Author: Badalian Vardan

PAPADOPOLOUS AND MKHITARYAN WOULD TAKE LIVERPOOL TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Here Is The City, UK
June 5 2013

Are these the two signings Liverpool need to move back towards the
Premier League’s top four?

Liverpool buying Kyriakos Papadopoulous and Henrikh Mkhitaryan won’t
just mean booming business with regards to the player lettering on
the back of replica shirts, they are likely to have a big impact on
the pitch as well.

Both players are reported targets for the club, Papadopoulous playing
his football with Schalke in Germany and Mkhitaryan in Ukraine with
Shakhtar.

Of Greek and Armenian descent, both players have already taken the
perhaps unsurprising leap to move on from their homelands to test
themselves at a higher level.

Both players performed in the Champions League last season, proof of
their credentials, and would have to accept in moving to Anfield that
in the short-term that would not be a possibility.

However if Liverpool were able to sign up the pair of them, the club’s
ambition to reach the top four in English football once again would
be greatly enhanced.

Of course fans want to see the club challenging for titles, but first
they must re-establish themselves among the elite in the English game,
which means securing Champions League football and attracting even
better players to the club.

It is the loss of Champions League football which is holding the Reds
back at present when it comes to Luis Suarez. For all the Uruguayan’s
attempts to deflect attention from his behaviour and blame the media;
if Liverpool were in Europe’s elite competition his football reasoning
for wanting a way out would be voided.

Papadopoulos is a physically imposing centre-back for his young years,
one who stood out for Greece at Euro 2012 and a player who has been
on the radar of Europe’s top sides ever since making his debut for
Olympiakos as a teenager aged just 15.

Now 21, he is in many ways an ideal replacement for Jamie Carragher.

Concerns exist over his temperament, fitness and willingness to give
away fouls, but these are areas which can all be worked on.

He has the potential to be a mainstay of Liverpool’s side for over
a decade, and establish himself as a cult-figure at the club. His
passion would quickly see him become a hero to Liverpool’s supporters.

Mkhitaryan is an even more intriguing player, and attacking midfielder
whose prolific goalscoring more befits an out and out centre-forward.

Indeed the Armenian is capable of playing up front, but his versatility
and preference to drop deep makes him a far more appealing attacker
to Brendan Rodgers.

He was very much an unsung hero in Shakhtar’s Champions League
campaign last season, scoring twice in eight games, but in the
Ukrainian Premier League he netted 25 times in 29 appearances.

His arrival would negate any loss of Luis Suarez – with a more
convential striker also likely to arrive if the Reds’ top scorer left,
but if the Uruguayan was to stay, then the possibilities are endless.

The pair would likely cost Liverpool around £40 million, or little
more than an Andy Carroll, and would mark the next chapter in the
latest era at the club.

FM NALBANDIAN MEETS WITH MEMBERS OF US CONGRESSIONAL CAUCUS ON ARMENIAN ISSUES

June 05, 2013 | 16:33

YEREVAN. – Armenia’s Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian, who is in
Washington, DC., on Wednesday visited the U.S. Congress, where he met
with several members of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues.

Nalbandian underscored the role of this caucus in the strengthening
of Armenian-American relations, the Armenian MFA press service informs.

In their turn, the Congress members presented the activities and the
upcoming programs of the caucus, and noted that they will continue
their work toward developing friendship between Armenia and the US.

Upon the request of the Congress members, Nalbandian spoke about the
efforts by Armenia and the international community toward a pacific
settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and reflected on Armenia’s
approach with respect to solving regional problems.

During his talk with Millennium Challenge Corporation [Program]
CEO Daniel Yohannes, Edward Nalbandian discussed the chances for the
Corporation to resume its projects in Armenia.

The agenda of Nalbandian’s Washington visit also included his address,
at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, devoted to
Armenia’s foreign policy.

At the US capital city, Armenia’s FM also met separately with
representatives from the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)
and the Armenian Assembly of America (AAA).

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

ARMENIA’S AVAGYAN DEFEATS AZERBAIJANI OPPONENT

June 5, 2013

Armenian boxer Aram Avagyan (56 kg) defeated Azerbaijan’s Samir at
the 2013 European Boxing Championships, which are held in Belarusian
capital city Minsk.

Avakian at least can win a bronze medal. Solely Aram Avagyan from
Armenia’s six representatives made it to the semifinals of this
tournament.

Earlier he defeated England’s Gamal Yafai.

NEWS.am Sport

USA CALLS ON ITS CITIZENS TO REFUSE VISITING TURKEY

Today – 14:27

US State Department released a statement which advices US citizens
not to visit Turkey in this days. The statement especially says:

“The U.S. Department of State alerts U.S. citizens traveling to or
residing in Turkey to the continuing public demonstrations taking
place throughout the country. There have been numerous reports of
violence, injuries, and at least two confirmed deaths resulting from
or related to clashes between protestors and Turkish law enforcement
authorities. U.S. citizens are urged to remain alert to local security
developments and to be vigilant regarding their personal security.

This Travel Alert expires on July 5, 2013.

Violent altercations have occurred in areas of Ankara, Istanbul,
Izmir, Adana, Mersin, and elsewhere. The Turkish National Police and
protestors continue to clash in some locations. Individuals caught in
the vicinity of violence have been injured and/or detained, including
U.S. citizens. Labor organizations have announced plans for strikes.

U.S. citizens traveling to or residing in Turkey should be alert to
the potential for violence. We strongly urge U.S. citizens to avoid
demonstrations and large gatherings. Even demonstrations intended to
be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence. There
have been no direct attacks on U.S. citizens.

Review your personal security plans, remain aware of your
surroundings, including local events, and monitor local news media
for updates. Maintain a high level of vigilance, take appropriate
steps to enhance your personal security, and follow instructions of
local authorities.

We strongly recommend that U.S. citizens and nationals traveling to or
residing in Turkey enroll in the State Department’s Smart Traveler
Enrollment Program (STEP). U.S. citizens and nationals without
Internet access may enroll directly with the nearest U.S. embassy or
consulate. Enrolling signs you up to receive updated information about
areas abroad and makes it easier for the U.S. embassy or consulate to
communicate with you or your designated contact in case of emergency”.

ENOUGH TO LOOK BACK TO ALIYEV

Serzh Sargsyan is indignant. A few days ago Ilham Aliyev asked
his people to wait for a few more years until Armenia runs out of
population due to migration, protests and mismanagement of economy.

Today Serzh Sargsyan responded to Aliyev. He predicted Azerbaijan’s
fiasco in 3-4 years.

It is possible that Serzh Sargsyan is right, especially that there are
geopolitical premises for that. However, Serzh Sargsyan’s comments
on Aliyev’s childish statements devaluates his own words, and they
somehow sound unserious.

It is time Armenia stopped looking back to Azerbaijan, as well as
referred to the words of its leader to cover up our own problems.

Aliyev is right when he says that emigration and social problems are
growing in Armenia. However, if the Armenian society ignored Aliyev’s
statements, the president of Armenia should not have done so much
the more.

Apparently, Serzh Sargsyan would like to hint that those screaming
about the failure of the social and economic policy are playing in
one team with Azerbaijan. Simply the words “grist to enemy’s mill”
are obsolete, and now other wording is used to blame the opposition.

Unlike the president administration, people, especially those who are
accusing the government of an anti-national policy, do not care for
Aliyev or authors. Diagnostics is in progress for self-treatment,
and this can only frighten our neighbors because healthy enemy is
dangerous enemy.

Speaking about self-curing in Azerbaijan, Serzh Sargsyan actually
predicts the fiasco of Aliyev’s regime, not Azerbaijan. Similarly,
the process of curing Armenia is not aimed against the body but the
government which is unable to manage the body.

21:02 05/06/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

OPPOSITION ARMENIAN MP INQUIRES ABOUT BENEFITS FROM JOINING CUSTOMS UNION

19:31 ~U 05.06.13

Hrant Bagratyan, an MP from the opposition Armenian National Congress
(ANC) party asked Armen Alaverdyan, Deputy Head of the State Revenue
Committee, if he is aware of losses Armenia may sustain if it joins
the Customs Union.

“What are you going to do?”

Gagik Minasyan, an MP from the ruling Republican Party of Armenia
(RPA), responded at once, saying: “No, we are not joining. We are
integrating.”

However, Bagratyan quoted Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan as
saying that “everything must be done as soon as possible to join the
Customs Union.”

“Now you say one thing, now you say another,” Bagratyan said.

Alaverdyan believes that Armenia will not sustain any essential losses
if it joins the Customs Union in the coming years.

He pointed out the task of relieving the tax burden on businesses
and instituting a new tax requires years.

Alaverdyan also spoke of the benefits Armenia may derive from joining
the Customs Union.

Armenian News – Tert.am

ARMENIAN MP SUGGESTS USING KARS-AKHALKALAKI RAILWAY

June 05, 2013 | 15:39

YEREVAN. – The railway between Kars, Turkey, and Akhalkalaki, Georgia,
will open in the near future, and Armenian businessmen likewise need
to make use of this railway.

Chairman Vardan Ayvazyan of the Armenian National Assembly (NA)
Standing Committee on Economic Affairs stated the aforesaid at the
NA on Wednesday.

According to him, Armenian businessmen pay an extremely high
fee-i.e., 5.2 cents to transport one ton to one kilometer-for cargo
transportation abroad.

In Ayvazyan’s words, Georgia is not reducing the fee that is specified
for the Armenian cargo because its volume is not large, as 1.5 million
tons are imported and 400 million tons are exported each year.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

SARGIS ASATRYAN: AZERBAIJAN WILL FURTHER TIGHTEN CONTROL IN THE COUNTRY TO PREVENT RECURRENCE OF TURKEY EVENTS

14:48 05/06/2013 ” REGION

Panorama.am held an interview with Azeri studies expert Sargis Asatryan
on Azerbaijan’s reaction to recent events in Turkey.

– What was the reaction of Azerbaijani media to Turkey events?

– In general, Azerbaijani media have reservedly reported
on Turkey events. They have mainly covered the events without
analysis. It is noteworthy that those newspapers which are considered
to be pro-opposition have most actively covered Turkey events. In
essence, the Azerbaijani authorities fear that the wave of protest
can move from Turkey to Azerbaijan. This problem becomes topical
on the threshold of the presidential elections in Azerbaijan. It is
not accidental that Baku police dispersed all protests in support of
Istanbul demonstrators.

– How can Turkey events influence the situation in Azerbaijan?

– In view of the fact that Azerbaijan is to hold presidential
elections this year, the Azerbaijani authorities are seriously
concerned about maintaining stability in the country. Indeed,
according to WikiLeaks cables, Ilham Aliyev is not on good terms
with Recep Tayyip Erdogan, but the wave of protest may have chain
reaction and spread across Azerbaijan, therefore Baku cautiously
follows Turkey events.

We must not forget that Ilham Aliyev faces the challenge of reelection,
but there are many factors that could seriously destabilize the
situation in the country and provoke protests of many thousands
of people. In particular, Voice of Talishistan radio broadcasting
from Shoushi has seriously consolidated the Talishes who can become
a serious force in the country in the near future. Besides, it can
become an example for the other indigenous peoples and Baku cannot
disregard it. In view of these facts, we can establish that the ruling
regime of Azerbaijan is seriously concerned and will further tighten
control in the country in the near future to prevent recurrence of
Turkey events in Azerbaijan.

Source: Panorama.am

RPA IS TO DECIDE WHETHER IT STAYS WITH CRIMINALS OR NOT

02:10 PM | TODAY | POLITICS

If criminally prosecutable acts continue to develop in the country,
first of all the responsibility lies with the authorities, says the
chairman of the Christian-Democratic Revival Party, Sos Gimishyan.

Speaking about the recent high-profile shooting incident outside
the house of Syunik Governor Surik Khachatryan, Mr Gimishyan said in
the near future it will become clear whether the Republican Party of
Armenia (RPA) wants to continue way with criminals or not.

“Now let us wait for the authorities’ decision. If they prefer to
stay with criminals, they will violate the law. If they want to
prove the reverse, they will have to apply the Criminal Code for the
criminally prosecutable offense, which will be an adequate response
by the authorities,” he said.

Gimishyan says that there are numerous candidates of governors among
the Republicans who can replace the Syunik governor.

“Candidates are not to blame as the system dictates the demeanour
and future steps of an official,” he added.

LIVERPOOL WEBSITE CONFIRMS CLUB’S INTEREST IN MKHITARYAN

June 5, 2013

LIVERPOOL. – England’s Liverpool FC formally confirmed that it is
interested in Armenian national football squad and Ukraine’s FC
Shakhtar Donetsk attacking midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

The official website of the 18-time English Premier League champions
referenced Liverpool Echo and noted that the 24-year-old Armenian
international may transfer to Liverpool.

To note, rumors were circulating that Liverpool will pay £22 million
to acquire Mkhitaryan.

As NEWS.am Sport informed earlier, by scoring 25 goals, Henrikh
Mkhitaryan became the top scorer of the 2012/2013 season of the
Ukrainian Premier League. In addition, the Armenian international
also set a new record for the number of goals scored in one season
in the league.

NEWS.am Sport