Author: Hagop Kamalian

Sports: Mkhitaryan could become first Armenian footballer to play at Champions League final

Hagop Kamalian
Armenia – May 17 2023
May 17, 2023 – 12:12 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Henrikh Mkhitaryan could become the first Armenian football player ever to play at the UEFA Champions League final, according to the Football Federation of Armenia reveals.

Mkhitaryan’s side Inter Milan advanced to the UEFA Champions League final with a 1-0 second-leg victory (3-0 on aggregate) over city and stadium rivals AC Milan on Tuesday, May 16, NBC Sports reports.

On June 10, Inter Milan will appear in the club’s first European final since their famous victory over Barcelona in 2010, when Jose Mourinho’s underdogs upset favorites Bayern Munich.

On Tuesday, however, Inter lost Mkhitaryan just before half-time as he was suffering from a muscular problem, Football-Italia reported.

He pulled up 43 minutes into this evening’s match with the scores at 0-0 and was replaced by Marcelo Brozovic.

According to initial reports from Mediaset Premium, the Armenia international is suffering from pain in the quadricep of the left thigh.

https://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/307322/Mkhitaryan_could_become_first_Armenian_footballer_to_play_at_Champions_League_final

Vancouver’s Cinematheque to present Moving Mountains: The Centenary of Armenian Cinema project

Hagop Kamalian

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 10:20,

YEREVAN, MAY 18, ARMENPRESS. Vancouver’s Cinematheque will hold Armenian cinema days on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Armenian film industry.

The program is called Moving Mountains: The Centenary of Armenian Cinema and will run on June 15–22, 2023, comprising  eight feature-length films and two shorts.

It is the “the first Canadian retrospective survey of Armenian cinema’s volatile trajectory from the ideologically oriented silent period to the post-Soviet era of creative diversity and experimentation,” organizers said in a statement.  “Featuring works by major figureheads such as Hamo Beknazaryan, Sergei Parajanov, Frunze Dovlatyan, and Henrik Malyan, the program also indicates the dramatic shifts in local cinematic traditions, which have been radically transformed and expanded through the active participation of women and diasporan filmmakers since the early 1990s.”

Eurovision 2023 viewers say ‘nobody told me’ as they’re left stunned by Armenia singer’s lookalike

Hagop Kamalian
Manchester Evening News, UK

Viewers thought a pop star had ‘invaded’ the Eurovision Song Contest

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Jessica SansomeTV and showbiz writer

Those tuning in to watch the Eurovision Song Contest were left doing a double take as they thought a famous pop star invaded the show. After months of build-up the grand final of the biggest music competition in the world finally kicked off on Saturday night (May 13).

Tens of millions across the world tuned in to watch 26 acts and bands take to the stage at Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena as they performed their hearts out in a bid to be crowned the Eurovision 2023 winner and walk away with the coveted trophy.

The city is hosting on behalf of war-torn Ukraine, who won last year’s contest but are unable to host due to the Russian invasion. And the grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest kicked off with a skit featuring last year’s winners Kalush Orchestra performing their hit Stefania with runner-up Sam Ryder playing guitar on the top of the Liver Building and Andrew Lloyd Webber on piano.

There was also a cameo from the Princess of Wales who made an appearance after she was recorded playing the piano earlier this month at Windsor Castle, Kensington Palace said. Viewers saw Kate playing a short instrumental piece lasting around 10 seconds.

The official Twitter account for the Prince and Princess of Wales tweeted: “A #Eurovision surprise A pleasure to join Kalush Orchestra in a special performance of last year’s winning @eurovision entry. Enjoy the show, Liverpool”

But as the show well and truly got underway, following an appearance from Graham Norton who welcomed viewers to the final alongside co-hosts Alesha Dixon, Hannah Waddingham and Ukrainian singer Julia Sanina, all eyes were on the acts battling out for the title.

Among those performing was singer Brunette. She was representing Armenia in this year’s contest and was seen performing her song Future Lover. However, viewers were distracted as they couldn’t help byt notice she looked like American singer Ariana Grande.

Ararat Mirzoyan holds telephone conversation with the acting US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State

Hagop Kamalian

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 16:28,

YEREVAN, MAY 13, ARMENPRESS. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan had a telephone conversation with Dereck Hogan, acting US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, ARMENPRESS was informed from MFA Armenia.

The interlocutors discussed issues of regional stability and security.

Minister Mirzoyan presented the situation created as a result of the provocative and aggressive actions of the Azerbaijani armed forces against the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia during the last days, emphasizing that they are aimed at disrupting the efforts aimed at continuing the peace negotiations.

The sides exchanged thoughts on the need to address the rights and security of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, the normalization of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations.

Palestine, Jordan suspends recognition of Armenian Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem

Hagop Kamalian

RAMALLAH, Friday, (WAFA) – Palestine and Jordan Thursday suspended their recognition of Archbishop Nourhan Manougian as the Patriarch of the Armenian Orthodox Church in Jerusalem, the Holy Land and Jordan.

According to the Jordan News Agency, both countries issued a joint statement suspending their recognition of Manougian as Patriarch of the Armenian Orthodox Church because of Manougian’s “dealings” with the real estate of the Armenian quarter in the Old City of Jerusalem.

The statement noted that the two countries had decided to suspend their recognition following instructions from President Mahmoud Abbas and Jordan’s King Abdullah II after Manougian took real estate measures and deals that would affect the future of Jerusalem without agreement and consultation with the relevant parties.

The decision, according to the statement, came after the “deal” related to the al-Bustan site known as the “Cow Garden” and its surroundings, which extends to the “Al-Qishla” building in Bab al-Khalil, which constitutes a large part of the Armenian quarter.

Both countries stressed that the site constitutes an integral part of the Old City of Jerusalem, a part of the territories occupied since June 1967, and to which United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolutions, including UNSC Resolution 1515, UNSC Resolution 476, UNSC Resolution 338 and UNSC Resolution 2334, apply.

The statement also noted that the Executive Board of UNESCO has issued several resolutions, recognizing the Old City and its walls as part of the endangered World Heritage list. The actions of Patriarch Manougian were considered a clear violation of international charters and resolutions aimed at preserving Jerusalem’s status quo and safeguarding the Armenian heritage of the city, the statement said.

In November 2021, Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Minister, Riyad Malki, raised the issue of the leasing the “Goveroun Bardez” plot of land, located in the historic Armenian Quarter of East Jerusalem and owned by the Armenian Patriarchate Jerusalem, to the Israeli occupation authorities, namely the Jerusalem municipality and Jerusalem Development Authority, with his Armenian counterpart, Ararat Mirzoyan, in Paris.

At the time, Malki underscored the gravity of the transaction, which would open the door for the gradual encroachment of Israel’s settler-colonialism into the Aremian Quarter in Jerusalem.

He urged the Armenian Foreign Ministry to intervene to protect the properties of the Armenian Church in the Old City, stop any action that can affect its legal and historic status and safeguard the Palestinian people and Armenians’ rights to the Old City.

The top Palestinian diplomat stressed the need for the Armenian Foreign Ministry to take prompt action and exert pressures in order to cancel this “suspicious transaction”, which risks accelerating the obliteration of the Palestinian, Muslim and Christian, character of Jerusalem.

K.F.



Azerbaijan targets Armenian positions with drone

Hagop Kamalian
MEHR News Agency

Iran –

TEHRAN, May 12 (MNA) – The Azerbaijani armed forces used an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) near the village of Sotk on Friday morning, two Armenian servicemen were wounded, the Armenian Defense Ministry reported.

“On May 12, at around 10 a.m., the Azerbaijani Armed Forces violated the ceasefire in the direction of Sotk using UAVs,” the statement reads.

“Two servicemen of the Armenian Armed Forces were wounded. The health condition of one serviceman is assessed as satisfactory and [that of] the other one is critical,” the statement added.

The ministry also reported that as of 10:30 a.m., the situation at the front line is relatively stable, TASS reported.

Tensions have risen as Azerbaijan set up a new checkpoint on the road to Karabakh in the Lachin Corridor, a move that Armenia called a gross violation of a 2020 ceasefire. 

MP/PR

Baku condemned the “trial” of the Azerbaijani military in Armenia

Hagop Kamalian
May 9 2023
ByMorning Express
09/05/2023

Baku strongly condemns the fabricated “trial” of the Azerbaijani army servicemen Agshin Babirov and Hussein Akhundov, who went missing in April this year on the territory of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic on the border with Armenia and taken prisoner by the Armenian side, as well as the far-fetched “verdict” on arrest Agshina Babirova.

This is stated in the comments of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan in connection with a far-fetched lawsuit and a “trial” against the Azerbaijani servicemen taken hostage.

“By subjecting Azerbaijani soldiers to severe physical torture, Armenia, through such a “trial,” also subjects them to moral and psychological torture,” the commentary says.

It was noted that by such irresponsible behavior, Armenia once again demonstrates ignoring the legal responsibility that it bears in accordance with international humanitarian law, as well as the calls of the international community for the release of hostages and the principles of humanism.

“Such a step by the Armenian side, which did not show mutual attitude in connection with the confidence-building measures taken by our country without any preconditions upon the return of the Armenians, including more than 10 Armenian servicemen who, having lost their way, crossed the border, indicates that that Armenia is not interested in measures to establish peace and confidence in the region. Responsibility for undermining efforts aimed at establishing trust lies entirely with the Armenian side,” the ministry said.

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry stressed that Armenia must put an end to such subversive activities, accompanied by gross violations of international humanitarian law, and immediately release the hostages.

“We call on the entire international community, relevant international organizations and non-governmental organizations to exert serious influence and pressure on Armenia in order to release our soldiers who have been held hostage as soon as possible and reunite them with their families,” the appeal says.

The website of Anadolu Agency publishes only a part of the news in a shortened form, which is provided to subscribers through the News Feed System (HAS) of AA.


YEAs in EU/UK: Interning at an Embassy: Amila’s experience in Armenia

Hagop Kamalian
May 9 2023

On 3 April, the Young European Ambassador from the EU/UK Amila Alidzanovic, a recent intern at the Armenian Embassy, shared her unique experience interning abroad. Amila provided an inside look into what it’s like to work at an embassy, specifically in the context of Armenia’s diplomatic relations and international affairs.

During the event, Amila shared details about her daily work, responsibilities, and challenges, as well as the skills and knowledge she gained through the internship. She also expanded the cultural and social aspects of living in Armenia, and how she navigated and learned from these experiences.

The purpose of this event is to inspire and inform individuals who are interested in pursuing an internship at an embassy, as well as those who are curious about the culture and political landscape of Armenia. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask Amila questions, learn from her experiences, and network with other individuals interested in international affairs.

As a result, more than 10 young professionals and students received valuable pieces of advice about diplomatic internships: how to find one, prepare, apply, and how to make the most of this kind of opportunity by learning many skills.

https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/632553131/yeas-in-eu-uk-interning-at-an-embassy-amila-s-experience-in-armenia

Russia to host Armenia-Azerbaijan talks after Brussels meeting, says Deputy FM

Hagop Kamalian

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 13:39, 9 May 2023

YEREVAN, MAY 9, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will have a meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Russia in a trilateral format after the Brussels talks, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Paruyr Hovhannisyan said Tuesday.

“By now you’ve probably seen the statement by President of the European Council Charles Michel, that the next meeting will take place in Brussels. It will then continue in Moscow in a trilateral format,” Hovhannisyan told reporters.

He praised the intensity of talks.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will have a trilateral meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and the President of the European Council Charles Michel on 14 May in Brussels, the European Council announced Monday. The leaders will also hold a meeting together with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on 1 June.

There are also citizens of Azerbaijan and Turkey seeking asylum from Armenia

Hagop Kamalian

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 18:08, 8 May 2023

YEREVAN, MAY 8, ARMENPRESS. 968 people requested asylum from Armenia in 2022, which is the highest figure since 2010. Citizens of Azerbaijan and Turkey are also among the asylum seekers, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Migration and Citizenship Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

In 2022, Ukrainian citizens led the number of those applying for asylum: 484 people. In the same year, 289 citizens received refugee status, applications of 76 citizens were terminated, refugee status of 7 citizens of Ukraine was terminated.

The second among those requesting asylum from Armenia were Iraqi citizens: 198 people, from which 28 were granted refugee status.

Citizens of Iran are in the third place, in 2022, 106 citizens of Iran requested asylum from Armenia. 19 people received refugee status.

In 2022, 1 citizen of Azerbaijan also requested asylum from Armenia. Turkish citizens are also among the asylum seekers. In 2022, 8 Turkish citizens requested asylum from Armenia, in the same year, 1 citizen’s asylum request was rejected, 1 citizen received refugee status.