Author: Kalashian Nyrie

Sepp Blatter says he will resign as president of football’s governing body FIFA amid a corruption scandal, the BBC reports.

In announcing his exit, the 79-year-old Swiss has called an extraordinary FIFA congress “as soon as possible” to elect a new president.

Blatter was re-elected last week, despite seven top FIFA officials being arrested two days before the vote as part of a US prosecution.

But he said: “My mandate does not appear to be supported by everybody.”

FIFA was rocked last week by the arrests on charges of racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering as part of a US prosecution that also indicted 14 people.

A separate criminal investigation by Swiss authorities into how the 2018 and 2022 World Cups were allocated is also under way.

“I am very much linked to FIFA and its interests. Those interests are dear to me and this is why I am taking this decision,” added Blatter.

“What counts most to me is the institute of FIFA and football around the world.”

Kimye are expecting another baby, the Associted Press  reports.

Kim Kardashian says she is pregnant with her second child with Kanye West.

She revealed the news in a clip that appeared after Sunday’s episode of the E! reality show “Keeping Up With the Kardashians.”

The show documented her fertility struggles, and she confided that an attempt to conceive through in vitro fertilization had failed.

The clip shows Kardashian telling her sister, Khloe, that a blood test following another attempt confirmed she was pregnant.

Kardashian and West have a nearly 2-year-old daughter, North West, who was born on June 15, 2013 and was recenty baptized in an Armenian church in Jerusalem.

They got engaged four months later in an elaborate marriage proposal in front of family and friends at San Francisco’s AT&T Park. They married in May 2014 in Florence, Italy, after hosting lavish pre-wedding festivities in France.

The much-talked about couple has been dubbed Kimye since becoming an item.

By Mark Swed

Armenia’s struggle for international acknowledgment that the extermination of more than a million Armenians by the Ottoman Empire during the First World War was genocide has been the work of historians and politicians. But it is also a job for art, especially with the recent 100th anniversary of the first deportations from Turkey.

On Tuesday, Armenia was awarded the Venice Biennale’s Golden Lion for best national pavilion, “Armenity,” which addresses the Armenian diaspora. Armenia is also a musical nation, and on Tuesday, the Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra made its first appearance in Walt Disney Concert Hall with “A Concert of Remembrance.”

Founded in Armenia’s capital of Yerevan 90 years ago, shortly after the country was incorporated into the Soviet Union, the orchestra had the reputation as a solid Soviet band while still maintaining its spirited national identity.

Nearly all of its artistic directors and principal conductors, as well as its players, have been and continue to be Armenian. An important exception was the twentysomething Valery Gergiev, who led the orchestra in the early 1980s.

The Disney Hall program, conducted by Eduard Topchjan (artistic director and principal conductor since 2000), represented both the orchestra’s Armenian and Soviet heritage. Splashy potboilers — the most popular numbers from Khachaturian’s ballet “Spartacus” and Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony — opened and closed the concert.

It was a notably less ambitious, or commemorative, occasion than the imaginative and comprehensive all-Armenian gala program given last week in Washington, D.C., the orchestra’s only other U.S. stop on its first North American tour in 19 years.

But there was also Tigran Mansurian’s significantly somber Concerto for Violin and String Orchestra, featuring an eloquent young soloist, Anush Nikoghosyan. The 76-year-old composer, who divides his time between Yerevan and Glendale, represents both to his country, where he is a national figure, and the international music community, the soul of Armenia.

 

FC Barcelona will play in the European Cup final for the eighth time after some devastating attacking interplay in the first half at FC Bayern München proved crucial, according to UEFA’s official website.

With just a 4.8% chance of turning round a 3-0 first-leg deficit, Bayern made the perfect start as Medhi Benatia headed them in front in the seventh minute. With home anticipation rising, however, Neymar rounded off a clinical Barcelona attack to level and his second of the night in the 29th minute effectively ended the contest. Robert Lewandowski equalised on the night and Thomas Müller’s 74th-minute strike halted Barça’s 18-game unbeaten streak in all competitions – but the Blaugrana will be in Berlin on 6 June seeking their fifth European title and fourth in nine years.

Having conceded three times in the closing 14 minutes of last week’s semi-final opener, Bayern had it all to do and their task nearly became insurmountable within five minutes as Daniel Alves’s lofted pass set Ivan Rakitić free. Manuel Neuer was down to his right to push the attempt away.

Bayern, though, were quick to threaten themselves, breaking at pace following a visiting corner. Müller’s cross picked out Thiago Alcántara for a shot that Gerard Piqué blocked, yet the home side soon had the early goal they craved. Xabi Alonso’s deep corner found Benatia in space near the penalty spot and Marc-André ter Stegen could not keep the header out.

By Harut Sassounian
The California Courier

On the occasion of the Armenian Genocide Centennial, Turkish reporters insistently inquired about Armenia’s territorial claims from Turkey.

In an interview published on April 25, 2015, in the Turkish Hurriyet newspaper, a reporter asked Pres. Serzh Sargsyan if Armenia had territorial demands from Turkey. Below is my translation of Hurriyet’s Turkish text of Pres. Sargsyan’s response:

“Since its independence, the Republic of Armenia has not had any territorial claims from Turkey or any other country. Our government’s foreign policy agenda has not had such an issue, and does not have it today. This is clear. We are a full and responsible member of the international community. As a UN member state, we understand our role in the international community; we respect the principles of international law.… If you pay close attention, Armenia’s demands for land from Turkey are discussed in Turkey, not in Armenia! As to why this is so, I let everyone draw their own conclusions.”

During a meeting with representatives of the Armenian-American community on May 7 in Washington, DC, I asked Pres. Sargsyan to clarify his comments to Hurriyet which were misunderstood or misinterpreted by some Armenians and Turks. The President explained that he had not said that Armenia did not have territorial demands from Turkey. He had simply stated that Armenia did not present such demands, and added: “We have no right to say that we have no territorial demands from Turkey. We also have no right to say that we have such demands.” The President went on to say that “Armenian political parties in the Diaspora are free to present such demands.”

Pres. Sargsyan is clearly indicating that as a head of state, demanding land from Turkey — a powerful and menacing neighbor — could have serious consequences on Armenia’s national security, which is not the case when such claims are made by individuals or organizations.

Earlier that same day, the morning of May 7, during Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian’s press conference at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, another Turkish journalist asked the same question about Armenian territorial claims from Turkey. Nalbandian gave the same answer as the President: “Armenia has not made territorial claims from Turkey.” He also wondered why is this issue raised in Ankara rather than Yerevan?

Four years ago, on July 23, 2011, Pres. Sargsyan gave a firmer answer when an Armenian student asked him about the eventual return of Mount Ararat and Western Armenia:

“It all depends on you and your generation. I believe my generation fulfilled its task when it was necessary in the early 1990’s to defend a part of our homeland — Karabagh — from enemies. We were able to do that…. My point is that each generation has its own task, and it must be able to carry it out, and carry it out well.”

The Armenian President’s answer created a huge storm of controversy in Turkey and Azerbaijan. Journalists and officials in both countries mounted hysterical attacks on Armenia, accusing Pres. Sargsyan of “urging Armenian youth to occupy Mt. Ararat and Eastern Turkey.” Insulting adjectives were hurled at Pres. Sargsyan by Turkey’s then Prime Minister Erdogan, Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc, Minister Egemen Bagis, Pres. Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, and the Foreign Ministries of both countries. Erdogan even demanded an apology from Armenia’s President. To incite the masses, protests were organized in Turkish cities where photographs of Pres. Sargsyan were burned!

It is understandable why Turkish leaders are so apprehensive when the issue of Armenian territorial demands is raised. Knowing full well that their ancestors eliminated the Armenian population from their native lands, Turkish officials are haunted by the fear that Armenians would reclaim their historic homeland of Western Armenia, today’s Eastern Turkey!

In order to unite Armenians around the same set of demands, I believe we should adopt the slogan — “seeking justice” — which includes all Armenian claims from Turkey as expressed in the Pan-Armenian Declaration of the Armenian Genocide Centennial adopted in Yerevan on January 29, 2015, by the governments of Armenia and Artsakh, and leaders of major Diasporan organizations. Paragraph 6 of that Declaration calls for “restoring individual, communal and pan-Armenian rights and legitimate interests.” Furthermore, the Declaration’s preamble specifically mentions “the dispossession of the Homeland,” the Treaty of Sevres of August 10, 1920, and Pres. Woodrow Wilson’s Arbitral Award of Nov. 22, 1920, which granted Armenia a territory several times larger than today’s Armenian Republic.

Kanye West has received an honorary doctorate from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago,  reports.

The rapper, a native of the US city who released his debut album ‘The College Dropout’ in 2004, was described by the art school as “a leader in the music industry as a Grammy Award-winning recording artist and producer, as well as a fashion designer and interdisciplinary artist whose work provokes cultural discourse by reflecting a realism of the street.”
In a speech West said, “I am a pop artist, so my medium is public opinion, and the world is my canvas.”
West continued to say that the honour “proves what I’ve been saying my entire life”, “whether it’s the cosign of Paul McCartney… or the Time [Magazine] most influential cover, or now a doctorate from the Art Institute of Chicago”.

 

The Spanish football federation says it is suspending indefinitely all end-of-season games in disputes with the government, including over TV rights, the BBC reports.

A federation statement (in Spanish) said it was also unhappy with receiving only 4.55% of pools revenue, though it said it was still open to dialogue.

All matches will be suspended from 16 May, including the domestic cup final.

In the statement, the RFEF federation said it had acted after three months of talks with the government had failed to resolve the dispute.

It said more than 600,000 players and 30,000 matches across the country would be affected by the suspension.

However, it also stressed: “At the same time, and yet again, we reiterate the offer of dialogue to the Spanish government.”

The RFEF acted after the government last week approved a new law on collective bargaining for TV rights.

The law – which still needs to be approved by parliament – aims to regulate the rights to broadcast matches in Spain’s first and second divisions.

PRESS RELEASE
Ramani for Assembly
CONTACT: John S. Thomas
Tel: (818) 396-6578
Email: [email protected]
http://www.ramaniforass embly.com

FORMER GOVERNOR GEORGE DEUKMEJIAN SUPPORTS RAMANI FOR ASSEMBLY

Glendale, May 20-Today the 35th Governor of California, George
Deukmejian, endorsed Sunder Ramani’s candidacy to become the next
Assemblymember in the 43rd District. Deukmejian served as the first
Armenian American Governor and understands that Sunder Ramani would
best represent and work with the constituents of this district.

`Sunder Ramani is an American success story. He is a job creator and
problem solver. Sunder’s business experience and his common sense
approach will help fix the mess in Sacramento. He is simply the best
candidate to represent this district. We need more citizens like
Sunder in public office today,’ declared Governor Deukmejian.

In accepting the Governor’s support, Sunder Ramani said, `To have the
support and endorsement of former Governor George Deukmejian means a
tremendous amount to me and my campaign to become the next
Assemblymember of the 43rd District. Deukmejian’s leadership and
dedication to California is admirable. I am honored to have earned his
support.’

Ramani’s endorsement list of other prominent Armenian American leaders
includes: Glendale Mayor Ara Najarian, former Glendale Mayor Rafi
Manoukian, former Glendale Mayor Bob Yousefian, Presidential advisor
Ken Khachigian, Glendale School Board President Greg Krikorian, former
LA County DA Robert Philibosian, Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig
Missakian.

Sunder Ramani is a small business owner and former chairman of the
Burbank Chamber of Commerce. He is a longtime community leader in
Burbank and Glendale and currently serves on the boards of the
Glendale Educational Foundation Advisory, Burbank Chamber of Commerce
Executive Board, Burbank Community Foundation, Burbank Healthcare
Foundation and Burbank Rotary. Sunder serves on the board of the
National Federation of Independent Business both in Washington
D.C. and Sacramento. He founded a consulting firm that focuses on
business development for small business enterprises.

IMF: ARMENIAN ECONOMY IS GRADUALLY REVIVING
Hasmik Dilanyan

"Radiolur"
19.05.2010 18:37

"Although the situation is hard, the Armenian economy is gradually
reviving," Head of IMF Mission in Armenia Mark Lewis told a press
conference today.

Armenia may receive $52mln from IMF for improvement of business
climate, he said. The Mission of the Fund has reached agreements
with authorities of Armenia on realizing a three-year program –
"Extended Fund Facility" (EFF) and "Extended Credit Facility" (ECF).

Based on the agreements, IMF Board of Directors will hold discussions
in late June and in case of approval, Armenia may receive additional
credit means at the volume of $52mln.

"The new EFF/ECF program will allow Armenia overcoming medium-term
challenges, and this will contribute to maintaining speeds of economic
revival, strengthening payment balance and will lead to progress in
reducing poverty", Mark Lewis stated.

He noted that the program provides for continuing reforms on improving
tax administration, directed at defending the rights of taxpayers
and improving the business climate. "Tax-budget policy will continue
assisting economic activity, however simultaneously with stabilization
of economy revival speeds, budget deficit will be gradually decreased,
aiming at preserving stability of the state debt," Mark Lewis stated,
expressing confidence that Armenia would manage to fully fulfill its
state debt.

He noted that maintenance of a low level of inflation will remain
one of the basic goals of Armenia’s monetary-credit policy, adding
that following the forecasts of IMF, inflation in Armenia this year
will be within the limit of 6%.

Mark Lewis also said the IMF predicts a 4% GDP growth in Armenia this.

32 THEATRICAL GROUPS SUBMITTED APPLICATIONS FOR PARTICIPATING IN "SEED OF POMEGRANATE"

ARMENPRESS
MAY 18, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, MAY 18, ARMENPRESS: Thirty-two theatrical groups have
submitted applications for participating in "Seed of Pomegranate"
("Nran Hatik") 10th child-youth theatrical festival. Hasmik Karapetyan,
chairwoman of the organizational committee of the festival, told
Armenpress that the participation of the theatrical groups of Javakhk
and Iran are expected.