Author: Mary Lazarian

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian received the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs Igor Popov, James Warklick and Pierre Andrieu and the Personal representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk.

During the meeting reference was made to a number of issues related to the peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict. Minister Nalbandian underlined that “Azerbaijan has been refusing to implement the agreements reached at the Vienna and St. Petersburg summits for months, thus preventing the creation of conditions necessary for furthering the negotiation process.”

Minister Nalbandian stressed that despite the calls of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs to refrain from maximalist and provocative rhetoric, Baku maintains the policy of distorting the essence and spirit of the negotiation process. “The recent statements of the Azerbaijani leadership are definitely not conducive to the negotiation process,” he said.

World-known French Armenian singer Chrles Aznavour, 92, will perform at the prestigious Pantages Theater in Hollywood on October 28.

On the eve of the concert Aznavour will be honored with a Walk of Fame Star replica licensed by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.

The plaque will be presented by California Senator Kevin de Leon as a welcome to Hollywood.

Real Salt Lake has permanently acquired FW Yura Movsisyan from FC Spartak Moscow in the Russian Premier League, and signed him to a new contract for 2017, General Manager Craig Waibel has announced today, according to the club’s

The 29-year-old striker returned to RSL in January for the current 2016 season via loan, scoring a team-high nine goals and adding three assists in 27 appearances (24 starts) this campaign, which continues Sunday at Rio Tinto Stadium against Sporting Kansas City.

“Real Salt Lake and the whole Utah community have been extremely welcoming for me and my family,” said Movsisyan, whose 24 career MLS goals in 60 RSL reg. season matches over two U.S.-based stints rank him seventh in club history – and fourth amongst active players. “This is home for us. This is where we want to be.”

The 2016 season has marked the Armenian International’s second stint with RSL, having previously played with Real Salt Lake from 2007-2009, coming to Utah via trade with the then-Kansas City Wizards. In his three MLS campaigns on the Wasatch Front prior to this year, Movsisyan played 53 regular-season matches with the Claret-and-Cobalt, scoring 15 goals while helping RSL to the 2009 MLS Cup title.

“Permanently acquiring a world-class player like Yura is a telltale sign that our club continues to grow and mature,” said Waibel, praising both RSL Owner Dell Loy Hansen and Movsisyan’s agent, Patrick McCabe, for enabling completion of the transfer. “This move is an enormous compliment to our organization, not just for a player that wants to be here, but for an owner that continues to stimulate the club in the way we think and the way we develop and acquire players.

Movsisyan – who won MLS Cup with the Claret-and-Cobalt in the final match of his first stint with the club in 2009, the State of Utah’s lone major professional sports championship since 1973 – owns the distinction of notching a stoppage-time equalizer at Colorado in the 2008 regular-season finale to vault RSL into the postseason for the first time, and notching the club’s first-ever playoff goal a week later against the club’s expansion brethren CD Chivas USA.

This season, Movsisyan scored in three consecutive games in June, leading RSL to seven of a possible nine points in that span, and notched a brace on August 26 against Colorado and GK Tim Howard to secure Rocky Mountain Cup bragging rights for RSL for the eighth time in 10 seasons. That multi-goal game was the fourth of his MLS career, and his first since a Pioneer Day 2009 comeback win over Dallas, leading RSL to a 4-2 win in a game it trailed 0-2 at halftime.

“Yura has obviously been an important part of this club, both now and in the past,” said RSL Head Coach Jeff Cassar. “All can see what his quality has added to our roster and what it means for us getting results. Having him come back to the club with this kind of commitment, showing the love that he has for this club, this community and this state demonstrates what kind of person Yura is.”

After departing RSL and MLS following the 2009 Cup final, Movsisyan made his European debut with Danish Superliga side Randers FC. Then 22 years of age, Movsisyan joined Randers during a midseason break in January, 2010, a buoyant signing for a club that had gone winless in its first 16 games (0-12-4). After playing his first match, Randers then turned the season around and went 9-0-5 in the first 14 games after Movsisyan’s debut, the young debutant finishing the year with seven goals in 13 matches to rescue Randers from relegation. After joining RSL for the club’s Summer, 2010, visit to The White House honoring the Cup-winning side, Movsisyan finished his time in Denmark with 12 goals in 30 matches before transferring to FC Krasnodar of the Russian Premier League in January of 2011.

With Krasnodar, Movsisyan scored in his appearance and finished his first season with 14 goals, ranking fourth overall in the league. He followed that up with nine goals in just 14 matches in the first half of the 2012-2013 season, drawing a transfer to Spartak Moscow after totaling 23 goals in 50 Russian Premier League matches from the middle of the 2010-2011 season to the middle of the 2012-2013 season.

With Spartak Moscow, one of the top teams in Russia, Movsisyan scored three goals in his debut for his first hat trick as a professional. Between his two clubs, he scored 13 goals in the 2012-2013 season to lead the Russian Premier League. The following season he again finished fourth amongst Golden Boot leaders in the league, finding the back of the net 16 times in 27 matches, including another hat trick against Zenit St. Petersburg. His torrid goal-scoring rate slowed in 2014-15, but Movsisyan did score three goals in 11 matches in the most recent Fall/Winter 2015 slate before returning on loan to RSL.

Through 62 matches in Moscow, Movsisyan scored 25 goals, giving him a total of 48 goals in 112 matches in his Russian Premier League career.

“It has been a great experience working with Spartak through Movsisyan’s agent, Patrick McCabe, to get Yura back to Real Salt Lake, which is something we’ve wanted for some time,” said RSL GM Craig Waibel, the former MLS Cup and Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Champion now completing his first full year as RSL general manager. “Patrick did a wonderful job representing both sides, while Spartak was nothing but respectful and professional throughout the whole thing. For us to gain a transfer on a player from one of the biggest clubs in the world is a phenomenal feat for us.”

In addition to his professional club experience, Movsisyan also boasts 35 appearances for the Armenian National Team, scoring 10 goals since making his international debut in 2010, including a goal in a 2-2 draw with Italy in 2014 World Cup Qualifying.

Originally drafted by the Kansas City Wizards at 18 years old with the fourth overall pick in the 2006 MLS SuperDraft, Movsisyan came to Salt Lake in a trade for a 2009 third-round pick, allocation money and an international roster spot. In 15 matches over the 2006/07 seasons, he scored five goals for the Wizards prior to the trade that landed him in Claret-and-Cobalt.

Now at 29 years old, married with three children, the man who previously called Pasadena, Calif., his hometown is now focused on returning to health for the final two MLS regular-season contests, Sunday against Kansas City and then on Oct. 23 at Seattle. RSL currently places fourth in the highly-competitive Western Conference, battling with the Sounders, Sporting and Portland for the final three postseason berths, as well as the right to host a midweek “play-in” game on Oct. 26/27

A military parade dedicated to the 25th anniversary of independence was held in Yerevan.

 

Asbarez – The 6th World Doll Festival in Japan will display about 1,500 dolls from 71 countries, among them 14 dolls from Armenia. Various booths will provide tourist information about the countries as well.

The event will be held from October 28-30, 2016, at Izutsu Yashiki.

This year the exhibition is devoted to Germany and will harbour dolls from Bayern, hand-made Nutcrackers, smokers from the Harz Mountains made out wood, Christmas pyramids, doll houses, etc.

The Embassy of Germany to Japan, the German House in Naruto City, and Naruto City Tourism Association are patrons of the event.

The program will conclude with a performance of the 9th Symphony by Beethoven. Local restaurants will also offer their international dishes.

Dear Compatriots,

I congratulate you on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of independence of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh.

September 2, 1991 opened a glorious page in the modern history of the Armenian nation. A quarter of a century ago, the Armenians of Artsakh made their irrevocable choice. That critical step was conscientious and deliberate. That choice, that will and determination brought back from the brink of a deadly precipice to life and freedom the most endangered part of the Armenian nation – the Armenians of Artsakh.

You fought and won in the unequal war. You built a state and society which are free as never before. You created an army which is strong and combat ready as never before. You raised from the ashes a piece of land which never before was so cultivated and beautiful. You proved to yourselves, to the entire Armenian nation, and the world that the free Artsakh is not only viable but also possesses a huge potential for development.

There is no doubt that the potential has not been fully utilized yet. There is no doubt that there is still much to be done in Artsakh and in Armenia. And there is no doubt that we will fulfill our task. We will do it through the efforts of the entire Armenian nation. We will do it despite all difficulties and challenges.

Last April’s military actions once again or rather once more proved that if the enemy tries to solve the problem through military means, he will be thrown back with losses. It proved that no force in the world is capable of solving the Artsakh issue through military means. There is no such force because you live, because you are true to the choice you made 25 years ago. There is no military solution; solution is political.

Today, on this memorable day, I tell you once again: just as yesterday and today, tomorrow too you will decide your own destiny. We have no doubts about Artsakh’s bright future.

Long live the free and independent Artsakh!
Long live the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh!

Photo: AFP

 

Heavy shelling of so-called Islamic State positions has marked the start of a Turkish offensive to drive the militants away from the Syrian border, teh BBC reports.

Military sources told Turkish media 70 targets in the Jarablus area had been destroyed by artillery and rocket strikes, and 12 by air strikes.

Turkish tanks are now reported to have crossed into Syria.

The operation is aimed in part at pre-empting any move by Syrian Kurds to establish themselves on the border.

Turkish special forces are already inside Syria as part of the offensive.

Different districts in Damascus, including the Armenian-populated Bab Tuma neighborhood came under rocket attack yesterday, the Aleppo-based Kantsasar newspaper informs.

According to SANA, five people were killed, dozens were injured.

The visit of the Bulgarian Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov has been postponed because of the urgent meeting of the Foreign Ministers of EU member states, Press Service of the Armenian Foreign Ministry reports.

It was reported earlier that the Foreign Minister would visit Armenia June 27-28.

 

 

 

The adoption of an Armenian Genocide resolution by the German Bundestag should be followed by a bill criminalizing its denial, Armen Marukyan, Head of the Department for the History of the Armenian Cause and Armenian Genocide of the National Academy of Sciences, told reporters today.

“If Germany accepts there was genocide, it will be very logical to criminalize the denial of that genocide,” Marukyan noted. He said the bill is especially important for Germany, which is home to about 3-3.5 million Turks, who keep denying the Armenian Genocide.

Armen Marukyan offers to translate the text of a similar bill submitted to the French National Assembly and address an official letter to the Bundestag leadership.

“Germans have to adopt this law if there are truly guided by democratic values. They may even reject the bill, but we have to try,” he said.