Author: Arpi Talalian

Russia will return Mikhail Vrubel’s painting “Demon and Angel with Tamara’s Soul” to Armenia.  The painting was kept in the Museum of Russian Art in Yerevan and was stolen back in 1995.

After talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan expressed gratitude for the efforts of the Russian party to find the work.

“The painting has been found thanks to efforts of relevant bodies in Russia, and President Putin today revealed plans to return it to Armenia,” President Sargsyan said.

has circulated the copy of Ottoman Interior Minister Talaat Pasha’s telegram to Aleppo Governor dated July 15, 1916, as well as the Armenian translation of it.

In the telegram Tallat instructs the Governor to keep all Armenians in the places of exile, to deny them permits allowing to move to other locations. The instruction applies even to Armenians living in Muslim families.

US-based researcher Gevorg Hakobyan has retrieved the document from Ottoman archives, translated and provided it to Akunq.net.

Photo: AFP

 

Turkey’s president has compared German officials to Nazis, in the latest escalation in a war of words, the BBC reports.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan hit out after German authorities cancelled rallies designed to woo ethnic Turkish voters in Germany ahead of a key referendum.

“Your practices are not different from the Nazi practices of the past,” Mr Erdogan said.

German Justice Minister Heiko Maas said the comments were “absurd, disgraceful and outlandish”.

About 1.4m Turks in Germany can vote in the April referendum, which could give Mr Erdogan sweeping new powers.

Voters will be asked whether they back a new constitution, which would transform the country from a parliamentary republic into a presidential one.

That would give Mr Erdogan, as president, new powers over the budget and the appointment of ministers and judges, as well as the power to dismiss parliament.

Armenia is ranked 82nd (up from 86th last month) in FIFA World Ranking released today.

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

Ambassador Richard E Hoagland will assume the position of U.S. Co-Chair of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group on an interim basis starting in January 2017.

He replaces Ambassador James B. Warlick, who will step down on December 31, the US Embassy to Armenia says in an official press release.

Ambassador Hoagland brings over 30 years of diplomatic experience to the position. He served as US Ambassador to Tajikistan from 2003 to 2006, US Ambassador to Kazakhstan from 2008 to 2011, and as Deputy Ambassador to Pakistan from 2011 to 2013. Ambassador Hoagland most recently led US-Russian military coordination for the Cessation of Hostilities in Syria and served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs at the State Department in Washington. Prior to these assignments, Ambassador Hoagland led the Office of Caucasus and Central Asian Affairs in the Bureau of Europe and Eurasian Affairs and was Press Spokesman for the US Embassy in Moscow.

Ambassador Hoagland’s extensive diplomatic experience will be critical as the United States works with the sides toward a lasting and peaceful settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The United States continues to call on the parties to maintain their commitment to the ceasefire and to implement agreements reached at the Vienna and St Petersburg summits, and urges a return to negotiations on a settlement, which would benefit all sides.

The permanent replacement for Ambassador Warlick will be announced at a future date.

Photo: Marina Lystseva/TASS

A Russian military plane with 92 people on board has crashed into the Black Sea, Russia’s defence ministry says.

The plane disappeared from radar 20 minutes after taking off from the resort of Sochi at 05:20 (02:20 GMT). Fragments have now been found and one body has been retrieved.

The defence ministry said the Tu-154 was carrying service personnel, members of the famed Alexandrov military band, and reporters.

The plane was flying to Latakia, Syria.

The flight originated in Moscow and had landed at Adler airport in Sochi for refuelling.

The defence ministry said in a statement: “Fragments of the Tu-154 plane of the Russian defence ministry were found 1.5km from the Black Sea coast of the city of Sochi at a depth of 50 to 70 metres.”

So far no survivors have been found, local rescuers told the Interfax news agency.

Defence ministry spokesperson Igor Konashenkov confirmed that the “body of a person killed as a result the crash… was found 6km off the coast of Sochi”.

“Earthquake” proves an earnest, deeply felt drama set against the 1988 calamity that devastated a large swath of northern Armenia (then part of the Soviet Union) and caused more than 25,000 deaths, Gary Goldstein writes in the

According to the author, what the film lacks in high-octane disaster-movie thrills it makes up for with its focus on personal relationships, acts of heroism and a capable visual sense.

The script by Hrant Barsegyan, Arsen Danielyan, Aleksey Gravitskiy and Sergey Yudakov reflects true stories of rescue and survival culled from documentation and the accounts of eyewitnesses. The result is a crisscross of credible characters whose life-and-death journeys help frame the film’s gripping, often grim narrative.

These vivid folks include a vengeful young man reunited with the driver who caused the car crash that, years ago, killed his parents; an older couple at odds over their unmarried pregnant daughter, a gravely injured mother searching for her missing child, an unruly band of looters, a selfless Russian truck driver and other desperate souls.

“Director Sarik Andreasyan confidently juggles the demands of his large cast, the precarious action scenes and a clear commitment to veracity. The earthquake and its ruin, although set in the Armenian city of Leninakan (now called Gyumri), were effectively re-created on an abandoned Moscow factory site. (Pre-earthquake scenes were shot in Gyumri.),” the article reads.

“Sporadic dips into melodrama, some on-the-nose dialogue and acting, and an occasionally intrusive score hinder but don’t negate this ambitious film’s power and conviction,” the author concludes.

Iran’s Minister of Industries, Mines and Trade Mohammad-Reza Nematzadeh said on Monday that Iran will contribute to construction and operation of Meghri Free Zone in Armenia, reports.

Nematzadeh made the remarks in a meeting with Armenian Minister of Energy Infrastructure and Natural Resources Ashot Manukyan.

Nematzadeh said that Iran has good experience in setting up free zones and is ready to share experience with Armenia to help set up Free Trade Zone.

‘Iran and Armenia enjoy potential for expansion of economic and industrial relations and their level of exchanges should be upgraded.’

The minister said Iranian and Armenian private sectors are interested in promotion of trade and economic relations.

‘We should use the potential of the private sector for upgrading trade by removal of banking and insurance hurdles.’

The official said Iranian banking system and Export Guarantee Fund is ready to remove commercial barriers.

‘Holding joint meetings within framework of commission and visit of officials can serve as an effective factor to identify problems and barriers to go ahead with commercial, industrial and mineral cooperation.’

He said Iranian technical and engineering service companies are capable enough to contribute to designing industrial and commercial infrastructural projects in Armenia. ‘As for mineral exploration and exploitation, especially copper, iron ore and gold and designing steel production projects , Iran is also ready to put its technical and engineering potential at the disposal of Armenia.’

Iran is ready to sign preferential tariff deal with Eurasian union, said Nematzadeh, adding, ‘Regarding membership of Armenia in the Union, we expect its support to conclude the deal.’

The Iranian minister said that Iran has distinguished scientific status, especially in the nano-technology, bio-technology, information technology and telecommunications.

He called for signing Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) for transfer of technology and knowledge with Armenia.

The Armenian Minister welcomed contribution of Iranian investors to Armenian projects, especially its mineral projects.

‘For construction of free zone we will use Iran’s experience and expansion of the relations can further provide the ground for Iran’s membership in Eurasia.’

He said that Iran and Armenia have firm political ties based on good neighborly friendship and that economic and commercial relations between the two countries should be upgraded in pace with their friendly and political ties.

‘Iran’s insurance coverage to the industries can help development of the industry in Armenia.’

He said that his country specially and fully supports conclusion of a preferential trade agreement and Iran’s membership in Eurasia.

The Armenian minister said Iran’s help to set up Meghri free zone will serve as first step to that end. ‘Although the membership and conclusion of the agreement can lead to expansion of commercial and economic relations, the two-way ties should further expand irrespective of the issues.’

He noted that elimination of custom barriers is one of the most important barriers to promotion of bilateral commercial relations.

‘Armenian government pays special attention to elimination of barriers and problems facing the private sector and entrepreneurs and not only supports Iran’s stances but also considers it as partner of its interests.’

He said a deal on nano-technology had been signed during his recent visit to Iran.

‘The information technology exhibition will be held in Armenia in June 2017 with presence of well-credited international companies and active presence of Iranian companies in the expo is welcomed.’

The 14th Iran-Armenia Joint Commission session opened in Tehran on Monday morning co-chaired by Iranian Minister of Energy Hamid Chitchian and Armenian Minister of Energy Infrastructure and Natural Resources Ashot Manukyan.

AP Photo/Hassan Ammar    

Militants shelled a mobile Russian hospital in Aleppo, killing a female paramedic and wounding two doctors, the Russian Defense Ministry’s spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said Monday, Sputnik  reports.

“Today during an appointment of local residents, militants attacked with artillery the Defense Ministry medical facility’s mobile hospital in Aleppo. As a result of a direct mine hit, one Russian military paramedic was killed and two staff workers were badly wounded. Locals rushed to help and were also hurt,” he said.

The spokesman underscored that militants of the Syrian “opposition” were “undoubtedly” behind the attack.