Author: Lena Karagyozian

On February 17, Edward Nalbandian, Foreign Minister of Armenia, had a meeting in Munich with Masoud Barzani, the President of the Iraqi Kurdistan.

The sides appreciated the high-level political dialogue and exchanged views on organising mutual visits as well as on trade and economic cooperation.

The interlocutors discussed the issues related to the opening of the Consulate General of Armenia in Erbil. In this context, Edward Nalbandian expressed his gratitude to the authorities of the Iraqi Kurdistan for the provided comprehensive support.

Upon the request from the Foreign Minister of Armenia, the head of the Iraqi Kurdistan informed of the latest developments in the fight against terrorist groups in Iraq.

Foreign Minister of Armenia and the President of the Iraqi Kurdistan touched upon urgent regional and international security related issues.

A delegation of the Armenian National Assembly will visit Stepanakert February 19-21 to observe the Constitutional referendum in the Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) Republic.

The delegation will be led by Vice-speaker of the National Assembly Edward Sharmazanov and will comprise MPs Gagik Melikyan, Lyova Khachatryan, Karen Shakhmuradyan, Vahram Mkrtchyan, Alexander Arzumanyan and Head of the Public and Media relations Department Arsen Babayan.

Photo: Reuters

 

Reuters – An explosion occurred at French utility EDF’s Flamanville nuclear plant on Thursday (Feb 9) in which there may have been some injuries, but there was no nuclear risk, French newspaper Ouest France reported on its web site, citing local police.

Officials at EDF’s Paris headquarters had no immediate comment and local officials at the plant in western France could not be immediately reached for comment.

On January 27 in Vienna, Edward Nalbandian, Foreign Minister of Armenia, had a meeting with Sebastian Kurz, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Austrian Federal Minister for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs.

During the meeting a number of issues of the Armenian-Austrian cooperation were discussed.

The Ministers noted, that it is symbolic that their meeting takes place on the days, when Armenia and Austria mark the 25th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations, and expressed satisfaction over the dynamic development of bilateral cooperation in different fields.

The interlocutors touched upon the issues concerning the different dimensions of the OSCE activity.

Edward Nalbandian and Sebastian Kurz praised the activity of the OSCE Office in Yerevan.

Foreign Minister of Armenia and the OSCE CiO exchanged views on the importance of the implementation of agreements reached at Summits on Nagorno-Karabakh, held in Vienna and St. Petersburg.

Photo: AMC

A top UN envoy has warned the Syrian city of Aleppo risks becoming “one giant graveyard” as the government advances on rebel-held areas, the reports.

Stephen O’Brien pleaded with UN Security Council members to protect civilians “for the sake of humanity”.

At least 34 people died in the latest shelling of government and opposition-controlled areas, reports say.

Troops and militiamen have retaken more than a third of the rebel-held eastern part of Aleppo since the weekend.

Stephen O’Brien, the UN’s humanitarian affairs chief, made the comments as the Security Council met for an emergency session to discuss the crisis in the city.

“For the sake of humanity we call on – we plead – with the parties and those with influence to do everything in their power to protect civilians and enable access to the besieged part of eastern Aleppo before it becomes one giant graveyard,” he told the council.

An estimated 25,000 people have been displaced, he added, while for those inside opposition-controlled areas some are so hungry they are reduced to scavenging.

In an apparent reference to the rebels themselves, he said there were reliable reports that “non-state actors” were preventing civilians fleeing.

His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; attended a concert honoring the 70th birthday of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. The concert was held in the evening at the Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow, on 22 November.

The event was attended by Mr. Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation; Mr. Alexander Lukashenko, President of the Republic of Belarus; Russian Prime Minister Mr. Dmitry Medvedev; pontiffs and delegations of various Christian churches; representatives of other religions; high-ranking clergymen and members of the Russian Church Synod; diplomats; heads of state institutions, public and charitable organizations; science and culture figures.

A reception was held following the concert, during which the Catholicos of All Armenians conveyed his congratulatory message to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

On behalf of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians congratulated Patriarch Kirill on the occasion of his 70th birthday and stated in part: “We know You as a faithful and loyal servant of Christ and His Church. You were called to serve the Holy Church of Christ during the Soviet years, when faith was persecuted throughout the Soviet Union, and the Church and clergy were subjected to various pressures. During the difficult times of atheism, with growing zeal, You ministered to the vibrancy of the Russian Orthodox Church. You offered sincere efforts to the strengthening of the spiritual life of the faithful, implementing responsible long-term enhanced service in the ecumenical and educational fields, attaching great importance to the preparation of a new generation of priests and as well as the promotion of dialogue between the Churches.

You vigorously continued activities for the strengthening and progression of the spiritual life of the faithful of your flock, being called to greater service. All of us today are witnessing the vibrancy of the Russian Orthodox Church. You also made significant contributions in the ecumenical sphere, supporting the preservation of Christian values, the protection of the rights of Christians and the effectiveness of inter-religious relations.

… Dear Brother in Christ, we are happy to recall your visit to Armenia and the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. Our meetings and mutual visits were characterized by friendship and goodwill, through which are crowned the centuries-old brotherhood and relations between our people. We are pleased to confirm that during Your Pontificate, the fraternal ties and cooperation between the Churches and the faithful have strengthened, for which we today offer a prayer of thanksgiving to the Almighty. We are confident that the same spirit of friendship will continue to reign in the relationship of our churches, and with understanding, love and mutual respect, record new results in the Christian mission, “To walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, full pleasing him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:9–10).”

His Holiness also expressed his gratitude to Patriarch Kirill for the Paternal attitude shown towards the Armenian Church dioceses in Russia , and as well as for the continuous mediating mission of the Russian Orthodox Church towards the peaceful settlement of the conflict in Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh), and for organizing trilateral meetings with the Spiritual Head of Azerbaijan and the Armenian Catholicos.

The Catholicos of All Armenians offered a prayer to the Lord, asking that the spirit of love, fraternity, and cooperation yield good results, and continue to embellish the friendship of the Russian Orthodox and Armenian Apostolic Churches.

At the conclusion of his remarks, His Holiness wished Patriarch Kirill good health and boundless energy, asking God to always be supportive to him; to enrich the years of pontificate with more success and achievements, for the glory of God and vibrancy of the Russian Orthodox Church.

– Nationalist Turkish Party Istanbul Chair Bilal Gökçeyurt and the chair of so-called Turan Organization Ercan Uçar have been acquitted in the case of the threat against Agos.  Agos’ lawyer Hakan Bakırcıoğlu objected to the ruling.

On April 24, 2015, a black wreath was put in front of the office of Agos newspaper and a declaration titled as “One night, we might come to visit you unexpectedly” was read. Agos newspaper filed a criminal complaint against this threat. The trial was held today.

Nationalist Turkish Party Istanbul Chair Bilal Gökçeyurt and the chair of so-called Turan Organization Ercan Uçar have been acquitted on the ground that “there is no element of a crime”.

Editor-in-chief Yetvart Danzikyan attended the hearing on behalf of complainant Agos newspaper.

Speaking during the hearing, Danzikyan said: “They had put a black wreath, while the office was closed. We saw it in the morning. Then, we saw that they released a video about their action titled as ‘One night, we might come to visit you unexpectedly’. We filed a criminal complaint. There had been similar actions when Hrant Dink was working in Agos. You know what happened to Hrant Dink. Thus, we considered this action as a threat.”

The suspects claimed that they exercised their right to democratic protest.

Agos’ lawyer Hakan Bakırcıoğlu objected to the ruling on the ground that it violates the law. He stated that the acquittal openly violates the law and rule, since there is solid evidence showing that the suspects committed the crimes of threatening and insulting.

In the indictment issued by Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s office, it was stated that the suspects regard Agos as responsible for Armenia’s actions in Karabakh, though the newspaper has no influence over the actions of the Armenian state.

It was also stated that the suspects committed the crimes of threatening and insulting by reminding Hrant Dink with the title of “One night, we might come to visit you unexpectedly” and releasing their press statement on the same day. The prosecution demanded prison sentence for the suspects on the charges of threatening and insulting.

Following “the case of black wreath”, RSF Turkey Branch made a statement via social media: “The threat against Agos goes unpunished and it is troubling. This ruling encourages similar attacks.”

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $50 million loan to improve the transport efficiency and safety of the M6 Highway from Vanadzor in Armenia to the border with Georgia at Bagratashen, one of the most strategic roads for internal and external trade.

“Road transport plays an important role in the national economy of Armenia, which relies heavily on trade with neighboring countries like Georgia,” said Jiangbo Ning, principal transport specialist with ADB’s Central West Asia Regional Department. ”ADB supports the government’s priority to develop and increase the efficiency of the transport system as a prerequisite for economic growth, and for increased access to social and economic services.”

The M6 highway is a vital link connecting Armenia with Georgia and beyond, providing the shortest link between the respective capitals: Yerevan and Tbilisi. In 2014, the Bagratashen border crossing handled 0.85 million tons of import and export freight, representing almost half of the country’s total import freight tonnage and goods by road.

The conditions of this vital highway, though, are deteriorating and imposing high transport costs on users. Some structures are dangerous and need to be rehabilitated immediately. Every year, landslides, flooding, falling rocks, and heavy snowfall cause road closures. These factors have contributed to a poor safety record – about 30 crashes and six fatalities per year during 2012–2014.

These problems are mainly attributed to a historical lack of maintenance and limited maintenance funding, old road design and technical specifications, and a lack of qualified human resources and contractors, as well as consulting companies with the necessary knowledge and skills to conduct maintenance.

The project will rehabilitate and upgrade 51.5 km of the total 90 kilometers of the two-lane M6 highway, as rehabilitation of the remaining 38.5 kilometers will be financed by the European Investment Bank. Facilities and safety along and in the vicinity of this road section in northern Armenia will be improved, and the institutional capacity of the Ministry of Transport and Communications will be strengthened.

ADB is also providing additional support to help the government take proactive steps to increase the budget allocation for road maintenance, and enhance its effectiveness through policy dialogues.

Once completed, the project will help improve access to social services, agriculture, tourism, and jobs, with the aim of reducing regional economic and social disparities. The upgraded road link will particularly benefit the Lori region, a major destination that attracts local and international tourists, by help it transition from its high dependence on minerals and chemicals to a more diversified economy with an emphasis on the tourism and service sectors.

ADB, based in Manila, is dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration. Established in 1966, ADB in December 2016 will mark 50 years of development partnership in the region. It is owned by 67 members – 48 from the region. In 2015, ADB assistance totaled $27.2 billion, including cofinancing of $10.7 billion.

Member of the Turkish Parliament representing HDP Party Garo Paylan has filed a criminal complaint over “Armenian bastards” slogan, which audience shouted during President Erdogan’s speech in Trabzon, reports.

HDP Istanbul MP Garo Paylan filed a criminal complaint against “Armenian bastards” slogan, which audience shouted during President Erdogan’s speech in Trabzon on October 15. Paylan appealed to Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office under Article 216 of the Turkish Penal Law that bans “inciting hatred and hostility among peoples and denigration”.

In the complaint, Garo Paylan stated: “On October 15, there was a rally in Trabzon, where President Erdogan gave a speech. The audience, which is claimed to be AKP members, repeatedly shouted ‘Armenian bastards cannot discourage us.’ The president, ministers and member of organization committee didn’t do anything to prevent people from shouting that slogan. This slogan, apart from the fact that it insults Armenian people who have been living on these lands for centuries, is considered as hate speech under the international laws to which Turkey is a party and the practices of ECHR. Unfortunately, such expressions about Armenian people are nothing new. It is self-evident that hate speech has the power of leading to public indignation and constitutes a danger to safety of life and property of Armenian citizens, for this fact has been a part of the rulings of national and international judicial authorities. Especially the silence of the president, who is supposed to treat equally to all citizens, increases the power of hate discourse and facilitates the targeting of Armenians. In addition, by constituting an obstacle to the practice of living together peacefully, this slogan incited hatred and hostility against a section of the population on the basis of their racial difference and denigrated Armenian people.”