Roma midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan scored a goal in the Roma vs Lazio clash in the Italian football season.
The midfielder of the Armenian national team scored in the 42nd minute.
In the current Italian season, 32-year-old Mkhitaryan is playing the 33rd clash, scored 12 goals and made 11 assists.
15:36,
YEREVAN, MAY 14, ARMENPRESS. Armenia has officially sent the application to the CSTO regarding the Azerbaijani military’s border infringement against Armenia’s state border in the provinces of Syunik and Gegharkunik, the caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan told reporters.
“The application has officially been sent. There is a three-day term, the defense ministry and the foreign ministry will notify on the procedure,” he said.
Avinyan says the Azeri side is showing fake maps. “In fact, the Azeri border troops advanced based on these maps. But nevertheless the Azeri side confirms its efforts aimed at a peaceful solution. According to them, they aren’t taking any actions and don’t want to take action to further deepen the tension,” Avinyan said, stressing however that the Armenian side is ready for all potential developments.
On May 12, Azeri military units breached the Armenian state border in an attempt to seize the area of the Sev Lake in Syunik Province. Azeri military formations advanced into the Gegharkunik Province as well. A total of 250 Azeri troops are illegally deployed inside Armenian territory.
PM Pashinyan called the Azeri actions a pre-planned provocation and infringement on Armenian sovereignty.
Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
Sixty years ago, the U.S. landed in the Bay of Pigs with the goal of forcefully replacing the Fidel Castro Marxist regime in Cuba. In the years that followed, Vietnam, Cambodia, Granada, Panama, Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and others were on the receiving end of U.S. invasions and bombing, causing untold deaths among the civilian population. And yet, those who live in glass houses seem to have no problem throwing stones.
For the second time, in its 100 days in office, the Biden administration decided to weaponize the designation of genocide against countries with which the U.S. is at odds.
The first was last month’s designation by the U.S. State Department of China’s treatment of the Uyghurs in Xinjiang as genocide, with the hope that other countries follow suit.
The United States also awakened the ghosts of the World War I this month, recognizing as “genocide” the tragic events that the Armenians were subjected to during the wars with the Ottomans in 1915 and the ensuing exile.
For Biden, this may be good politics considering that 84 of the 100 members of U.S. Congress who urged him to do so are Democrats, mostly from the state of California, where most Armenian-Americans reside. But it is certainly not good policy.
First, the timing of the recognition is poor, and not only because it comes during the holy month of Ramadan when 85 million Turks are confined to their homes due to the COVID-19 lockdown.
Turkey is standing at a fork in the road, torn between its traditional allegiance to the West and the economic promise of the East. Its relations with Washington have been strained for quite some time, but by succumbing to the Armenian lobby pressure Biden missed what could be his last opportunity to lure Turkey back into the Euro-American orbit.
This folly comes at a time Turkey, a NATO member and the gateway to the Black Sea, is facing a strategic dilemma on how to position itself between Russia and Ukraine as the conflict between the two intensifies.
It is also important for the U.S. and NATO interests in the East Mediterranean, Syria, Libya, the Persian Gulf and Afghanistan. Biden chose to sacrifice all this for “historic justice.” But what makes his “genocide” recognition most self-defeating is that it helps drive Turkey into the arms of America’s number one strategic rival – China.
For some time, Turkey has been working to strengthen its relations with China:
Most important, Turkey has been relatively restrained in its criticism of China’s treatment of the Uyghurs in Xinjiang, considering it has the strongest ethnic affinity to them.
If Washington had any hope that Turkey would side with it on Xinjiang, this hope is now dashed. Ankara is certainly sensitive to the treatment of the Uyghurs; however, despite its clear stance on the issue, it cannot blame China for committing “genocide” while the U.S. has now baselessly targeted itself for the very same crime.
And by causing Turkey to reject Washington’s narrative of a Uyghur genocide, Biden essentially gave the rest of the Muslim world, especially Turkic countries, a convenient excuse to sit on the fence. By conflating the historical event that happened 106 years ago with an ongoing one Biden created a new commonality between China and Turkey.
As the two countries mark this year the 50th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations, they now share a similar predicament: they are both targets of America’s selective weaponization of human rights. Selective indeed because Washington has no problem turning a blind eye to mass murders committed by its friends.
The persecution and killing of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar under the leadership of Washington’s darling and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi was never labeled as genocide.
Nor was the starvation of millions in Yemen courtesy of Saudi Arabia. And there was not even a whisper about the mass killing of millions of Chinese by Japanese occupiers in World War II or the million or so Indians killed by the British during the Indian mutiny of 1857.
Such inconsistency and selective memory in applying the term “genocide” based on geopolitical expediencies or – even worse – political contributions, undermine America’s moral authority and international leadership.
Biden’s latest action should indicate to Ankara what it should have realized by now: that its bromance with the U.S. is over. Courtesy of Biden, Turkey and China are now in the same boat. It’s time to start rowing.
*Professor in OSTİM Technical University and co-director of the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security (IAGS)
12:33,
YEREVAN, APRIL 29, ARMENPRESS. If Armenia fails to record a double-digit economic growth by yearend, the Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan says he’d resign.
Asked by reporters what he’ll do in the event of failing to secure the double-digit growth he’s been vowing to ensure since taking office, he answered : “I will resign.”
Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
I was surprised to find that Fresno radio host John Gerardi of Power Talk 96.7 FM had retweeted an image critical of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev walking among the hanging helmets of dead Armenian soldiers. Having not seen this image before, I began to investigate its origin, and appreciated Gerardi’s post sharing this evil news. A few seconds later, the retweets started rolling in. Not only did I realize the picture was real, but, the helmets of the dead soldiers were a part of a much larger park dedicated to the defeat and death of Armenians.
The park also includes wax figures of what appear to be Armenian soldiers in defeat mode, some portrayed as dead and others missing limbs. I am not sure how this park passes the Geneva Convention, but when it comes to Turkey and Azerbaijan, the world has a way of ignoring their disturbing actions.
As brutal of a dictator as I have read Aliyev to be, I didn’t realize that he would be flaunting at the expense of families of murdered 18-and-19-year-old soldiers. I’m sad for the people of Azerbaijan. This Armenia-phobia is and has been carried out for decades by their government with lies about their own history and the history of the region. I’m surprised that more people don’t question that Aliyev has named his wife as vice president and that their family has multimillion-dollar properties around the world. I guess the country’s oil money is that good to silence the majority.
As heartbreaking as these images and this “Trophy Park” is, unfortunately, the same thing happened during the Armenian Genocide. The Ottoman Turkish soldiers, who are distant relatives to the Azerbaijanis, were known for their brutal treatment toward Armenians as well as other religious minorities. Burning families in churches, terrorizing woman and children — nothing was off-limits. Sadly, Aliyev walking among those helmets of dead Armenian soldiers reminded me of when Armenians were rounded up and beheaded during the genocide; their heads too were left on stakes for those in the Ottoman Empire to see and admire.
Over 100 years have passed and the hatred towards Armenians by the governments of Turkey and Azerbaijan continues to be astonishing. Azeri kids will visit the park and the propaganda and hatred towards Armenians will continue. What they won’t realize is that for decades, Azerbaijani attempts to attack Armenia and Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) were unsuccessful and left the Azerbaijani Army humiliated. It wasn’t until Turkey, for their own genocidal intent, began supplying them equipment and aircraft that their luck changed.
The month of April is a tough one for Armenian Americans. I’ve written about this countless times because the pain and the wound is still fresh. During the Armenian Genocide, the world was on notice. Newspapers all over were publishing detailed stories of the plight of the Armenians, and only a very few tried to help.
More than 100 years later, social media was screaming to help the Armenians in Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh), and no other country came to help. No wonder Aliyev has the guts to make a mockery of dead teenagers; his idols in the Turkish government still haven’t answered to their crimes and it’s been 106 years.
Sevag Tateosian of Fresno is a volunteer with the Armenian National Committee of America fighting for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide in honor of his great-grandparents and grandparents, who were forced to flee their historic homeland.
Sevag Tateosian FRESNO BEE FILE
President Sarkissian offers condolences over death of Hirair Hovnanian
17:52, 9 April, 2021
YEREVAN, APRIL 9, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian sent a condolence telegram over the death of Hirair Hovnanian, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the President’s Office.
”Armenia and the Armenian people lost one of their best offsprings. Famous American-Armenian philanthropist, public figure, businessman Hirair Hovnanian has passed away. He was an example of patriotism.
He was a person for whom Armenia was not a motherland of simple emotions, but an end goal of sincere devotion and loyalty, to which he served until the end of his life, served in the broadest meaning of that word.
Hirair Hovnanian had his contribution to various programs aimed at the development of Armenia and Artsakh, both as an individual and member of the Board of Trustees of ”Hayastan All-Armenian Fund”, and of course, as one of the founders of the Armenian Assembly of America and a long co-chair of the Board of Trustees, later honorable President.
I have had the fortune to personally know Hirair Hovnanian and his family. One should be able speak and think about Armenia like him, invest capacities for the benefit of Armenia and Artsakh like him.
He was loyal to his nationality and origin, memories about historical motherland and programs about the future of the motherland. He was loyal by nature, with deeds and life. He was loyal with his family and children…
I offer my sincere condolences and words of sympathy to the Hovnanians”, reads the telegram.
Joaquin Caparros (Utrera, 1955), said that when he sat down with Armenia to talk about taking over their national team he felt good things. There was a lot of work to do but a good sporting structure, and a group of players who leave everything out there on the pitch. But nobody could have told him he would live through a war – Armenia and Azerbaijan, for the Alto Karabaj region, with dozens of dead. Nor that the experience he has stored could save him from the emotional impact of war.
Luckily Armenian football has enjoyed better times. They are in Group B of the Nations League and ahead of Germany in World Cup 2022 qualifying. Three wins from three games and all without star man Mkhitaryan. SPORT interviewed the Spaniard.
A few days have passed since the media spotlight was directly on Armenia. How are you feeling?
We are very happy, because it was unthinkable to be in the situation we are in now (leaders of their group). Although we were on a good streak and had been promoted to League B of the Nations League, nobody expected this. Even so, there is still a lot more to do. And more so in a group where there are teams like Germany, Iceland or Romania. There’s a long way to go, but we are very happy with the work so far, of course.
I suppose this would not have happened without a good structure behind it … What are the keys to success?
Well, this is everyone’s job, from the president who takes charge of the Federation and put Ginés Meléndez in the position of sporting director, through to the coaching staff. We do great teamwork, everyone does their bit so that Armenian football takes one more step forward. Then there is a great squad, who are all very committed. They are guys who feel their nation, their national team, who feel their jersey.
Did you ever hesitate to accept the challenge?
Not at all. When Ginés told me about it and I met with the president in Madrid, there were no doubts. They gave me very good feelings. I accepted it, delighted, (but) knowing that it was going to be difficult. And it is complicated. All teams have a lot of players to choose from, less for us. We are getting young people with potential, but they are still guys who have just recently debuted with the national team. The results are positive and that makes people believe in them more.
With the group how it stands, is the World Cup the goal?
You don’t have to be cautious, you have to be very cautious. We must keep our feet on the ground. But it is true that now there is no one who will take people’s joy away, especially after what the country has gone through. There is a lot of the group left to go and we know the quality of the opponents. We are going to go game by game.
Joy in the middle of a war with Azerbaijan, where even your captain went to the front lines… does this give more value to everything you have achieved?
Sure, much more value. It not only has sporting value, but also emotional value for an entire country that was very sad for everything that had happened. Many people have died, young boys of 19-20 years. It’s been a very punished country. The grief that Armenia is experiencing has served to motivate us. We wanted to give people a little happiness. This is the greatness of sport and football.
From what you say, it was almost an obligation to compete as you are doing.
Yes. We are the focus of many people. I have never experienced anything like this emotionally in my entire career. We are talking about a heavily punished country. Sport has brought them joy and a smile after some very tough months.
It’s a success even without Mkhitaryan, your great star…
In our national team, the group must always prevail. We are a team, no one can stand out. Everyone has to put their will and their ability at the service of the team. And the truth is that it has been so. If there is something to highlight in the team, it is that we are that, a team. We have been a great team in capital letters. If we want to take another step on our way, it has to be from the base of being collectively strong.
Your first experience of international football is not going badly…
The national team ‘can’ had not been opened yet and this team may be a little different because of everything that surrounds it. The war, the fact that up to four languages are spoken in the dressing room … We had to empathize with all that. The whole dressing room is united. In the end, non-verbal language speaks louder than verbal in our team.
Are you thinking of staying in Armenia or an immediate return?
Well we have a contract until Nov 21 of this year, until the last group game is played. But I won’t look beyond that. What I think is enjoying each game because experience tells me that’s how I have to go. I want to enjoy what we’re enjoying. As I said, there’s a good atmosphere between players and the technical team, as much from what we’ve brought as what there already was in Armenia. Time will tell.
Turkish historian and expert on genocide Taner Akcam has written a new book in Turkish on the Armenian Genocide, he said in a Facebook post on Tuesday.
“My forthcoming Turkish book – “A Short History of Armenian Genocide”. I will translate the text at the back of the cover later.
“It is a great feeling, like a newborn child…” the historian wrote.
Taner Akcam is one of the first Turkish scholars to openly acknowledge and discuss the Armenian Genocide.
My forthcoming Turkish book. A Short History of Armenian Genocide. I will translate the text at the back of the cover…
Two more bodies of killed in the Nagorno-Karabakh war were found on April 3, during search operations held in the Azerbaijani-held areas of Artsakh, the State Service of Emergency Situations said on Saturday.
The identity of the killed will be established after the forensic medical examination.
To note, since the start of the ceasefire, a total of 1,529 bodies of fallen troops and civilians have been recovered from the former combat zones.