Serzh Sargsyan Meeting With Philip Gordon in Kiev

Today President Serzh Sargsyan attended the official inauguration ceremony of Ukraine’s president-elect Victor Yanukovich.

The delegation headed by President Sargsyan comprised leader of the Prosperous Armenia Party Gagik Tsarukyan, Adviser to RA President Andranik Manukyan and Armenian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Ukraine Armen Khachatryan.

Following the swearing-in ceremony President Sargsyan participated in the official reception and dinner in honor of the heads of foreign states and talked to his counterparts and other high-ranking officials.

At his residence in Kiev Serzh Sargsyan received US Assistant Secretary of State Philip Gordon. Issues related to the process of normalization of the Armenia-Turkey relations were discussed.  Read more... (193 words)

Conspiracy theory in Eurovision: Turkey claims genocide hint in Armenia’s «Apricot stone»

Eva Rivas’s winning song to present Armenia at Eurovision 2010 this May in Oslo has raised a wave of protest in Turkey, which claims that Armenia’s song has “a political context hinting at the Armenian Genocide.”

According to Anadolu (Anatolian) News Agency (Turkey), composer Yagoub Mutlu, who was at the Armenian national selection final concert ( February 14) said that Rivas’s ‘Apricot Stone’ apparently hinted at 1915 events.

The Turkish composer quoting the lyrics of the song, clarifies that

“Many, many years ago

when I was a little child,

our world is cruel and wild,

but to make your way

through cold and heat love

is all that you need”  Read more... (248 words)

Sweden to Vote on Armenian Genocide Resolution in 2 Weeks

A motion to recognize the Armenian Genocide has been proposed by Sweden’s Social Democratic Party. A similar motion, to recognize the 1915 killings as genocide, was made in 2007; however, it was not approved by the Swedish Parliament, reports Turkish news source Today’s Zaman.

As parliamentary elections will be held in September in Sweden, the current parliament has to handle all the motions before the elections. Diplomatic sources, speaking to Today’s Zaman, said the motion will be handled by the parliament in two weeks.

A Swedish Social Democratic Party official, who wished to remain anonymous, didn’t elaborate, but said it was out of the question for his party to vote against the motion.  Read more... (151 words)

Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan Speach at the Chatham House in London

President of the Republic of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, made a speech In the Chattem House of the British Royal Institute of International Affairs.

“It is my pleasure to visit with this reputable institution, the Chattem House, for the first time.

When I was invited to speak here, I was not aware that the discussion would be chaired by my old friend and “ally in arms,” Sir Robertson. Hence, it is more of a pleasure for me to participate in this discussion. Why ‘friends in arms’? Because we have travelled a long path with Lord Robertson; we have even agreed upon and organized the engagement of Armenian Military Units in the Kosovo Peace-Keeping Mission. I am glad to see you here, Mr. Robertson.  Read more... (3214 words)

Swiss Court Backs Initial Ruling of Swiss-Turks Convicted of Armenian Genocide Denial

Yesterday, February 9, Zurich’s Court of Appeal confirmed the initial verdict of a Swiss district court which ruled that three Swiss citizens of Turkish descent were guilty of Armenian genocide denial, writes French-Armenian freelance journalist Jean Eckian.

On 30 June, 2007, the defendants, Ali Mercan, Hasan Kemali and Ethem Kayali participated in a Turkish nationalist meeting in the Swiss district of Winterthur organized by Doğu Perinçek, leader of the Turkish Workers’ Party. During the meeting, they declared that the Armenian Genocide was not a genocide, but an “international lie” orchestrated by France, the UK and Russian tsarists.

The principal defendant, Ali Mercan, was condemned to a fine of 4,500 CHF (about $4,230 USD), while Hasan Kemali and Ethem Kayali were both fined 3,600 CHF.  Read more... (238 words)

President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan Will Meet Queen Elizabeth II

 On February 9, President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan will leave for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on a three-day working visit.

The delegation comprises His Holiness Garegin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan and the Mayor of Yerevan, Gagik Beglaryan.

Within the framework of the working visit, President Sargsyan will have meetings with Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace, as well as Foreign Minister David Miliband and Prince Charles.

At Windsor Palace, the President of the Republic of Armenia will attend the opening of the “Yerevan-my love” project initiated by Prince Charles and ex-Prime Minister of Armenia Armen Sargsyan. The project envisages the renovation of four buildings of historical and architectural significance in central Yerevan. Serzh Sargsyan will also meet with representatives of the Armenian Diaspora in Great Britain.  Read more... (241 words)

Ban Ki-Moon: UN Not Directly Eengaged In Karabakh Process

The United Nations do not have any direct engagement on the issue of Nagorno Karabakh peace process, where the OSCE is in the forefront, UN Secretary-General  said.

Questions regarding this conflict should be asked to the OSCE, Mr. Ban Ki-Moon told Trend News.

The UN General Assembly has passed four non-biding resolutions on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, all before 1994.

The conflict  between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan broke out in 1988 as result of the ethnic cleansing the latter launched in the final years of the Soviet Union. The Karabakh War was fought from 1991 to 1994. Since the ceasefire in 1994, sealed by Armenia, NKR and Azerbaijan, most of Nagorno Karabakh and several regions of Azerbaijan around it (the security zone) remain under the control of NKR defense army. Armenia and Azerbaijan are holding peace talks mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group up till now.  Read more... (314 words)