Author: Markos Nalchajian

Theatre critic Levon Mutafyan passed away today aged 61. His body was found in of the hotels in downtown Yerevan.

The Police confirmed the news to Public Radio of Armenia. Probe into the details in underway.

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian will visit Paris November 5-6 to participate in the 38th session of the UNESCO General Assembly.

Minister Nalbandian is expected to address the assembly.

The Regional Council of Marche, Italy, unanimously recognized the Armenian Genocide at a sitting held on October 6.

The resolution expresses support to the Armenian people on the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

The resolution titled “The Genocide of the Armenian People”was authored by Councilmen Rapa Boris, Pieroni Moreno, Busilacchi Gianluca and Marconi Luca.

A new study released today by IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, shows that improvements in productivity, output quality, and food safety standards, combined with market and product diversification, can increase the competitiveness of Armenian fish products and lead to greater access to export markets.

Armenia’s aquaculture sector is an important employer, a key food provider, and an engine for export-driven economic growth. It is also one of the country’s fastest-growing sectors. Yet its untapped potential remains significant: At the request of Armenia’s Ministry of Economy, the IFC Armenia Investment Climate Reform Project has produced a sector review to pinpoint market imperfections and offer recommendations.

“The Armenia Aquaculture Sector Review developed at the Ministry’s request by IFC will be a useful tool for policymakers and businesses operating in this sector,” said Sergey Avetisyan, Deputy Minister of Economy of Armenia. “It will help develop the country’s fish industry and stimulate export performance.”

The report found that improving export and import procedures can help increase the competitiveness of aquaculture products. It also stressed the importance of addressing the challenges and opportunities of exporting to foreign markets, including the benefits of improved food safety practices, a stronger supply chain, and reduced administrative barriers.

“This review aims to help tap the country’s significant potential and thereby contribute to Armenia’s economic development,” said Arsen Nazaryan, the IFC Armenia Investment Climate Reform Project Manager. “We look forward to continued cooperation with our partners to do more to enhance the competitiveness and promote exports of the country’s agriculture products.”

The IFC Armenia Investment Climate Reform Project is implemented by the World Bank Group Trade and Competitiveness Global Practice, in partnership with Austria’s Federal Ministry of Finance and Hungarian Partnership Funding/Hungary EXIM Bank.

Catalan separatist parties say their victory in regional elections on Sunday gives them a mandate to push for independence from Spain, the BBC reports.

The Madrid government has reaffirmed its opposition to a vote on secession, noting that nationalists failed to get a majority of Catalonia’s popular vote.

The main separatist alliance and a small pro-independence party won 72 of the 135 regional parliament seats.

Despite their parliamentary majority, separatists got 47.8% of votes cast.

Catalonia has 7.5 million people and provides about one-fifth of Spain’s national output (GDP).

On September 27 Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian had a meeting with OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dačić.

During the meeting reference was made to the expansion of Armenian-Serbian relations, the implementation of the priorities of the Serbian presidency, also as issues on the OSCE agenda.

Edward Nalbandian and Ivica Dačić hailed the stable dynamic development of bilateral relations. In this regard, reference was made to the opening of Embassies in Yerevan and Belgrade, liberalization of the visa regime, establishment of direct flights.

The interlocutors discussed the process of settlement of the Karabakh conflict and the support of the Serbian presidency to the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs’ efforts.

The OSCE Chairman-in-Office expressed his deep concern over the escalation of tension in the conflict zone and attached importance to the maintenance of the ceasefire regime.

Minister Nalbandian noted that “Baku does not refuse from its non-constructive position and provocations despite the calls of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.”

Indian President Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday greeted the people of Armenia on the occasion of their Independence Day, IANSlive reports.

In his message to Armenian counterpart Serzh Sargsyan, Mukherjee said: “We, in India, are delighted to witness the progress and development achieved by the people of Armenia in the last two-and-half decades. We wish them further success in their chosen path of development.”

“India is committed to working with the people of Armenia to deepen mutually beneficial bilateral relationship,” he added.

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has summoned journalist and Platform for Independent Journalism (P24) Chairman Hasan Cemal to testify because of a column titled “The number one [person] who is responsible for the bloodshed is the sultan in the palace, period!”

The sultan in the headline apparently refers to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and the accompanying column says Erdogan is responsible for the current bloodshed in Turkey, Today’s Zaman reports.

Cemal was called to testify in the case and was told that if he did not appear voluntarily he would be brought in by the police. The written notice of Cemal’s investigation was signed by Istanbul public prosecutor Umut Tepe.

Cemal received the prestigious Louis M. Lyons Award for Conscience and Integrity in Journalism from Harvard University this year.

The foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia may meet in New York on Sept. 24-25 as part of the UN General Assembly, said Azerbaijani FM Elmar Mammadyarov, Trend reports.

He made the remarks Sept. 15 at a briefing with his Turkish counterpart Feridun Sinirlioglu.

Mammadyarov said that according to the format he and the Armenian FM each will first meet with the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group and then a joint meeting will be held.