Author: Khoyetsian Rose

FourFourTwo has ranked Armenia international Henrikh Mkhitaryan 60th in its list of  2016.

“Mkhitaryan’s meagre two starts in 2016/17 – Jose Mourinho being oddly reluctant to play the £27m signing – are comfortably outweighed by the playmaker’s phenomenal 2015/16. After all, Mkhitaryan was named Player of the Year by 235 Bundesliga pros surveyed in German magazine Kicker and came third in the official players’ vote. How quickly we forget. How quickly Jose forgets,” the website writes.

The Armenian was reborn under Thomas Tuchel in his final Borussia Dortmund campaign. Mkhitaryan scored or assisted – and this isn’t a typo – 55 goals in 52 games, which is frankly obscene. Operating sometimes behind Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang but more commonly drifting in from the right, Mkhitaryan showed he’s a true raumdeuter, a space investigator, and one who knows where the goal is.

“If that’s not enough, he speaks seven languages fluently and his dad was called Hamlet,” FourFourTwo reminds.

Some bars in Russia have renamed Americano coffee into Russiano after a joke at the meeting of the Eurasian Inter-Governmental Commission held in Moscow on November 16.

It was reported earlier that Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said the name of the coffee was ‘politically incorrect’ and suggested to rename it.

The Russian 360 TV has revealed, however, that the idea was suggested by Armenian Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan.

“Let’s rename Americano,” Medvedev joked. His Armenian counterpart continued the phrase, offering to call it Russiano instead.

And it was not Medvedev who suggested calling the coffee “Russiano”, but someone from the Armenian delegation.

— Rustem Adagamov (@adagamov)

UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Armenia today announced the appointment of the newest National Goodwill Ambassador, Manchester United player and Armenia National Team captain Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who will support UNICEF in advocating for children’s right to education, sports and play and use his voice to bring awareness to the rights of the most marginalized children in Armenia. The appointment comes on the occasion of UNICEF’s global 70^th anniversary, which is marked in December 2016.

Together with UNICEF, Mkhitaryan will encourage Armenian families to get active and enable a fair chance for every child in the country with a focus on children’s and young people’s rights to get quality learning from early years and quality education in an inclusive environment.

“It’s very sad to see that not all children have the same opportunities to attend school and they don’t get access to quality early learning and education. All children should be able to enjoy the opportunity to reach their full potential so they can become productive citizens,” said Mkhitaryan. “I am truly honoured to become a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF. I want to utilise my platform to help UNICEF advocate for every child’s right to education in Armenia, especially for those who are most vulnerable,” he added.

Over the past two decades, Armenia has seen considerable progress in expanding access to pre-primary education, introducing inclusive education, and committing to improve quality of learning. However many children are still left behind, including children with disabilities and children living in remote rural areas.

“We are excited to have Mkhitaryan join us as the newest UNICEF Ambassador in Armenia. As a passionate advocate for children and healthy living, Mkhitaryan demonstrates deep commitment to our mission,” said UNICEF Representative in Armenia Tanja Radocaj. “Education contributes to reducing inequalities and eradicating poverty, while supporting the expansion of more inclusive societies. We are thrilled to join together in advocating to make every child’s right to quality, inclusive and early education a priority in Armenia.“

Henrikh Mkhitaryan is an Armenian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for English club Manchester United, as well as leads the Armenia national team. Mkhitaryan is Armenia’s all-time top goal-scorer since his debut in January 2007. His previous clubs include Pyunik, Metalurh Donetsk, Shakhtar Donetsk and Borussia Dortmund. Mkhitaryan was voted Best Field Player of the season 2015/2016 in Bundesliga; he was also recognized as the best Armenian and CIS player in 2015/2016.

Mkhitaryan joins a large number of most prominent people from sports and culture who support UNICEF work for children all over the world.

Today, at the Presidential Palace President Serzh Sargsyan and the Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Malta Fra Matthew Festing held a private meeting. Prior to that there took place an award ceremony.

President Serzh Sargsyan awarded the Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Malta Fra Matthew Festing with the Order of Glory for the strengthening and development of the interstate relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Malta, as well for his considerable contribution to the recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

For the significant contribution to the strengthening and development of the interstate relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Malta the Grand Chancellor of the Order of Malta Albrecht von Boeselager and the Grand Hospitaller Dominique Prince de La Rochefoucauld-Montbel were awarded the Orders of Honor, and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta to the Republic of Armenia Jean-Michel Oughourlian was awarded the Order of Friendship.

By the decision of the Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Malta Fra Matthew Festing and Sovereign Council of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan was awarded the highest order of the Order of Malta the Collar pro Merito Melitensi. The Minister of Foreign Affairs Edward Nalbandian received the second highest award of the Order of Malta Grand Cross pro Merito Melitensi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Armenia at the Holy See Michael Minassian was awarded the Grand Officer Cross pro Merito Melitensi, the Chancellery of Holy Echmiadzin Archbishop Arshak Bishop Khatchatrian received a high award of the Order of Malta the Grand Cross pro Merito Melitensi.

After the award ceremony, President Serzh Sargsyan and the Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Malta Fra Matthew Festing summarized the results of the negotiations in the statements made for the representatives of the mass media.

In honor of the Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Malta Fra Matthew Festing, who is in Armenia on a state visit, President Serzh Sargsyan gave a state dinner.

Statement by President Serzh Sargsyan for the mass media on the results on the meeting with the Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Malta Fra Matthew Festing

Your Most Eminent Highness,
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today is a momentous day for all of us: Today the Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Malta is conducting his first visit to Armenia. Diplomatic relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Malta, which are developing in a friendly and constructive atmosphere, have a years-long history. However at this moment a unique, I would say, a historic bridge is being established between the world’s first Christian nation and the oldest Christian military order. It is also symbolic because back in the time of the crusades, the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia and the Order of Malta had close political and cultural ties, which today are getting a new life. The visit of Your Most Eminent Highness inspires us to give a new quality to our bilateral cooperation.

Moments ago, Fra Matthew Festing and I, in the atmosphere of sincerity and great mutual understanding discussed prospects of bilateral cooperation, as well as important regional and international issues.

We certainly expressed our profound thanks for the humanitarian assistance which the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Malta has been providing since the devastating earthquake of 1988; the assistance has been significant and certainly didn’t go unnoticed.

We have also discussed opportunities for expanding the cooperation in the areas of medical services, protection and organization of the civilian population in emergencies, joint historical research in which the Order of Malta and Armenia have accumulated impressive experience. On this I certainly believe a very useful work can be carried out: As a result of that useful work we may obtain additional information on the cooperation between the crusaders and the Kingdom of Cilicia.

We concurred that we possess the most important thing for the further development of our cooperation – the same system of values which translates into similar approaches for the resolution of problems. It is no secret that the history of the Armenian nation has been full of struggle – for the preservation of our Christian identity and values, for the Christian culture, for the promotion of humanism. One can say that after the adoption of Christianity, Armenians have been carrying out their historic mission in line with the motto of the Order of Malta – Tuition of Faith.

We have also spoken about the special relations existing between Armenia and the Holy See, a mass offered by the Holy Father on April 12, 2015 at the Saint Peter’s Cathedral and dedicated to the innocent victims of the Armenian Genocide and certainly about the visit of the Pope to Armenia last June, which in these violent days was a brilliant example of the inter-church solidarity. Taking the opportunity, I thanked His Most Eminent Highness for being present at the mass and for remembering in his prayers the sons and daughters of the Armenian nation.

We have certainly spoken about the tragic situation in Syria which became a humanitarian catastrophe. We noted with pain that the Christians, and not only the Christians, there are being prosecuted and tortured. On behalf of Armenia, I expressed readiness to bring our contribution to the implementation of any initiative which will somehow stop the elimination of the Christians and Christian heritage at the Middle East.

Your Most Eminent Highness, once again – welcome to Armenia, welcome to the first Christian nation where we are always delighted to receive Armenia’s distinguished guests.

Thank you.

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev has canceled a visit to Armenia due to a cold, his office said on Wednesday, adding that there were no concerns about his overall health, Reuters reports.

The presidential office, which rarely comments on 76-year-old Nazarbayev’s health, made the announcement about him being treated for a cold on Tuesday, suggesting to some it would mean he would not visit Yerevan which will host a Russia-led security bloc meeting this week.

On Tuesday, Nazarbayev’s office said Prime Minister Bakytzhan Sagintayev would travel to Armenia instead of him.

Astana’s ties with Yerevan have been strained since April, when during the renewed military conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan insisted on holding a meeting of another regional body, the Eurasian Economic Union, outside of Armenia which was due to host it.

Both Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are Turkic-speaking, predominantly Muslim nations. Azerbaijan also tranships a significant share of Kazakh oil exports.

South Korean tech giant Samsung has urged owners of the Galaxy Note 7 to turn off its high-end smartphone while it investigates new reports of the device catching fire.

The firm also said in a statement it would stop all sales of the phone.

Samsung recalled 2.5 million phones in September after complaints of exploding batteries, and later insisted that all replaced devices were safe.

But there are now reports that even those phones were catching fire.

“Because consumers’ safety remains our top priority, Samsung will ask all carrier and retail partners globally to stop sales and exchanges of the Galaxy Note 7 while the investigation is taking place,” the company said.

“Consumers with either an original Galaxy Note 7 or replacement Galaxy Note 7 device should power down and stop using the device and take advantage of the remedies available,” it added.

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian received today the delegation of the German Bundestag headed by Vice-President Johannes Singhammer.

Minister Nalbandian noted that the frequent visits of German lawmakers to Armenia are a testament to the importance of parliamentary diplomacy.

Edward Nalbandian availed himself of the opportunity to express gratitude for the recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide by the German Bundestag, and for the principled stance of German MPs on the issue.

Johannes Singhammer presented the goals of German MPs’ visit to Armenia and the results of the meetings.

Minister Nalbandian briefed the guests on Armenia-EU relations, the ongoing negotiations on a new legal framework.

Edward Nalbandian referred to Armenia’s approaches towards the situation in the Middle East, the issues of minorities in the region, the struggle against terrorism and other regional processes.

Minister Nalbandian presented the efforts of Armenia and the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs towards elimination of consequences of Azerbaijan’s April aggression and settlement of the Karabakh conflict.

According to a decree signed by President Serzh Sargsyan, Movses Hakobyan has been relieved of the duties as Deputy Defense Minister, Head of the Logistics Department of the Ministry of Defense.

According to another presidential decree, Movses Hakobyan has been appointed Chief of Staff of RA Armed Forces.

Moscow, Washington and Paris are ready to host high-level talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the OSCE Mink Group Co-Chairs said in a statement issued after their meetings with the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session in New York. The statement reads:

The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Ambassadors Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, James Warlick of the United States of America, and Pierre Andrieu of France, as well as the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, met separately with the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan in New York on the margins of the UN General Assembly to continue discussions on a settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

“During the meetings, we paid special attention to implementation of decisions taken at the recent summits in Vienna (May 2016) and St. Petersburg (June 2016). In particular, we discussed further steps that could create an atmosphere for advancing substantial negotiations that could lead to a settlement.

We also exchanged views on proposals that could be discussed between the sides.

Our governments are prepared to host another meeting of the Presidents or Foreign Ministers at the appropriate time.

We plan to visit the region in the near future.”

Photo: Mikhail Pochuev/TASS    

Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Pakistan will present their national expositions at the Army-2016 military-technical forum, a Russian Defense Ministry official told reporters on Thursday, TASS reports.

“It is planned to deploy four national expositions: the Republic of Armenia – 5 enterprises, the Republic of Belarus – 9 enterprises, the Republic of Kazakhstan – 6 enterprises, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan – 9 enterprises,” Alexander Mironov said at a meeting with foreign military attaches from more than 50 countries of Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Asia-Pacific region.

Companies from Germany, India, Israel, Ireland, China, Malaysia, Thailand, France and Switzerland are also planning to take part in the forum. Mironov recalled that 28 foreign companies from 7 countries took part in the forum in 2015.

A total of 107 have been invited to the forum, 86 of them have confirmed their participation, while 45 countries are planning to send official delegations. In 2015, 73 countries attended the forum, 38 of them sent official delegations.

The Army-2016 international military-technical forum will be held on September 6-11 in the Russian Defense Ministry’s Patriot Park in the Moscow region.