Monthly Archives: September 2013

Snakes on a plane! Flight from Sydney to Tokyo grounded after a reptile is found on board in passenger compartment

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snake-Tokyo- flight in SydneyA plane had to be grounded after a snake was discovered on a Qantas Boeing 747 airliner.

The finding of the small reptile led to 370 passengers being grounded in Sydney overnight, the airline said today.

Staff found the eight-inch unidentified snake in the passenger cabin near the door before passengers were due to board at Sydney International Airport for a flight to Tokyo, Qantas said in a statement.

Australia’s flagship airline said the passengers were accommodated in hotels overnight and left Sydney on a replacement plane this morning.

The snake was taken by quarantine officials for analysis.

The Australian Agriculture Department said in a statement the snake was with entomologists and had not yet been identified.

The jet had been on an airport tarmac since it arrived in Sydney from Singapore on Saturday.

30 Large Dolphins Beach Themselves in Brazil

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dolphins-brazilAround 30 large dolphins have beached themselves in northeastern Brazil.

The dolphins known as false killer whales ran aground on Sunday in Areia Branca, roughly halfway between the cities of Fortaleza and Natal.

Images distributed by the environmental police of Rio Grande do Norte state show beachgoers and passers-by attempting to aid the animals, which lay in shallow waters. Most were still, occasionally moving their tails, as beachgoers swabbed them with wet T-shirts.

O Globo newspaper reported Monday that at least seven on the animals have died.

The paper said it was not immediately known why the animals beached themselves, but biologists were examining whether the pod leader may have been ill.

O Globo says this is among the largest collective beachings in Brazil in recent decades.

 

Russia’s Top Mufti Protests Ban on Quran’s Edition

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Russian-muftiRussia’s top Islamic cleric has protested a provincial court order to declare a translation of the Quran as extremist and to destroy it. Ravil Gainutdin, the head of the Council of Muftis of Russia, said in an open letter to President Vladimir Putin released Monday that the ruling was “illiterate” and “provocative.” The Quran is available in Russian translation, but the court last week ruled that the translation by Elmir Kuliyev published in Saudi Arabia in 2002 violated federal law banning extremist materials. Gainutdin said that the “Russian Muslims were appalled by the neglect of law shown by the court” in the Black Sea port of Novorossiisk and demanded that the verdict be revoked. He said the court’s order to destroy the Muslim holy book was particularly outrageous.

$270 million worth of cocaine found on Air France flight

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france-cocaineThere was something odd about the 30 suitcases that showed up on a flight from Venezuela. The colorful bags weren’t registered to any of the passengers on the plane.

When French officials opened them up, they discovered why — 1.3 tons of pure cocaine were stuffed inside the anonymous bags.

The catch was made on September 11, but French authorities didn’t publicize the find until Saturday.

On Sunday, Venezuela’s Public Ministry said that authorities had detained three members of the National Guard in connection with the incident.

It wasn’t immediately clear exactly what they are accused of doing.

The suitcases came from Caracas aboard an Air France flight to Paris, but did not match any of the passengers on board, CNN affiliate BFMTV reported.

“Several” people have been taken in custody, French Interior Minister Manuel Valls told reporters Saturday.

Venezuelan authorities are also investigating.

 

President Serzh Sargsyan continues to receive congratulations on the occasion of the Republic of Armenia’s Independence Day

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անկախության տարեդարձ The Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon sent a congratulatory letter to President Serzh Sargsyan on the occasion of Armenia’s Independence Day. “Your country’s active engagement in the work of the Organization is crucial in advancing our common goals of peace, development and human rights for all”, reads the letter of the Secretary General of the United Nations.

On the occasion of the holiday, President Serzh Sargsyan received congratulations and best wishes from the President of the Federal Republic of Germany Joachim Gauck, President of the Swiss Confederation Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf, President of Lebanon Michel Suleiman, Emperor of Japan Akihito, King of Saudi Arabia Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Abdullah II ibn Al-Hussein, US State Secretary John Kerry, President of India Pranab Kumar Mukherjee, President of the Turkish Republic Abdullah Gül, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, President of Turkmenistan Gurganguli Berdimuhamedov, President of Ireland Michael Daniel Higgins, President of the Republic of Korea Park Geun-hye, President of Mexico Enrique Peña Nieto, President of Algeria Abdelaziz Bouteflika, President of Benin Yayi Boni, President of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

 

President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin sent a congratulatory message to President Serzh Sargsyan on the occasion of the RA Independence Day

 On the occasion of the Republic of Armenia’s 22nd Independence Anniversary, President Serzh Sargsyan receives congratulations from the leaders of foreign states, international organizations, state and non-governmental sector, representatives of the clergy, and individuals.

On the occasion of the holiday, the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin sent a congratulatory message to President Serzh Sargsyan.

The message of the President of the Russian Federation reads:

“Distinguished Serzh Azatovich,

I cordially congratulate You on the occasion of the national holiday – Independence Day of the Republic of Armenia.

Your country has registered considerable success in the resolutions of the contemporary issues related to the social and economic, scientific and technical and cultural development. Armenia’s repute on the international arena is growing.
The Russian-Armenian relations, which have deep historical roots, today have reached the level of allied partnership and continue to develop actively. It was proved particularly by the results of Your recent visit to Moscow.

I am confident that through the joint efforts we will be able to insure further consolidation of the entire complex of the bilateral relations, constructive cooperation in different multilateral formats, including in the context of Armenia’s membership to the Customs’ Union. It is, undoubtedly, in the basic interests of our brotherly nations.

I wish You excellent health, well-being and recurrent success, and I wish happiness and prosperity to Your compatriots.

 President of France François Hollande sent a congratulatory message to President Serzh Sargsyan on the occasion of the RA Independence Day

 

“Mr. President,

On the occasion of the national holiday of the Republic of Armenia, I send my best wishes for happiness and success to You and the entire Armenian nation.

Since independence, Armenia has been successful advancing on the road towards prosperity and democracy due, in particular, to bold reforms conducted in the framework of Armenia’s dialogue with the European Union. I would like to reiterate France’s unequivocal support to the continuation of that undertaking.

As You know, I attach great importance to the friendly relations and cooperation between Armenia and France. I would like together with You to continue our work for strengthening these relations in the most decisive way, particularly in the economic area.

Allow me to stress the importance which France, as a Co-Chair of the Minsk Group, attaches to the progress in the negotiations for the peaceful resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

I will be glad to host You in Paris soon to discuss these topics together.

Please accept, Mr. President, the assurances of my highest consideration,” President of France stated in his congratulatory letter.

Address by President Serzh Sargsyan on the occasion of Independence Day

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Սերժ Սարգսյան

 

Today, at the Karen Demirchian Sports and Culture Centre, a reception was organized on behalf of the President Serzh Sargsyan on the occasion of the 21st anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Armenia. The Head of State delivered congratulatory address on the occasion of the Independence Day.

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Address by President Serzh Sargsyan on the occasion of Independence Day

 

Your Holiness,
Distinguished President of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh,
My Fellow Compatriots,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I cordially congratulate you on the occasion of Independence Day.

For the last twenty-two years, we have been traveling a new road, which has often appeared narrow and rocky just as our mountain pathways. We have been moving forward cautiously and prudently because we carry great responsibility on our shoulders. The is the Armenia of Orontids and Artaxiads, this is the Armenia of Arsacids and Bagratids, this is the Republic of Armenia of the beginning of the previous century, this is the Armenia which has already entered the third millennium After Christ.

Our path is full of ups and downs but it is our way. We are besieged from right and left; sometimes defiant, sometimes vexed, we nevertheless are moving forward towards the light. We will bring back all those whom at times we have not been able to keep by our side. We will reinstate all our losses and will leave all privations behind. We will look back and register with pride that together we have passed gingerly the only possible narrow pathway. We should have no doubts about that.

My Fellow Compatriots,

For a long time our nation was compelled to solve not development but primarily existential problems. Today, the task has changed: now we are calling to life projects which are dealing with the strengthening and development of the Armenian Statehood. Certainly, security is the number one priority for everyone in this world, and we are no exception. Security-related issues will always be in the focus of our attention, just as they are today. We are constantly searching for ways to boost our economy, and we have achieved certain results. We are setting goals to expand the borders of possible, so that each year with a precise regularity we are able to increase salaries and pensions. Along the way, we are carrying out our reforms, which provide steady development for stronger democracy, good governance, the rule of law, and progress in all other areas. Our policies are directed towards these objectives.

The stance of the Armenian authorities and our society is clear-cut. We have had enough of wars, perturbations, abrupt U-turns and adventurism. We need unfailing defense, peaceful work and sustainable development, and we are doing just that. Perhaps a little slowly, perhaps with some slip-ups along the way but definitely not when it comes to the most important issues and definitely not when it comes to fateful decisions.

Armenian State means realization of the Armenian dream – this is the greatest symbolism of today’s holiday. The re-establishment of our independence in 1991 made our nation’s centuries-long dream come true. Our brothers and sisters in Diaspora and, first and foremost, the citizens of Armenia nourish and make part of their own dream, which came true. Are we able to raise our dream fulfilled to new heights in the contemporary world? Yes, we are, if we neither underestimate, nor overestimate our capabilities. For one who is traveling down a rocky pathway it is absolutely crucial to evaluate painstakingly each step along the way.

The Orontids’ Armenia and the Artaxiads’ Armenia were manifestations of Armenian dream. Today, the situation is quite different, and we have quite another country. This is a new reality which our people started to create fighting and defending ourselves while relying on a substantial legacy inherited from the Soviet Armenia. A glance back reveals the huge distance we have already covered and enormous risks we have avoided. It also inspires us with hope that we can accelerate our advancement. Every offspring of the Armenia nation has a mission to be accomplished in this process. If anyone has not learned it yet, it is high time to do so.

My Fellow Compatriots,

Independence is an objective and daily routine at the same time. It has to be conquered every day through living, adopting decisions and implementing them as free citizens of independent Armenia. We are living in a free country, and can discuss anything we want to. One thing, however, is unalterable under any circumstance: the sovereignty of the Republic of Armenia. It is a dream and duty fulfilled, which is always with us. This is a feast that we inherited paying the price with our heroes’ blood and this is a duty which we shall pass on to our grandchildren.

I once again congratulate all citizens of the Republic of Armenia and the entire Armenian nation. I wish us all peaceful work for the benefit of our families and our country. I wish we allot our capabilities wisely on different turns of the path and crown with success our dreams and programs. Joint together they make what we call the Republic of Armenia.

Long live the Republic of Armenia!
Glory to the Armenian Nation!

Working visit of President Serzh Sargsyan to Shirak marz

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 President Serzh Sargsyan conducted today a working visit to Shirak marz. In Gyumri, the President attended the opening of the Oktet musical school n. 6 named after Azat Shishian. He toured the renovated premise of the school, familiarized with the conducted works, was present at the concert performed by the students of the school and participated at the symbolic tree-planting ceremony at the schoolyard.

The school, which was built in 1976, was devastated during the 1988 earthquake. In 1990, the educational process was resumed in a small cottage. The school was rebuilt in 2012-2013 jointly by the Mediamax media company, Fund for Armenian Relief, and Do Something program in the framework of the Rock Helps Armenia project. The project of the school reconstruction was supported by the main sponsor Mardigian Family Foundation, world famous rock-musicians Ian Gillan, Tony Iommi, Vivacell-MTS and many other contributors, including the government of Armenia, benefactors, and a number of private companies.

Afterwards, the President visited Aragats Boulevard in Guymri, where he was familiarized with the works for the capital overhaul of the boulevard. The President was reported that Aragats Boulevard constructed in 1960-s, which connects the Victory Avenue to the Vardanants Square, was not renovated since the 1988 earthquake and until 2012. In June-November 2012 and partly in 2013, extensive reconstruction works have been done through the allocations of the Gyumri budget.

In Gyumri, Serzh Sargsyan visited also the Cross-stone Square located next to the Sourb Amenaprkich Church, where he was present at the Arts and Crafts Festival conducted on September 19-22 in the framework of the “Gyumri 2013: The CIS Cultural Capital” program. Later, at the Vardanants Square, he observed the first Art-Expo international exhibition. The President visited also the Sourb Amenaprkich Church and observed reconstruction works conducted there.

At the conclusion of his working visit to Shirak marz, the President held a meeting at the Gyumri City Hall, dedicated to the city’s development programs, accomplished works, including state sponsored housing program in the disaster zone, and existing problems. Underscoring that state assistance in the housing and other areas in Shirak marz, including Gyumri will continue, the President at the same time stressed the importance of the active work of the local authorities in the resolution of the existing problems and in the implementation of the development programs. The Head of Shirak marz administration Felix Tsolakian, Minister of Urban Development Samvel Tadevossian, and Mayor of Gyumri Samvel Balassanian made reports. The meeting was attended also by the National Assembly members representing Shirak marz, officials from the Presidential Administration, Shirak marz administration, and Gyumri City Hall. The President responded to the pertinent questions raised by the participants of the meeting and gave corresponding instructions.

Tunisia’s ‘sex jihadis’ who were sent to Syria to have sex with 100 rebels

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Tunisian women-Syria -offer themselves- Islamist opposition fighters1EACH are coming home pregnant with their children Tunisian women who have travelled to Syria to offer themselves to Islamist fighters are returning home pregnant with rebels’ children, it has been revealed. A Tunisian government minister told members of parliament this week the women, who are waging ‘sexual jihad’, are ‘having sexual relations with 20,30,100’ men before returning to Tunisia pregnant. Interior Minister Lotfi ben Jeddou made the revelations at the National Constituent Assembly on Thursday, though didn’t elaborate on the number of women who have returned in this condition. Jihad al-nikah, permitting extramarital sexual relations with multiple partners, is considered by some hardline Sunni Muslim Salafists as a legitimate form of holy war. The minister also did not say how many Tunisian women were thought to have gone to Syria for such a purpose, although media reports have said hundreds have done so, France 24 revealed. However, Ben Jeddou also said that since he assumed office in March, ‘six thousand of our young people have been prevented from going’ to the country. He has said in the past that border controls have been boosted to intercept young Tunisians seeking to travel to Syria. Earlier this year a group of Tunisian girls travelled to rebel-held Northern Syria to offer themselves to opposition fighters. Their action came after growing in concern in Tunisia about religious orders or ‘fatwas’ that circulated the internet calling on Muslim women to perform jihad through sex. A Tunisian minister of religious affairs appealed to girls at the time not to be influenced by Islamic preachers outside of Tunisia who made a number of ‘sexual fatwas’. Noureddine al-Khadimi rejected ‘sexual jihad’ fatwas, urging Tunisian people and state institutions to not respond to them.

Long lost time capsule buried by Steve Jobs in 1983 FINALLY found after it was left buried for an extra decade because organizers forgot where it was

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time capsule - AspenA time capsule buried by Apple founder Steve Jobs 20 years ago has been discovered after its location was long forgotten.

In 1983, the young tech innovator was attending a conference in Aspen when he and the group decided to bury as a stunt during a design convention.

The tube that was filled with an eclectic collection of goods- ranging from the then-new apple mouse to a six-pack of beer for the people who discovered the time capsule- was meant to be dug up 20 years later.

There was a problem with that plan, however, as everyone involved forgot where it was buried.

The final discovery happened at the hands of the crew from the National Geographic Channel’s reality show called Diggers.

To others, the most interesting object would likely be the ‘Lisa’ mouse placed in the tube by the hands of a then-28-year-old Jobs.

The Lisa Mouse, which Jobs named after his daughter, was one of the first commercial computer mice soled publicly, making it a rarity at the time.

Though stylistically it has changed over the past three decades, the internal components of the mouse have remained largely the same.

The Aspen Historical Society is going to help the show creators catalogue the tube’s contents- but no word yet whether or not the Diggers cracked open one of the six bottles of Boddington’s Ale that was left inside for the people who found the tube.

 

Death toll rises in Mexico storms

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mexico-floodingThe death toll from several storms that hit Mexico this week rose to 101, authorities said late Friday. An additional 68 people are still missing after storms ravaged the area, the nation’s Interior Ministry said. At one point this week, Mexico seemed to be pummeled from all sides by then-Hurricane Manuel and the remnants of Hurricane Ingrid. Some 24 states in the country had been impacted by storm damage, the Interior Ministry said. And the bad news, forecasters say, is that heavy rains could continue through the end of the month. One area battered by rain was the tourist destination of Acapulco on the Pacific coast. Manuel had left about 40,000 tourists stranded in Acapulco. As of Thursday, more than 10,000 were able to board military or commercial flights out of the storm-ravaged area. On Friday, some good news was delivered to trapped tourists. Four ships arrived with 125 tons of groceries and nine tons of medical oxygen, the Interior Ministry said. But it may be some time, officials said, before Acapulco International Airport is fully functional.

Selena Gomez Cancels Shows in Russia Upon Visa Denial

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selena-gomezIt’s quite ironic how after actor Wentworth Miller and diva Cher declined invitations from Russia to attend a film festival and open the Sochi Olympics, respectively, now there are reports that the Eurasian country has turned down a visa request by pop star Selena Gomez to stage a couple of shows there. As a result of the visa denial, the 21-year-old entertainer has canceled her supposed gigs at St. Petersburg’s IcePalace on September 23 and at Moscow’s Olimiisky Stadium on September 25.

Since Madonna and Lady GaGa‘s onstage expression of support for the Russian LGBT community during their 2012 shows there, the Russian government has grown more cautious about concert performers coming over and openly speaking out against Russia’s anti-gay legislation. They have not taken exception to Gomez, who they think will also likely use her upcoming concert as a platform to express her stance on gay rights.

 

“This cancellation of Selena Gomez’s visa shows that the Russian government is sensitive and on the defense, and shows that the pressure from people all around the world and the backlash against these laws is strong,” said gay rights activist John Becker in a statement.

17 Drown During Religious Festival in India

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Rescuers say they have found 17 bodies of Hindu devotees who were swept away in the Yamuna River during a religious festival in the Indian capital.

Fire official S.L. Sharma says the devotees drowned during a ceremony immersing clay statues of the elephant-headed Hindu deity Ganesha into the river at the end of a 10-day festival.

Sharma says the bodies were recovered Thursday, a day after thousands of devotees thronged the river banks celebrating the birth of Ganesha, who is widely worshipped as the god of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune.

Millions of Hindus install Ganesha statues in colorfully decorated homes and specially erected temporary structures across India and worship them before immersing them in lakes, rivers and the sea.

 

Venezuela: U.S. denied airspace permission to presidential plane

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Venezuela accused the United States on Thursday of denying President Nicolas Maduro’s plane permission to enter U.S. airspace — a claim that a State Department official denied.

Foreign Minister Elias Jaua said U.S. officials have blocked plans for Maduro’s presidential plane to fly through Puerto Rican airspace on the way to China.

He described the move as an aggression and called for an explanation from the U.S. State Department.

A senior State Department official told CNN that Jaua’s claim was untrue, saying that the Venezuelans have, in fact, been approved to clear U.S. airspace.

In remarks broadcast on state television, Maduro called the situation “a serious offense.”

The Venezuelan president vowed to take action, adding that the United States had also denied visas for several members of his country’s delegation scheduled to attend the U.N. General Assembly in New York.

The State Department official also called the visa issue untrue, saying the United States had approved them.

Maduro is scheduled to travel to China on Saturday. Jaua said officials were evaluating alternate routes so that the trip could continue as scheduled.

Putin Says No Discrimination of Gays in Russia

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vladimir putin (1)President Vladimir Putin denied Thursday that gays face discrimination in Russia, saying that a new law that has drawn protests worldwide does not infringe on their rights.

Putin on Thursday maintained that the law bans only “propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations among minors.” He argued that it is “no infringement on the rights of sexual minorities” and insisted that European laws allowing gay marriage contribute to population declines.

The Russian law has prompted calls for boycotts of the 2014 Winter Olympics hosted by Russia in Sochi.

Putin said while some European nations have allowed gay marriages, “the Europeans are dying out … and gay marriages don’t produce children.”

“Do you want to survive by accepting immigrants?” Putin said. “Society can’t absorb such a number of immigrants. Let us make our own choice, as we see it for our country.”

 

Zookeeper Killed by Tiger in Germany

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tigerGerman authorities say a tiger attacked and killed his keeper at a zoo in the country’s northwest.

The local fire department said the 57-year-old keeper was killed in the Allwetterzoo Muenster on Thursday afternoon after apparently not noticing he had left one animal behind after he moved a group of tigers into a new enclosure, the dpa news agency reported.

The tiger then attacked the keeper and bit him fatally on the neck. The zoo had no immediate comment and further details weren’t immediately available.

 

President Rouhani says Iran won’t develop nuclear weapons

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hassan-rouhaniIranian President Hassan Rouhani vowed Wednesday that his country will never develop nuclear weapons, telling NBC News that he is open to diplomatically resolving issues surrounding his country’s controversial nuclear program.

In an interview with NBC’s Ann Curry, Rouhani said that — even with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, a looming presence in Iranian society — he has “full power and has complete authority” to make a deal with others on nuclear matters.

Yet Rouhani appeared relatively optimistic Wednesday. He spoke about getting a letter from U.S. President Barack Obama after his recent election and inauguration, saying the U.S. president congratulated him and raised certain issues. Rouhani said he wrote back offering Iran’s viewpoint, describing the tone of the exchange as “positive and constructive.”

If they do and there are “negotiations without threats,” Rouhani added, then “the way for interaction is open.”

 

RAFFI HOVANNISIAN MEETS DIANA JANSE

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Hovannisian-JanseYerevan–Raffi K. Hovannisian and Diana Janse, Swedish Ambassador to Armenia, held talks here today.

 

They discussed developments in Armenian domestic and foreign policy, security in the region and European approaches therein, as well as issues relating to the MountainousKarabaghRepublic (Artsakh) and its sovereignty.

 

 

 

Heritage Party Press Service

Mr. Davit Tonoyan, First Deputy Minister of Defense of RA had a meeting with Mr. Christoph Bierwirth

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Հակոբ ԻնջիղուլյանOn September 19, Mr. Davit Tonoyan, First Deputy Minister of Defense of RA had a meeting with  Mr. Christoph Bierwirth, UNHCR Representative in Armenia and discussed prospects of  general cooperation in relevant spheres of mutual interest.

During the meeting Mr.Tonoyan inter alia touched upon the situation concerning the Armenian POW Hakob Injighulyan held in Azerbaijani captivity. He referred to a recent press release on an Azerbaijani media outlet quoting Mr.Shahin Sailov, Secretary of State Commission of Azerbaijan on POW, Detainees and Missing in Action who said that the Armenian POW Hakob Injighulyan reportedly made a request to be sent to a 3rd country. If this information is not yet another propaganda trick on part of the Azerbaijani authorities, the logical follow-up would suggest engagement of the UNHCR office in Baku according to its mandate to proceed with determination of a refugee status for H. Injighulyan.

He also informed that the Armenian side has reiterated its pledge for several times that Injighulyan will not be subject to any criminal prosecution thus eliminating any possibility of “well-founded fear of being persecuted”, especially when no other grounds exist  to confirm this fear based on race, nationality, religion, political opinion, etc.

Emphasizing the above-mentioned facts he called upon UNHCR and other stake holders to consider these facts in their approach when addressing such cases.

The First Deputy Minister noted that granting Injighulyan a “refugee status” could be understood as a  chance for him to escape inevitable physical abuse, torture or other tragic consequences as experienced before in similar cases such as Manvel Saribekyan’s– a shepherd who was brutally killed while being captive under Azerbaijani protection.  However, it was emphasized that negative precedents should be avoided thus the course of action should be considered extremely carefully given the complex pattern.

Mr. Bierwirth took note of the position expressed by the First Deputy Minister and promised to share it with his headquarters in Geneva. He emphasized, however, the independence of UNHCR in conducting mandate status determination procedures and the purely humanitarian, non-political mandate of UNHCR.

In addition it was stated that Armenia is ready to discuss such cases on a bilateral level with Azerbaijan without mediation efforts in existing international or any other frameworks and formats.

Germany Gives $2.7M to Help Destroy Syria Weapons

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Mideast-Syria_HoroGermany says it’s giving 2 million euros ($2.7 million) to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to help it oversee the destruction of Syria’s arms stocks.

An agreement last Saturday between Russia and the U.S. called for an inventory of Syria’s chemical weapons within a week, and for all components of the program to be out of the country or destroyed by mid-2014. The Hague, Netherlands-based OPCW will have to oversee that process.

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle had offered technical or financial support to help destroy the weapons. On Thursday, he said Berlin has decided to contribute extra funding so that the chemical weapons watchdog can “deal with the Herculean task.”

A Call by Iranian Economists, Lawyers, and Journalists to their Colleagues across the Globe for Support of the Campaign against Sanctions on Iran

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ԻրանDear Colleagues,

Our purpose in writing this open letter is to highlight the disastrous effects of the economic and financial sanctions passed against the people of Iran. These sanctions are by no means helping the cause of international peace and, indeed, their catastrophic humanitarian consequences are contributing to worsening international tensions.

The United States of America and its European allies have publicly announced that the goal of economic and financial sanctions is to control and make transparent Iran’s nuclear activities.  Judging the content of the dispute over Iran’s nuclear program requires technical knowledge and assessments that go beyond the expertise of signatories to this letter. However, we are voicing our concerns regarding the means being employed to achieve the declared goals of the international sanctions.

Through the suspension of financial transactions and transportation of goods, the basic human needs of Iranians – specifically those of more vulnerable groups such as children, the sick and the elderly – have been taken hostage. As such, sanctions take the basic human needs of the people of a country hostage and cause them definite and irreparable harm in order to deal with the alleged potential threats that are yet to be examined. Continuation of the current state of affairs will result in a human tragedy of substantial scale, whose outcome will undoubtedly be neither forgiven nor forgotten. While this letter cannot address all relevant cases, we would like to point out widespread harms, which in the past few months have included the worsening situation of surgical procedures in hospitals and the increased hardship in obtainment of medicine for critically ill patients.

In today’s globalized world where markets can be reached in many different ways, the imposition of sanctions leads to the proliferation of black markets, reduced transparency, increased corruption, and unsound and inefficient resource allocation. This is quite contrary to the global efforts to improve transparency, accountability, and governance and to ensure free and fair access to resources and information. Indeed, sanctions undermine international law and encourage rent-seeking and corruption at the cost of productive entrepreneurship and fair trade. Such maladies are not just problems limited to the sanctioned country; they also easily spread to other countries. The experience of at least the past year clearly shows that instead of giving up their transactions, many enterprises doing business with Iran resort to black market practices that are becoming entrenched and it may take many long years before this undesirable phenomenon can be eradicated from the economy of region and beyond.

A look at the history of sanctions reveals that the countries imposing sanctions have seldom reached any of their stated goals and in many cases, the end results have been military conflict and colossal human tragedy. There is no rationale in repeating such bitter experiences, especially in the current state of affairs in which the Middle East is experiencing one of the most turbulent periods of its history. Under such conditions, how can sanctions against Iran possibly contribute to world peace?

Historical precedent shows this laudatory reality that the people of Iran are peace-loving and have always resisted all types of force and aggression. A notable fallacy of those enforcing sanctions, at least in the case of Iran, is that in doing so, i.e. by adopting an aggressive approach towards the Iranian population, the civilizational and cultural capacities of Iran in solving this standoff are ignored. The jubilant atmosphere after the Iranian presidential elections on the 14th June of this year has provided a special opportunity for the countries that have been imposing sanctions against Iran to revisit their policies and adopt a new and peaceful approach, so that calm and tranquility can return to the people of this country and the region in general; an approach is needed that aims to lift sanctions and resolve international differences.

We therefore call on the global elite—especially the eminent economists, lawyers, and journalists—to support the peaceful and humanitarian campaign against sanctions and to persuade the leaders of their respective countries to take the first steps towards an innovative and effective resolution of this complex dispute.