Author: Ekmekjian Janet

Sports: UEFA writes letter to Arsenal over Europa League final issues

Ekmekjian Janet
Belfast Telegraph Online
Friday 11:10 AM GMT
 
 
UEFA writes letter to Arsenal over Europa League final issues
Supporters heading out from London face a round trip of 2,500 miles.
 
 
UEFA has called for a “joint effort” with Arsenal to help fans get to the Europa League final against Chelsea in Baku.
 
The two Premier League rivals are set to meet in the Azerbaijan capital on May 29 – but the decision to host the fixture in Baku’s Olympic Stadium has thrown up plenty of issues since the two London clubs qualified last week.
 
Arsenal and Chelsea have already declared their disappointment at the ticket allocation for the final, with both clubs receiving in the region of 6,000 tickets each for a stadium which has a full capacity of 69,870.
 
UEFA writes letter to Arsenal over Europa League final issues twitter 1
 
On Thursday, UEFA competitions director Giorgio Marchetti wrote a letter to Arsenal regarding the issues raised, in which he said: “I confirm our availability to work with you in order to find helpful solutions for your fans.”
 
Travel to Baku is also proving an issue for those fans who have qualified for a match ticket, with fans heading out from London facing a round trip of 2,500 miles to attend the game.
 
Arsenal are also liaising with the Foreign Office after it emerged season-ticket holders with dual British and Armenian citizenship have been denied visas to visit Baku because of tensions with neighbouring Azerbaijan.
 
UEFA writes letter to Arsenal over Europa League final issues twitter 2
 
Gunners midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan, captain of the Armenia national team, missed the Europa League group game against Qarabag in Baku earlier this season because of the issue.
 
The club are now working with UEFA in the hope safety measures can be put in place to allow the 30-year-old to travel for the final as part of Unai Emery’s squad.
 
UEFA also defended the decision to award the showpiece final to Baku.
 
UEFA writes letter to Arsenal over Europa League final issues twitter 3
 
Marchetti’s letter continued: “It goes without saying that an all-English final played by two London teams was not a very predictable event at the time of the appointment. There is little doubt that this has added significant difficulties to the event logistics.
 
“We are really sorry for the problems that your (and Chelsea’s) fans are encountering trying to organise their journey to Baku.
 
“Our experts are keenly working on this matter with a view to help find cheaper solutions for travelling fans. We would welcome a joint effort with your club in this respect.”
 
Governing body UEFA also highlighted the logistical issues taken into consideration when awarding a final to a host city, stressing “mobility and accommodation are obviously key criteria”.
 
UEFA writes letter to Arsenal over Europa League final issues twitter 4
 
On the issue of ticket allocation, UEFA maintained the “high volatility in the number of fans following the two finalist teams” was always a factor – one which had been exacerbated by two well-supported English clubs making the final.
 
The letter added: “It is therefore not advisable to establish the tickets quota of the two finalist teams as a proportion of capacity rather than on statistically based realistic figures.”
 
UEFA, though, maintained “fans are a priority… and all of them around Europe should have the chance to enjoy unique moments of top football.”
 
Marchetti’s letter to Arsenal finished with the message: “I trust your understanding as men of sport and representatives of a club with a long and glorious tradition and solid sporting principles. I confirm our availability to work with you in order to find helpful solutions for your fans.”
 
Press Association Sport has contacted both Arsenal and Chelsea for comment.

Museums of Yerevan to celebrate “Museum Night” with rich programs

Ekmekjian Janet

Museums of Yerevan to celebrate “Museum Night” with rich programs

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11:36,

YEREVAN, MAY 18, ARMENPRESS. Over 100 museums of Armenia and Artsakh will be open for free to the public on May 18 on the occasion of the Museum Night and International Museum Day.

A number of events are scheduled which will further increase the interest towards the museums.

The Museum Night pan-European event is being in Armenia for already the 16th time and in Artsakh for the 7th time.

International Museum Day is an international day, a celebration that held every year on May 18, coordinated by the International Council of Museums. The event highlights a specific theme that changes every year and that is at the heart of the international museum community’s preoccupations. 

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




Armenia approves visa waiver with Chile for diplomatic, official passport holders

Ekmekjian Janet

Armenia approves visa waiver with Chile for diplomatic, official passport holders

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14:02,

YEREVAN, MAY 10, ARMENPRESS. The Cabinet approved the agreement on abolishing visa requirements between Armenia and Chile for diplomatic and official passport holders.

According to FM Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, the agreement’s purpose is to boost the development of political dialogue, and development in other sectors between the two countries.

 

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan


Music: The team of the Opera and Ballet Theater is looking forward to a new meeting with Pashinyan in connection with the “unlawful“ dismissal of Konstantin Orbelian

Ekmekjian Janet
Arminfo, Armenia
May 7 2019
Asya Balayan

ArmInfo.The team of the National Opera and Ballet Theater named after Spendiaryan again expressed a desire to meet with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to present him the true facts related to the scandal related to the dismissal from the post  of theater director Konstantin Orbelian.

 The soloist of the National Philharmonic Orchestra Levon Javadyan and conductor Harutyun Arzumanyan expressed this intention at today’s meeting with  journalists. They explained that a month had passed since the meeting  with the Prime Minister, but the staff of the theater had not  received a clear answer yet.  Levon Javadyan, commenting on the  situation around about a number of  violations allegedly committed by Orbelian, accused the former lawyer  of the Opera Theater Kristina Naghdalyan, who, in his opinion,  provoked Orbelian’s resignation, publishing an article openly  accusing the maestro of being illegally in the position of director  of the theater and also told about the problems in the theater.

As Javadyan explained, by the order of the Ministry of Finance in  2017, a number of employees of the Opera Theater were reduced, and  Orbelyan has already been appointed director of the theater then. As  for Ms. Naghdalyan, she was dismissed due to official abuse, in  particular, the accumulated debts in 2014- 2016, he noted.

In addition, the opera theater team believes that the “contrived”  arguments of the lawyer served as the basis for the order to dismiss  Orbelyan, assuring that in the order given by the acting Culture  Minister of Armenia Nazeni Gharibyan the accusations that were  previously published in the media were literally copied.

According to the estimates of the theater staff, the misinformation  spread in the media mislead both the public and Nikol Pashinyan and  Nazeni Gharibyan themselves. In connection with this, the staff  demands a meeting with the prime minister so that Pashinyan hears the  truth and makes the right decision.  The theater team is confident  that the conflict around Orbelyan is caused by a clash of interests  and abuse of official powers, given that the husband of Christine  Naghdalyan is the head of the staff of the Ministry of Culture.

Employees of the theater consider the evidence collected against  Orbelyan as far-fetched, calling his dismissal from the post of  director unlawful, and condemn the decision of the Ministry of  Culture, believing that the department did not have the right to  remove Orbelyan from office until the contract expires in 2020.

In addition, Arzumanyan explained that after Orbelian’s dismissal,  Gharibyan announced the appointment of a new director of the theater,  whose name remained secret for them, but only after meeting with the  Prime Minister and the Minister of Culture statement was made saying  that Karine Kirakosyan was appointed  Director of the theater.

Despite the fact that Kirakosyan temporarily acts as director of the  theater, the artists do not agree with the development of such a  scenario, noting that the question will cause concern until the  problem gets its final decision, while expressing the hope that  Orbelian will be able to reassume the position. 

To note, Konstantin Orbelian currently continues to be the artistic  director of the Opera Theater. On March 29, 2019, the world-famous  conductor was dismissed from the post of director of the theater  according to the decree of the Acting Minister of Culture of Armenia  Nazeni Gharibyan, the basis for which was Article 15 of the Law of  the Republic of Armenia “On State Non-Profit Organizations”, which  states that a person appointed to the position of Director of SNCO  cannot occupy another position or perform other paid work, except for  scientific, pedagogical and creative work.  It should be noted that,  along with a brilliant pianist career, Orbelyan also developed a wide  range of activities in the opera field as a conductor and artistic  director. In particular, in 1991-2009, he was artistic director and  chief conductor of the State Academic Chamber Orchestra of Russia. In  2003, Orbelyan, a US citizen, the first foreigner who does not have  Russian citizenship, was awarded the honorary title of Honored Artist  of Russia. In 2012, he was awarded the Order of Friendship for his  great contribution to the popularization of Russian culture outside  Russia. 

A School Without Walls: St. Vartan Cathedral Armenian School Initiates New Projects

Ekmekjian Janet 
A SCHOOL WITHOUT WALLS - ST. VARTAN CATHEDRAL ARMENIAN SCHOOL INITIATES NEW
PROJECTS
Armenian News Network / Armenian News
BY FLORENCE AVAKIAN
NEW YORK, NY
At a recent teacher's meeting with his staff, St. Vartan School Principal
Hovannes Khosdeghian emphasized his continuing goal of a "school without
walls," where students follow their interests, and where learning is a
pleasure.
As the youngsters enthusiastically enter the school held at the Eastern
Armenian Diocese, Khosdeghian is there to greet them with a wide smile and
warm hug.  The school session begins and ends with a prayer.
During the beginning "socialization" period, the children played excitedly
with each other.  "They miss each other," explains the principal.  "They love
the school, and the teachers, and don't feel embarrassed to go to the teachers
when they are in trouble."
The school which has 23 students, from ages two to the early teens, who come
every Saturday from 10 A.M to 2 P.M., not only learn the Armenian language,
but also partake in Armenian songs and dances.
"The music is related to Armenian historical periods," he explains.  "Their
ears which are not used to it, get used to the tonality."
A SET OF "MUSTS"
Since his own leadership at the St. Vartan Armenian School, he has instituted
a strong set of "musts" which include teachers observing the physical needs of
the children, especially for those who may have visual, hearing, or speaking
difficulties.
A child's home environment must also be evaluated, he emphasizes.  From the
age of five years, it's crucial that the sounds of the Armenian letters are
understood.  "A child cannot speak if he or she does not have the vocabulary,"
he explains.
A child should know a thousand words after being in the school a year.  After
one to three years in the school, the goal is 7500 words, and for a three to
eight-year old, the goal is 12000 words.  By age 10, "the learning gap between
children who can learn vocabulary quickly and those who do not is different.
Even when a child is sleeping, the brain is working," he explains.
INTEGRATIVE TEACHING
"A child needs the complete culture, including history, music, art, dance, not
just vocabulary," he continues.  "There has to be an integration of words,
pictures, environment.  A child can express oneself when she or he can
understand."
This integrative approach is based on the student's age, knowledge, school and
home environments, background, and delivery.  Communication by the teachers
must be based on the needs of the children," he stresses.
In a surprise statement, Khosdeghian stated, that "the child governs the
school, sets the school's pace.  The child should be engaged, not overwhelmed.
It should not be a system of a power relationship.  My job is to teach the
teachers who give voice and academic skills to the children."
IMPRESSIVE BACKGROUND
This detailed system of teaching is based on Hovannes' training for the
priesthood when he studied in Rome for six years.  His pedagogical training
emphasized an educational environment.
In 1980, Khosdeghian graduated from Rome's Saint Thomas Aquinas Pontifical
University.  Appointed Academic Dean in the Mekhitarian Seminary in Venice, he
"saw that what I learned there was the theoretical, not the practical."
At the Mekhitarist Fathers' Armenian School from 2009 to 2010, in Tujunga,
California, he applied the methodology and new techniques for grades two to
eight.  "In addition to the teachers, parents were also involved, and the
results were very successful."
In 2016, Hovannes Khosdeghian was appointed the principal of the St. Vartan
Armenian School, much to the delight of parents and children.
During the time of this writer's visit, a parent who was leaving at the end of
the school day, said emotionally, "I started crying last week in the car when
my children, ages five and seven, started singing the Armenian songs they had
learned in school."

Yerevan plants thousands of new trees

Ekmekjian Janet

Yerevan plants thousands of new trees

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16:37,

YEREVAN, APRIL 13, ARMENPRESS. Nearly 7500 trees and bushes will be planted during a city-wide tree planting event in Yerevan that kicked off Saturday morning.

The City Hall said the tree-planting is being carrying out in exclusively in territories supplied with irrigation water.

In 2019 the City Hall will build a total of 7,5 kilometers of new irrigation water network in the city.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan




Macron Makes it Official: April 24 is Commemoration Day for Armenian Genocide in France

Ekmekjian Janet
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French President Emmanuel Macron speaks at the CCAF annual gala on Feb, 5 in Paris

French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday signed an order declaring April 24 as a day of commemoration of the Armenian Genocide.

According to the document, a ceremony paying tribute to the Armenian Genocide victims will be held in Paris on April 24 every year. Similar events may also be held in every city at the initiative of the local governments. The French prime minister is mandated to implement the specifics of the decision.

Macron announced the observance of April 24 as a national day of commemoration of the Armenian Genocide on February 5 when he spoke at the Coordinating Council of Armenian Organizations (CCAF) gala in Paris.

“France is, first and foremost, the country that knows how to look history in the face, and was among the first to denounce the killing of the Armenian people in 1915 as genocide, and in 2001 after a long struggle recognized it as law,” Macron told the crowd gathered at the CCAF gala in February.

“I am very proud to represent in Armenia the country that will commemorate the victims of the Armenian Genocide of 1915—an integral part of our collective memory—every year, ” France’s Ambassador to Armenia Jonathan Lacote wrote in a Facebook message on Thursday.

Macron’s announcement came on the heels of Italy’s Chamber of Deputies overwhelmingly adopting a resolution calling on Italy to recognize the Armenian Genocide.

In a statement, Turkey’s foreign ministry strongly condemned both decisions on Thursday.

“It is inevitable that France’s attitude, which is far from amicable, will impact its relations with Turkey in a negative way,” the statement said.

Turkey’s Foreign Ministry called the Italian legislature’s vote as an example of using Armenian claims for domestic political interests.

“It is not surprising that this motion was drafted by the Lega Party, led by Matteo Salvini, who is committed to sabotaging relations between Turkey and Italy,” added the foreign ministry statement.

Sports: Armenian wrestler Arsen Harutyunyan wins gold at European Championship

Ekmekjian Janet
News.am, Armenia

Armenian freestyle wrestler Arsen Harutyuynan, competing in the 61kg weight category, became champion at the European Wrestling Championship. Georgian Beka Lomtadze was Arsen Harutyunyan’s rival.

In the semifinals of the European freestyle wrestling championship in Bucharest, the European champion among the youth won the Romanian Nikolai Okhlopkov 10-4.

In the qualifying round, the 19-year-old Armenian wrestler defeated 14-8 the Ukrainian Volodymyr Borukov (14-8), and in the quarterfinal defeated Turkish Recep Topal – 5-2.

Lawyer: The investigation revealed no evidence of Manvel Grigoryan stealing food destined for the army

Ekmekjian Janet
Arminfo, Armenia
April 4 2019
Tatevik Shahunyan

ArmInfo.In the case concerning the retired general, the former deputy Manvel Grigoryan, there are no materials concerning the theft of food intended for the army, there is also no evidence to that effect. The lawyer of Grigorian Arsen Mkrtchyan stated this in an interview with journalists.”Consequently, the charge of embezzling food for the army by Grigorian is not confirmed,” the lawyer said. According to him, access to the territory where weapons and ammunition, food and other supplies intended for the army were found was open to many. 

“According to my information, food and weapons discovered by the  National Security Service were deliberately brought into the territory by a third person, and Grigoryan did not know anything about it,” the lawyer assured.At the same time, Mkrtchyan positively assessed the work of the National Security Service, which discovered all this in Grigorian’s warehouses.

 “The National Security Service worked brilliantly, she had  operational information, she took measures and discovered illegal weapons, ammunition, vehicles and food. She made the appropriate conclusion about the theft, and then the case was transferred to Special Investigation Service,” the lawyer said.He also said that as a result of treatment in a civilian hospital, Grigorian’s health condition somewhat improved.Grigoryan was arrested on charges of embezzlement and embezzlement on a particularly large scale, illegal possession of weapons and ammunition. The investigation of the Grigorian case is completed, the trial will begin shortly. Grigoryan, meanwhile, expressed a desire to donate land owned by him to the state, worth several million dollars.