Author: Jane Topchian

Photo: Sputnik/ Michael Alaeddin

The Syrian armed forces have thwarted the terrorists’ attempt to seize a military airfield in Syria’s northeastern Deir-az-Zor province, killing 25 attackers and wounding many others, Russian media reported Friday.

“The airfield’s defenders beat back the attack coming from eastern, northeastern and southeastern directions, killing 25 of them,” a military source told RIA Novosti news agency.

“A series of airstrikes by the Syrian air force helped the army to repel the enemy attack and then counterattack, seizing several villages outside the airbase,” the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Most of the Deir-az-Zor province remains under the terrorists’ control and the local airbase is the government forces’ main stronghold there.

The militants make regular attempts to storm the base using explosives-laden trucks and armor.

The latest such attack in September lasted for 15 hours, but the Syrian garrison, backed by aviation, has successfully been repelling all enemy attacks and driving out the ISIL fighters holed up in the nearby villages.

“Attempts to change the format of negotiations on the settlement of the Karabakh conflict or create parallel mechanisms can disrupt the negotiation process and impede progress towards a settlement,” the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs said in a statement today. The statement reads:

“In response to questions received by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group about the report and draft resolution currently under discussion in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), we take note of the attention paid by PACE to a Nagorno-Karabakh settlement. We share concerns, expressed in the resolution, regarding an increase of tensions along the border of Armenia and Azerbaijan and along the Line of Contact. We deeply regret the loss of lives, including civilians.

We agree that the conflict has lasted too long. The sides should undertake all measures necessary to expedite a peaceful settlement.

We are convinced that measures to reach a negotiated settlement should be based on mutual agreement between the sides as emphasized in the Joint Statements made by the Presidents of France, the Russian Federation, and the United States, and supported by the international community.

The Co-Chairs will continue to render assistance to the parties, taking into consideration our mandate, approved by the OSCE. According to the OSCE mandate, our task is to promote a peaceful resolution of the conflict and in particular to facilitate negotiations on a comprehensive settlement.  We are neither judges nor advocates for particular positions.

There are proposals to create new negotiating formats and working groups on the settlement of the conflict. We believe that in the framework of the Minsk Group there is unique mediation experience. The Minsk Group format is accepted by the parties and has the full confidence of all OSCE participating States. Considering the sensitivity of the negotiations, attempts to change the format or create parallel mechanisms can disrupt the negotiation process and impede progress towards a settlement. At the same time, we are prepared to cooperate with all international organizations, which demonstrate an interest in finding a just and sustainable settlement to the conflict.”

Borussia Dortmund left for Baku this morning without Armenian playmaker Henrikh Mkhitaryan because of tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

“We have spoken to the player. It was the best decision for everyone,” Borussia boss Hans- Joachim Watzke said. “Henrikh is not angry for having to stay at home,” he said.

He added that the decision would probably be different if it was the semi-final.

Borussia will face Gabala FK Thursday in a Europa League Group C encounter.

Palestinians have torched a Jewish holy site in the West Bank city of Nablus, amid soaring tensions with Israel, the BBC reports.

Rioters set fire to a tomb which Jews revere as that of the biblical figure Joseph. Firefighters put out the blaze but the site was badly damaged.

It came hours after Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu called on the Palestinian leadership to stop a wave of attacks.

There have been near-daily stabbings by Palestinians of Israelis this month, as violence between the two sides spirals.

Seven Israelis have been killed and dozens wounded in stabbings and shootings. At least 30 Palestinians, including several of the attackers, have also been killed in the growing unrest.

The upsurge began last month when tensions at a flashpoint holy site in Jerusalem revered by Jews and Muslims boiled over amid rumours Israel planned to relax long-standing rules to increase Jewish rights at the complex. Israel has repeatedly denied such claims.

On the sidelines of the 31st session of the Conference of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the International Organization of La Francophonie, Edward Nalbandian, Foreign Minister of Armenia, signed seven documents on the development of relations with the Foreign Ministers of six African states.

Memorandum of Understanding on Consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of two states was signed with the Republic of Senegal.

Protocol on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations was signed between the Republic of Armenia and Democratic Republic of Congo.

Memorandum on Cultural Cooperation and Memorandum on Cooperation between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs were signed between Armenia and the Republic of Madagascar.

Memorandum on Cooperation was signed between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia and Ministry of External Relations and Cooperation of the Comoro Islands.

Memorandum on Cooperation was also signed between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and African Integration of Togo.

Memorandum of Understanding on Bilateral Political Consultations was signed between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Armenia and Côte d’Ivoire.

Russia won’t be building a new radar station on the site of the radar station in Azerbaijan’s Gabala, as it doesn’t consider it reasonable to build such systems abroad, RIA Novosti reports, quoting Major General Anatoly Nestechuk, chief of staff of the 15th Army aerospace special forces.

“I believe that the national system’s facilities should be in the territory of the Russian Federation,” he further commented.

Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh said on Sunday talks with Armenian officials concluded in a decision to increase gas exports and electricity imports, Mehr News Agency reports. 

Assembly of Armenians of Europe has issued an appeal to the European Institutions connected with the situation in Turkey:

The news about the bloodshed that is taking place in Turkey are disturbing. There is no doubt that the riots organized in dozens of cities by the Turkish mob, the murders and the violent acts are organized and led by one and single center.

Dozens of people were murdered, many of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) offices were burned and looted.  Many commercial houses and shops belonging to members of the ethnic or religious minorities in Turkey had the same fate. There is a serious danger that these acts of  hooliganism directed against simple citizens who belong to these minorities will  become massive as it was the case back in 1955 with the pogroms of 6-7 September of that year.

Having in mind all these,

We appeal to the European Institutions to take immediately all the possible measures in order to protect the lives of the innocent citizens that are in danger.

We remind that in Turkey the notorious  301 article of the Constitution is still in force. Based on racial discrimination, this article is justifying any act committed against the life and the property of members of various minorities.

Any procrastination might be fatal.

On September 8, Dr. Vaughan Turekian, formerly the Chief International Officer at The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), was named the 5th Science and Technology Adviser to the Secretary of State, according to the State Departament’s official website.

In this capacity, Dr. Turekian will advise the Secretary of State and the Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment on international environment, science, technology, and health matters affecting the foreign policy of the United States. Dr. Turekian will draw upon his background in atmospheric chemistry and extensive policy experience to promote science, technology, and engineering as integral components of U.S. diplomacy.

A grandson of Armenian Genocide survivors, Turekian is the son of Karl K. Turekian, a pioneering Yale geochemist. Vaughan Turekian was also visiting professor at the American University of Armenia in 2000, Asbarez reports.

Dr. Turekian brings both technical expertise and 14 years of policy experience to the position. As former Chief International Officer for The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and Director of AAAS’s Center for Science Diplomacy, Dr. Turekian worked to build bridges between nations based on shared scientific goals, placing special emphasis on regions where traditional political relationships are strained or do not exist. As Editor-in-Chief of Science & Diplomacy, an online quarterly publication, Dr. Turekian published original policy pieces that have served to inform international science policy recommendations.

Prior to his work at AAAS, Turekian worked at the State Department as Special Assistant and Adviser to the Under Secretary for Global Affairs on issues related to sustainable development, climate change, environment, energy, science, technology, and health and as a Program Director for the Committee on Global Change Research at the National Academy of Sciences where he was study director for a White House report on climate change science.