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Sheikh Sultan receives Armenian Honour Award

Gulf Today, UAE
Oct 10 2021

The Armenian people’s love for the Arabs is not new, but is rooted in the depths of history, said Sheikh Sultan.

Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi received the Armenian Honour Award by the Speaker of Armenian Parliament, on behalf of Armenian President, Serzh Sargsyan, for his pledge to fund the renovation of the Armenian medieval complex, Hagardzin.

Hagardzin is considered a historical cultural monument in Armenia that dates back to the 13th century.

On the occasion of receiving the medal, Sheikh Sultan said: “We have seen the Armenian people’s love for the Arabs, which is not new, but is rooted in the depths of history. During our last visit, the people welcomed us with love.

Therefore, we exchange love and respect with them, and we pray to God to guide them to what is good for their country.”

The announcement comes as a continuation of the project launched by Dr Sultan Al Qasimi Centre, which aims to highlight on a monthly basis one of the distinctive pieces from the collection of Sheikh Sultan, which represents exceptional achievements in various fields.

Recently, The popular theatrical works of Sheikh received a grand reception in Madrid and Cordoba, the historic capital of Andalusia.

Elite intellectuals and academics have discussed and celebrated the rich legacy of Sharjah Ruler’s theatrical works, including those translated into Spanish, as part of the “Sharjah Literary Days” event organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) in cooperation with Cása Árabe, which is operated as the strategic centre for Spain’s relations with the Arab world.

The event follows a 2019 agreement between SBA and Cása Árabe, which was signed in the presence of the Ruler of Sharjah to strengthen bilateral collaboration.

The event was held in the presence of Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, SBA Chairman; Majid Hassan Mohamed Al Suwaidi, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the Kingdom of Spain; Dr Abdul Aziz Al Musallam, Chairman of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage; Bachar Yaghi, Ambassador of the League of Arab States to the Kingdom of Spain; diplomats, media persons, and officials representing the UAE and Spain.

Moderated by Muhammad Majid Al Suwaidi, two sessions to discuss a selection of the most notable works of Sheikh Sultan were organised in Cása Árabe in Madrid and in Cordoba.

Emirati actor and producer, Ahmed Al Jasmi; actor and theatre researcher Lola Botello; and Spanish writer and playwright Julieta Soria, led the discussions, which began with a video presentation of Sheikh Sultan’s works including Nimrod, Holaku’s Return, Reality .. A True Copy, The Case, Alexander the Great, Mighty Samson, Da’esh (ISIS) and Al Ghabra’a, and The Book of Allah: A Play on The Conflict between Light and Darkness.

Speaking about the plays, Al Jasmi said: “The theatrical works of the Ruler of Sharjah are based on historical events, not just as a narration of the past, but also to provide context to the incidents. History gives us the opportunity to learn from past mistakes, and helps us understand the many reasons why people may behave the way they do. Most importantly, His Highness very subtly urges us to heed the lessons that history teaches us so as not to repeat past mistakes which can lead to chaos, confusion and even disintegration of nations.”

He added: “His Highness’ theatrical works highlight his great command over the language and precise use of words to convey a point. They are great examples of the Sharjah Ruler’s facility with words and demonstrate his love for the art form.”

For her part, Botello said: “I was very impressed with the Spanish translations of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan Al Qasimi’s theatrical works which are true hallmarks of his great intellect.

They convey a wealth of knowledge and address many issues related to the human experience and existence. I am truly honoured to participate in this event.”

Putin, Pashinyan to discuss implementation of Karabakh agreements

SIFY, India
Oct 11 2021
Source :ANI
Author :ANI
Last Updated: Mon, Oct 11th, 2021, 15:25:02hrs

Moscow [Russia], October 11 (ANI/Sputnik): Russian President Vladimir Putin and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will discuss the implementation of the trilateral agreements on Nagorno-Karabakh at their negotiations on Tuesday in Moscow, the Kremlin said.

“On October 12, Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will hold negotiations in Moscow. They plan to discuss the implementation of the statements on Nagorno-Karabakh, which Russian, Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders made on November 9, 2020, and January 11, 2021, and further steps to strengthen regional stability and maintain economic ties,” the Kremlin said in a statement on Monday.
Putin and Pashinyan will also touch upon bilateral relations and cooperation within international alliances, the Kremlin added. (ANI/Sputnik)

Karabakh Agreement To Be Discussed By Russia And Armenia; Meeting Scheduled For Oct 12

Republic World
Oct 11 2021
Written By

Rohit Ranjan

Image: AP


The execution of the trilateral accords on Nagorno-Karabakh will be discussed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan during their talks in Moscow on Tuesday, according to the Kremlin. Putin and Pashinyan will discuss bilateral relations as well as collaboration within international alliances.

On Monday, the Kremlin issued a statement, “On October 12, Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will hold negotiations in Moscow. They plan to discuss the implementation of the statements on Nagorno-Karabakh, which Russian, Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders made on November 9, 2020, and January 11, 2021, and further steps to strengthen regional stability and maintain economic ties.”

Relevant concerns about the development of bilateral ties and collaboration within the Eurasian integration associations are slated to be discussed, according to the Kremlin’s press service and the press office of the Armenian Cabinet of Ministers.

A meeting between Putin and Pashinyan is planned for October 12 in Moscow, according to TASS. On September 27, 2020, a series of violent hostilities between Azerbaijan and Armenia started, with severe fighting in the disputed area of Nagorno-Karabakh.

READ | Armenia wants UNESCO to record destruction of Christian heritage sites under Azerbaijan

President Vladimir Putin of Russia, President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia signed a joint statement on a complete ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh on November 9, 2020.

The Azerbaijani and Armenian sides kept their previous positions, but since Baku had control of various regions, Russian soldiers were posted along the contact line and the Lachin corridor, according to TASS. 

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said after signing the deal, said that Armenia would never consider itself defeated, and that the deal shall become a fresh start of an era of their national unity and regeneration.

Though Russia has been a significant player in Armenia since the early 19th century, bilateral relations between modern-day Armenia and the Russian Federation were formed on April 3, 1992. The Russian Empire and Qajar Persia fought a war from 1826 to 1828 in which Eastern Armenia surrendered to Russia. Furthermore, Russia was seen as a protector of the Ottoman Empire’s Christian subjects, particularly the Armenians.

Putin, Pashinyan to discuss implementing Karabakh agreements on October 12

TASS, Russia
Oct 11 2021
According to the Kremlin’s press service, relevant questions over the development of bilateral relations and cooperation within the Eurasian integration associations are set to be discussed

MOSCOW, October 11. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will discuss the implementation of the Nagorno-Karabakh agreements in Moscow on October 12, the Kremlin’s press service said.

“Progress on fulfilling the statements of the Russian, Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders on Nagorno-Karabakh on November 9, 2020, and on January 11, 2021, is set to be discussed, in addition to further moves to ensure stability and forge economic ties in the region.” the statement reads.

As the Kremlin’s press service and the press office of the Armenian Cabinet of Ministers reported, relevant questions over the development of bilateral relations and cooperation within the Eurasian integration associations are set to be discussed.

Earlier, Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that a meeting between Putin and Pashinyan was in the works and would take place on October 12 in Moscow.

Intense clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27, 2020, with fierce battles raging in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. On November 9, 2020, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint statement on a complete ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh. According to the document, the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides maintained the positions that they had held, while several regions came under Baku’s control and Russian peacekeepers were deployed along the contact line and the Lachin corridor.

Nagorno-Karabakh civilian shot dead in apparent ceasefire violation

Oct 11 2021
 

Photo credit: Hetq/Narek Aleksanyan.

Aram Tepnants, a 55-year-old resident of the town of Martakert (Aghdara) in Nagorno-Karabakh, was reportedly shot dead by an Azerbaijani sniper while working on a farm that was under the direct supervision of Russian peacekeepers.

The Interior Ministry of Nagorno-Karabakh reported the incident on 9 October.

The following day, Russia’s Ministry of Defense also confirmed the incident and stated that Russian peacekeepers have launched an investigation ‘with the involvement of representatives of both sides’. 

Azerbaijan’s Defence Ministry has called the reports of the shooting ‘untrue’.

Mikayel Gyurjyan, the Mayor of Martakert, told Tert.am that the man was shot while driving a tractor. ‘Five to six’ Russian peacekeepers were in the immediate area where the man was working. 

The tractor cabin where Aram Tepnants was shot. Photo via Tert.am.

The incident reportedly took place roughly one to two kilometres away from the line of contact. 

According to the Prosecutor’s Office of Armenia, Tepnants initially avoided driving any agricultural machinery, fearing that he might be shot, ‘but one of the peacekeepers offered to sit with him in the cabin as an additional guarantee of safety’.

‘They did several rounds that way’, witnesses cited by the report claimed.

Armenia’s Foreign Ministry ‘strongly condemned’ the shooting, stating that it was a ‘gross violation’ of Azerbaijan’s obligations under the 9 November ceasefire agreement. 

 For ease of reading, we choose not to use qualifiers such as ‘de facto’, ‘unrecognised’, or ‘partially recognised’ when discussing institutions or political positions within Abkhazia, Nagorno-Karabakh, and South Ossetia. This does not imply a position on their status.


The Armenian National Agrarian University (ANAU) joins the University Network on Cultural Routes Studies

Council of Europe
Oct 11 2021

SEPTEMBER

The Armenian National Agrarian University (ANAU) has just joined the University Network for Cultural Routes Studies. A General Framework Agreement for Collaboration between the European Institute of Cultural Routes (EICR) and the Armenian National Agrarian University was signed by Mr. Stefano DOMINIONI, Executive Secretary of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe (EPA) and EICR Director, and Mr. Vardan Urutyan, Rector of the Armenian National Agrarian University.

The Armenian National Agrarian University (ANAU), founded in 1930, is the only agrarian university in Armenia. The ANAU offers a number of courses aimed at the development of agrotourism and wine tourism, including Bachelor and Master degree educational programs in Fermentation Technology, Winemaking, wine marketing, wine tourism, and a special “Enology and Wine Business Programme”, first of its kind in Armenia. ANAU is known for a modern agrarian education with a student-centered learning and teaching environment and its high-level international cooperations.With the new incorporation of the Armenian National Agrarian University, the University Network for Cultural Routes Studies now counts 19 members.

The University Network for Cultural Routes Studies is a network of Universities interested in the study of Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe. The Network aims to encourage the conduct of research on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe related issues, encourage students to undertake their academic research on Cultural Routes, jointly apply for European Grants with the EICR, participate in the annual programme of activities of the EICR and offer scientific advice where required.


Armenia discussing new nuclear plant with Russian mining company

Nuclear Engineering
Oct 11 2021

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The Armenian government is negotiating with the Russian mining company Geopromining on the construction of a new nuclear power plant, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told parliament on 6 October during a parliament-Cabinet Q&A session. He said an offer had been made to Armenia by one of the owners of Geopromining, a member of the Board of Directors, “we discussed the offer, we saw that the offer corresponds to the economic and state interests of Armenia”. 

He added: “This includes two very important components: the first is the construction of a copper smelter, which means that Armenia will no longer export concentrate and import ready-made copper from somewhere else to be used in other products, but copper will be produced in Armenia. Second, the construction of a new nuclear power plant is part of this programme, and this large company has undertaken investment commitments for the establishment of a copper smelter, which has been duly recorded, and negotiations on the construction of a new nuclear power plant in Armenia have already started.”

Pashinyan stressed that participation of the Government in the process is important as a nuclear power plant cannot be built by a private company.

He noted that the construction of the new copper smelter should begin by June 2025, adding that it would be good if the operation of the copper smelter and the nuclear power plant coincide.

On 1 October, the Armenian government announced that Geopromining, which produces gold, antimony, copper and molybdenum in Russia and Armenia, had acquired 60% of the shares of the Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Combine and transferred 15% of the total capital of the combine to the Armenian government. 

The currently operating Armenian nuclear power plant was built in the 1970s with two Soviet-supplied VVER-440-V230 units, but was closed following a devastating earthquake in 1988. However, unit 2 was recommissioned with Russian help in 1995 following severe energy shortages. In March 2014, the Armenian government decided to extend the plant’s service life to 2026. Most of the overhaul (until 2019) was funded by an interstate loan from the government of the Russian Federation, the remaining work is carried out at the expense of the budget of Armenia.

Construction of a new nuclear plant has long been part of Armenia’s overall plan. However, finance has been a problem in the past with Armenia unable to attract private investors. In addition, in the past Armenia met opposition to its plans from both Turkey and Azerbaijan. However, as Turkey is now building its own plant and Azerbaijan is also considering building a plant, such opposition is now less of an issue.

Armenia 2 has been closed for some time for life extension work. Plant director Movses Vardanyan said on 7 October that reconnection to the grid would be delayed because of the need for additional checks of repair work. According to the original plans, the outage was supposed to last 140 days – from 15 May to 2 October. However the scope of work turned out to be more than expected, so the plant management decided to double-check safety before restarting the reactor. Grid connection is tentatively scheduled for 10 October.

As part of the overhaul, which has been underway since 2015, the equipment of the turbine hall (generators, turbines and auxiliary equipment), the automation unit, as well as the protection and emergency cooling systems of the reactor have already been replaced. It remains to modernise the cooling towers (cooling towers), as well as build a new open switchgear (OSG), from where the generated electricity is fed to the grid.


Karabakh border villagers pin hopes for solving security problems with elections

Caucasian Knot, EU
Oct 11 2021

THIS MESSAGE (MATERIAL) HAS BEEN CREATED AND (OR) DISTRIBUTED BY A FOREIGN MASS MEDIUM PERFORMING FUNCTIONS OF A FOREIGN AGENT, AND (OR) BY A RUSSIAN LEGAL ENTITY PERFORMING FUNCTIONS OF A FOREIGN AGENT.

Nagorno-Karabakh has held elections to bodies of local self-government. Residents of the village of Nor Kazanchi in the Martakert District, located a kilometre from Azerbaijani military posts, have expressed hope that after the election of the village head, two main problems – water supply and security – will be solved.

On October 10, elections to local self-governments were held in four communities of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Teimur Arustamyan, the head of the Nor Kazanchi community, told the “Caucasian Knot” correspondent that after the war, all the villagers returned home. He has added that a base of Russian peacemakers was set up in the village. However, submachine gun fire is periodically heard from Azerbaijani positions.

“However, our village also faces a number of social problems that can be solved only under a special state programme. First of all, it is water supply. The water problem was acute in the summer – there was no water in the village at all,” Mr Arustamyan has explained.

“The problems of our village can be solved. And if the newly elected leader has authorities’ support, then it’s possible to solve these problems,” the community head has concluded.

Shirkhanum Airapetyan, a widow and a pensioner, has stated that “for me, life after the war has changed a lot in terms of security.”

“I am not afraid of social difficulties; I fear for the safety of my children and grandchildren. Azerbaijani checkpoints are located a kilometre from the central highway, which runs next to the village, and 800 meters away from our village. And shots from submachine guns are often heard from there,” the woman told the “Caucasian Knot” correspondent.

She has listed the absence of drinking water, poorly maintained roads in the village and the absence of a kindergarten for her grandchildren among major social problems. “In order for young families, and there are many of them in the village, to continue living here, all these problems must be solved,” the woman said.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on at 03:48 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Author: Alvard GrigoryanSource: CK correspondent

Source: 
© Caucasian Knot

New heads of Nagorno-Karabakh communities consider water supply problems as priority

Caucasian Knot, EU
Oct 11 2021

THIS MESSAGE (MATERIAL) HAS BEEN CREATED AND (OR) DISTRIBUTED BY A FOREIGN MASS MEDIUM PERFORMING FUNCTIONS OF A FOREIGN AGENT, AND (OR) BY A RUSSIAN LEGAL ENTITY PERFORMING FUNCTIONS OF A FOREIGN AGENT.

Elected heads of the villages of Nor Kazanchi and Tsakhkashat told the “Caucasian Knot” that the problems of water supply and repair of houses damaged during the autumn war have not been resolved in the communities.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that on October 10, four communities of Nagorno-Karabakh held elections for heads of communities and the Council of Elders in one village. Residents of the village of Nor Kazanchi in the Martakert District, located a kilometre from the Azerbaijani military posts, expressed their hope that after the election of the community head, two main problems will be solved, that is, water supply and security.

Ruslan Arustamyan, the newly elected head of the Nor Kazanchi community, intends to submit to the government of Nagorno-Karabakh a programme for the improvement and development of the village. He told the “Caucasian Knot” correspondent that the community should be provided with drinking water supply, rural roads need to be repaired, and residents need a kindergarten and repair of houses damaged during the war.

“The problem of village safety is no less important. During the war, the village of Nor Kazanchi became a borderline. After the murder of a tractor driver in Martakert, the problem of safety of work in the field has been acute. I intend to appeal to the authorities and Russian peacekeepers to strengthen the protection of rural workers in the field,” Ruslan Arustamyan said.

Suren Sargsyan, the newly elected head of the Tsakhkashat community, says that the problem of residents’ safety is not on the agenda. “However, we have a number of unresolved social problems. They include the repair of residential buildings that were damaged during the war or fell into disrepair. We also have problems with water supply: all communications have been installed in our village, water is still not supplied,” Suren Sargsyan told the “Caucasian Knot” correspondent.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on at 02:49 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Author: Alvard GrigoryanSource: CK correspondent

Source: 
© Caucasian Knot

Pope receives Armenian president Armen Sarkissian

Vatican News
Oct 11 2021
President Armen Sarkissian of Armenia was received by Pope Francis at an audience in the Vatican on Monday morning.

Statement of the Holy See Press Office

This morning, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father Francis received in audience the President of the Republic of Armenia, His Excellency Mr. Armen Sarkissian, who subsequently met with His Eminence Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, accompanied by His Excellency Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States.

During the cordial discussions, appreciation was expressed at the development and strengthening of bilateral relations between the Holy See and Armenia, a country of ancient Christian tradition.

The parties went on to focus on other matters of international and regional policy.