Author: Alex Jidarian

The 8th International Hrant Dink Award will take place in Lütfi Kırdar International Convention and Exhibition Center on Thursday, September 22, 2016 between 20.00-22.00.

Today, at the A. Spendiarian Opera and Ballet National Academic Theater President Serzh Sargsyan participated at the award event dedicated to the medal winners of the 31st Olympic Games and their trainers. The President of Armenia handed to the medal winners high state awards, congratulated them on a successful performance at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and expressed gratitude for holding high the honor and the flag of our country at the greatest global sporting event.

“I am very glad that after a twenty-year interval a gold medal has been again brought to Armenia. I am confident that not only we but also the rivals of Arthur Alexanian saw an athlete who excelled them and not only his rivals but also the referees and all fans. Thank you, Arthur. In Rio de Janeiro we’ve witnessed how medals were won, but we’ve also witnessed a great potential which means that during next Olympic Games we will have a greater success. It is very important that along with our traditional sports such as wrestling and weightlifting, we’ve seen the opportunities for achieving very impressive results, for instance, in gymnastics. It is very important. Besides medals, we’ve also seen unfortunate incidents, and certainly injustice. But as you know the world in general and the sport world in particular are not void of injustice. The only way to fight injustice is hard work, resolve and confidence that we will be successful in future competitions. And I am confident that not only during the forthcoming European and World Championships, Mihran will be able to achieve success. I am confident that in Tokyo Mihran will become a champion; the important thing is to go on and show everyone that you possess great willpower.

I will not call out our Olympians name by name, because the audience here and the majority of our public know their names by heart. I want to once again thank you all. I want to express gratitude to Armenia’s Olympic Committee headed by Gagik Tsarukian. I want to thank the heads of all our sport federations and the trainers. I express thanks to all those who support sports, who provide their own private resources to our athletes to train normally and to have a dignified living. I am confident that the support will increase. I would like to thank particularly the parents of our athletes, their siblings, acknowledge the environment which gave birth and raised heroes. Our sportsmen are heroes indeed, and we will move on like that. We will move forward for the glory of the Republic of Armenia. Thank you, well done,” said the President of Armenia.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan will be fit for the Manchester derby on Saturday, Jose Mourinho has confirmed, reports.

The £30million summer signing was injured on international duty in Armenia’s 3-0 loss to Czech Republic and returned to England early in a bid to regain fitness.

He had earlier this week told Manchester United fans that he was still “not sure” if he would be fit for the derby despite his best efforts, but Mourinho has told MUTV that Mkhitaryan and fellow doubt Luke Shaw will both be available.

Mourinho confirmed United have “no injuries” ahead of the derby. And on Mkhitaryan he said:

“He is available.

“I’m not saying he’s ready to play 90 minutes but he’s ready to try to help us.”

Uzbekistan will elect a new president on Dec. 4 following the death of veteran leader Islam Karimov last week, the elections authority said on Friday, Reuters reports.

Political parties will be able to nominate candidates between Sept. 30 and Oct. 20, Central Election Commission Chairman Mirza-Ulugbek Abdusalomov told reporters.

Karimov died of a stroke on Sept.2 aged 78 after ruling the resource-rich country of 32 million people for 27 years.

On Thursday, Uzbekistan’s parliament named Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoyev as interim president.

The Nagorno-Karabakh Forum will be held in Uruguay on Friday, September 2, coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the declaration of independence of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic,  reports.

“The Nagorno-Karabakh Forum in Uruguay is a space composed of social activists, academics and legislators that aims to enrich and promote the country’s position of support for a peaceful resolution in the conflict involving the Republics of Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan since the collapse of the Soviet Union, and threatens the stability of the entire South Caucasus,” said the Armenian National Committee of Uruguay, the organizers of the initiative.

According to the organizers, the members of the forum will develop and publish investigations and organize discussions on the issues pertaining to Nagorno-Karabakh.

The forum, which is sponsored by the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia, will be attended by Robert Avedisyan, Permanent Representative of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic to the United States, who will read a message sent by President Bako Sahakyan supporting the initiative.

Other participants include Senator Rafael Michelini, Senator Ruben Martinez Huelmo and Deputy Daniel Radio, Deputy Susana Pereyra, Deputy Pablo Abdala, Belela Herrera, theformer Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uruguay, Historian Gerardo Caetano and Oscar Lopez Goldaracena, lawyer and human rights specialist.

“This forum is a contribution to the understanding and the search for a peaceful solution from the South American region,” said Alfonso Tabakian, Director of the Armenian National Committee of South America. “It is composed of renowned personalities from different areas of Uruguay, which will be a bridge so that the public opinion in that country could approach the topic and understand the reality of the conflict without the defects or pressures that may present in the diplomatic tensions or blackmailing by the economic powers,” said Tabakian.

“We are convinced that given the solidarity and democratic characteristics of the Uruguayan people, they will understand the issue and will support the struggle for the sovereignty of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh.”

On January 4, 2015, the Uruguayan Foreign Ministry issued a statement pleading for international recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh and its right to self-determination.

Armenian National team players and the delegation of Football Federation of Armenia left for Czech Republic by Yerevan-Prague chartered flight. Czech Republic – Armenia friendly match will take place on August 31, at 19:15 CET, at Mestsky stadium in Mladá Boleslav. 23 of 26 players, called up by the head coach, Varuzhan Sukiasyan, will get prepared for upcoming matches against Czech Republic and Denmark:

Goalkeepers

Arsen Beglaryan FC Alashkert

Anatoly Ayvazov FC Shirak

Gor Manukyan FC Pyunik

Defenders

Gael Andonian Olimpique Marseille, (France)

Hovhannes Hambardzumyan FK Vardar (FYR Macedonia)

Varazdat Haroyan Padideh FC (Iran)

Taron Voskanyan Karmiotissa FC (Cyprus)

Hrayr Mkoyan FC Esteghlal (Iran)

Artak Edigaryan FC Alashkert

Gevorg Hovhannisyan FC Shirak

Midfielders

Henrikh Mkhitaryan Manchester United (England)

Marcos Pizzelli Al-Fujeirah  (UAE)

Aras Ozbiliz, Besiktas J.K. (Turkey)

Gor Malakyan, Stal (Ukraine)

Karlen Mkrtchyan FC Anzhi (Russia)

David Manoyan Karmiotissa FC (Cyprus)

Gevorg Ghazaryan C.S. Maritimo (Portugal)

David Hakobyan FC Shirak

Zaven Badoyan FC Banants

Forwards

Artur Sarkisov, FC Mordovia (Russia)

Gegham Kadimyan Karpaty (Ukraine)

David Arshakyan Chicago Fire (USA)

Ruslan Korian SKA-Khabarovsk (Russia)

 

Levon Airapetian will miss the training camp due to injury, while Vardan Poghosyan and Petros Avetisyan didn`t make final 23.

A number of journalists have been reported injured, when covering the clashes between Police and protesters at Khorenatsi Street and Sari Tagh district of Yerevan.

Journalists of Radio Liberty Karlen Aslanyan and Hovhannes Movsisyan were attacked by unknown men in civilian clothes. Their badges were seized, the camera was broken.

Journalist of 1in.am website Mariam Grigoryan and cameraman David Harutyunyan were injured in clashes.

Correspondent of Armenia TV Aghvan Asoyan and cameraman Albert Galstyan were beaten by unknown in Sari Tagh. Their camera and microphone were seized and broken.

Photo journalists of  agency were also at the epicenter of events.

According to a report from RIA Novosti, the cameraman of the Russian Life TV has also been injured.

Henrikh Mkhitarya has addressed a message to everyone at Borussia Dortmund after signing for Manchester United:

Liebe fans,
Dear friends,

I wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone at Borussia Dortmund – from the administration, to the coaching staff and of course all the amazing fans – for the love and support you have given me in the past seasons. I will never forget the moments we shared together on and off the pitch over the last three years and I feel truly privileged to have represented such a great club and a great city.

The x ranks Armenia 67th among 133 countries in the world.

The Index is produced by the U.S.-based nonprofit Social Progress Imperative, and is based on the work of leading economists.

It measures how well countries perform delivering social goods to their people, including education, health and wellness, housing, opportunity, personal rights, personal safety and tolerance. It compiles its scores based on more than 50 indicators.

Finland tops the ranking followed by Canada and Denmark.

In the Basic Human Needs Dimension, Armenia performs best on Water and Sanitation and has most opportunity to improve on the Personal Safety component. In the Foundations of Wellbeing Dimension, Armenia scores highest on Access to Basic Knowledge but lags on the Health and Wellness component. In the Opportunity Dimension, Armenia is strongest on Personal Freedom and Choice and has the most room to improve on Personal Rights.

Armenia’s neighbors in the region are placed as follows: Georgia 54th, Turkey – 58th, Azerbaijan 77th, Iran – 93rd.

Armenia’s partners in the Eurasian Economic union Belarus and Russia are placed 66th and 75th respectively, Kazakhstan is 76th, Kyrgyzstan is 79th.

Pope Francis’s visit to Armenia was discussed at the sitting of the Supreme Religious Council held today at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin under the chairmanship of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.

His Holiness Karekin II appreciated the Pontiff’s brotherly visit to Armenia June 24-26.

Members of the Council noted that the Pope’s three-day visit was the best evidence of the warm brotherly relations and cooperation between the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Catholic Church.