Author: Badalian Vardan

MKHITARYAN’S DEBUT GOAL FOR BORUSSIA – VIDEO

23:35 10.07.2013
Borussia, Henrikh Mkhitaryan

Armenian midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan scored his first goal for
Borussia Dortmund on the 27th minute of the friendly against Basel.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan enjoyed an impressive debut for Borussia Dortmund
as he grabbed a goal and an assist in a 3-1 friendly win over Basel.

The Armenian, who only completed his switch to the Bundesliga side on
Monday, set up Marco Reus to score an early goal before producing a
fine left-footed finish after Fabian Schar had levelled for the hosts
on Wednedsday.

Jonas Hofmann completed the scoring for Juergen Klopp’s men close to
the en of the match.

DORTMUND SNAP UP ARMENIAN MKHITARYAN FROM SHAKTAR

Deutsche Welle Sports, Germany
July 8, 2013 Monday 5:30 PM EST

Borussia Dortmund have agreed terms with attacking midfielder Henrikh
Mikhtaryan from Shaktar Donetsk. The publicly traded club announced
the move in a message to the markets, saying the deal was pending
finalization. Blaszczykowski, Aubameyang, Lewandowski and now Henrikh
Mkhitaryan: Borussia Dortmund’s attacking lineup is becoming the
stuff of tongue-twisting folklore.

On Monday, the team confirmed the purchase of the 24-year-old attacking
midfielder (left in picture, playing against Dortmund this past season)
from Shaktar Donetsk, after the Armenian international banged in 25
goals and laid on another 10 in the previous season. The English
Premier League club Liverpool were also reportedly in the running
for his services.

“Borussia Dortmund and the player have reached a fundamental agreement
for a playing contract that would run to June 30, 2017,” the traders’
announcement said. “The details must still be finalized.”

Previous reports suggested that it would take some 25 million euros
($32.13 million) to prize Mkhitaryan away from Shaktar. If confirmed,
such a fee would make the Armenian the club’s most expensive signing
ever. Dortmund, flush with cash after their run to the Champions
League final and the sale of German international Mario Gotze to
Bayern Munich, have also signed attacker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
and center-back Sokratis this summer.

The club announced that “according to current indications,” the
Mkhitaryan purchase would mark the wrapping up of its “meaningful
transfer activities” ahead of the coming season. Dortmund also
announced that its transfer war chest of about 50 million euros was
“largely depleted.”

The big Lewandowski issue

Polish striker Robert Lewandowski, Dortmund’s and the Bundesliga’s
top scorer over the past two seasons combined, remains the great
unknown in Jurgen Klopp’s preseason preparations. The forward and
Bayern Munich transfer target, who has just one year remaining on
his Dortmund contract, arrived at the club’s preseason training camp
on Monday. Team officials have said they don’t intend to sell him to
Bayern, but messages on the player’s more general availability have
been mixed. The Bavarians on Monday offloaded their want-away forward,
German international Mario Gomez, to Fiorentina.

If Lewandowski plays out his contract – an extension would seem out
of the question at this stage – he could leave for free next sumer.

“Now we want to prove that we can be successful in the coming season
with a quality player like Robert,” Jurgen Klopp said of Lewandowski in
a Welt am Sonntag newspaper interview. “Our results are more important
than anything else, and I know Robert sees it that way too.”

Klopp also said he was hopeful that Dortmund’s new signings would
allow them to take the fight to Bayern more convincingly next
season, after the Bavarians cantered to a domestic double in the last
campaign. Dortmund lost against Bayern in the German Cup quarterfinal
and the Champions League final, finishing 25 points adrift in the
Bundesliga.

“We have our bow and arrow. It’s just that Bayern have a – precision
– bazooka. The likelihood that they hit the target is therefore
considerably greater. Nevertheless, Robin Hood was supposedly rather
successful,” Klopp told the newspaper.

msh/mkg (dpa, SID)

ONLY IMPARTIAL INVESTIGATION CAN PREVENT FURTHER ACTS OF VIOLENCE

Thursday,July 11

The Office of Military Prosecutor issued a statement in connection
with the creation of a working group for investigation of deaths in
the Armenian armed forces and sent an invitation to the representative
of the Human Rights Defender to participate in the group’s work.

As early as 2011, the Ombudsman proposed that the National Assembly of
Armenia should set up a working group to examine the criminal cases
into fatal incidents in Armenia’s armed forces, taking into account
the political weight and neutral position of the National Assembly in
solution of such difficult problems. At that time the parliamentary
deputies Samvel Nikoyan, Aram Safarian, Hrayr Karapetian, and Larisa
Alaverdian, later also representatives of the Military Prosecutor’s
Office were included in the working group.

Unfortunately, the initiative of the respective commission was not
brought to a logical conclusion.

According to the Armenian Ombudsman Office, the Military Prosecutor’s
Office currently plans to investigate those criminal cases, regarding
which final decisions were made after January 1, 2011, while there
are many complaints today to investigate fatal incidents that occurred
as early as 2001.

Omissions were committed during the investigations into those incidents
and the trust of the dead servicemen’s relatives and society in
investigation results leaves much to be desired. The ombudsman is
convinced that only a complete and impartial investigation of previous
incidents, even those which occurred ten years ago, and restoration
of justice can ensure trust in the investigation of fatal incidents
and prevent further murders and acts of violence.

The initiative of the Military Prosecutor’s Office to set up a working
group for investigation of criminal cases into fatal incidents in
Armenia’s armed forces is a positive one. Nevertheless, the Ombudsman
is prepared to include its representative in the working group,

1. if the working group examines the criminal cases, regarding which
final decisions were made after January 1, 2011, 2. if the format of
the working group’s activities is determined by the working group
itself, 3. if it is clearly specified what legal consequences the
working group’s decisions will have and how much the proposals of
experts of NGOs will be taken into account.

HARUTYUNIAN ON GRIGORIU: WORDS OF RETARDED PERSON NOT TAKEN SERIOUSLY

Thursday,
July 11

When asked by ‘Aravot’ what steps will be taken against Moldovan
advocate Aurelia Grigoriu and whether she will be dismissed, the
Chairman of the National Assembly Interim Committee of Ethics David
Harutyunian replied: “We should not pay any attention. If we take
a statement of every – so to speak – retarded person seriously,
we will dissipate our energy”.

Asked if the president will raise Grigoriu’s issue during his current
visit to Moldova, David Harutyunian said he was not informed if the
president will address that subject or not.

TODAY, 10:00

Aysor.am

EUROPE IMPOSES UNACCEPTABLE SYSTEM OF VALUES UPON ARMENIA – DEMOCRATIC PARTY

July 11, 2013 | 12:59

YEREVAN. – Armenia needs to predetermine a path for itself and see
to it that its commitments before Europe do not conflict with the
national system of values.

Democratic Party of Armenia (DPA) Chairman Aram Sargsyan noted the
aforesaid during a press conference on Thursday.

In his words, the global players conduct a policy of unification,
which is a precept of globalization.

“The most important is a change in the system of values. Old Europe,
with its system of values, is closer to Armenia. But modern Europe
bears values most of which conflict with the Armenian national system
of values. Europe displays a totalitarian approach toward Armenia and
demands the acceptance of all values that are acceptable for itself,”
Sargsyan maintained.

As per the DPA leader, Armenia, however, should state that it does
not intend to adopt those European values which run contrary to
national interests.

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION GOES TO MINSK

11:24 ~U 11.07.13

An Armenian parliamentary delegation headed by Vice-President
of Armenia’s Parliament Eduard Sharmazanov has gone on a 4-day
working visit to Minsk to participate in the 7th sitting of the
Armenian-Belarusian parliamentary cooperation commission.

The Armenian delegation includes Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce
and Industry of Armenia Martin Sargsyan (Republican Party of Armenia –
RPA), Hovhannes Mergaryan (Rule of Law party) and Head of the Heritage
parliamentary group Rubik Hakobyan.

The Armenian parliamentary delegation is to hold a meeting with
Vladimir Andreichenko, Chairman of the House of Representatives,
on Thursday.

Mr Sharmazanov will meet with Deputy Chairman of the House of
Representatives Viktor Guminsky.

The Armenian delegation will hold a meeting on Friday with Chairman
of the Brest executive committee Konstantin Sumar.

Armenian News – Tert.am

SYRIAN ARMY KILLS 100 ARMED REBELS IN DEIR EZZOR

Wed Jul 10, 2013 4:0

TEHRAN (FNA)- The Syrian Army units inflicted heavy losses upon armed
rebel groups and destroyed their equipment and weapons in al-Marieh,
al-Sana’eh and Jasr al-Sayyasieh neighborhoods in Deir Ezzor on
Wednesday.

According to FNA dispatches, the Syrian army killed 100 armed rebels
and injured dozens more in heavy clashes with Lava al-Qaqa terrorists
in Deir Ezzor neighborhoods today.

The army also destroyed a gathering center of terrorists in al-Hamidyeh
area of Deir Ezzor on Wednesday.

Syria has been experiencing unrest since March 2011 with organized
attacks by well-armed gangs against Syrian police forces and border
guards being reported across the country.

Hundreds of people, including members of the security forces, have
been killed, when some protest rallies turned into armed clashes.

The government blames outlaws, saboteurs, and armed terrorist groups
for the deaths, stressing that the unrest is being orchestrated
from abroad.

In October 2011, calm was almost restored in the Arab state after
President Assad started a reform initiative in the country, but Israel,
the US and its Arab allies sought hard to bring the country into chaos
through any possible means. Tel Aviv, Washington and some Arab capitals
have been staging various plots to topple President Bashar al-Assad,
who is well known in the world for his anti-Israeli stances.

TURKEY TRIES TO STRENGTHEN ITS POSITIONS AMONG RADICAL MUSLIMS – ARMENIAN TURKOLOGIST

July 11, 2013 | 01:45

YEREVAN. – Official Ankara is meddling in Egypt’s internal affairs
because the power in Turkey is in the hands of the Islamic party.

Armenia’s National Academy of Sciences Institute of Orientology
Director, turkologist Ruben Safrastyan told the aforesaid to Armenian
News-NEWS.am.

In his words, the Turkish authorities made a statement-criticizing
the actions by the Egyptian army-to not only help the Muslim Brothers,
but to strengthen their own positions among radical Muslims.

“It is important for Turkey to strengthen its positions among radical
Muslims,” Safrastyan concluded.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

NEW RUSSIAN AIR DEFENSE SYSTEM TO DETECT MISSILES AT BLASTOFF

S-400 air defense systems

RIA Novosti. Artyom Zhitnyov
20:44 09/07/2013

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Defense Systems

Multimedia

Russian S-400 Triumf Air Defense System The S-300P surface-to-air
missile system

MOSCOW, July 9 (RIA Novosti) – Russia’s new aerospace defense system
will ensure guaranteed detection of enemy ballistic and long-range
cruise missiles at blastoff, a top military official said Tuesday.

General Staff chief Valery Gerasimov said the system would feature
advanced information-gathering, data-processing and attack capabilities
with an early-warning radar system to be deployed along the entire
Russian border.

Other measures will include the modernization of existing
surface-to-air missile systems and the provision of advanced S-400 and
S-500 air defense systems, “capable of reliably protecting critical
installations against air and missile attacks,” he said.

That will significantly enhance the survivability of Russia’s strategic
nuclear forces, he added.

Priority in the organizational development of Russia’s armed forces
through 2020 will be given to the strategic nuclear forces and the
aerospace defense system, Gerasimov said.

Russia’s Strategic Missile Forces will continue to be equipped with
advanced Yars ballistic missile systems featuring higher capabilities
in overriding enemy missile defense systems, he said.

In mid-June, Russia’s prototype medium-range air defense system that
should replace the S-300 was demonstrated to President Vladimir Putin.

The Vityaz system, manufactured by the Almaz-Antei corporation,
which will have a more advanced radar and a launcher with 16 missiles,
compared with only four on the S-300, should enter service next year,
Almaz-Antei chief designer Igor Ashurbeili previously told RIA Novosti.

The Vityaz will complement the Morfey, S-400 and S-500 air defense
systems in Russia’s future aerospace defense network to engage targets
at ranges from five to 400 kilometers, and at altitudes from five
meters to near outer space.

In late May, Russia’s Aerospace Defense Forces conducted a series of
snap drills that checked the combat readiness of aerospace defense
units, air force units and air defenses in the Western Military
District, as well as military transport and long-range aviation
command. The exercises involved 8,700 people, 185 aircraft and 240
military vehicles.

KOUTOUJIAN ENDORSED BY NATIONAL ARMENIAN GROUP

Patch.com
July 9 2013

Posted by Charlie Breitrose

By Charlie Breitrose

Peter Koutoujian’s work for the Armenian community has earned him the
endorsement of the Armenian National Committee of America in his race
for Congress.

The group pointed to the commitment to Armenian causes and global human
rights by the Middlesex Sheriff and former State Representative for
Waltham and Watertown. Koutoujian played a major role in the creation
of the Armenian Heritage Park at the Rose Kennedy Greenway in Boston,
according to a release.

“We stand with Peter Koutoujian as he embarks on his new path
to Congress. His leadership in Massachusetts and in the Armenian
American community has been steadfast and inspiring, and he has the
ANCA’s full backing in this election process and beyond,” said ANCA
National Board member Stephen Mesrobian in a statement.

ANCA is the largest Armenian American grassroots political organization
in the United States.

Koutoujian entered the race for the 5th Congressional seat on July 1.

He seeks to replace Ed Markey, who won the special senate election
in June. He thanked ACNA for the endorsement.

“I am humbled and honored to be endorsed by the Armenian National
Committee,” Koutoujian said. “Along with other elected officials in
the state, I’ve been pleased to work on a range of issues important
to the Armenian community.”