Photo: AFP
A US-backed alliance of Syrian Kurdish and Arab fighters has begun a campaign to expel Islamic State (IS) militants from land north of Raqqa, the BBC reports.
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) is believed to have deployed about 30,000 fighters.
US-led coalition warplanes will support the offensive and Russia has also given its backing.
The SDF did not mention any plan to take Raqqa, the de facto capital of the “caliphate” proclaimed by IS in 2014.
Turkey’s parliament has approved a controversial constitutional amendment to strip dozens of deputies of their parliamentary immunity, with the voting for the clause ending in the second round, the Hurriyet Daily News reports.
The clause attracted 376 votes at the General Assembly session on May 20.
Accordingly, the amendment will not have to be taken to a referendum, as it passed the necessary 367-vote threshold.
The first and second clauses of the amendment were accepted in the second round of voting, with 373 and 374 votes respectively.
The first clause received 373 votes in favor and 138 deputies against; the second clause of the bill received 374 votes in favor and 136 votes against.
The US and other countries are concerned over the current situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, the ambassador said, noting that there is no military solution to the conflict.
Cekuta stressed that the Minsk Group co-chairing countries are making every effort to involve the parties in negotiations towards a comprehensive peace agreement.
The ambassador called on the parties to abide by the ceasefire regime and begin working on a comprehensive peace agreement.
He added that both US co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group James Warlick and State Secretary John Kerry continue their efforts to achieve a peaceful solution to the conflict.
– HDP Co-Chair Figen Yüksekdağ, during the group meeting of HDP, apologized for the Armenian Genocide. Yüksekdağ said, “On 101st anniversary of the genocide, we apologize to Armenian people. We apologize to Aunt Elizabeth, to Uncle Krikor. We apologize to our friend, comrade Garo and to our sister Roza.”
HDP Co-Chair Figen Yüksekdağ, during the group meeting of HDP, talked about the Armenian Genocide. Yüksekdağ said, “On 101st anniversary of the genocide, we apologize to Armenian people. We apologize to Aunt Elizabeth, to Uncle Krikor. We apologize to our friends, comrade Garo and to our sister Roza.”
Yüksekdağ started the meeting by saying, “I would like to begin by commemorating Armenian, Syriac and Chaldean people who were exiled and killed 101 years ago.” Then she added: “The mentality that led to the genocide avoids recognition today. However, recognition doesn’t demean a state, it only relieves pain. These lands will eventually spill out the bloodshed, regardless of your wishes. Our history is a history of massacres. Recognizing the massacres is a both actual and historical responsibility.”
“The ones who withhold their apologies have still the same mentality. They still use “Armenian” as an insult. This means that genocidal mentality is still alive. We apologize to Armenian people. We apologize to Aunt Elizabeth, to Uncle Krikor. We apologize to our friends, comrade Garo and to our sister Roza. As I said, the mentality that led to death and destruction in the past is still active today.”
Ashot Melkonyan, Director of the History Institute of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) calls for resumption of military industry in the country.
Addressing the annual meeting of the Academy, Melkonyan first enlisted the weapons Azerbaijan used during the “four-day” war and urged to spare no means to acquire similar weapons or, why not, organize their production.
Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan said, in turn, that the government possesses necessary financial means to arm the military forces, and there’s no need to raise funds for acquisition of weapons, but added he does not mind voluntary assistance to the families of the deceased soldiers.
The military actions made it clear that the Armenian scholars also have a serious work to do. Director of the Institute of Radio Physics and Electronics Arsen Hakhumyan said “there is a great potential, and they are trying to achieve maximal results with scarce funds.”
Over the past years the Institute has developed a portable radar system that allows to spot the movement of people and equipment at the distance of 2-4 km, Hakhumyan said. He noted that that Armenia has the potential to produce laser systems, optical, engineering and communication systems, but added that large-scale machine production is necessary for producing attacking weapons.
Arsen Hakhumyan said different tools developed and produced in Armenia are being used at the frontline today.
The Academician added that today the world is moving towards a ‘clever war.’ Therefore, preference is given to the data processing, rapid response to problems, and assured that the country has a huge “scientific potential.”
Armenia’s Gor Minasyan won a silver medal in the super heavyweight class at the European Weightlifting Championships under way in Norway.
He lifted 205 kg in the snatch and 237 kg in the clean & jerk.
On April 10th, 2016, Armenians gathered in front of the Azerbaijan’s embassy in Brussels, Belgium, to protest against the military aggression Azerbaijan unleashed against the Armenians in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) from April 2nd to April 5th.
Hundreds of people gathered at Dam square, Amsterdam to stand against Azeri aggression, to let theworld know that Nagorno Garabakh is a free country.
The rally was ortganized by ARF Garegin Njdeh Union of the Nederland.
The protesters shouted slogans like “Azerbaijan, shame on you” and “Karabakh is free.” One speaker called the Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev “a new Hitler”.
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan had a phone conversation with his Iranian counterpart Hasan Rouhani at the initiative of the Iranian side.
The Presidents discussed the situation at the line of contact between the armed forces of Azerbaijan and Nagorno Karabakh.
President Sargsyan briefed his Iranian counterpart on the military attack of Azerbaijan and the adequate response of the NKR Defense Army.
The Armenian President made a special reference to the violence against civilians, comparing it to the actions of the well-known terrorist organizations.
President Rouhani stressed that against the background of attacks of terrorist organizations and current challenges, the outbreak of new tension in the region is in no one’s interest. He said it’s necessary to make every effort to resume the process of peaceful negotiations.
President Rouhani said there is no military solution to the Karabakh issue.
The Presidents of Armenia and Iran also discussed issues on bilateral agenda and agreed on the necessity of deepening the friendly relations and the mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.
Armenian judoka Shahen Abaghyan (55 kg) beat Natiz Gurbanli of Azerbaijan in the final round to win the European Junior European Judo Cup, Press Service of the Armenian National Olympic Committee reports.
The Armenian beat Turkish Celik Emre and Georgians Giorgi Niazashvili and Zurab Kakhniashvili in earlier rounds.
Shahen Abaghyan serves in the Sports Club of the RA Armed Forces and is one of the ten best soldier-sportsmen.