Author: Christine Harutyunian

2019 Aurora Prize Laureate announced as Yazidi activist Mirza Dinnayi

Christine Harutyunian

2019 Aurora Prize Laureate announced as Yazidi activist Mirza Dinnayi

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 20:52,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 19, ARMENPRESS. The fourth annual Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity was awarded today to Mirza Dinnayi, Co-Founder and Director of Luftbrücke Irak (Air Bridge Iraq). Driven by his passion to save lives, the Yazidi activist has found a way to overcome numerous bureaucratic and logistic obstacles to help the most vulnerable members of the Yazidi community during numerous conflicts in Syria and Iraq. He was named the 2019 Aurora Laureate at the Ceremony in Yerevan that was held during the Aurora Forum. The Aurora Prize is granted by the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative on behalf of the survivors of the Armenian Genocide and in gratitude to their saviors, the IDeA Foundation told Armenpress.

Tom Catena, Aurora Humanitarian Initiative Chair and 2017 Aurora Prize Laureate, praised the 2019 Aurora Prize Laureate Mirza Dinnayi by saying: “What makes Mirza Dinnayi an outstanding human being is the fact he couldn’t live in good conscience knowing that good people are left behind, that the innocent are suffering. Trying to help others while facing an unspeakable evil can be challenging and frustrating, but he never wavered. I am delighted to congratulate Mirza Dinnayi with being awarded with the Prize and welcome him to the Aurora family.”

As the 2019 Aurora Prize Laureate, Mirza Dinnayi will receive a $1,000,000 grant, through which he is given the opportunity to continue the cycle of giving by supporting organizations that have inspired his work. He has chosen to donate the funds to three organizations that provide medical care and rehabilitation to victims of ISIS terror:

  • Air Bridge Iraq;
  • SEED Foundation;
  • Shai Fund.

Vartan Gregorian, Co-Founder of the Aurora Prize and Member of the Selection Committee, added: “The Aurora Humanitarian Initiative empowers those who risk everything for the sake of others and show extraordinary courage and conviction in situations of adversity, and Mirza Dinnayi is a perfect example of that. He embodies the power of compassion, of personal commitment, of a burning desire to save lives. As one of the Aurora Co-Founders and a member of the Selection Committee, I am very proud that our shared vision has helped showcase the work of Mirza Dinnayi, who now, without doubt, will be able to achieve even more.”

Working on behalf of the Yazidi community, Mirza Dinnayi has dedicated his whole life to saving the victims of the Iraq war, evacuating women and children from territories controlled by ISIS and providing those tortured and violated with rehabilitation and support. It was Dinnayi who brought to Germany the future Sakharov Prize Laureate Lamya Haji Bashar. Today, she is a renowned human rights activist and has one of Aurora’s scholarships named after her.

Leading international humanitarian figures and Aurora Prize Selection Committee members, including Nobel Laureates Shirin Ebadi and Leymah Gbowee; former president of Ireland Mary Robinson; former foreign minister of Australia and President Emeritus of the International Crisis Group Gareth Evans; former president of Mexico Ernesto Zedillo and Director of the Institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial College London and Chair of the Aurora Prize Selection Committee Lord Ara Darzi gathered in Armenia to attend the inaugural Aurora Forum and celebrate the 2019 Aurora Prize Laureate.

Previous Aurora Prize Laureates include several noted international humanitarians – Burundian activist Marguerite Barankitse (2016), American physician and missionary Dr. Tom Catena (2017) and Rohingya lawyer and human rights campaigner Kyaw Hla Aung (2018).

Nobel Prize Laureate and a member of the Aurora Prize Selection Committee Leymah Gbowee commented: “The very name of the Aurore Prize for Awakening Humanity contains the most important message of this unique award. Right now, the world feels the need for humanity to rise and for people to step up. Mirza Dinnayi, whose courage and selflessness are a credit to his people, is doing just that: taking care of women and children, who suffer the most in a conflict situation, and putting himself at risk to save others. What an outstanding humanitarian.”

The Aurora Humanitarian Initiative also honored the contributions of the other two 2019 Aurora Humanitarians who received a $50,000 grant each: Zannah Bukar Mustapha, Director and Founder of Future Prowess Islamic Foundation in Nigeria, and Huda Al-Sarari, Yemeni lawyer and activist.

The 2019 Aurora Prize Ceremony was part of the Aurora Forum, held in Armenia on October 14–21, 2019 and convening thought leaders and change-makers from across the world to share knowledge, perspective and ideas, which together can deliver practical action and change. The Forum far-reaching agenda is driven by partner institutions with a shared commitment to address global challenges and local development.

***

About the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative

Founded on behalf of the survivors of the Armenian Genocide and in gratitude to their saviors, the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative seeks to empower modern-day saviors to offer life and hope to those in urgent need of basic humanitarian aid anywhere in the world and thus continue the cycle of giving internationally. The Aurora Humanitarian Initiative is Gratitude in Action. It is an eight-year commitment (2015 to 2023, in remembrance of the eight years of the Armenian Genocide 1915-1923) to support people and promote global projects that tackle the needs of the most helpless and destitute and do so at great risk. This is achieved through the Initiative’s various programs: The Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity, the Aurora Dialogues, the Aurora Humanitarian Index, the Gratitude Projects and the 100 LIVES Initiative. The Aurora Humanitarian Initiative is the vision of philanthropists Vartan Gregorian, Noubar Afeyan and Ruben Vardanyan who have been joined by more than 440 new supporters and partners. Our Chair, Dr. Tom Catena, draws on his experience as a surgeon, veteran, humanitarian and the 2017 Aurora Prize laureate to spread the message of Gratitude in Action to a global audience. The Initiative welcomes all who embrace a commitment to our shared humanity. 

The Aurora Humanitarian Initiative is represented by three organizations – Aurora Humanitarian Initiative Foundation, Inc. (New York, USA), the 100 Lives Foundation (Geneva, Switzerland) and the IDeA Foundation (Yerevan, Armenia). 

Further information is available at www.auroraprize.com

Report: Violations revealed at High Voltage Electric Networks of Armenia

Christine Harutyunian
News.am, Armenia
Oct 19 2019
Report: Violations revealed at High Voltage Electric Networks of Armenia Report: Violations revealed at High Voltage Electric Networks of Armenia

17:01, 17.10.2019
                  

As a result of the audit, a document evidencing the presence of actual violations was found in the ‘High Voltage Electric Networks of Armenia’ company, said the representative of the Audit Chamber Karen Arustamyan on Thursday.

According to him, the document, which caused certain doubts among the auditors, was sent for study to the prosecutor’s office. Discrepancies between High-Voltage Electric Networks of Armenia and international contractors were revealed. As a result, the reconstruction of the Charentsavan substation has been suspended since 2017, allegedly due to changes in the requirements for the power system.

“There was a program, and subsequently its implementation decided that it was not practical. And this is the case when the contractor has already been paid 1.2 million dollars in advance,” he said.

He noted that until the last day of the audit, program performance indicators ranged from 21 to 44%. It was also noted that the contractor company had not properly fulfilled its obligations.

President Bako Sahakyan attends opening of conference of Artsakh friends in Stepanakert

Christine Harutyunian

President Bako Sahakyan attends opening of conference of Artsakh friends in Stepanakert

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 11:04, 11 October, 2019

STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 11, ARMENPRESS. President of the Republic of Artsakh Bako Sahakyan on October 11 attended the opening of the “Cooperation for Justice and Peace” conference of Artsakh friends in Stepanakert during which he delivered a speech, the President’s Office told Armenpress.

“Dear participants of the forum,

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Dear friends,

Ladies and gentlemen,

I extend my most heartfelt welcome to all of you in the Artsakh Republic.

Today’s event is distinguished both by its content and the participant list. This is the pioneering pro-Artsakh forum, which has brought together, under the same roof, political, public, cultural figures, human rights advocates, scientists, analysts and journalists from different countries who support Artsakh. Here are members of the friendship groups and circles with Artsakh, representatives of administrative units and political forces having recognized the independence of the Artsakh Republic or have been cooperating with us.

Remaining true to the democratic principles and humanitarian values, you have spared no effort supporting Artsakh for years, raising awareness about and rendering objective information on our country on diverse international platforms, carrying out activities towards the development of bilateral relations and the implementation of multifaceted programs in Artsakh.

We are grateful to you for all the painstaking work you carry out, we highly appreciate your pursuits and are glad to have friends like you.

The discussion points on the forum agenda touch upon almost all the spheres of our republic’s activity. This format enables having a clear and full picture of the realities, outlining and setting the record straight on the future plans.

In this context, it is crucial to present once again our vision of the Artsakh Republic state-building process and our foreign policy imperatives, which is a unique roadmap for your work as well.

Building an independent, sovereign and strong state has always been the backbone of our state-building, our trinity with Armenia and the Diaspora, our commitment to democratic values and principles being among its pillars.

The full-fledged security of Artsakh in all the dimensions is a must for us. Even the slightest decline in our security will tempt our opponents to launch a new aggression which itself is pregnant with unpredictable consequences. For this very reason security issues are top priority in the negotiation process too.

Drawing upon the negotiation process, I would like to reaffirm our commitment to peaceful settlement of relations with Azerbaijan around the negotiation table under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group. It should be mentioned that it is impossible to achieve real progress without the restoration of the full-fledged negotiation format with the direct participation of Artsakh.

Obviously, the fate of Artsakh cannot be decided without its participation and there is no return to the past, both with respect to status and borders.

The principles of balanced and multi-vectored approach remain at the root of the Artsakh Republic foreign policy.

Maintaining equally good-neighborly relations with Europe, the USA, Russia as well as regional states is a foreign strategy imperative for us. This stance is derivative from both the specificity of our region and the existence of the Armenian Diaspora.

In the foreign policy realm official Stepanakert will continue placing special emphasis on forging and enhancing relations with different countries and states and their administrative units.

Dear friends,

Any period of time generates new problems, requires clarification and refinement of strategies and tactics to face various challenges. Here close cooperation between Armenia, Artsakh and the Diaspora, cementing the working relationships between Artsakh and its friends is of utmost importance.

We have lot more work to do and diverse issues to solve, however, they are very much realistic. I am confident that we will succeed in solving them efficiently, and within this context holding such events has a great role to play.

I wish productive work to the forum, robust health, success and all the best to theparticipants.

Thank you”, reads the President’s speech.

Joe Biden calls for US recognition of Armenian genocide

Christine Harutyunian
Emerging Europe
Sept 24 2019
 
 
Joe Biden calls for US recognition of Armenian genocide
Dominik Istrate
 
 
Former US vice president and 2020 Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden has called on the United States to “once and for all” reaffirm its record on the Metz Yeghern, the 1915 genocide against the Armenian people by the Ottoman Turks, RFE/RL’s Armenian service has reported.
 
“I am proud today to support the resolutions now before the [US] House and Senate to officially recognise and establish an ongoing US commemoration of the Armenian genocide,” Mr Biden said in a latter sent to the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), a lobby group for ethnic Armenians living in the US.
 
“We must never forget or remain silent about this horrific and systematic campaign of extermination,” he continued, noting that Armenia’s history will never be complete without the recognition of the genocide.
 
“Joe Biden sent a clear message to House Speaker [Nancy] Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader [Mitch] McConnell to green-light votes on the Armenian Genocide Resolution (…) in their respective chambers of Congress,” ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian said, adding that how the two US congressional leaders will “advance or obstruct these resolutions will speak volumes about the respect they (…) hold for Armenian-American views, values and votes.”
 
While serving in Congress prior to his vice presidency, Mr Biden, who is currently the frontrunner for the Democratic party’s nomination for the 2020 US presidential election, has been one of the strongest supporters in the US Congress calling for recognising the Armenia genocide.
 
However, former US president Barack Obama failed to make efforts on the recognition in fear of worsening relations with Turkey.
 
“The Obama-Biden Administration (…) pivoted hard against the spirit and letter of its high-profile campaign pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide, deepening official U.S. complicity in Turkey’s genocide denials and ongoing obstruction of justice for this crime,” RFE/RL wrote, quoting the ANCA’s statement.
 
The Armenian genocide, also known as Metz Yeghern, was the Ottoman Empire’s attempt to systematically exterminate Armenians living on Ottoman Turkish territory. Between 1915 and 1923, around 700,000 to 1.5 million Armenians were rounded up and deported the majority of whom were murdered. Despite facing increasing calls to recognise the events as a genocide, Turkey continues to do as such.

ANCA-Glendale’s 2019 Gala Honors Community Members, Organizations

Christine Harutyunian
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GLENDALE—The Armenian National Committee of America – Glendale Chapter recently held its 2019 Award and Appreciation Gala. The purpose of the gala is to celebrate and highlight the work and achievements of distinguished individuals and local organizations that have made considerable contributions to the betterment of our community, and the City of Glendale.

The 2019 Gala was a success, with almost 400 guests in attendance, including: Senator Anthony Portantino, Assemblymember Laura Friedman, Glendale City Mayor Ara Najarian, Councilmembers Vartan Gharpetian, Paula Devine and Vrej Agajanian, City Clerk Ardy Kassakhian, Assistant City Manager Roubik Gholanian, department heads and numerous commissioners; representatives from the offices of Congressman Adam Schiff and Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger; Glendale Community College Superintendent and President Dr. David Viar, President of the Board of Trustees Dr. Vahe Peroomian and Trustees Dr. Armine Hacopian and Yvette Vartanian Davis; Glendale Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Vivian Ekchian, Board of Education President Jennifer Freemon, Vice President Dr. Armina Gharpetian, Board Clerk Shant Sahakian, Board members Gregory Kirkorian and Nayiri Nahabedian; Crescenta Valley Town Council President Harry Leon; Glendale Chief of Police Carl Povilaitis, officers of Police and Fire departments; representatives and leaders from cultural, philanthropic, educational and youth-oriented community-based organizations.

After standing for the Armenian and American national anthems, Western Primate Archbishop Hovnan Derderian delivered the invocation.

ANCA Glendale co-chairs Ronnie Gharibian and Lucy Petrosian delivered their speeches, afterward. “We are not alone. With us are all community organizations and individuals. We are growing. Our supporters are brave, and our annual galas and other events are meant to encourage our community members,” said event co-chair, Ronnie Gharibian.

Lucy Petrosian, co-chair, presented ANCA Glendale’s mission and annual activities in her speech. “Our efforts could not be possible without the help of our volunteers, supporters and generous donors. We thank them for their continued support,” she noted.

She also recognized and thanked ANCA Glendale Board members Seda Khojayan, Anet Tanik, Gaidzag Shahbazian, Lena Soghomonian, Hasmik Burushyan, and Community Outreach Coordinator Lusine Harutyunyan for their dedication and effort.

Following Petrosian’s remarks, those in attendance watched Congressman Adam Schiff’s video-message, addressed to the honorees and the ANCA Glendale Board.

Later, Senator Anthony Portantino delivered his speech: “We are here to celebrate. My love and respect to the humblest servant Fr. Vazken, as well as to all the honorees. Congratulations. I am honored and blessed to represent the best district in California. And tonight is a testament to youth organizations, educators, spiritual leaders, and the press. Every part of what makes this community vibrant and exciting, and powerful and positive, has been recognized tonight. On behalf of California State Senate, I want to say congratulations to everyone.”

The ANCA Glendale Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Archpriest Vazken Atmajian for the exemplary contributions he has made towards the enrichment of our community throughout his lifetime, and his dedication to public service. Born in 1965 in Beirut, Lebanon Archpriest Vazken Atmajian is dedicated to serving the Armenian community. Upon his ordainment as a priest, he served the local St. Garabed Armenian Apostolic Church from 1993 to May of 1999 and, since 1999, has served St. Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church of Glendale. In addition to his work as reverend, Archpriest Atmajian accepted teaching positions for Religion and Ethics at Rose and Alex Pilibos and Vahan & Anoush Chamlian Armenian Schools, and taught countless life lessons, morals, values, and an Armenian, Christian way of life to hundreds of students over the years.

Archpriest Atmajian has a close partnership with Armenian and non-Armenian organizations, associations, and institutions in Glendale, and has been dedicated to improving the social and spiritual life of his region’s administrative and spiritual realms. For him, there is no measure to a task; there is only wholehearted service. It is with this awareness that Archpriest Atmajian works in the Glendale Region and attempts to satisfy all those who seek him the most. He has become a beacon of hope to many through his kindness and genuine willingness to help others.

The Armenian Youth Association of California was awarded the ANCA Glendale Woodrow Wilson Public Service Award for its dedication in serving the public and going above and beyond the call of duty to promote democracy and social equality in Glendale. Its mission is to promote Armenian culture and values related to literacy, dance, recreational opportunities, and programming that caters to youth, young adults, and the older adult population.

The AYAC gives back to the community it serves by promoting democracy and social equality, by providing annual scholarship opportunities for youth, coordinating clothing drives during emergencies, hosting Red Cross blood drives, preparing meals for homeless shelter clients, using the AYAC facility as a Voting Place, scheduling lectures that discuss the importance of social equality, and additional social services relief measures.

The ANCA Glendale Maria Jacobsen Humanitarian Award was presented to YWCA Glendale for its devotion to the welfare of humanity by working to eliminate the suffering of the less fortunate throughout the United States.

YWCA Glendale is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. Its purpose is to ensure the health, safety, and economic empowerment of women, children and families, and to strengthen communities to both prevent and break the cycle of domestic violence. The organization’s largest program provides services to domestic violence survivors and their children (emergency shelter, legal support, case management, therapy, children’s services and more). Its second largest program provides education and training to youth, educators and youth-serving professionals to prevent domestic violence. YWCA Glendale has the bold vision to end the culture of violence, starting with our community. Funds raised allow it to develop the programs that bring all parts of the community together to have conversations around bystander intervention, violence in schools, and healthy relationships so that all girls and women can achieve self-sufficiency and live free from violence.

The ANCA Glendale Hye Tahd Award was presented to Asbarez Daily Newspaper for its exemplary dedication, unwavering support and selfless contribution to the Armenian Cause, and the betterment of the Armenian-American community in Glendale. Asbarez primarily serves the more than 500,000-strong Armenian-American community in the Western U.S. It is the only bilingual daily newspaper in the country, publishing five times a week – Tuesday through Saturday – with a print English section featured in the Saturday edition.

Throughout the years, Asbarez has covered the tragedy of the Armenian Genocide, the triumph of the first Independent Republic, the growing pains of a community, the catastrophic earthquake, the fall of the Soviet Union, the Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) liberation struggle, which gave way to the independent Artsakh Republic, and the ever-changing reality of the people of Javakhk in southern Georgia. For almost a century, Asbarez has provided news and information, while simultaneously mobilizing communities to work with the ANCA and counter Turkish denial of the Armenian Genocide. The daily newspaper has created a space – an arena – that many turn to for commentary, criticism and thought.

Lena Kortoshian was awarded ANCA Glendale Community Service Award for her dedication to raising the quality of life within our community, as well as her selfless contribution and service to the ongoing welfare of the community-at-large.

Lena Kortoshian is an award-winning Principal at Clark Magnet High School, a Science and Technology Magnet school in La Crescenta, California. After many years of service in the Glendale Unified School District and as Principal of Clark since 2016, Kortoshian has continued her role as a resilient leader in the community. In 2017, she was honored with the “Woman of the Year” award presented by Congressman Adam Schiff. She also received a Character and Ethics award in 2019. Kortoshian has led Clark into becoming a “Distinguished School,” a “Gold Ribbon School,” a “Green Ribbon School,” a “CTE Exemplary Program,” an “Honor Roll School,” and in the top 2.67 percent in the nation as “Best High School.” Kortoshian has continued her service as a Board of Regents member for the Armenian Prelacy Schools for over three years. Kortoshian’s mission is to build and support a student-centered school where students’ voices are heard, and exemplary education is guaranteed. She is recognized for her ceaseless effort and dedication. When asked what her most memorable moments have been in her long career, Kortoshian said, “When students and parents return and share their success stories. This is, after all, what it is all about.”

The ANCA Glendale Youth Activist Award was presented to California State University, Northridge student Nicholetta Sarkissian for her commendable leadership, extensive record of activism, and active engagement in both the community and classroom.

Nicholetta Sarkissian is a 19-year-old student studying biology at CSUN, with future plans to pursue pharmacy in the mental health field. She previously attended Clark Magnet High School and was involved in various clubs including Armenian Club, Philanthropy Club, Neurosociety Club and Animal Awareness Club. Nicholetta was also an avid member of the California Scholarship Federation, through which she tutored other peers. She has held several volunteer positions, and has participated in different organizations that have allowed her to impact her community. Nicholetta has been an active member of the Glendale “Roupen” Armenian Youth Federation Chapter for three years, and currently serves as the Chair of the Public Relations Committee. Additionally, she participates in the social committee, outreach committee, and juniors committee. Nicholetta also volunteers frequently as a counselor at AYF Camp for the juniors. As a member of the AYF, she works hard to strive to gain a better understanding of the advancement of Armenian youth and to play a leading role to preserve Armenian culture. Along with her activism in the AYF, she is also a young Armenian activist on her campus. She serves on the board of CSUN’s Armenian Student Association, as the Social Media Director.

The honorees were awarded ANCA Glendale 2019 Gala award plaques and gifts, as well as certificates from the offices of Congressman Adam Schiff, Senator Anthony Portantino, Assemblymember Laura Friedman, and LA County 5th District Supervisor Kathryn Barger.

ANCA Glendale advocates for the social, economic, cultural, and political rights of the city’s Armenian American community and promotes increased civic participation at the grassroots and public policy levels.



http://asbarez.com/185768/anca-glendales-2019-gala-honors-community-members-organizations/?fbclid=IwAR2Hi9Fqug0z7NIDI4EJK9OOu-xZrckYlDvNjNnopfBDvx4S6Y8NzRaja3Y

Armenia will continue the friendly relations with Iran, says FM

Christine Harutyunian

Armenia will continue the friendly relations with Iran, says FM

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 14:02, 6 September, 2019

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 6, ARMENPRESS. Armenia will continue the friendly relations with Iran, Minister of Foreign Affairs Zohrab Mnatsakanyan told reporters today.

“We have quite a broad agenda in relations with Iran which aims at deepening the cooperation both in the fields of regional security and development so that we can form results in terms of pursuing this goal. This derives from our national interests. We have quite actively continued our friendly relations with Iran. Armenia’s membership to the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) enables to pursue our interests also through this framework”, the Armenian FM said.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




No discord in Russian-Armenian intergovernmental relations, says foreign minister

Christine Harutyunian
TASS, Russia
Sept 6 2019
The relations have a strong basis despite some legal and judicial processes, according to Armenia’s top diplomat

YEREVAN, September 6. /TASS/. Relations between Armenia and Russia have a strong basis, there is no discord between the countries at the intergovernmental level, Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan said during Friday’s briefing.

“Intergovernmental relations between Armenia and Russia have a rather strong basis, and there is no discord between us on this level. There are some legal and judicial processes, however, but at the intergovernmental level we can promote the bilateral agenda that our strategic relations are based on,” the Armenian top diplomat said, providing an evaluation of current relations between Yerevan and Moscow.

Expert: New approaches have appeared in the Artsakh settlement

Christine Harutyunian
Arminfo, Armenia
Sept 2 2019
David Stepanyan

ArmInfo.New approaches appeared in the Artsakh settlement, around which discussions are already underway and work is underway. Head of the International  Center for Human Development Tevan Poghosyan  expressed a similar  opinion to ArmInfo.

“However, until the return of Artsakh to the negotiation process, the  main problems will not be discussed.  For the most part, the results  of the meetings of the foreign ministers and the heads of Armenia and  Azerbaijan, discussion of various issues come down to just such a  conclusion. Before this return, we can discuss issues related to  managing the situation in Armenia -Azerbaijani border, regional  security problems, actions and measures in the direction of  increasing confidence, “he said.

In this light, Poghosyan assesses the upcoming meeting of the Foreign  Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Elmar  Mammadyarov, as “yet another “. According to his forecasts, this is  exactly what the processes, statements and speeches made in Armenia  over the past month lead to. 

On September 29, Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan told  reporters about his upcoming meeting with his Azerbaijani counterpart  Mmmadyarov. According to him, the meeting is planned to be held in  the near future, although there are no specific dates yet.

Not excluding the possibility of the ministers discussing the  aforementioned new approaches to the settlement, the expert believes  that the main line and the substantive part of the discussions will  be a continuation of Vienna, St. Petersburg, Geneva, Bishkek and all  the other meetings between the foreign ministers and the two states.

Since 1992, the OSCE Minsk Group, represented by the co-chairs from  Russia, the USA and France, has been engaged in the settlement of the  Karabakh conflict. Currently, the settlement process is nominally  taking place on the basis of the Madrid Principles put forward by the  OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs in 2007 and updated in 2009.

Frank Engel & Tatev Manukyan: Husband and Wife Cheering for Opposite Teams in Europa League

Christine Harutyunian

Frank Engel & Tatev Manukyan: Husband and Wife Cheering for Opposite Teams in Europa League

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16:30,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 23, ARMENPRESS. It’s been two years since Frank Engel and Tatev Manukyan got married.

When the couple tied the knot Engel was serving as a Member of the European Parliament representing Luxembourg, while Manukyan is a foreign affairs officer at AGBU Europe.

Now, Frank Engel is Armenia’s Honorary Consul in Luxembourg. He is also the President of the Christian Social People’s Party, Luxembourg’s biggest political party. 

August 22, 2019 – Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium in Yerevan, Ararat Armenia are clashing with Luxembourg’s F91 Dudelange for the UEFA Europa League qualification play-off.

Seems like a serious problem for an Armenian-Luxembourgish couple in terms of whom to cheer for. But not this couple. Engel was seen together with his gorgeous Armenian wife Tatev Manukyan at the Yerevan stadium. Both were holding two flags, one Armenian and one Luxembourgish, and cheering for both their own country and the spouse’s homecountry. It was a touching and sweet sight. 

Engel told ARMENPRESS that the match and the location have special significance for him, and that the importance of the match is the friendly atmosphere.

“The significance of this match is friendship. We’ve come as a friend and we feel the friendly atmosphere here. Only one of the teams will win, but we will remain friends,” Engel told ARMENPRESS at the stadium.

“Ararat-Armenia is a strong team and if it wins it will deserve the victory,” he added.

Ararat-Armenia went on to win the match 2:1. A second leg match will take place August 29th in Luxembourg and the winner will qualify for the Europa League group round.

 Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan