Wednesday 24 April 2019

Armenian News... A Topalian...7 editorials


The Gaurdian
Why is the UK government so afraid to speak of Armenian genocide?
Giles Fraser

Britain’s strategic relationship with Turkey has been more important than telling the truth. If Armenians are to find closure, we must recognise their suffering

Jesus’s preaching was predominantly directed at his fellow Jews. It was St Paul who later directed this message outwards towards the wider world. Which is why Paul’s birthplace in Tarsus, near the Mediterranean coast in south-eastern Turkey, has always attracted missionaries, looking for inspiration. And it was also why missionaries were among the first to report back on the true extent of the Armenian genocide.

In the early fourth century, the Armenians were the first people to adopt Christianity as their official religion. In 1914 there were 2 million Armenian Christians living in Turkey. By 1922, there were only 400,000 left. What happened to these people has been largely forgotten, or denied, or ignored – except, of course, by the Armenians themselves, who have continued to pass on their horrendous stories of rape, death squads and forced conversions.

There is no doubt what happened was genocide. The Armenians were branded as an enemy within by the Ottoman government, which used the cover of the first world war to systematically dispose of more than 1 million people, forcing great columns of humanity to march off into the Syrian desert to die of heat, starvation and disease. Speaking to his generals some 25 years later, Adolf Hitler said: “I have sent my Death’s Head units to the east with the order to kill without mercy men, women and children of the Polish race or language. Only in such a way will we win the Lebensraum that we need. Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?”

The term genocide was coined in the early 1940s by a Polish Jewish lawyer, Raphael Lemkin, as a way to capture in law the extent of Nazi atrocity. “I became interested in genocide because it happened so many times,” he explained in an interview with CBS. “First to the Armenians, then after the Armenians, Hitler took action.” So why is it so difficult for many western governments – ours included, Israel’s included – to use the “g” word when it comes to Armenia?

Barack Obama promised to say the “g” word when he became president. But he deliberately hasn’t. And the UK government has used every manner of evasion – including trying out the preposterous argument that because the term genocide was adopted by the UN in 1948, it couldn’t be applied retrospectively. It withdrew this argument when it was pointed out that this would mean the Holocaust itself wasn’t genocide. Now the official line is one of studied avoidance.

The real answer to our avoidance of the “g” word is less than 30 miles up the road from Tarsus: the massive Incirlik airbase, used by the US air force and the RAF. From here, US and UK forces are easily deployed throughout the Middle East. The Foreign Office came clean in a 1999 memorandum: “Given the importance of our relationships (political, strategic, commercial) with Turkey, and that recognising the genocide would provide no practical benefit to the UK … the current line is the only feasible option.” It is worth noting that the foreign secretary at the time was Robin Cook – and remember his “ethical foreign policy” speech in 1997?

For many governments, the denial of the genocide of the Nazis is itself a crime. Yet when it comes to the Armenians, genocide avoidance (because the evidence is too unequivocal for denial) remains semi-official policy. Little wonder the Armenians find it difficult to move towards closure on this issue.

Back in Tarsus, the home of Christianity’s greatest missionary, the faith Paul once proclaimed has now been eradicated. Some of those who survived the forced march into the desert settled in places such as Aleppo in Syria and Mosul in Iraq, where they built Armenian churches – churches that have once again been reduced to rubble by Bashar al-Assad’s barrel bombs and Islamic State’s murderous caliphate. The very least the British government can do is to acknowledge the extent of their suffering by calling it what it is.

• This article was amended on 3 June 2015. An earlier version said incorrectly that Baroness Cox had argued in the House of Lords in 1999 that recognising the genocide would provide no practical benefit to the UK and “the current line is the only feasible option”. Those words came from a Foreign Office memorandum. Baroness Cox had made a strong case for recognition of the Armenian genocide in her House of Lords speech.


Public Radio of Armenia
April 22 2019
Turkey's policy unchanged 104 years after the Armenian Genocide, experts say 
Karen Ghazaryan

104 years after the Armenian genocide, the situation has not improved in terms of Turkey’s policy, expert of Turkish studies Ruben Safrastyan says. Furthermore, according to him, the atmosphere of fear has strengthened in Turkey over the past years, and this, in turn, affects the truthful speeches about the genocide.

Speaking to reporters today, Safrastyan said the voice of brave representatives of Turkey, who had been trying to speak the truth about the Armenian genocide, has now weakened. He believes the trend will be maintained in the coming years.

“We see an atmosphere in Turkey that aims to silence the public,” he said.

According to him, the policy of denial has not undergone changes in Turkey, while the atmosphere is less conducive to speaking the truth about the Armenian Genocide. 
Expert of Turkish studies Anush Hovhannisyan notes, in turn, that “the window of 2009-2010 that enabled a small number of media outlets and intellectuals to discuss the issue is now closed.” 

Speaking about the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide, Ruben Safrastyan noted that the process intensifies, when the relations with Turkey reach a “bad haven” and aggravate. 

 “When the Turkish-Israeli relations aggravate, Knesset starts actively discussing the issue, and everyone forgets about it, when relations normalize,” Safrastyan says. 

Anush Hovhannisyan also sees no changes in Turkey’s official policy regarding the Armenian Genocide, and an evidence of this is Ankara’s response to French President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to declare April 24 as Armenian Genocide commemoration day and the Italian Parliament’s vote on Armenian Genocide motion.
According to her, Ankara has already sent a delegation to prevent the discussions on the Armenian Genocide Resolution in the US Congress. 

“Every effort will be made to prevent the passage of the resolution. That means official Ankara will maintain its policy of denying the Armenian Genocide, condemning all countries and parliaments that adopt genocide resolutions,” she said.  

What will the Armenian Genocide recognition give us? Experts say it will be more of moral importance. 


April 23 2019 
Life continues
By YUSUF KANLI 

When was I last in Diyarbakır? Five years ago? More? Definitely before the November 2015 murder of peace advocate Tahir Elçi, the Bar Association chief of the city.

On the walls of the Sur district most of the scars of the 2015 operation are gone, but some bullet holes are still visible.

The military operation aimed to take back the city from terrorists who had infiltrated there with all sorts of weapons because of an atmosphere of gross security negligence produced by an insincere “Kurdish opening.”

The front facets of the houses and shops were all renewed with a wholesale mentality. Shop signs were replaced with an awful example of tastelessness. How could someone think of placing the same style of distasteful shop signs all through a neighborhood? A direct result of government-ordered reconstruction of a neighborhood devastated in 2015 security operations.

The aim of our visit was to meet with local journalists, listen to their problems and explain how they might benefit from an EU-funded “Democracy for media / Media for democracy” program we just started at the Association of Journalists in Ankara. Our initial intention was to gather the region’s journalists at Mardin. All of the hotels were full because of revived tourism. Batman was in much of the same situation. So was Urfa. Thus, we ended up in Diyarbakır, and colleagues from Siirt, Mardin and Batman attended our meeting there as well.

Problems are abundant. Free media and press freedom are the fundamental demand.

The Emergency Rule period has ended. Yet, because of an awkward requirement of law, people sacked from public offices or private sector companies under emergency rule decrees, these people cannot be officially employed. Hundreds of journalists were laid off, or their magazines, newspapers or news agencies were closed down under Emergency Rule decrees.

Pluralism is a requirement of democracy. No one is obliged to conform to the ideology of people in power. If uniformity was to be the rule, how would it be possible for mankind to come out of that cave of the Stone Age? However, progress comes only through conflict and confrontation of ideas and perceptions.

The area around Surp Gragos Armenian church is still closed to public, but the historic Minaret with Four Legs, the very same spot where Elçi was murdered in November 2015, was surrounded by domestic and foreign tourists on Sunday. Despite bullet marks, the Minaret was standing tall as a witness and victim of life in 2015, particularly to the murder of Elçi, meters away from its four legs. With terrorism being replaced with tourism, the cafes were full, hotels fully booked with tourists… Life, despite difficulties, is continuing.


Panorama, Armenia
April 22 2019
The third Armath Engineering Laboratory opened in Georgia

The official opening ceremony of the third Armath Engineering Laboratory in Georgia took place on Monday in Armenian populated Damala village of Georgia’s Javakheti region.

 The event coincided with Damala Day celebrations.
The initiative was implemented by "Support to Javakheti" Foundation and the Union of Advanced Technology Enterprises (UATE). The of Chairman of the board of trustees at "Support to Javakheti" Foundation Sos Sahakyan addressed the participants of the event, stating the opening of the new laboratory comes to support Javakheti development.

As Sahakyan noted, the Foundation has translated the Armath Laboratory curriculum into Georgian and expressed readiness to work along with Georgian authorities to include the education programme into Georgian schools as well.

The Head of Armath Laboratories Sedrak Vardanyan, in turn, noted arrangements are underway to open further laboratories in 5-6 countries.

To remind, earlier Armath Laboratories opened in in the village of Heshtia of Ninotsminda region and Akhalkalak town of Georgia.

Currently, more than 265 engineering laboratories operate on the territory of Armenia, Artsakh, and Georgia. More than 6600 students are involved in the programmes. The laboratory enables children aged 10-18-years-old to explore engineering. At the age of 14, graduates are given the opportunity to work.


iTel.am, Armenia
April 22 2019
DataArt to support Yerevan Testing Days, Armenia’s principal testing conference

DataArt is the platinum sponsor of Yerevan Testing Days conference, which will be held in American University of Armenia on April 29-May 1.

On April 29 DataArt QA Manager Eugene Efimov will perform as a member of the jury for the Software Testing Armenian Cup. DataArt will award special prizes to the best team and the best contestant.

On April 30 Eugene will hold the presentation “How to ruin you testing department in three simple steps”, and members of the audience that ask the best questions will be awarded prizes.

The guests are going to have three days to get acquainted with the company and the staff at DataArt stand. There they will be able to not only ask questions, but also compete in Skillotron, a tech quiz by Data Art, and improve their CVs via another DataArt service, CV Duck.

On April 28, a day before the official opening of the conference, DataArt will hold a meeting for QA experts to discuss the peculiarities of the testing market in Yerevan, as well as the best methods and approaches.

DataArt announced the launch of activity in Armenia in March. The company plans to open the office in Yerevan in May or June of 2019 and hire no less than 30 experts before the year-end.

Yerevan Testing Days are organized by Armenian Software Testing Qualifications and Quality Testing Lab (ArmSTQB), as well as Armenian Association of Quality Assurance Professionals, TestinArt company and American University of Armenia. 

DataArt creates, develops and supports unique software facilitating advancement of the clients’ business in various industries. DataArt has earned the trust of companies such as Nasdaq, Travelport, Ocado, Betfair, Regus, Meetup and Apple Leisure Group. DataArt consolidates the experience of over 2700 specialists from 22 cities in U.S., Western and Eastern Europe, and Latin America.


By Denying the Armenian Genocide,
Turkish Leaders Publicize it Even More
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
          

More than a century after the mass crime of Genocide against Armenians, Assyrians and Greeks, most Turks still feel self-conscious as April 24 approaches and whenever someone refers to their Crime Against Humanity.

Many Turkish officials and journalists feel compelled to defend their country’s tarnished reputation by trying to cover up the Genocide committed by their ancestors. By doing so, they automatically associate themselves with the guilt of their forefathers and in turn become guilty themselves for denying one of the most heinous crimes in the history of mankind.

Why would Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, on April 15, 2019, falsely claim that Turkey “has not committed any genocide” in its history? How many leaders of other countries have made such a statement? Cavusoglu knows well that the Ottoman Turks did commit
Genocide as he is desperately trying to conceal their crimes. Cavusoglu and his fellow denialists do not seem to realize that the more they proclaim their innocence, the more they affiliate themselves with the Genocide and become accessories to that barbaric crime.

Each time Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan or his underlings talk about the Genocide, even in a dismissive manner, they are actually publicizing worldwide the facts of the Genocide and informing everyone that Turks are accused of committing Genocide.

Interestingly, Cavusoglu warned that “the Turkish government will not stay silent against some countries trying to lecture Turkey on history.” This is exactly what Armenians want him to do. The more he talks about the Genocide, the more he exposes the Turkish crime to the
world. Cavusoglu and other Turkish denialists find  rhemselves in the ironic situation of “damned if you do, and damned if you don’t.” In other words, if they remain silent against the accusations of Genocide, they would be acknowledging it, and if they deny it, they would be spreading the news about their historic crime. There is no
positive outcome for them. They are caught in the horns of a serious dilemma.

In early April, at a NATO meeting in Antalya, Turkey, Cavusoglu criticized French President Emmanuel Macron for declaring April 24 as a National Day in France for the commemoration of the Armenian Genocide. By lashing out at Pres. Macron, the Turkish Foreign Minister made the situation even worse for his own country. In protest, a
French Parliamentarian walked out of the NATO meeting, which was covered by the worldwide media, further publicizing the Armenian Genocide.

This incident caused some hateful Turks to threaten the life of the French Parliamentarian, which further  disseminated the true facts of the Armenian Genocide.

Another example of Turkish self-consciousness is the article by commentator Ozan Ceyhun in the Daily Sabah newspaper. He correctly wrote that “April 24 is used as a day for ‘getting even,’ by those who do not wish to see Turkey as an EU member due to various reasons, those who do not wish to see it become stronger in the region, or countries like the U.S. that want to see Turkey as a dependent state.”

My response is that no one wants to see a brutal and unrepentant country as a member of international military and economic alliances. Turkish leaders are the ones forcing themselves out of such alliances by behaving in an uncivilized and undemocratic manner. They have no one else to blame but themselves.

Ceyhun wonders why no one cares about the opinions of “Armenians living in Turkey.” The answer is very simple. Armenians in Turkey, having survived the Genocide and many other repressions since then, know all too well that if they dared to say anything negative about Turkey’s oppressive regime, they will be locked up, if not killed.

The Turkish commentator then shamelessly mentions Armenian journalist Hrant Dink who was assassinated by a Turk for expressing himself on Turkish-Armenian relations. Ceyhun selectively quotes from Dink as
stating that outsiders should not meddle in the “events” that happened in the past and that this issue should be resolved between Armenians and Turks. Dink had made many statements which were often contradictory depending on whether he made them while he was inside or outside Turkey.

It suits Turkish denialists to quote statements that third parties should not meddle in the Armenian-Turkish issue. If it were not for the Armenian Diaspora lobbying the international community for decades, the Armenian Genocide would have been forgotten long ago.

Furthermore, Ceyhun prefers that outsiders listen to the views of Turkish Armenians who are suppressed and are unable to express their honest opinions on the Armenian Genocide. As immediate descendants of the Genocide, they know exactly what happened to their ancestors, but
they cannot talk about it openly, fearing for their lives.

Just as irritating are the Azerbaijani denials of the Armenian Genocide. Fortunately, it is easier to deal with the Azeris as they are not as powerful as Turkey and Armenians have already shown their power by recovering their historic territory of Artsakh from Azerbaijan. If Azeris do not behave and continue to insult Armenians by their denials of the Armenian Genocide, Armenia’s leaders may halt the negotiations with Azerbaijan and incorporate Artsakh in the Republic of Armenia.

California Couriert
Armenian Billionaire donating money for Notre Dame

Russian billionaire of Armenian descent Andrey Andreev (Andrei Vagnerovich Ogandjanyants), founder of the social discovery and dating network Badoo, will give part of the company’s revenues to the restoration of Notre Dame Cathedral after the devastating fire in Paris.

The fire that engulfed the Notre Dame, the 850-year-old Unesco world heritage landmark in Paris, was brought under control on the morning of April 16, while the Cathedral’s main structure as well as its two towers were saved.

“In light of the terrible tragedy that befell the Cathedral of Notre Dame, I allocate a significant donation for its restoration. I pledge to transfer 100 percent of the revenue that Badoo will receive from its 22 million users in April to France. My heart goes to the people of France,” he said.

Andreev said he learnt about the tragedy in Paris from social networks and immediately turned on the TV.

“This whole situation was a huge shock to me,” Forbes cited him as saying.

The businessman did not specify the amount of money he is going to donate to the cause.

Notre Dame was set to host a liturgy for Armenian Genocide victims on April 22.

France marked April 24 as a commemoration day of the Armenian Genocide, with the relevant decree signed by President Emmanuel Macron on April 10.

According to the document, a ceremony paying tribute to the genocide victims will be held in Paris on this day every year. Similar events may also be held in every city at the initiative of the local governments.

Macron announced his decision to make April 24 as a national day of commemoration of the Armenian Genocide at the Coordinating Council of Armenian Organizations (CCAF) gala in Paris on February 5.

The French leader’s move drew strong criticism from Turkey, which accused Paris of “manipulating history.”

Representatives of the Armenian community in France and French  politicians visit the Komitas Monument and Armenian Genocide Memorial in Paris on 24 April every year to pay homage to the Armenian Genocide victims.

Tuesday 23 April 2019

Armenian News... a topalian...8 editorials


News.am, Armenia
April 20 2019
Armenian President: Resurrection of Jesus Christ unites us, inspires and empowers us all 
      
YEREVAN.- I cordially congratulate our people in Armenia, Artsakh and Spyurk on the glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ. I also congratulate friends of our nation, all Christians who celebrate Easter, and the guests visiting Armenia these days, Armenian President Armen Sarkissian's office noted.

This day is celebrated by the Christian world with a special festiveness and love, especially by our people. In the country, which was the first to make Christianity state religion, Christian faith has been for centuries deeply and strongly embedded in the Armenian soil, Armenian peoples’ minds, and our self-identification.

The meaning and significance of Easter is more than just a church holiday. In a certain way it unites us, inspires and empowers us all, brings forth and renews, makes our faith in our own strength stronger, inspires new hopes for tomorrow. 

This holiday is also a kind of appeal to be more united and unified, to be more far-sighted, resolute, tolerant, especially now, when the world is full of instability and concerning developments. 
I wish that the hope-inspiring news on Jesus Christ resurrection will light us up and will fill our hearts with new ardor, will call for new and good deeds for Armenia and for our nation.

Christ rose from the dead.
Happy Easter!


Public Radio of Armenia
April 21 2019
 Message of the Catholicos of All Armenians on the Feast of Holy Resurrection

In the Name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, amen.
 
“God has risen, and all of his enemies have been scattered.”
(Book of Hours)
 
Dearly beloved faithful,
 
 
The joy of the Feast of the Holy Resurrection has filled our souls, and the victorious exuberance of the Resurrection is to be found everywhere: in our surroundings, our churches, our families, the entire Christian world, as well as in the budding nature. Christ has triumphantly arisen from the sealed cave, and the angel announces the Good News of His Resurrection from the empty tomb. The chains of sin and death have been shattered by the victory of the Saviour, the doors to the Heavenly Kingdom have been opened, and divine grace is offered to humanity — the priceless gift of inheriting eternal life. “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die” (John 11.25-26). 
 
The path of eternal life and resurrection in Christ begins in this world. It begins with a change in the life of the person, the rejection of sin and evil, and with a movement toward a way of holiness and perfection. Indeed, wherever human souls are exposed to the light of Christ’s resurrection, there also the darkness of God-rejecting evil thoughts, corrupting ideologies, divisions and polarizations, intolerance, enmity and dissensions retreat and are scattered. In their stead, cooperation and agreement, faithfulness, holiness, love and happiness are established. “God has risen, and all of his enemies have been scattered,” proclaims the prayer.
 
Those paths, which reject renewal in Christ, making life captive to sin and subject to corrosion and destruction, are antithetical to peace in the world, the public welfare, the harmonious coexistence of humanity, the strengthening of families, and all that is good.
 
The Good News of the resurrection of Christ is an invitation to all — to live in the graces bestowed upon us by the Saviour as a new person, as the Apostle exhorts and says, “put off your old nature which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new nature, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph 4.22-24). To believe in the resurrection of Christ and our resurrection through Christ as well as transformation of our life, means not only to overcome sin, addictions and spiritual error, but also to be filled with love toward all and to reject everything that tramples justice, dignity and all that is human. It also means striving to spread care and general goodwill as did Christ, “who came and saved all creatures” (Sharakan - Hymnal). Greed, theft, violence, hatred, enmity and other manifestations of blindness to God’s commandments have no place in the life of the Christian who has received the grace of the Resurrection. Such deeds reject the grace of freedom in Christ from sin and death, they destroy good and undermine the well-being of the human person, the family unit, and national life. Freedom is given in order to choose good and not as a pretense for evil and unruliness (cf. 1 Peter 2.16). Truly, being an heir of the grace of the Resurrection is made apparent in one’s lifestyle and deeds, not only personal and familial, but in the help rendered and efforts brought in the life of the public, nation and humanity. Faith is made radiant and fruit-bearing, hope increases, love of others is affirmed as we move forward together. 
 
The passions and resurrection of Christ for our sake and for all humanity, are the _expression_ of divine, boundless love. “And he died for all, that those who live might live no longer for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised” (2 Cor 5.15). Love, dearly beloved, does not focus on the self, it does not look for its own benefit (1 Cor 13.5), but rather it is expressed in dedication toward one another and is the foundation of flourishing, ascension and resurrection. It is this great message that Our Lord and Saviour passes on to humanity through His own example. The resurrection of the Lord manifests the mystery of solidarity, community and accord to the world. Christ brought his service to all, and in a similar manner we too must live with each other in a spirit of service, dedication and commitment. It is with this understanding, that we will be able to overcome the difficulties that afflict our state and pan-national life, to solve the problems befallen to us, to strengthen families, to defend steadfastly and build up both our homeland and our diasporan national life. Our people–which accepted Christ as its Saviour and have risen from the ashes of history in faithfulness and the love of the Lord – will today with that same faith and strength continue to fortify its victories and accomplishments. Now, dearly beloved, let us always keep the light and power of Christ’s resurrection in our lives and in our land, sanctified by the descent of Christ, and continually be renewed by the grace bestowed upon us by our Saviour. Doing so, we will be able to join together toward a revival of a strong homeland and toward new horizons in our life, testifying, that we are a people resurrected in Christ; we are the people of Christ, God’s own people. 
 
In the exuberant Good News of the Resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, We convey our greetings to the incumbents of the hierarchical sees of our Apostolic Holy Church: His Holiness Aram I Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, the Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Abp. Nourhan Manougian, the Vicar General of the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople, His Eminence Abp. Aram Ateshian, to the spiritual leaders of our sister Churches in supplication for the fruitfulness of their service. With patriarchal blessing we greet and bring our well-wishes to the President of the Republic of Armenia, Mr. Armen Sarkissian and to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, Mr. Nikol Pashinyan. We extend our greetings to the President of the Republic of Artsakh, Mr. Bako Sahakyan, and to the state officials of Armenia. On this graceful occasion of the Resurrection we convey our best wishes to the representatives of the diplomatic missions accredited in Armenia. We express Our love and blessings to the clergy of our Holy Church and to all our faithful people. 
 
On this grace-filled day of the Holy Resurrection we pray, that the grace of our Saviour’s Resurrection work miracles in the world; that people be renewed by the good intensions and fulfillment of life, peace and unity and that they may be one family under divine blessing. We ask again that in this year, dedicated to the family, our family ties may become strong and radiant with the light of Christ’s resurrection, full of love, solidarity and happiness. May the Lord protect our people in his boundless love, and keep the light and joy of the resurrection aflame in our hearts, in our country and in the entire world.
May the grace, love and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ remain with us and with all. Amen
 
Christ is risen from the dead,
Blessed is the Resurrection of Christ!



News.am, Armenia
April 20 2019
French PM to attend Armenian Genocide commemoration ceremony 
                  
Prime Minister of France Edouard Philippe will attend the ceremony dedicated to the victims of the Armenian Genocide in Paris on April 24 which will take place at 18:00 local time near the monument of Komitas, Nouvelles d`Armenie reported adding that the ceremony is of historical importance this year, given its official nature.

By the decree of French President Emmanuel Macron April 24 has been declared national day of commemoration of the Armenian Genocide.

Initiated by the Coordinating Council of Armenian Organizations in France, commemoration events will be held also in other cities of France, including Lyon and in Marseille.


Aysor, Armenia
April 20 2019
Davit Sanasaryan is my friend but there are no immune people in Armenia: Armenia’s PM on charges against SCS head

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan referred in his Facebook post to the charges brought against head of State Control Service Davit Sanasaryan.

Pashinyan stressed that today he finally managed to get familiarized with the discussions over SCS head Davit Sanasaryan and came to the conclusion that the “brotherly” mentality has deeper roots in Armenia than oligarchy and criminal.

“Even for civil activists and politicians “brotherly” relations stay as the main formula of worldview. They do not care less about truth, the revolution and its values. Davit is my friend too, but you should know that there are no immune people in Armenia. Be he an opposition, authority, revolutionary or counter-revolutionary,” he wrote stressing that the law will be double strict toward those who stood in front of people and spoke of legality and justice, inadmissibility of permissiveness and sponsorship.

He stressed that they will not only be punished by Criminal Code but will be accused of bertrayal of people.

“I say this without violating the presumption of innocence. Let normal investigation pass. If you do not allow it I will ensure it within the framework of authorities given me by the law,” he wrote.


[the business section of CITY AM News reports that BP plans to spend £6 billion to double oil production from Azeri fields, allowing their government further huge military expenditure]

News.am, Armenia
April 21 2019
Expert: Turkey's possible transfer of S-400 systems to Azerbaijan should worry Iran 
                  
Turkey's possible transfer the S-400  anti-aircraft missile systems to Azerbaijan should worry Iran, stated military expert Arkady Grigoryan, commenting on a such development of the situation at the request of Armenia News  - NEWS.am correspondent.

“The deployment of such systems on the territory of Azerbaijan should not only worry Armenia. First and foremost, this should worry Iran. I think if there is any serious likelihood of placing systems, there will be a reaction from Iran, ”the expert said.

Regarding allegations in the Azerbaijani media that “for Baku, these systems are important for eliminating the threat of Iskander medium-range ballistic missiles available in Armenia", the expert stressed that neither S-400 nor S-300 can eliminate no matter how much the opponent wants to embellish reality, the real capabilities of the systems are small.

[note correspondent's name who does not mention the mass transfer if Armenians from Azerbaijan following the programs in that country ]

Caspian News
April 21 2019
U.S. Wants To Give Nagorno-Karabakh Peace Process A Boost
By Mushvig Mehdiyev 
                                                         
The U.S. Secretary of State may put forward his proposals on achieving a negotiated solution if ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia agree to meet in Washington, according to Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov / Drew Angerer / Getty Images
Officials in Washington are doing their part to help broker a lasting peace between Baku and Yerevan. Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said on Thursday that a proposal from the U.S. Department of State for him to continue meeting with his Armenian counterpart came shortly after he and Armenia’s Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan met in Moscow on March 28.

“I briefed about our desire to resolve the conflict, which is almost 30 years old, and noted that we need to achieve a breakthrough,” Trend quoted Mammadyarov as saying during a press conference in Poland on Thursday. “Yesterday we received an invitation from the United States to visit Washington, where the Secretary of State will also put forward his proposals for achieving a breakthrough in resolving the conflict.”

Mammadyarov and Mnatsanakyan met in Moscow in what is considered by policy experts the next phase of deliberations that could help solve a longstanding conflict between the two South Caucasus neighbors over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which is an internationally recognized part of Azerbaijan, but has been occupied by Armenia since the early 1990s. As part of a trust building process, the two ministers agreed to let journalists from each country visit other country in necessary cases.

Negotiations aimed at achieving an end to what is an international conflict kicked off after the ceasefire deal went into effect in 1994. The armed campaign resulted in the occupation of the Nagorno-Karabakh region plus seven surrounding districts, totaling about 20 percent of Azerbaijan’s landmass. From its start in 1991, when the Soviet Union finally dissolved and until the signing a ceasefire deal in 1994, the war claimed the lives of 30,000 Azerbaijanis and displaced one million others.

The ceasefire, however, is fragile given the daily violations that sometimes escalate to war like it did in April 2016. Brief but severe hostility over four days in April proved that the conflict continues to be a catalyst for another bloody war that may result in broader regional implications, possibly drawing in Turkey, which is an ally of Azerbaijan; and Russia, which keeps a military base in Armenia.

Some analysts, including former program director at International Crisis Group, Magdalena Grono, believe that Iran – which shares a border with Azerbaijan and Armenia – could be a third regional actor, as a war could spill over into its territories. Some say it may have repercussions on the security of Europe as well.

“Of course, an escalation that could occur in the region would be very close to the EU’s borders. The EU takes that very seriously,” Grono said in a report on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict issued in 2017 by the U.S. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe.
 
Today, no ethnic Azerbaijanis live in the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region, as the indigenous Azerbaijani population was either killed or subjected to forcible expulsion by Armenian forces that made claims on the land as early as 1988. Occupiers of the Nagorno-Karabakh region unilaterally and illegaly declared independence.

The United States, along with all other countries represented in the United Nations – including Armenia – does not recognize the Nagorno-Karabakh region as an independent country. Despite its efforts, the OSCE Minsk Group, which is co-chaired by the U.S., Russia and France, has not been able to find a lasting peace to what has been a never-ending conflict.

U.S. President Donald Trump stressed in his letter to his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev in September 2018 that peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will boost efforts to improve Europe’s energy security. Azerbaijan is set to pump 10 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually to Europe via the Southern Gas Corridor starting sometime next year. This will be the first supplies of gas from the Caspian Sea to Europe and serve the European Union’s interest in diversifying the continent’s energy imports.

Trump addressed a similar position to Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in January. In a congratulatory letter to the Armenian premier after his electoral win, Trump underlined the significance of a peaceful resolution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in enhancing global security.


Public Radio of Armenia
April 20 2019
Tourists visiting Artsakh to be granted free entry visa from April 29 

On April 29, the law of the Republic of Artsakh ‘On Making Amendment to the NKR Law ‘On State Duty’, signed by President of the Republic of Artsakh Bako Sahakyan on April 12, 2019, will come into force.

On December 1, 2018, the Foreign Ministry came forward with a proposal to make an amendment to the law, which would provide for abolishing the state duty for the 21-day single tourist entry visa to the Republic of Artsakh. The introduced legislative amendment is aimed to promote tourism development in Artsakh by facilitating the issuance of entry visas to foreign citizens․

According to the new procedure, foreign citizens will be granted an entry visa at the passport control points upon entry to Artsakh, and at the Permanent Representation of the Republic of Artsakh to the Republic of Armenia (address: Yerevan, Nairi Zaryan St. 17a / 2).


Panorama, Armenia
April 20 2019
Number of beggar and street children up in Armenia

4 beggar and homeless children were registered in Armenian as of the end of 2018, up by 2 from the previous year’s numbers, according to the report of the Armenian Police.

The figures released by the National Statistical Service (NSS) of Armenia show that the three street children are 14-15 years old and the forth is 16-18 years old. Two of them are registered in capital Yerevan, while the other two are found to be residents of Kotayk  and Lori regions.

The number of child beggars and street children has sharply declined to compare with the findings of previous years, when 13 such children were registered in Armenia in 2016 and 8 children – in 2015. 

Diocese of the Armenian Church of the United Kingdom and Ireland

 
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The Primate, Bishop Hovakim Manukyan celebrated Easter Sunday Divine Liturgy at St. YeghicheChurch in London. His Grace was joined by The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to the Court of St James’s accompanied by Mrs Kirakossian, representatives of Armenian Embassy, benefactors of the Armenian Church and hundreds of faithful.
Delivering His message, the Primate congratulated the attendees on Easter. Reflecting on the meaning of Resurrection, he invited the faithful to take part and share the joy of the Resurrection. 
The liturgy was then followed by festive celebrations of Easter Luncheon organised by the Primates’ Ladies Committee.
 
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The Primate expressed solidarity with Christians in Sri Lanka and condemned the violent actions against Christians
 
In a statement, His Grace Bishop Hovakim Manukyan condemned the violent attacks against Christians in Sri Lanka and invited faithful to pray for the innocent, as well as Gods Mercy in aiding those who have been wounded as a result of these heinous acts . He particularly said. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Christians in Sri Lanka who became victims of such a heinous crime while celebrating holy Easter. We strongly condemn this act of violence and pray for the victims and their families. We have to keep in mind that they have died with Christ and therefore they shall live with him also . In the words of St. Paul “For we know that Christ being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over” ( cc Rm 6: 8-9).
 
 
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