News Archive
2008
September
President of Turkey Abdullah Gül visits Yerevan
September 6, 2008. By the invitation of the President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, President of Turkey Abdullah Gül arrived in Armenia to watch a football match between the national teams of the two countries.
Before the game the two Presidents held a meeting with the participation of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Armenia and Turkey.
Serzh Sargsyan thanked his colleague for accepting the invitation and noted that direct contacts is the only efficient way of normalizing relations between the neighboring states.
The President of Turkey in his turn invited the President of Armenia to Istanbul to watch together the next qualifying match between the two teams.
Presidents of Armenia and Turkey spoke about the normalization of bilateral relations and exchanged views on the recent developments and problems in the region.
Serzh Sargsyan noted that the dialogue would provide an opportunity to discuss any issue, even the thorniest ones. “We should strive to solve the problems as soon as possible, not to leave their burden to the future generation,” the President of Armenia stressed.
Serzh Sargsyan and Abdullah Gül discussed also the Turkish initiative on the creation of the Caucasus stability and security platform. Noting that Armenia always welcomes dialogue and adheres to the confidence building, security and cooperation in the region, the President of Armenia assessed the proposal made by Turkey as a step aimed at establishing constructive atmosphere in the region.
Armenia Assumes Presidency of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO)
September 5, 2008. President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan participated in the regular session of the Heads of State of the Collective Security Treaty Organization in Moscow.
Issues pertaining to the priorities of the Organization were discussed. A number of documents which expand the legal field for the cooperation of the member states in political and military areas were signed during the plenary meeting.
At the end of the meeting Armenia assumed the presidency of the Organization for the period of 2008-2009.
The CSTO was set up in 2003 on the basis of the treaty on the Collective Security signed by the member states in 1992. The scope of activity of the Collective Security Treaty Organization includes the development of political and military cooperation, cooperation in combating international terrorism, illicit traffic in narcotic drugs, arms confronting other threats. Currently the organization comprises the following states: Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
Annual Ambassadorial meeting in Armenia
September 3, 2008 The Annual meeting of the Armenian Ambassadors accredited abroad was held in Yerevan. The meeting was opened by President Serzh Sargsyan who delivered a program speech on the Armenian foreign policy priorities. During the meeting statements were made by the Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, the Secretary of the National Security Council Arthur Baghdasaryan, Foreign Minister of Nagorno Karabakh Republic Mr. Georgi Petrosyan and other officials.
A comprehensive statement on the foreign policy objectives was made by Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian. The challenges facing the foreign policy of Armenia, its bilateral relations with other countries, the multilateral relations within the international fora, as well as the recent developments in the region were among the subjects of the discussions that followed. Crucial issues such as the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and the Armenia-Diaspora interrelations were on the agenda of the meeting.
August
Armenian athlets won 6 medals in Beijing
August 24, 2008 The following Armenian athlets won 6 bronze medals during the Beijing Olympics 2008.
Hrachik Javakhyan - Boxing
Tigran G. Martirosyan - Weghtlifting
Tigran V. Martirosyan - Weighlifting
Gevorg Davtyan - Weighlifting
Roman Amoyan - Greco-Roman Wrestling
Yuri Patrikeev - Greco-Roman Wrestling
Mr. Shavarsh Kocharyan appointed as new Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia
 August 2, 2008 President Serzh Sargsyan signed a decree on appointing Mr. Shavarsh Kocharyan as Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia.
July
Ambassdor Gabrielyan visits Armenian Youth Camp
22-29 July, 2008 Homenentmen London held its annual 25th Scouts Camp in Gillwell Park, Chingford. Over 80 participants, from the age of 6 to 18 and their leaders took part in the exciting event, leaving the city comfort behind for a lively sports and activities week, learning scouting skills and interacting with other Armenian students.
Attending the camp on July 27th, Ambassador Gabrielyan took part in inspecting of the lines and, addressing the Scouts and attending parents after the Flag Ceremony, emphasized the importance of such campings both as skills and character-enhancing event for young people and as additional opportunity for an Armenian upbringing. He referred to frequent youth gatherings and camps in Armenia and called on the London Scouts to take part in them more frequently.
Homenentmen's London branch was established 25 years ago. It has over 250 members of which around 80 are athlets and 120 are Scouts. They participate in regular weekly events and have their football and basketball teams both for boys and girls.
100 days of Serzh Sargsyan's Presidency
 July 21, 2008. On the occasion of his 100 days in office President Serzh Sargsyan addressed the public on July 18, 2008, summarizing the accomplished works and highlighting the priorities on the development agenda for Armenia.
The President also answered dozens of questions on related and other topics at a press-conference invited for the same occasion on July 21st.
The see the full text of the address, please click here.
Robert Kocharyan's Presidency Account Published
 July 16, 2008. Former President Robert Kocharyan published a book, "Armenia 1998-2007" about the achievements of his ten-year presidency. Typically for the previous President, the book is an account that speaks in figures and statistics and is not a literary piece. Currently the book is available in bookstores in Armenia.
Exhibition "Armenian Type Now"
July 5th, 2008,Lincoln. An exhibition entitled “Armenian Type Now” was opened in the Wren Library of Lincoln Cathedral on Saturday 5th of July 2008. Mrs. Carolyn Puzzovio, Principal Lecturer at the Lincoln School of Art and Design introduced to the audience a brief history of Armenia and the Armenian Alphabet. Mr. Edik Ghabuzyan, the head of Department Creation and Preservation of the Armenian Fonts at the Ministry of Culture of Armenia, spoke about the new trends in the Armenian typography.
 
Addressing the meeting, Ambassador Gabrielyan thanked the University of Lincoln, the Lincoln Cathedral, the city authorities and the Participants from Armenia for organizing the important cultural event. The Ambassador spoke about the paramount role that the Armenian Alphabet has played throughout the centuries in preserving the national and cultural identity of the Armenian people.
In course of his visit to Lincoln the Ambassador also held meetings with Cllr. Ron Hills, the Mayor of Lincoln; The Rt. Hon Gillian Merron,the Member of Parliament from Lincoln - who is also the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in DFID and the Dean of Lincoln, the Very Reverend Philip Buckler.
The exhibition will last from Monday 7th to Saturday 12th of July, 2008.
June
Workshop in Armenian Studies Held in Cambridge
June 7-8, Cambridge. Scholars in Armenian studies convened in King's College, Cambridge University for a two-day workshop organized by Dr. Bert Vaux, University Lecturer at the Department of Linguistics. Robert Thomson, Galouste Gulbenkian Professor of Armenian Studies (emeritus), Timothy Greenwood, Lecturer in History, University of St, Andrews, Christina Maranci, Arthur H. Dadian and Ara Oztemel Professor of Armenian Art, Tufts University, Kristine Rose, Book Conservator, Chester Beatty Library, Elizabeth Redgate, Lecturer in the School of Historical Studies, Newcastle University, James Clakson, Senior University Lecturer in Classics, Jesus College, Cambridge and Theo Van Lint, Galouste Gulbenkian Professor of Armenian Studies, Oxford University contributed to an interesting discussion of a variety of subjects in linguisting, art and related crafts such as book-binding and others.
L-R. J. Clakson(seated), R. Thomson, T. van Lint,K. Rose, B. Vaux and H. Gabrielyan
Dr. Vaux is the author, among many other titles, of the acclaimed book "The Phonolgy of Armenian" and a textbook on Eastern Armenian.
The Ambassador and Mrs. Gabrielyan attended the first day of the discussions.
Jivan Gasparyan Opens Nelson Mandela's Birthday Concert in London
June 27th, 2008. Jivan Gasparyan, the renowned duduk player, was the first performer at Nelson Mandela's 90th anniversary concert held in Hyde Park. London. A constellation of international stars participated in the charity event that had 
attracted more than fifty thousand viewers to Hyde Park and was watched by tens of millions worldwide. Jivan Gasparyan rose to world fame by his masterly performance on the duduk, the Armenian wooden flute, usually made from apricot-tree, especially by playing in scores of internationally acclaimed films, such as The Gladiator. Himself 80 years old this year, Jivan returned to the scene a few acts later to perform with Zucchero, the Italian rock singer. 
All the five million pounds raised at the concert will go to Mr. Mandela's charity 46664 that aimes at raising awareness of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the sub-Saharan Africa.
Mrs. Hranush Hakobyan appointed as new Head of the State Committee for relations with Diaspora of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia.
June 27, 2008 President Sargsyan signed a decree on appointing Mrs. Hranush  Hakobyan as new Head of the State Committee for relations with Diaspora of the Armenian Foreign Ministry. Prior to this appointment, Mrs. Hakobyan, MP from Armenian Republican Party, has been the Chair of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science, Education, Culture, Youth and Sport.
A new Ministry of Diaspora Affairs is established in Armenia.
June 21st, 2008. President Serzh Sargsyan signed a decree on establishing a new Ministry of Diaspora Affairs. The decree will come into force from 1st of July, 2008 and the Ministry will become a part of the Government of the Republic of Armenia from 1st of October, 2008.
May
Mr. Alik Sargsyan appointed new Chief of the Police of the Republic of Armenia
May 29. Today President Sargsyan signed a decree appointing Mr. Alik Sargsyan new  Chief of the Police. A. Sargsyan, 51, has been with the Police since 1982, holding different high-level positions within the system. Since 2000 he has been the Governor of Ararat district of Armenia. With another presidential decree Colonel Alik Sargsyan has been promoted to Major-General of Police.
The 90th Anniversary of the First Republic is celebrated in Armenia
May 28. The Republic Day was celebrated in Armenia on 28th of May, marking the 90th anniversary of the foundation the first Armenian Republic in 1918, also commemorating the anniversary of the heroic battle of Sardarabat.
President Serzh Sarkissian visited the Sardarapat Memorial and participated in the festivities organised on the occasion of the holiday. A wreath laying ceremony, which took place at the Memorial dedicated to the heroes of Sardarapat, was followed by festivities and concert.
International Social Services Fair
May 13-14th. Armenia was again represented at the annual International Social Services Fair (also known as Diplomatic Fair or Sring Fair), a world market showcase of craft and food.
Members of the Armenian House Ladies Committee run the Armenian stall, promoting Armenian produce.
Yvonne Torikian knows from experience what the customers are after.
All proceeds of the Spring Fair go the ISS UK which spends them on a variety of charity purposes.
Evening on the Sardarapat and Shushi Victories
May 10th. To celebrate the 90th anniversary of the battle of Sardarapat and the 16th anniversary of the liberation of Shushi, the K. Tahta Armenian Sunday School, in collaboration with the Embassy of Armenia in London, organised a commemorative evening. Headteacher RuzannaTatulyan opened the evening by introducing the keynote speaker, Prof. Ashot Melkonyan, Director of the Institute of History of the  National Academy of Sciences of Armenia and by emphasizing his scholarly achievements. Ambasador Gabrielyan spoke of the historic significance of the two victories and and described Prof. Melkonyan not only as an accomplished scholar but also as a person who is in love with every single part of modern and ancient Armenia.
Professor Melkonyan gave a detailed and pasionate account of the two events and aptly presented the historical and international realities in place during both events. He then answered numerous questions from the audience. The evening was completed by screening of a film about Mount Ararat.
Victory Day Celebration
May 9th. Alongside with most of the former Soviet countries, Victory Day is annually celebrated and a solemn Remembrance ceremony is held by the Trustees of the Soviet Memorial Trust Fund at the Soviet War Memorial in Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park, adjacent to the Imperial War Museum, Southwark, London.
As usual, the Armenian Embassy joined the Mayor of Southwark, national and local politicians, British war veternas, diplomatic representatives of several embassies and many other supporters in this Remembrance act and laid a wreath at the memorial for the memory of the victims of World War II.
April
Armenian team in the first place by number of medals won at the European Weight-Lifting Championship
21 April, 2008. The European Weight-Lifting Championship ended in the Italian city of Lignano. Armenian sportsman Ara Khachatrian (77 k, city of Gyumri) won one gold and one bronze medal. Tigran V. Martirosian (85 kg, Gyumri) won three gold medals. Edgar Gevorgian (94 kg, city of Vanadzor) won a silver medal. Meline Daluzian (63 kg, Gyumri) and Nazik Avdalian (69 kg, Gyumri) fought in the women tournament. Meline and Nazik took first place, receiving one big and two small gold medals in their respective categories.The national team of Armenia won 17 medals: 13 golds, 3 silvers and one bronze at the European Weight-Lifting Championship and took first place by the number of medals won by the national teams.
New Government of Armenia finalized
21 April, 2008. President Serzh Sargsyan signed decrees introducing changes in the structure of the Government (Cabinet) and appointing several ministers by which the Cabinet is now fully formed. The Ministry of Trade and Economic Development was reorganized into the Ministry of Economy (Minister Nerses Yeritsyan keeping his job) while Ministry of Finance and Economy becoming Ministry of Finance (with the former head of the Armenian Development Agency, Tigran Davtyan, becoming its new head). In a major shift, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Territorial Administration Hovilk Abrahamyan and Chief of President's Staff Armen Gevorgyan traded places. A new Ministry for Civil Contingencies was created.
For the full structure of the Government (Cabinet) please click here
APRIL 24 COMMEMORATIONS IN LONDON
May 6th. A conference, entitled the "The Armenian Genocide: Truth and Politics" and organized by the British-Armenian All-Party Parliamentary Group (BAAPPG) was held in the House of Commons. It was opened by Bob Spink, Member of Parliament and H.E. Dr. Vahe Gabrielyan, Armenia's Ambassador to the UK. Dr. Hayk Demoyan, (in the centre in the photo below) Director of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute, Yerevan, was the keynote speaker.
Dr. Demoyan spoke on the problem of denial, the prospect of democratization in the Turkish society and the wider perspectives of Armenian-Turkish relations.
Mr. Ragip Zarakolu, a well-known publisher, writer and journalist from Istanbul discussed the righteous and real base for Armenian-Turkish dialogue and revealed the true dominant attitude towards Armenians and other minorities in today's Turkey. Dr. Susan Pattie,(left in the picture above) a cultural anthropoligist, concentrated on the shared future of the two nations.
Mr, Mike Joseph, broadcaster, journalist, writer and historian spoke about the responsibility of the UK Parliament and presented evidence on the ideological links bewteen the perpetrators of the 1915 Genocide and the Nazis in the beginning of the 20th century. (For more pictures of the conference please visit http://www.armenianembassy.org.uk/news-photo-gallery-2008.htm).
The Conference ended with a call to the British Government to re-confirm the public position of its own members at the beginning of the 20th century - recognize the Genocide as such and to exert influence on Turkey to act similarly.
April 29th. The Spring Remembrance Concert, held annualy in memory of the victims of the 1915 Genocide, and organized by "RP Musical Management" in collaboration with the Armenian Embassy in London, took place in the Leighton
 
House Museum in Kensington. The performance of Talar Dekrmanjian (soprano), winner of the Queen Elizabeth Competition (Belgium) and Hrachya Avanaessyan (violin), a rising talent and winner of the Yehudi Menuhin Violin Competition in 2006 (France) was highly appreciated by the audience comprising diplomats, government officials, musicians and other members of the public.
April 27th. The Committee for Recognition of the Armenian Genocide (CRAG), a committee of the Armenian Community and Church Council (ACCC) of Britain, organized a march that started at the St. Yeghishe Church in South Kensington and ended at the Cenotaph, Whitehall.
Ambassador Vahe Gabrielyan and Embassy staff joined the community at the Cenotaph to jointly lay wreaths for the memory of the victims of the 1915 Genocide in Ottoman Turkey.
After the procession ACCC and CRAG leaders, on behalf of the British Armenian Community, submitted a petition to Downing 10, calling on the Prime Minister for the recognition of the Genocide by the UK.
April 26th. CRAG organized a commemorative evening at the St. Yeghishe Church. The Chairman of CRAG, Mr. Raffi Sarkissian, the Chairman of the ACCC, Mr. Ara Palamoudian and member of the British-Armenian community Mr. Hratch Koundarjian spoke of the necessity of recognition of the Genocide by the British Government and of the ways to reach it, while Bishop Nathan Hovhannisyan's reflections concluded the evening.
  
  H.E. Ambassador Dr. Gabrielyan spoke of the inevitability of the recognition and introduced to the audience some historic photographs that a member of the British public, whose father had served in the British Navy in the Mediterranean during the WWI and acquired the photographs then, has handed them to the Ambassador from his personal archives. Prints of the photographs, the originals of which are now in the Museum-Institute of Genocide in Yerevan, were displayed in the Church.
The "Luis" Vocal Quintet, specially invited from Armenia, performed folk songs and songs by Armenian composers, enchanting the audience with high level of professional performance.
April 24th. An Evening Service was held at the St. Sarkis Armenian Church for the memory of the victims of the 1915 Genocide in Ottoman Turkey. The ceremony concluded in the churchyard, at the Armenian Khachkar, where Ambassador Vahe Gabrielyan and CRAG Chairman Raffi Sarkissian laid wreaths and Bishop Nathan Hovhannisyan and Revd. Hair Shnork prayed for the souls of those who perished in the massacres and deportations of 1915-1923, events constituting the first genocide of the 20th century.
Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defence appointed
 14 April, 2008. President Sargsyan signed a decree appointing Mr. Edward Nalbandyan Minister of Foreign Affairs. By an earlier decree of the President Mr. Nalbandyan was relieved from his former position of Armenia's Ambassador to France.
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan's biography.
 14 April, 2008 President Sargsyan appointed Seyran Ohanyan Minister of Defence of Armenia. Colonel General Ohanyan was relieved from his earlier position of Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces and from active military service.
Defence Minister Seyran Ohanyan's biography.
President Serzh Sargsyan appointed Mr. Tigran Sargsyan 48, Chairman of the Central Bank, Armenia's new Prime Minister.
 April 9, 2008. Under the Armenian Constitution, the Prime Minister is appointed by the President and must enjoy the backing of the majority of the National Assembly.
For the Prime Minister's biography please click here.
Inauguration ceremony of the third President of the Republic of Armenia
On 9 April, 2008 President Serzh Sargsyan's inauguration ceremony took place at a special Meeting of the National Assembly, held in the Great Hall of the Opera and  Ballet Theatre, Yerevan. Dignitaries and foreign officials from around 60 countries were among the guests present at the ceremony. Serzh Sargsyan took an oath of office with the following words: "Assuming the office of the President of the Republic of Armenia I swear: to fulfill the requirements of the Constitution in an unreserved manner; to respect the fundamental human and civil rights and freedoms; to ensure the protection, independence, territorial integrity and security of the Republic to the glory of the Republic of Armenia and to the welfare of the people of the Republic of Armenia".
To read President Sargsyan's Inaugural Address, please click here.
President Kocharyan's farewell address to the nation
On Tuesday, 8 April 2008 President Robert Kocharyan delivered a farewell address to the nation reflecting on Armenia’s achievements during his decade-long term in office.
To read the statement in full, please click here.
April 7th, Motherhood and Beauty Day.
As Armenia celebrated Motherhood and Beauty Day, a public holiday with ladies receiving congratulations and good wishes from President Robert Kocharyan and the Prime Minister, President-Elect Serzh Sargsyan, the Armenian Embassy in London held its traditional Ladies Reception for the represntatives of the beautiful half of the British Armenian community. Mrs. Hasmik Gabrielyan, Ambassador's spouse and the initiator and host of the event since 2004 welcomed and congratulated the guests. The Ambassador joined the party for official welcome and shared the friendly and relaxed atmosphere.
Chronology of the 2008 Presidential Elections (February-April 2008)
06.12.2007
Nine candidates were registered to run for the top post in the country. (Click here for a fuller chronology).
19.02.2008
Election Day. The Central Election Commission announced a voter turnout of about 69 per cent.
20.02.2008
The Central Election Commission (CEC) announced preliminary results which indicated that Mr. Sargsyan had secured 52.86 per cent of the vote and Mr. Ter-Petrossian was second with 21.50 per cent. The latter claimed victory saying that there had been widespread falsifications.
20.02. 2008
The International Election Observation Mission assessed in a public statement that "the presidential election in Armenia was conducted mostly in line with the country's international commitments" but pointed to several shortcoming and to the need to address them.
20.02.-29 02. 2008
Already prior to the election day Mr. Ter-Petrossian had called upon supporters to gather in Yerevan on 20 February for a "victory" or a "protest" rally. From 21 February to early morning on 1 March, protesters maintained unautharized demonstrations and rallies in the Oper Square.
24.02.2008
The Central Electoral Commission announced final election results, confirming that the winner was Mr. Sargsyan.
26.02.2008
Presiden-elect Serzh Sargsyan offered collaboration to the other former candidates, declaring that he is ready to form a coalition government, involving people from a wide political spectre.
29.02.2008
Leader of the Orinats Yerkir party A. Baghdasaryan signed a political co-operation agreement with the President-elect, assuming the post of the Secretary of the National Security Council in the future administration.
01.03. 2008
Tipped that there were weapons and explosives in the possession of some of the protestors, early in the morning of 1 March the police attempted to carry out an inspection in the Opera Square but met with resistence. Dispersed crowds resorted to violence elsewhere and riot police were called in to restore order. Eight people (including one police officer) died and 130 were wounded, many of whom law enforcement personnel.
01.03. 2008
To prevent further violence, President Robert Kocharyan declared a State of Emergency for 20 days.
08.03.2008
The Constitutional Court upheld the decision of the CEC, whereby Serzh Sargsyan was declared as a wining candidate. The Court also confirmed there were violations during the vote and asked prosecutors to investigate. The Court said in a statement the violations did not provide enough evidence to question the election result.
21.03.2008
The State of Emergency was lifted.
On 9 April 2008 the Inauguration ceremony of the President-elect Serzh Sargsyan was held during the Special Session of the National Assembly at the Opera House.
March
Azeris aim at thwarting the NK peace process: a Resolution on "Occupied territories" is passed at the UN despite the reluctance of the majority of its members.
On Friday March 14, the United Nations General Assembly voted on a draft resolution introduced by Azerbaijan in which the latter attempted to secure international support for its own desired outcome for the Nagorno Karabakh resolution process.
The OSCE Minsk Group Co-chair countries - US, France and the Russian Federation - voted against the resolution as did Armenia and a few other countries. Showing disapproval of this one-sided approach, around 150 countries abstained or did not vote. Only 39 countries supported the resolution, out of organizational affinity with either GUAM (Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Moldova) or the Organization of Islamic Conference.
Although the non-binding resolution passed the General Assembly, the rejection of Azerbaijan's position by an overwhelming majority is a indicator of the mood of the international community on this issue.
"I hope Azerbaijan got the message from the international community. Taking the lead of the co-chairs, a majority of member states repelled the one-sided approach," said Armenia's Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian.
Minister Oskanian characterized the resolution as hypocritical. "On the one hand, in an effort to misinform member states, the resolution included a paragraph that supports the OSCE Minsk Process. On the other hand, Azerbaijan blatantly ignored the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs position. The co-chair countries had made clear they would not support the resolution and in fact voted against the resolution."
Click here for the text of the resolution and the voting results
Ambassador Dr. Gabrielyan at the Annual Grimshaw Club Ambassador Series, LSE
On March 3, 2008 Ambassador Vahe Gabrielyan took part in debate on "National Identity and Integration" organized by the Grimshaw International Relations Club within the scope of its annual The Ambassadors Series at the London School of Economics.
The Ambassador spoke about the key factors that have shaped the national identity of the Armenians, the historical and cultural background of Armenia, the current challenges facing the country, her relations with the neighbours and the wider world. The debate was followed by a Q&A session during which Ambassador Gabrielyan answered a number of questions from the audience.
February
Sumgait Massacres Remembered in a Conference in the House of the Lords
On February 27, a conference entitled "20 Years of the Sumgait Pogroms: Intolerance and Violence as State Policy" was organized by the British-Armenian All Party Parliamentary Group at one of the Committee rooms of the British Parliament.
Massacres of Armenians in Sumgait (a city located a half an hour drive away from Baku) took place in a broad daylight, witnessed by numerous people. The peak of the atrocities committed by Azeri perpetrators occurred on 27 - 29 February 1988. The events were preceded by a wave of anti-Armenian statements and rallies that swept over Azerbaijan in February 1988.
 
The meeting was chaired by Baroness Cox and addressed by Ambassador Gabrielyan, the distinguished historian Christopher Walker, and political analyst and international media contributor Ali Gueranmayeh. Stephen Pound MP also briefly shared his experience from his 2007 trip to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh on the situation of refugees and their integration into normal social life. The meeting was attended by the representatives of various UK institutions and NGOs as well as members of the London Armenian community.
The killings of dozens of civilian Armenians in their own homes or in the streets, and the torture of hundreds in broad daylight in February 26-28, 1988 that was organized by the authorities of the Azerbaijani Soviet Socialist Republic in response to the peaceful and legitimate demands of the poulation of Nagorno Karabakf, a historic Armenian land that was at that time an Autonomus Region of Azerbaijan, was the first case of violence in in the Soviet Union.
To read Ambassador Gabrieyan's address, please click here.
January
Armenian experience shared at the Holocaust Memorial Day, Barnet
On January 27, the Holocaust Memorial Day, Ambassador Vahe Gabrielyan  addressed the participants the Holocaust Memorial Service organised by Barnet Council at the Middlesex University, the second largest Holocaust commemorative event in the UK. In his speech Ambassador Gabrielyan drew parallels between the Holocaust and the Armenian Genocide and emphasized the neccesity of recognition of the latter by the UK and the State of Israel.
To read Ambassador Gabrielyan's speech, please click here.
Exhibition of Armenian Photographs in the Houses of Parliamnet
 January 14-17, House of Commons. A selection of about 60 beautiful photographs depicting the nature, architecture and everyday life of Armenia was exhibitted in the Upper Waiting Hall of the House of Commons. The pictures are the work of fifteen professional photographers living and working in Armenia and are part of a larger collection dedicated to the 15th anniversary of Armenia's independence. The exhibition was organized by the Embassy of Armenia in London together with the British-Armenian All Party Parliamentary Group (BAAPPG) with the helpful artistic advice and assistance by British Armenian artist Edman Aivazian. It attracked many viewers and a lot of positive feedback. Some of the pictures can be viewed in Armenia/Photo Gallery section of this website.
Government Award to a long-time friend of Armenia
 January 9, Embassy of Armenia. Co-founder and Executive Secretary of the British Armenian All Party Parliamentary Group, the current Chair of Anahit Miutiun, the founder of The Chiltern's Armenian Society, as well as leader and active member of a couple of other organisations, Mrs. Odette Bazil was awared a Movses Khorenatsi Medal by the President of Armenia at the end of 2007 for her outstanding contribution to the development of Armenian-British relations. The Presidential Medal was handed to Mrs. Bazil by Ambassador Gabrielyan at the Ambassador Gabrielyan's traditional New Year Reception, held annually since 2004. The Ambassador praised Mrs. Bazil's vigour and dedication and said he believed that no other act could have better described Odette's activities for the benefit of the Republic of Armenia and the Armenian Embassy in London. A medal by the President of Armenia was a deserved recognition and a due award.
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