Author: Jirair Kafian

Sports: Arsenal Leaves Mkhitaryan Out of Europa League Final Over Azerbaijan-Armenia Tension

Jirair Kafian
Sports Illustrated
 
 
 
 
Arsenal Leaves Mkhitaryan Out of Europa League Final Over Azerbaijan-Armenia Tension
 
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
 
LONDON (AP) – Henrikh Mkhitaryan will not play for Arsenal in the Europa League final against Chelsea next week because of concerns about political tension between his native Armenia and Azerbaijan, which is hosting the game.
 
Arsenal said on Tuesday it reached the decision following discussions with the midfielder and his family and after ''thoroughly'' exploring all the options available.
 
''We have collectively agreed he will not be in our travelling party,'' Arsenal said in a statement, adding that it has ''written to UEFA expressing our deep concerns about this situation.''
 
Mkhitaryan said on Instagram it had been a ''tough decision'' to pull out of the game, adding: ''I must admit, it hurts me a lot to miss it.''
 
He has missed previous group games in Azerbaijan for both Arsenal and former club Borussia Dortmund.
 
''Micki has been a key player in our run to the final,'' Arsenal said, ''so this is a big loss for us from a team perspective.''
 
Having considered all the current options, we had to take the tough decision for me not to travel with the squad to the #UEL Final against #Chelsea […]
 
 
The Azerbaijan government previously said it would allow Mkhitaryan to play in the final in Baku on May 29. UEFA had also said it would ensure Mkhitaryan's safety.
 
''Working alongside Arsenal FC, UEFA sought and received assurances regarding the player's safety in Azerbaijan from the highest authorities in the country,'' European soccer's governing body said in an emailed statement.
 
''As a result of these guarantees, a comprehensive security plan was developed and given to the club. While the club acknowledges the efforts that UEFA and the Azeri government have gone to in this matter, we respect the personal decision not to travel with the player.''
 
Nagorno-Karabakh is a region of Azerbaijan which has been under the control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia since a war there ended in 1994. Some neighboring districts are also under the control of those ethnic Armenian forces. International efforts to settle the conflict have stalled.
 
''We at all times put the sport as something very separate from these political issues and of course the same issue is again with Mkhitaryan,'' Azerbaijan Sports Minister Azad Rahimov said last week.
 
Tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia have spilled into European soccer tournaments since the neighbouring nations were drawn together in a qualifying group for the 2008 European Championship.
 
Both games were eventually cancelled, after Azerbaijan refused to host Armenia and no agreement could be reached on neutral venues.
 
UEFA has since separated the countries in its competition draws ensuring that their national and club teams do not play each other.
 
Arsenal will be playing its first European final in 13 years and looking to win its first continental trophy since the 1994 European Cup Winners' Cup. The game has even greater importance because Arsenal needs to win to secure qualification to the Champions League after missing out on a top-four finish in the Premier League.
 
''We're also very sad,'' Arsenal said, ''that a player will miss out on a major European final in circumstances such as this, as it is something that comes along very rarely in a footballer's career.''
 
Arsenal also has been critical of the choice of Baku as host of the final after receiving only 6,000 tickets by UEFA and because of the ''extreme'' problems fans face to get to the match.
 
There are relatively few flights to Baku from Western Europe, though more are being operated for the final, and prices are far above usual levels.
 
Arsenal's then-chief executive, Ivan Gazidis, was on the UEFA executive committee when Baku was chosen as Europa League host in September 2017. Mkhitaryan was then with Manchester United, playing in the Champions League, and joined Arsenal the following January.
 
Baku won the Europa League final hosting rights in a bidding contest that originally included Seville, Spain, and Istanbul. Seville was excluded because Madrid was awarded the Champions League final, which will be played on June 1.
 
UEFA evaluated each bidder, though a subsequent report did not mention the Armenia issue in a section analyzing security issues for Baku.
 
 

Iraq | Salih Receives Head of the Armenian Orthodox Church in Iraq and His Accompanying Delegation

Jirair Kafian
U-News, Iraq


Iraq's President Barham Salih received on Tuesday Archbishop Avak Asadourian, Head of the Armenian Orthodox Church in Iraq and his accompanying delegation, at the Presidential Office in Baghdad.

Salih indicated that the Armenians are a fundamental component of the Iraqi social fabric. 

The President lauded the Armenians’ determination to uphold their national identity and to coexist peacefully with the rest of the Iraqi communities.

He expressed His Excellency’s readiness to support their legitimate demands for a free and dignified life with the rest of the people of Iraq.

For his part, Archbishop Asadourian appreciated the President’s role in the convergence of views of all Iraqi communities and the enhancement of the spirit of national understanding. 

During the meeting, they conversed about the need for paying attention to a greater role for Armenians in the legislative and executive institutions.

– Side of the meeting

President hands high state awards to group of Karabakh War veterans

Jirair Kafian
News.am, Armenia
President hands high state awards to group of Karabakh War veterans (PHOTOS) President hands high state awards to group of Karabakh War veterans (PHOTOS)

18:06, 11.05.2019
                  

STEPANAKERT. – President of the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic/NKR), Bako Sahakyan, on Saturday visited Kolkhozashen community of Martuni Region and attended the solemn opening of the memorial and museum commemorating the perished freedom-fighters.

Also, the President handed high state awards to a group of Karabakh War veterans for their services rendered to the Homeland, and delivered remarks, Central Information Department of the Office of the Artsakh President informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Sahakyan noted that the people of Kolkhozashen have always stood out by their patriotism and have actively been involved in the defense of the Homeland.

“Kolkhozashen is one of Artsakh’s ancient residences with diligence, modesty, and commitment to the Homeland, and home has always been inherent to the people of Kolkhozashen,” the Head of the State stressed in his remarks. “You have a solid ground to take pride in your residence.”

Also, he asserted that this memorial will become a site of pilgrimage, both for Kolkhozashen and all people of Artsakh.

https://news.am/eng/news/512137.html

We have solved Artsakh issue and our task is to preserve what we have – Vagharshak Harutyunyan

Jirair Kafian
Panorama, Armenia

Former defense minister of Armenia, Deputy Chairman of the board of the Yerkrapah Union of Volunteer Land Defenders Vagharshak Harutyunyan says Armenians have solved the Artsakh issue and the task today is to preserve what we have. In Harutyunyan’s words, Azerbaijan would have started a war if it believed in its victory.

“We have a military potential today, especially the missile defense, that is capable destroy all economic and military centers in the territory of Azerbaijan. This is the guarantee that constraints Azerbaijan to start a war. As to the saboteurs and ceasefire violations, they are part of a policy to exert pressure on the Armenian side to get concessions,” Harutyunyan said.

The former minister next suggested Azerbaijan keeps on blackmailing the Co-Chairs with threats to start a war aiming to get favorable settlement.

“I do not expect large-scale war in the near future, yet we should stay ready and have a capable army,” Harutyunyan said, adding “As long as Azerbaijan insists Karabakh, the territories, and even Yerevan are owned by it we cannot even speak of compromises. I think that will be unacceptable as the adversary will take it as weakness.”

Former Regime Destroyed Classified Documents, Says Pashinyan

Jirair Kafian
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Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan addresses members of parliament on May 8

The previous government has destroyed classified national security documents on the eve of the Velvet Revolution, said Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan during a press conference on Wednesday, convened to mark the one-year anniversary of his election to prime minister following a popular movement that toppled the Serzh Sarkisian regime.

Pashinyan was asked to elaborate on this statement during a meeting in parliament, where Arman Babajanyan, a member of the opposition Bright Armenia party pressed the leader for further explanations on the explosive revelation.

Pashinyan, who also announced that a special investigation into the alleged incident was already underway, saying that his government discovered the misappropriation of documents sometime last summer, months after assuming power.

Pashinyan said the destroyed documents concerned a wide circle of persons and events.

“We thought we shouldn’t publicly address this delicate issue, but since questions are addressed to the government that indirectly concern this subject, for example whether or not the National Security Service knows what happened in March 1 [2008] and how, we understand that we should somehow respond to this. And we decided to voice this issue in order for the public to be informed about what is happening,” Pashinyan said, adding that it would even be wrong to say that the materials have been destroyed, they are simply “missing.”

Pashinyan said that the internal investigation will assess the situation and did not rule out criminal charges.

Babajanyan pressed Pashinyan about whether the said documents were related to the March 1, 2008 incidents, during which eight civilians and two police officers were killed in a standoff between protesters and security officials.

“The fact that the documents concern a large-scale matter is obvious encompassing both indivuals and events. In certain cases there are pieces of the documents left behind, and by following them we understand that the material itself is missing,” Pashinyan said, adding that similar cases have been discovered during the investigation.

Message of the Catholicos of All Armenians on the Feast of Holy Resurrection

Jirair Kafian
Public Radio of Armenia
 
 
Message of the Catholicos of All Armenians on the Feast of Holy Resurrection
2019-04-21 14:15:18
 
In the Name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, amen.
 
“God has risen, and all of his enemies have been scattered.”
(Book of Hours)
 
Dearly beloved faithful,
 
 
The joy of the Feast of the Holy Resurrection has filled our souls, and the victorious exuberance of the Resurrection is to be found everywhere: in our surroundings, our churches, our families, the entire Christian world, as well as in the budding nature. Christ has triumphantly arisen from the sealed cave, and the angel announces the Good News of His Resurrection from the empty tomb. The chains of sin and death have been shattered by the victory of the Saviour, the doors to the Heavenly Kingdom have been opened, and divine grace is offered to humanity — the priceless gift of inheriting eternal life. “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die” (John 11.25-26).
 
 
The path of eternal life and resurrection in Christ begins in this world. It begins with a change in the life of the person, the rejection of sin and evil, and with a movement toward a way of holiness and perfection. Indeed, wherever human souls are exposed to the light of Christ’s resurrection, there also the darkness of God-rejecting evil thoughts, corrupting ideologies, divisions and polarizations, intolerance, enmity and dissensions retreat and are scattered. In their stead, cooperation and agreement, faithfulness, holiness, love and happiness are established. “God has risen, and all of his enemies have been scattered,” proclaims the prayer.
 
Karekin II 1
 
 
Those paths, which reject renewal in Christ, making life captive to sin and subject to corrosion and destruction, are antithetical to peace in the world, the public welfare, the harmonious coexistence of humanity, the strengthening of families, and all that is good.
 
The Good News of the resurrection of Christ is an invitation to all — to live in the graces bestowed upon us by the Saviour as a new person, as the Apostle exhorts and says, “put off your old nature which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new nature, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph 4.22-24). To believe in the resurrection of Christ and our resurrection through Christ as well as transformation of our life, means not only to overcome sin, addictions and spiritual error, but also to be filled with love toward all and to reject everything that tramples justice, dignity and all that is human. It also means striving to spread care and general goodwill as did Christ, “who came and saved all creatures” (Sharakan – Hymnal). Greed, theft, violence, hatred, enmity and other manifestations of blindness to God’s commandments have no place in the life of the Christian who has received the grace of the Resurrection. Such deeds reject the grace of freedom in Christ from sin and death, they destroy good and undermine the well-being of the human person, the family unit, and national life. Freedom is given in order to choose good and not as a pretense for evil and unruliness (cf. 1 Peter 2.16). Truly, being an heir of the grace of the Resurrection is made apparent in one’s lifestyle and deeds, not only personal and familial, but in the help rendered and efforts brought in the life of the public, nation and humanity. Faith is made radiant and fruit-bearing, hope increases, love of others is affirmed as we move forward together.
 
 
 
The passions and resurrection of Christ for our sake and for all humanity, are the _expression_ of divine, boundless love. “And he died for all, that those who live might live no longer for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised” (2 Cor 5.15). Love, dearly beloved, does not focus on the self, it does not look for its own benefit (1 Cor 13.5), but rather it is expressed in dedication toward one another and is the foundation of flourishing, ascension and resurrection. It is this great message that Our Lord and Saviour passes on to humanity through His own example. The resurrection of the Lord manifests the mystery of solidarity, community and accord to the world. Christ brought his service to all, and in a similar manner we too must live with each other in a spirit of service, dedication and commitment. It is with this understanding, that we will be able to overcome the difficulties that afflict our state and pan-national life, to solve the problems befallen to us, to strengthen families, to defend steadfastly and build up both our homeland and our diasporan national life. Our people–which accepted Christ as its Saviour and have risen from the ashes of history in faithfulness and the love of the Lord – will today with that same faith and strength continue to fortify its victories and accomplishments. Now, dearly beloved, let us always keep the light and power of Christ’s resurrection in our lives and in our land, sanctified by the descent of Christ, and continually be renewed by the grace bestowed upon us by our Saviour. Doing so, we will be able to join together toward a revival of a strong homeland and toward new horizons in our life, testifying, that we are a people resurrected in Christ; we are the people of Christ, God’s own people.
 
 
In the exuberant Good News of the Resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, We convey our greetings to the incumbents of the hierarchical sees of our Apostolic Holy Church: His Holiness Aram I Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, the Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Abp. Nourhan Manougian, the Vicar General of the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople, His Eminence Abp. Aram Ateshian, to the spiritual leaders of our sister Churches in supplication for the fruitfulness of their service. With patriarchal blessing we greet and bring our well-wishes to the President of the Republic of Armenia, Mr. Armen Sarkissian and to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, Mr. Nikol Pashinyan. We extend our greetings to the President of the Republic of Artsakh, Mr. Bako Sahakyan, and to the state officials of Armenia. On this graceful occasion of the Resurrection we convey our best wishes to the representatives of the diplomatic missions accredited in Armenia. We express Our love and blessings to the clergy of our Holy Church and to all our faithful people.
 
 
On this grace-filled day of the Holy Resurrection we pray, that the grace of our Saviour’s Resurrection work miracles in the world; that people be renewed by the good intensions and fulfillment of life, peace and unity and that they may be one family under divine blessing. We ask again that in this year, dedicated to the family, our family ties may become strong and radiant with the light of Christ’s resurrection, full of love, solidarity and happiness. May the Lord protect our people in his boundless love, and keep the light and joy of the resurrection aflame in our hearts, in our country and in the entire world.
May the grace, love and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ remain with us and with all. Amen
 
Christ is risen from the dead,
Blessed is the Resurrection of Christ!

City Council of Spanish Burgos City recognizes Armenian Genocide

Jirair Kafian

City Council of Spanish Burgos City recognizes Armenian Genocide

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21:53,

YEREVAN, APRIL 12, ARMENPRESS. The City Council of the Burgos City of Spain has unanimously recognized the Armenian Genocide, ARMENPRESS reports the twitter page of the City Council of Burgos informs.

''All the political forces of the City Council have approved the petition on recognizing the Armenian Genocide'', reads the twitter note.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan




Sports: Lianna Gyurjyan wins small silver at European Weightlifting Championships

Jirair Kafian
Panorama, Armenia
Sport 20:08 12/04/2019 Armenia

Armenian athlete, member of women’s weightlifting team Liana Gyurjyan has won small silver at the European Weightlifting Championship underway in Batumi, Georgia.

The 17-year-old Armenian athlete registered a total of 217 kg (97+120), placing the fourth on the tournament table. Following the performance, Gyurjyan has shared her impressions with the National Olympic Committee press service.

“I am satisfied with the result I recorded, since I improved my personal result registered at the previous tournament. The coaches will assess my performance better. I hope I will get medals in the future. I wouldn’t say I am sad since I have time to prepare for the adults’ championship and improve the results,” the source quoted her as saying.

Pashinyan testifies in court as witness in 2017 assault case against campaigning office

Jirair Kafian

Pashinyan testifies in court as witness in 2017 assault case against campaigning office

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15:27, 3 April, 2019

YEREVAN, APRIL 3, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has testified today in court in a case concerning an assault against his political alliance’s campaigning office back in 2017.

Pashinyan was testifying in court as a witness.

During the last day of campaigning for the 2017 parliamentary election, the mobile campaigning office of the Yelk alliance was attacked and its flag was stolen. During those days Pashinyan was a Member of Parliament.

He told the court details on how he was informed over the phone about the attack and visited the site.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan


Artsakh’s return to negotiation table cannot lead it to deadlock – FM Mnatsakanyan

Jirair Kafian

Artsakh’s return to negotiation table cannot lead it to deadlock – FM Mnatsakanyan

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15:52, 15 March, 2019

YEREVAN, MARCH 15, ARMENPRESS. The return of the Republic of Artsakh to the negotiation table for the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict cannot lead it to a deadlock, Armenian foreign minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan told reporters, commenting on the statement of Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev that the change of negotiation format is unacceptable, reports Armenpress.

“We will not do anything that will lead to a deadlock because we remain committed to the peaceful settlement of the process. This is a very important issue, and we will move on this direction very decisively. This is a very principled issue to accept that Nagorno Karabakh has a decisive voice and engagement. This is not something new, but in line with this, in order to effectively work on promoting the negotiation process, we must accept practically that the _expression_ of this decisive voice and engagement is needed. Today we are negotiating both with Nagorno Karabakh and with Azerbaijan within the frames of the OSCE Minsk Group. This is not a precondition, and we want to continue discussing and finding the solutions of the issues”, the FM said.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan