Author: Ani Basmajian

Henrikh Mkhitaryan is the cover star of this month’s after providing an exclusive insight into his rise from Yerevan in Armenia to Old Trafford.

The 28-year-old can be impossible to stop when he motors forward in possession of the ball and there was no way he was going to be halted in his dream to reach the top in football, either.

The interview focuses on five key factors behind the evolution of any player – background, talent, personality, experience and ambition – and his honest answers suggest he was never going to be knocked off course when attempting to realise his dream.

As a 13-year-old, he spent time in Brazil with Sao Paulo to hone his skills and take another step along the path to footballing fame. There were those who doubted his ability to achieve such lofty aspirations but the desire to prove them wrong burned bright in the youngster. “I can say that most people did not believe in me,” he told Inside United. “They were just laughing and thinking that what I used to say was crazy and I would not reach this level.”

While others laughed, Mkhitaryan cried as a child when told “football would not exist for me anymore,” but he would have the last laugh, securing a move to United from Borussia Dortmund last summer. “I had a dream to play for one of the best football clubs in the world. And that is what I am doing now.”

It is difficult to quickly sum up the midfielder’s character. He is, at the same time, serious and focused while maintaining an easy charm and relaxed outlook. He has a sharp sense of humour and follows some of his answers up with a hearty laugh or cheeky grin.

Yet there is an underlying steely determination to Henrikh Mkhitaryan which may be understandable as someone who has overcome adversity and setbacks to reach the top. He also explains how he is a different character on the field to the one sitting and chatting.

His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, cast his ballot at polling station 14/11 in Etchmiadzin.

“We made our choice, wishing that these elections bring progress, development to our people, ensure a peaceful and tranquil life and add optimism, hope and faith. God bless our country and world-spread Armenians,” the Catholicos said.

The national football team of Kazakhstan is still in Armenia.

The plane carrying players of the national team had to make an emergency landing at Yerevan’s Zvartnots Airpot shortly after take-off.

The flight of the Russian Severstal Airline initially scheduled for 00:30, but the plane took off at 1:13, the General Department of Civil Aviation of Armenia reports.

The plane had to return to Yerevan because of landing gear malfunction to avoid further problems and landed at Zvartnots Airport at 2:46.

The national team is expected to leave at 16:00 today.

Gazprom plans to swap electric power generated at Hrazdan thermal power plant (TPP) in Armenia for Iranian gas, Chief Executive Officer of the Russian gas holding Alexei Miller said on Wednesday, TASS reports.

“We see the upside in improving efficiency of operations on the Armenian market on account of performing swap operations with electricity generated at the fifth unit of Hrazdan TPP in exchange for the Iranian gas,” Miller said.

Armenia plans to build a high-voltage power transmission line in 2018, “which will make possible to export electric power to the Iranian market using swaps,” he added.

Gazprom prepared a master plan for development of Armenia’s gas sector by 2030, Miller said. The company expects discussion of the paper will start this year, he said. Gazprom provides for reliable gas supply to Armenia, Miller said.

The natural gas price for Armenia is currently equal to $150 per 1,000 cubic meters, Miller said. “We held talks with the government of the Republic of Armenia last December and considered possible to keep the preferential price level for the year of 2017,” he said.

Armenia will establish a Consulate General in Erbil, Iraq. A corresponding decree has been signed by President Serzh Sargsyan.

According to the decree, the consular district will encompass the Kurdistan Region (Ebril, Suleymania, Dohuk).

Armenia is placed 85th (down from 82nd last month) in the FIFA World Ranking released today.

Argentina is still on top of the world followed by Brazil and Germany.

The top 20 are unchanged from February except for two notable exceptions. Poland (12, plus 2) reached their best ever world ranking, joining Wales in joint 12th position for March.

Levon Ayvazyan, Head of Defense Policy Department of the Armenian Ministry of Defense, received today the Military Attachés of foreign countries accredited to Armenia.

The Military Attachés were briefed on the intrusion attempt by the Azerbaijani forces at the line of contact with Artsakh troops last night, its prevention and the losses of the rival, as well as the current situation at the frontline.

According to Levon Ayvazyan, under the current conditions the Armenian side hopes Azerbaijan will refrain from steps that will further escalate the tension.

He noted that all necessary measures would be taken to prevent any further adventurism on the part of the rival.

OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier has said that “the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh has seen a worrying deterioration on the ground.”

“The hostilities that had erupted in April 2016 contributed to the highest number of soldiers and civilians killed and wounded in a single year since the May 1994 ceasefire,” he said at a Security Council open debate on protracted conflicts in Europe.

Lamberto Zannier emphasized that the use of heavy weapons and the clear targeting of villages set a disturbing precedent, with a high risk of further fighting.

Photo: Reuters

 

Reuters – An explosion occurred at French utility EDF’s Flamanville nuclear plant on Thursday (Feb 9) in which there may have been some injuries, but there was no nuclear risk, French newspaper Ouest France reported on its web site, citing local police.

Officials at EDF’s Paris headquarters had no immediate comment and local officials at the plant in western France could not be immediately reached for comment.

 

 

 

Turkey is preparing to turn a new page in its history by fulfilling Erdogan’s long-time dream of establishing a presidential system in the country. Expert of Turkish studies Mushegh Khudaverdyan says “Turkey is thus making a step backward.”

“Turkey is returning to the model of governance of the Ottoman Sultans,” Khudaverdyan told a press conference today.

Speaking about the possible influence of the constitutional changes on the Armenian community, editor-in-chief of the Marmara daily Rober Hatechian “the changes fall in the orbit of the conflict between the authorities and the opposition.” “They are not related torelated to national minorities,” Hatechian told Public Radio of Armenia.

Commenting on the rumors on Turkey’s plans to build a wall at the Armenian border, Khudaverdyan said “the information is being checked.”

“Turkey is situated at the crossroads of Europe and Asia and suffers from threats of contraband and terrorist attacks. The intention to build a wall may well fit into this logic. The intention could also be a continuation of the plans to build a wall at the border with Iran rather than a step targeted against the Republic of Armenia,” the expert said.

Mushegh Khudaverdyan added, however, that he does not see perspectives of normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations in the foreseeable future.