Author: Ara Felekian

Armen Ashotyan: issue of the sale of Russian weapons to Azerbaijan is one of the most complicated relations in the agenda between Moscow and Yerevan

Ara Felekian
ArmInfo, Armenia

ArmInfo.The issue of sale of Russian weapons to Azerbaijan is one of the most complicated relations in the agenda between Moscow and Yerevan. This was stated  at a press conference by the deputy chairman of the ruling Republican Party, head of the parliamentary commission on foreign affairs Armen Ashotyan.

He stressed that this issue requires a solution, but it is not  subject to public debate.

“This issue should receive its decision, as the Russian side  substantiates that Moscow, while selling weapons to Azerbaijan,  Moscow solves certain economic and strategic tasks, is not  convincing,” Ashotyan summed up.

Earlier, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan also referred to the  topic, saying that Russia’s sale of arms to Azerbaijan is the most  painful aspect of the Armenian-Russian friendship, Armenian-Russian  military cooperation, and bilateral relations in general. the head of the state said. 

BAKU: Opening of Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Postponed

Ara Felekian 
Turan Information Agency, Azerbaijani Opposition
 Wednesday
Opening of Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Postponed
Baku / 19.07.17 / Turan: The opening of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway
will be postponed at least until the end of this year, Turan reports
referring to the results of the tripartite meeting of the heads of
customs services of Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia in Baku.
Turkish Customs and Trade Minister Bulent Tufenkci noted that Turkey
plans to complete the construction of the Turkish part of the railway
by the end of 2017.
"Earlier there were some problems with the implementation of the
Baku-Tbilisi-Kars project, but these problems are already behind, and
now the work continues in an enhanced mode," the Minister said.
Azerbaijan Railways CJSC reports today that on July 19 the works on
the implementation of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway line are
proceeding swiftly. The company shared video images reflecting the
work carried out on the railway.
The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars project was signed on February 7, 2007 by
Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Mikhail Saakashvili and then Turkish Prime
Minister Erdogan. The foundation of the railway was laid on November
21 of the same year.
The promise of the opening of this railway in the middle of this year
was last given by the Minister of Transport, Communications and
Maritime Affairs of Turkey Ahmet Arslan.
According to the State Oil Fund, 619.8 million US dollars were
allocated for this project on October 1, 2016, including 31.5 million
US dollars during the 9 months of the last year. Azerbaijan is very
interested in the implementation of this project, since this railway
will bypass Armenia. That is why this project was not supported by
Western circles. The State Oil Fund is planning to allocate 165
million 825 thousand manat from this year's budget for this project.
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Education: Robots, designed by the children of the children`s center "Tumo", perfectly coped with the task of confronting global dehydration

Ara Felekian
ArmInfo, Armenia

ArmInfo. The robots designed by the students of the Armenian Center for Creative Technologies “Tumo”, coped well with the task set by the organizers of the  international First Global Olympiad in robotics.

Armenian children succeeded in constructing robots that had been  given to them at the olympiad, who were able to distinguish the blue  balls from the red ones and in a limited time to collect their  specific quantity in a certain place. The animals of “Tumo” cope with  this task perfectly, nevertheless gave way to the team of the united  Europe and Poland, but at the same time left 160 countries behind  them.

“This is at first glance the task set by the organizers of the  Olympiad does not seem too complicated, considering the progress that  such technological direction as robotics is experiencing at the  present stage, but for children – beginning designers it is rather  difficult. We are glad that “Tumo” in the international arena  continues to hold high the flag of Armenia, thereby justifying the  numerous positive assessments that the center receives from the  international expert community,” ArmInfo was told in the center.

To note, the theme of this year on First Global was the problem of  global dehydration and young participants of the Olympiad made their  unusual technological contribution to it.

Armenian center of creative technologies “Tumo” recently entered the  top ten most innovative schools in the world according to the French  magazine We Demain. The center is not limited to working in the  Armenian capital and has branches in Gyumri, Dilijan and the capital  of Artsakh Stepanakert.

Turkish media in exile? Think again

Ara Felekian
Aravot, Armenia

Freedom is like air or water: something you appreciate only when it’s gone. Freedom for Turkish journalists was never as abundant as air or water–but nor was it ever as scarce as it has become in the last year.

Last July 15, a dangerous coup attempt occurred, unexpected and unsupported by the democrats in Turkey… But the democrats suffered as much as the putschists, since President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan seized the opportunity to put this failed attempt–which he called a “blessing from God”–to use as justification to pursue a witch hunt against all his opponents and to change the constitution, seizing all power.

Since July 15, 2016, some 150,000 people have faced criminal investigation, 50,000 have been arrested, and 70,000 civil servants have been dismissed. Nearly all opposition newspapers have been closed. Several have been placed under the state’s administration. More than 150 journalists and media workers have been arrested, in a campaign that has made Turkey the world’s largest prison for journalists. When the Committee to Protect Journalists last did its global census of journalists imprisoned around the world, Turkey held at least 81 in prison, more than any other country in any other year since CPJ began keeping records in 1992.

The result is silence, not only for those imprisoned but also for the rest who are still free. The climate of fear created by these arrests might have failed to silence some brave colleagues, but it has intimidated the majority of the media. It is now impossible to write, say, or ask anything that challenges the government. What we have witnessed is not only the obliteration of individual media outlets, one by one, but the obliteration of an entire profession.

Just as someone locked up in a cell tries to breathe through the tiniest gap, we too have sought alternative ways of telling the truth in this repressive environment. Some of us turned to social media, whereas others ventured to create media outlets in exile.

A skein of troubles

As luck would have it, I happened to be abroad on July 15, 2016. Taking my lawyers’ advice, I stayed in Germany, deciding to continue my work in journalism–something that was becoming increasingly impossible in Turkey. Hundreds of my colleagues were unemployed; I would join them to reach out to our viewers and readers in Turkey. Boldly would we give them the news that they could not receive otherwise.

Iskander missiles impossible to be down by any Azerbaijani weapon – defense ministry spox

Ara Felekian
Aravot, Armenia

Iskander missiles are impossible to be shot down by any Azerbaijani weapon, Armenian Defense Ministry’s spokesman Artsrun Hovhannisyan said in an interview with Panorama.am, commenting on the recent statement by Azerbaijan’s Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov, claiming that the Azerbaijani armed forces possess anti-missile weapons capable of shooting down Armenia’s Iskander missile systems.

“Zakir Hasanov stands out with his low level of knowledge, which is at lower level than the one of a platoon commander. He has shown it in multiple occasions. To put it mildly, it is impossible to shoot down Iskander missiles by any system of Azerbaijan. That country’s arsenal features Israeli Barak 8 missile system, which they have put on display. The claims also referred to the purchase of a weaker Iron Dome Weapon System. None of these systems is capable of downing the Iskander Missile,” the spokesman noted, adding that the U.S. Army officers having the most powerful missile defense systems like Standard, Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) and Patriot, do not confidently claim about downing Iskander missiles even after those weapons undergo multiple modifications.

“They (the U.S. military) openly point out the great danger and invulnerability of this weapon, however Zakir Hasanov has already overcome that weapon. On the other hand, there is nothing surprising when this is stated by a person with a very low level of professional knowledge and known for his empty talks,” Mr. Hovhannisyan added.

Newly appointed Ambassador of Iceland presents credentials to Armenia’s President

Ara Felekian 
Armenpress News Agency , Armenia
 Tuesday
Newly appointed Ambassador of Iceland presents credentials to
Armenia's President
YEREVAN, JULY 11, ARMENPRESS. Newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary of Iceland to Armenia Sigríður Bergling
Ásgeirsdottir(residence in Moscow) presented her credentials to
President Serzh Sargsyan on July 11, press service of the President’s
Office told Armenpress.
The Armenian President congratulated the Ambassador on her appointment
and wished her success on carrying out her diplomatic mission in
Armenia. The President said although the Armenian-Iceland inter-states
ties have started developing over the past 20 years since the
establishment of diplomatic relations, the potential of mutual
partnership of both countries have not been fully utilized during that
period and Armenia is ready to deepen inter-states ties with Iceland
expecting also the active work of the Ambassador on this issue.
Ambassador Sigríður Bergling Ásgeirsdottir assured that she will make
all efforts for strengthening the Armenian-Iceland bilateral ties. She
informed that she had already had several meetings and discussions in
Yerevan for that purpose and she believes that there is a potential to
successfully cooperate in commercial and humanitarian spheres, adding
that it’s necessary to carry out consistent work on this path. The
Ambassador considered prospective the development of mutual
partnership between the universities of Armenia and Iceland, the
exchange of experience in IT and tourism fields.
The sides agreed that Armenia and Iceland can develop mutually
beneficial partnership in energy, in particular, in renewable energy
field where Iceland has great experience and achievements.
President Sargsyan and Ambassador Sigríður Bergling Ásgeirsdottir also
discussed regional issues and challenges, the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict settlement process within the OSCE Minsk Group.

Use of forces by Azerbaijan serious threat to regional security – Armenian Deputy FM

Ara Felekian 
Armenpress News Agency , Armenia
 Friday
Use of forces by Azerbaijan serious threat to regional security –
Armenian Deputy FM
YEREVAN, JUNE 30, ARMENPRESS. OSCE’s Annual Security Review
Conference2017 took place in Vienna on June 27-29. Armenian delegation
led by Deputy Foreign Minister Ashot Hovakimyan participated in the
conference, “Armenpress” was informed from the press service of the
MFA Armenia.
In the opening remarks the Armenian Deputy FM referred to the factors
shaping the current environment of the European security, indicating
the contradictions over the issue of the security regime between the
main players in the OSCE area, the disability in the neighborhood of
the OSCE area and the use of force in the settlement of conflicts.
Deputy Minister Hovakimyan underlined that OSCE’s field capacity
reduction was another negative factor.
Ashot Hovakimyan noted that use of force can in no way be justified,
moreover, it thwarts the settlement processes that are underway in the
sidelines of the already agreed formats. The Deputy Minister specially
noted that the use of force against Nagorno Karabakh by Azerbaijan is
manifested by daily violations of the cease-fire agreement. Azerbaijan
also denies implementing the agreements reached in Vienna and St.
Petersburg. The Deputy Minister also highlighted that Azerbaijan was
not interested in ensuring the field presence of the OSCE and for that
reason it pursued the goal of suspending the field missions of the
OSCE in Baku and Yerevan.
Ashot Hovakimyan also gave a speech at the session on conflict and
crisis situations in the OSCEarea, security and confidence building.
He mentioned in his speech that the use of force by Azerbaijan is a
serious threat for the regional security.
Highlighting the unconditional implementation of the Vienna and St.
Petersburg agreements by Azerbaijan, Ashot Hovakimyan emphasized that
even the absence of the investigative mechanisms on the front line is
not an obstacle for detecting the initiator of the violations. In this
context the statement issued by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs
addressed to Azerbaijan about the ceasefire violation and shelling of
the military equipment of Armenia deployed along the contact line was
highlighted.
The Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia underlined that the top level
support of Turkey to Azerbaijan in regard to the cease fire
violations, as well as the closed borders in the region are additional
provoking factors. It was mentioned that Armenia has always made use
of the OSCE platform to engage in a dialogue with the OSCE participant
states, including Turkey, but the Turkish side has left the remarks
raised by Armenia unanswered.
The Deputy Minister stressed that OSCE’s involvement in the region
should be enhanced aimed at building confidence and ensuring security
during conflict and crisis situations.

Sports: Man Utd Star Reveals Which Sport Beside Football He Played Most While Growing Up in Armenia

Ara Felekian
90 Minutes

Manchester United star Henrikh Mkhitaryan has revealed that he used to play quite a lot of basketball at school back home in Armenia, as well trying his hand at sprinting and even table tennis in addition to his fledgling football career.

Speaking to ManUtd.com, Mkhitaryan explained that he really like school and was always ‘focused on studying’, that he ‘enjoyed’ every subject and ‘loved all of the teachers’.

He obviously played a lot of football, joining the youth team at Yerevan club FC Pyunik at the age of six when his family returned to Armenia from a brief spell in France where his father, also a professional footballer, had been playing with the now defunct ASOA Valence.

But the basketball court also formed a big part of Mkhitaryan’s early sporting life.

“We actually played basketball quite a lot, and did a lot of sprinting too,” he said.

“Most of the time, it was basketball; it was just something that we did during PE class at school. Sometimes we played table tennis, but most people enjoyed basketball because you could play with many players – it was fun. Football was always the main sport for me, though.”

Armenia have never played at the FIBA World Cup or Olympics, but the country did win FIBA’s biennial European Championship for Small Countries in 2016 when they beat back-to-back reigning champions Andorra – the most successful nation in the competition’s history.


Mkhitaryan is not alone in his love of basketball. It is generally a popular ‘second sport’ among many professional footballers, with United teammate Paul Pogba in particular a dab hand (pun absolutely intended) if this week’s Instagram activity is anything to go by.

Former United midfielder Owen Hargreaves was a top basketball player when he was growing up in Canada, only seriously switching to football at the age of 15, while current Premier League stars Thibaut Courtois, Romelu Lukaku, Mesut Ozil, Salomon Rondon and others all also have a passion for the sport.

Sports: Armenia’s Sona Poghosyan captures bronze, small silver at Junior World Weightlifting Championships

Ara Felekian
Panorama, Armenia
Sport 14:10 21/06/2017 Armenia

Armenian weightlifter Sona Poghosyan (75kg) won the bronze medal lifting a total of 223 kg at 2017 Junior World Weightlifting Championships under way in Tokyo, Japan.

As Panorama.am was informed from the Armenian National Olympic Committee, Sona also captured the small silver medal in the clean and jerk event, lifting 125 kg. The Armenian athlete took the fourth place in snatch event, lifting 98 kg.

Armenian athlete Samvel Gasparyan will begin competing tomorrow in Men’s 105 kg weight class.

Culture: “The Vision of Semiramis” one-act ballet to premiere at Yerevan Opera Theatre

Ara Felekian
Panorama, Armenia

Armenian National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet named after Alexander Spendiaryan on July 5 will host a jubilee concert dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Armenian state dance ensemble “Barekamutyun” (“Friendship”). As Panorama.am was informed from Armenia’s Ministry of Culture, “The Vision of Semiramis” one-act ballet will premiere at the concert.

During the concert, “Barekamutyun” dance ensemble will jointly perform with Royal Swedish Ballet’s artists Mariko Kida and Vahe Martirosyan.

“The Vision of Semiramis” one-act choreographic performance is staged by Honoured Artist of Armenia Arsen Mehrabyan (Sweden). The cast includes Honoured Artist of the RA, Principal Dancer of Bavarian State Ballet, Tigran Mikaelyan (performing the role of Ara the Beautiful), with Anna Kalashyan performing Semiramis.

The artistic director of the dance ensemble is People’s Artist of Armenia Norayr Mehrabyan.