Armenpress News Agency, Armenia Saturday Russian expert does not rule out official recognition of Azerbaijan as an aggressor state by OSCE MG Co-chairs YEREVAN, MAY 20, ARMENPRESS. The addressed statement of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs was an ultimatum warning to Azerbaijan, expertin MiddleEastandCaucasusaffairs Stanislav Tarasov told “Armenpress”, commenting on the May 18 statement of the Minsk Group Co-chairs, which says that according to information received from various sources, the Azerbaijani side fired a missile on the contact line on May 15 targeting a military object of the Armenian side. “Azerbaijan intentionally followed the policy of wrecking the current phase of the negotiations, because there are preconditions that are not in its interests. Azerbaijan deliberately pursues confrontation, and it’s difficult to predict what it expects from that. There are different versions. I would like to believe that it will not unleash a war, but a sharp aggravation of the situation is expected. When it will occur is unclear. It’s just necessary to be vigilant and be ready”, Tarasov said, adding that the recent steps by Azerbaijan seem to be a means to check the reaction of Moscow and Yerevan. Stanislav Tarasov does not rule out that in case of a resumption of another war it’s possible that the Minsk Group Co-chairs will officially recognize Azerbaijan an aggressor state. “The Minsk Group Co-chairs spoke out unprecedentedly sharply against Azerbaijan, which means that demonstration of aggression by Azerbaijan is expected. After the Minsk Group recognizes Azerbaijan an aggressor it’s rather possible that the international community or some countries recognize the independence of Nagorno Karabakh. The statement of the Minsk Group Co-chairs means that maybe they are preparing for a move”, the Russian expert said, adding that all the Co-chair countries are UNSC members, and if they recognize Azerbaijan an aggressor, Azerbaijan will not see Nagorno Karabakh even in its dreams. Syuzi Muradyan
Category: 2017
People of Artsakh only lack peace – Deputy Director of CIS Countries Institute
Armenpress News Agency, Armenia Saturday People of Artsakh only lack peace - Deputy Director of CIS Countries Institute YEREVAN, MAY 20, ARMENPRESS. It’s time to give peace to the people of Artsakh, Vladimir Evseev, deputy director of the CIS Countries Institute, told reporters within the frames of round-table discussion entitled ‘Security in the context of development of political institutions of the unrecognized states in the South Caucasus”, reports Armenpress. “It is difficult to build statehood in the conditions of the armed conflict, which, unfortunately, is being escalated. I visited Nagorno Karabakh in August, 2014, the period when the situation was tense. I have visited there also during the constitutional referendum this year, and we were together in the place when the residents of Talish were resettled. All these speak about the fact that war has taken place and it can happen, and in these circumstances the Nagorno Karabakh Republic makes an important decision, changing the Constitution, switching to a presidential system, compared to the parliamentary one which was formed in Armenia. I have visited various regions of Nagorno Karabakh, and I can state that the people are firmly determined not to leave their lands. They have everything, various resources, they only lack peace”, he said. “I met with the leadership of the Artsakh Republic: I think Nagorno Karabakh is lucky to have such leadership. I have many friends there, it’s pleasure for me to communicate with the people”, he said, adding that the people of Artsakh are not only ready to resist that tough pressure, but also they have strong sense of defending their own territory.
President Sargsyan tours Garni historical-cultural museum-reserve of Kotayk province
Armenpress News Agency, Armenia Saturday President Sargsyan tours Garni historical-cultural museum-reserve of Kotayk province YEREVAN, MAY 20, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan on May 20 paid a working visit to Garni and Goght communities of Kotayk province, press service of the President’s Office told Armenpress. Accompanied by acting Vice Prime Minister, Minister of International Economic Integration and Reforms Vache Gabrielyan, acting Minister of Economic Development and Investments Suren Karayan, acting Culture Minister Armen Amiryan, heads of local and regional governmental structures and other high-ranking officials, the President toured Garni historical-cultural museum-reserve. President Sargsyan got acquainted with investment programs on latest technical opportunities for the development of infrastructures and organization of tourism visits to the museum-reserve, as well as the process of road construction and other works to be carried out under the “Local Economy and Infrastructures Development Program’, the potential investment programs at public-private sector format, as well as talked to Garni community residents. During the tour it was reported about the process of implementation of instructions tasked earlier by the President during the working consultation aimed at discussing priorities of Kotayk province, the opportunities to develop tourism potential. Within the frames of the visit President Sargsyan also visited Goght community. The President visited Geghard Monastery, got acquainted with the process of organization works in the territory of Monastery under the “Local Economy and Infrastructures Development Program”, and gave respective instructions.
Number of customers increases in Armenian banks, credit accounts decrease
Armenpress News Agency, Armenia Saturday Number of customers increases in Armenian banks, credit accounts decrease YEREVAN, MAY 20, ARMENPRESS. The number of Armenia’s banking system customers in March 2017 amounted 2 million 421 thousand 181 people. According to the Central Bank of Armenia, the number of customers has increased by 44 thousand 16 people compared to the previous year’s same period. The number of natural persons among the total number of customers increased nearly by 43 thousand – amounting 2 million 343 thousand 225, while legal persons increased by over one thousand – amounting 77 thousand 956. At the same time, the number of credit accounts in Armenian banks amounted to 857 thousand 530 – a decrease of 32 thousand 106. The number of term deposit accounts in March of 2017 amounted to 194 thousand 216 – increasing by 4 thousand 573 in a year.
UAE ambassador attends opening session of Armenia’s parliament
Emirates News Agency (WAM), UAE Saturday UAE ambassador attends opening session of Armenia's parliament UAE/Armenia YEREVAN, 20th May 2017 (WAM) - Dr. Jassem Mohammed Al Qasimi, UAE Ambassador to Yerevan, attended on Thursday the opening session of Armenia's National Assembly, following parliamentary elections in April. President Serzh Sargsyan of Armenia, gave a speech that focussed on domestic issues and the government's achievements. Ambassador Dr. Jassem Al Qasimi congratulated the Armenian government on the successful parliamentary elections. <span class="sew2iwz16gzz79c"><br></span>
Armenian Catholicos visits Kuwait
Kuwait Times
Armenian Catholicos visits Kuwait
KUWAIT: Aram I, the Chatolicos of the Armenian Church speaks to reporters. – Photos by Joseph Shagra
KUWAIT: Aram I, the Chatolicos of the Armenian Church speaks to reporters. – Photos by Joseph Shagra KUWAIT: Aram I, the Chatolicos of the Armenian Church is on a brief visit to Kuwait to dedicate and consecrate their house of worship in Salwa. The Chatolicos spoke with local reporters yesterday at the Sheraton Hotel where he thanked His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah for the warm reception and welcome accorded to his entourage.
He said that he briefly met with His Highness the Amir and thanked him for the privilege to personally extend greetings of the Armenian church to Kuwait. He also lauded him for the religious tolerance in the country. "I came to Kuwait to consecrate the church of Armenia in Kuwait. According to tradition, it is the building where we hold our praise and worship in the house of God and so we it must be consecrated. That is the purpose of my visit. But my visit has several programs and activities including meeting HH the Amir. I visited the Amir six years ago. The people of Kuwait must be proud of their leader, because HH the Amir is a man of time. He is a man of intelligence, wisdom and courage and more importantly a man of tolerance," he said. "In a world which is becoming more of a global village, we must live together, it is not a question of choice, but it is a must. We are all brothers and must live together. I am happy that we are all witnessing that here in Kuwait. We are all living in this beautiful country with mutual respect. That is all we need, to live in harmony with each other, we must understand and accept each other," he said. Asked by Kuwait Times whether the Armenian Church in Kuwait has been experiencing the same problem with other Christian communities like the shortage of the house of worship, he said, "I cannot speak on behalf of other Christian communities in Kuwait. I meet them several times, but there is one thing in common I heard from everyone, that they are extremely grateful for HH the Amir for the kind of religious tolerance they have been experiencing here in this country. As for the Armenian Church, we have enough space. We are thankful because through Armenian churches and schools here, we can educate our people. We are just thankful for everything." By Ben Garcia, Staff WriterAll rights reserved.
Costa Statement on Turkish Security Guards’ Violence Towards Demonstrators
Congressional Documents and Publications May 18, 2017 Costa Statement on Turkish Security Guards' Violence Towards Demonstrators Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA) News Release WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Jim Costa (CA-16) released the following statement regarding members of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's security force attacking demonstrators outside of the Turkish ambassador's residence in Washington, DC: "Given Turkey's movement towards an authoritarian government, President Erdogan's visit with the President in the West Wing is unsettling. President Erdogan's recent elimination of individual freedoms and jailing members of the press should not be rewarded by a visit to the Oval Office. "To add injury to insult, it appears that a contingent of President Erdogan's security team unilaterally took violent action against peaceful demonstrators who were raising awareness of Turkey's violations of human rights. The Turkish security guards clearly attacked the Armenian, Kurdish, Yezidi, and other human rights demonstrators, sending nine to the hospital. "Sadly, it appears that history may be repeating itself. Many of us in recent weeks have seen the movie "The Promise," which is an accurate historical portrayal of the Armenian genocide that took place beginning in 1915 at the hands of the Ottoman Empire. In the movie, we witnessed the beginnings of these acts of atrocity with the depiction of young, Turkish men beating innocent people. As we know, modern-day Turkey has been unwilling as a country to acknowledge the genocide ever happened. We cannot allow Tuesday's violent and illegal behavior by the Turkish security guards to go unaddressed. "The actions of the Turkish security guards are outrageous, and I condemn them. They violate both American law and deeply-held American values. The Turkish security guards must be held accountable. "Our American President should take appropriate diplomatic and legal action against these Turkish thugs for their violence towards the Armenian, Kurdish, Yezidi, and other human rights demonstrators. If he does so, I believe he will find overwhelming bipartisan support in the US Congress." Read this original document at: https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__costa.house.gov_media-2Dcenter_press-2Dreleases_costa-2Dstatement-2Dturkish-2Dsecurity-2Dguards-2Dviolence-2Dtowards-2Ddemonstrators&d=DwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=AP_B8WTxASz9YGQzMb12zyWMhrL_BAq1prz7iHOa_5E&s=Sh4V9yY5AffK8ggwbf4u1eXjQ_xwLMuLVQeLXhCroqI&e=
Armenian president: Yerevan seeks self-determination for Karabakh
news.am, Armenia May 18 2017 Armenian president: Yerevan seeks self-determination for Karabakh [Armenian News note: the below is translated from Armenian] Armenia seeks to guarantee the people's right of self-determination, not the preservation of the status quo in Azerbaijan's breakaway Nagorno Karabakh, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has said in comments about the state of the negotiating process, News.am reported on 18 May. The president was speaking at the first session of the new Armenian parliament. Comprehensive solution He noted, however, that any change in the status quo of the conflict would only be acceptable if a comprehensive solution is reached. Sargsyan added that Armenia has always supported the settlement of the conflict based on mutual concessions based on the recognition and implementation of Karabakh's right for self-determination. "Yes, it [the solution] must be based on mutual concessions but not on unilateral concessions, yielding to Azerbaijan's threats that otherwise the war is inevitable. Yes, we do not want the preservation of the status quo, not anymore. We do not want to shift the burden of solving the issue on the next generations. And our joint efforts with the [OSCE] member states to settle the issue pursue this aim," Sargsyan was quoted as saying. Sargsyan stressed that the proposal made in December 1997 - an apparent reference to the OSCE's "step-by-step deal" was aimed at establishing a ceasefire and not resolving the Karabakh conflict. "The Armenian sides were receiving dubious security guarantees and no less dubious and unclear prospects for the political settlement of the conflict, going for disproportional concessions instead," he was quoted as saying. The president also criticised the idea that the status quo of the conflict is in Armenia's favour. "When Baku distorts the facts, saying that we are allegedly trying to preserve the status quo, it can be viewed as part of the opponent's logic. But it is unacceptable for such an opinion to be voiced in Armenia," the website quoted him as saying. Right to self-determination Sargsyan noted that, for the first time in history of the Karabakh talks, references are being made to the people's right of self-determination. "For the first time in the history of negotiations on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement, it has been fixed that the Nagorno-Karabakh's final legal status, determined by the free will of the Artsakh [Karabakh] people, will have legally binding force. That is to say, it will be binding for Azerbaijan as well and guaranteed by the international community. Unlike previous stages, it was also fixed in the working documents that Artsakh representatives will have a decisive voice in the settlement," Sargssyan was quoted as saying. "In short, it is becoming clear and vivid how the political solution to the conflict will be shaped. In this regard, the Azerbaijani president confessed in an outburst of sincerity that the [OSCE Minsk Group] mediators were forcing him to accept Nagorno-Karabakh's independence. This is the essence of the negotiating process of the last years," News.am quoted Sargsyan as saying.
US voices ‘strongest’ concern to Turkey after brawl outside residence
Deutsche Presse-Agentur, Germany May 18, 2017 Thursday US voices 'strongest' concern to Turkey after brawl outside residence By Frank Fuhrig, dpa WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - The US State Department voiced its 'strongest possible' concern to Ankara on Wednesday after a melee outside the Turkish ambassador's residence following President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit this week in Washington. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday night, left 11 people plus one officer injured, Washington Police Chief Peter Newsham said. 'We are concerned by the violent incidents involving protestors and Turkish security personnel Tuesday evening,' State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said. 'Violence is never an appropriate response to free speech, and we support the rights of people everywhere to free expression and peaceful protest.' A video posted by Voice of America (VOA), a US government-funded international broadcaster, showed uniformed police unable to hold back a rush of mostly men in dark business suits across Sheridan Circle, a north-west Washington roundabout where the ambassador's residence is located. VOA reported that some of the participants in the scuffle were Erdogan bodyguards. In the video, the mob pushes across the street into about a dozen people holding placards in Sheridan Circle Park and a handful of brawls erupt among multiple combatants. One heavy-set man with a bullhorn around his neck tumbles to the ground, where two men in suits and a third attacker repeatedly punch, kick and stomp the victim, who curls into a fetal position. One of the suited attackers clutches a red flag. Later in the VOA video, the victim is seen stumbling around the park, his face and shirt bloodied. Washington broadcaster WJLA reported that the demonstrators included pro-Kurdish and Armenian activists protesting Erdogan's human rights record, as well as supporters of the Turkish president. Nine of the injured were transported to local hospitals, treated and released, Newsham said. Police officers at the scene had to call for backup and two arrests were made. A 49-year-old man from New York state faces a charge of aggravated assault, and a 42-year-old man from Fairfax, Virginia, faces a charge of assault on an officer, according to authorities. The incident 'appeared to be a brutal attack on peaceful protestors at the Turkish ambassador's residence,' Newsham said. Police have 'very good video' in the case, and federal law enforcement agencies are cooperating, he said. 'We intend to ensure that there is accountability for anyone that was involved in this assault,' Newsham said. On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump vowed 'unbeatable' cooperation with Turkey against the Islamic State movement, after hosting Erdogan at the White House. 'We want to get as many (allies) to help fight terrorism as possible, and that's one of the beautiful things that's happening with Turkey. The relationship that we have together will be unbeatable,' Trump said. He promised to work with Erdogan 'on achieving peace and security in the Middle East, on confronting the shared threats, and on working toward a future of dignity and safety for all of our people.' The US and Turkey are both members of NATO. Groups opposed to Erdogan demonstrated earlier Tuesday outside the White House during his visit. On Monday night, about 50 Erdogan supporters rallied near the White House, waving Turkish flags and chanting Erdogan's name as he arrived in Washington.
Germany asks US to intervene in Turkish airbase row
Deutsche Presse-Agentur, Germany May 18, 2017 Thursday Germany asks US to intervene in Turkish airbase row Washington DPA POLITICS US diplomacy Germany Turkey Germany asks US to intervene in Turkish airbase row Washington German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel turned Wednesday to the United States for help in resolving a spat with Ankara over access to a Turkish air base. During a meeting in Washington, Gabriel asked US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to use his influence after Turkey denied German lawmakers access to the Incirlik base, which is hosting 268 German troops who are part of the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group. The decision to block the delegation, which had been scheduled to arrive on Tuesday, was taken in part as a response to Germany's decision to grant political asylum to Turkish soldiers in the wake of last year's failed coup. "I believe that the Americans will also use the opportunities they have to talk to the Turkish side to say that we must have a different relationship with each other than the current one," Gabriel said. A delegation of German lawmakers including members of a parliamentary defence committee were last year denied access to Incirlik, but were later allowed to visit. The dispute first arose after the German parliament voted to designate the mass killing of Armenians at the hands of the Ottomans a genocide. Turkey is the Ottoman Empire's successor state and disputes the designation. The German government is now considering withdrawing its troops from Incirlik, with Jordan a likely alternative. Gabriel's discussions in Washington also focused on the conflict in Ukraine and the Syrian war. According to Gabriel, there was no discussion of reports that US President Donald Trump may have passed on sensitive information from Israeli intelligence sources to Russia. The German foreign minister emphasized that this would not have any effect on the cooperation between the US and the German intelligence services. Their close cooperation was "absolutely necessary" for security in Germany and Europe, he said.