have been conceived as an integrated whole, and any attempts to select some elements over others would make it impossible to achieve a solution.

We have mentioned on numerous occasions that we are ready to continue the negotiations based on those proposals and move forward towards the settlement; Azerbaijan has not expressed yet its opinion on those statements. It only pretends that it is ready for something, but what is it ready for?

They are issuing some statements for their public opinion, and are thinking that they will be able to impress someone abroad. This is not the case at all.

In Belgrade I made a comment on the statement of the Co-Chairs, referring to it point by point. And what was the statement of the Azerbaijani side? There were no comments, because what the Co-Chairs were saying is what we are saying.

Question: Mr. Minister, what are the outcomes of today’s negotiations, is there a particular outcome, which can be considered as positive?

Edward Nalbandian: Any meeting, especially the ones on the level of the Presidents, is very important for this dialogue to continue, the negotiations to continue, because as I have already mentioned there is no alternative to it.

The more often these meetings are held, the more possible it will be to conduct discussions, maybe with small steps, but some discussions both on the pushing the peaceful settlement process of the issue on, and elaboration of mechanisms for the de-escalation of situation. Indeed, these issues have also been discussed.

You know, the Co-Chairs have also made numerous statements in that regard, on the violation of cease-fire, establishment of a mechanism for the investigation of incidents. On our side we have stated several times that we are ready to move forward towards the establishment of that mechanism. We are not only ready, but we welcomed the establishment of that mechanism. Moreover, the Co-Chairs have presented on numerous occasions the details of the establishment of that mechanism. The sides discussed it at least twice – during the two summits held in Sochi.

You can look into the joint statements of the Presidents of Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan adopted in the result of those summits, which contain a reference to the establishment of that very mechanism. In those statements some commitments were taken, that the sides, along with the Co-Chairs, should discuss the establishment of those mechanisms.

Question: And what happened…?

Edward Nalbandian: Just after those statements Azerbaijan backtracked few times. Today we also discussed the proposal on the establishment of that mechanism. It was reaffirmed that the Armenian sides presented their positive reaction to it.

In September in New York, during the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan within the framework of the UN General Assembly the Co-Chairs reaffirmed that Armenia has accepted the proposal, and they expect Azerbaijan to do the same. This issue was once again discussed during today’s meeting.

We hope that Azerbaijan will finally display another approach, because if we really wish to move the negotiation process forward, an appropriate atmosphere should be created.

Question: Mr. Minister, did the Co-Chairs sharply raise the issue of the use of tanks and heavy weaponry on the Line of Contact?

Edward Nalbandian: The Co-Chairs raised this question both today, and also in their statements. If we observe the developments since January of this year, the Co-Chairs issued targeted statements and calls, the recent one in Belgrade on the sidelines of the OSCE Ministerial Council, which is quite an important format. Every December, the Co-Chairs issue statements within that format.

In the latest statement they voiced a harsh criticism towards the use of heavy artillery and weaponry of different caliber. And it is obvious whom those statements are addressed to.

In response, Azerbaijan, in fact, slapped in the face of the Co-Chairs and moved towards the further escalation of the situation by the use of different weaponry.

This is the response of Azerbaijan to the proposals of the international community, as the Co-
Chairs have the mandate of the international community and act on their behalf.

Question: Mr. Nalbandian, it is understandable. One more question. Warlick expressed an opinion that seems there is an optimistic tendency. Do you share the optimism of the Co-Chair? And you mentioned that there were opinions that Armenia should from now on reject to negotiate. In your opinion, did those opinions increase or decrease?

QuestionI have already answered to that question: there are these attitudes, but the negotiations have no alternative. Armenia has always been and is for the settlement of the issue through negotiations. As of having positive attitude or optimism, diplomats, in general, should be optimistic, because if you are not an optimistic, you are not a diplomat.

Question: What about the toast Warlick mentioned in his tweet, actually was there a toast? Is it true?

Edward Nalbandian: I think it is something imaginary. In any case, Presidents did not toast. They conducted serious negotiations.

Thank you.

Photo: Getty Images

 

The German cabinet has backed plans for military support in the fight against Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria, the BBC reports.

Tornado reconnaissance aircraft, a naval frigate and a 1,200-strong force will be sent to the region under the proposals – expected to go for a parliament vote as early as Wednesday.

Germany decided to join the fight against IS after an appeal by French President Francois Hollande in the wake of the 13 November Paris attacks.

Its forces will not engage in combat.

MPs are expected to back the mission, which would become Germany’s biggest current military operation abroad.

Conan O’Brien‘s “Conan in Armenia” episode of his TBS talk show is air on Tuesday.

In a new sneak peek of the episode released Monday, the host herds sheep, learns a new language and lands a role on an Armenian talk show. He also visits a memorial with his assistant, Sona Movsesian, who is of Armenian descent and has never visited the country.

“I think it’s every boss’s responsibility to take their assistant back to their ancestral land,” Conan said when the episode was announced. “That’s why I’m going to make sure my next assistant was born in a five-star resort in Tuscany.”