Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian will visit Paris November 5-6 to participate in the 38th session of the UNESCO General Assembly.
Minister Nalbandian is expected to address the assembly.
Category: News
Putin, Elton John may meet if schedules cross
Sir Elton John says he is currently arranging to meet Russian president Vladimir Putin to discuss gay rights, the BBC reports.
The pop star has said he wants to talk to Mr Putin about his “ridiculous” attitude to the issue – but previously fell victim to prank callers pretending to be the Russian leader.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4, the star said he had now received a genuine call from the president.
“He was very affable, he was very apologetic, he was very sincere.
“As soon as I can get a date in my diary that coincides with him, then I will be going… to Moscow and I will meet him,” he told the Today Programme.
“Whether or not I make any progress, I don’t know. I’m not going to go straight in there and go, ‘come on, you’ve got to do this, you’ve got to do that.’ This is the starting of a dialogue and you don’t get anywhere without a dialogue.”
President Vladimir Putin is ready to meet with British rock star Elton John, Krmelin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday commenting on the singer’s plans to meet with the Russian leader next year, TASS reports.
“This is not an issue for negotiations,” Peskov said. “The president said he was ready to meet with Elton John. We hope they’ll meet when their schedules cross.”
Las Vegas Armenian Genocide Memorial to be unveiled November 14
Asbarez – The construction of the Armenian Genocide Memorial Monument at Sunset Park is coming to conclusion and the unveiling is scheduled for 10:00am on Saturday, November 14, 2015.
Sunset Park is the largest park in the City of Las Vegas, centrally located and close to the McCarran international airport. The park has over 4 million annual visitors.
The monument project is the initiative of the Armenian-American Cultural Society (AACS) of Las Vegas, with the participation of all Las Vegas Armenian churches and organizations.
The memorial monument will be a gift to the people of southern Nevada from the Armenian-American community.
H.E. Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of Western Diocese and H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate of Western Prelacy, officials from Republic of Armenia and Republic of Lebanon as well as local city officials and State of Nevada Congressional Representatives, and the Nevada Consular Corps will participate in the unveiling.
Passengers injured in Tula bus crash to fly to Yerevan tonight
The bodies of the eight Armenian citizens killed in a bus crash in Russia’s Tula region will be transported to Yerevan tonight on a charter flight.
The plane is expected to take off from Moscow at 5 p.m. local time and land at Zvartnots Airport at 8 p.m. Yerevan time.
The plane will also transport the injured passengers, whose health condition is satisfactory. The Ministry of Transport and Communication has published the list of the injured that will fly home tonight.
- Ispiryan Gevorg (born in 1980)
- Khurshudyan Aram (born in 1986)
- Martirosyan Aram (born in 1999)
- Simonyan Hovnan (born in 1974)
- Karapetyan Edgar (born in 1977)
- Rushanyan Knarik (born in 1970)
- Rushanyan Zhora ( born in 1998)
- Minasyan Hunan (born in 1989)
- Yeremyan Armen (born in 1987)
- Khachatryan Karen (born in 1994)
- Tovmasyan Razmik (born in 1981)
- Gharakhanyan Simon (born in 1975)
- Sahradyan Hrach (born in 1957)
- Matikyan Arthur (born in 1976)
- Martikyan Arsen (born in 1972), citizen of the Russian Federation
- Hovhannisyan Arthur (born in 1982)
- Ohanyan Zhora (born in 1964)
- Adamyan Yurik (born in 1964)
- Chaparyan Knarik (born in 1970)
- Ghasaboghlyan Garik (born in 1984)
- Tadevosyan Sirekan (born in 1960) , citizen of the Russian Federation
- Dabielyan Vova (born in 1976)
- Usunyan Levon (born in 1971)
- Arakelyan Sargis (born in 1987)
- Yeremishyan Narine (born in 1961)
- Safaryan Karen (born in 1985)
- Antonyan Radik (born in 1972)
- Hambartsumyan Arkady (born in 1992)
- Mkrtchyan Sargis (born in 1966)
- Hakobyan Tigran (born in 1985)
- Khachatryan Tigran (born in 1998)
- Zakaryan Karen
Twelve citizens will still get treatment in Tula.
- Asryan Apres
- Sarkosyan (Markosyan) Gayane
- Yeremyan Anushavan
- Gasparyan Gohar
- Yesayan Yesai
- Hakobyan Tigran
- Grigoryan Sargis
- Hovhannisyan Arthur
- Sirakanyan Hropsime
- Gesoyan Asmand
- Nahapetyan Hakob
- Sargsyan Seryozha
Eight of the passengers will be transported to St. Gregory the Illuminator Medical center.
- Ispiryan Gevorn (born in 1980)
- Usunyan Levon (born in 1971)
- Arakelyan Sargis (born in 1987)
- Yeremishyan Narine (born in 1961)
- Safaryan Karen (born in 1985)
- Antonyan Radik (born in 1972)
- Hambardzumyan Arkady (born in 1992)
- Mkrtchyan Sargis (born in 1966)
Jurgen Klopp played Mkhitaryan out of position, agent Mino Raiola says
Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s agent Mino Raiola has accused former Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp of playing the Armenian midfielder out of position, ESPN FC reports.
Borussia Dortmund star Henrikh Mkhitaryan has been hailed as one of the best midfielders in Europe by his agent Mino Raiola.
Mkhitaryan, 26, joined Dortmund from Shakthar Donetsk in a club-record €27.5 million deal in the summer of 2013.
Last season, the Armenia international failed to find top form for most of the campaign, scoring only four goals and assisting seven in 41 games over all competitions.
But he has been transformed under new Dortmund boss Thomas Tuchel this season, already being involved in 23 goals across 18 games in all competitions. He has scored 11, and set up a dozen from Dortmund’s impressive total of 64 goals in 20 games.
Former boss Jurgen Klopp had said that the player’s performances often seemed to suggest the pressure might be much, but Raiola disagrees.
“Micki never had a mental problem,” he . “Micki just plays in his position now. That’s it.
“He’s one of the best players in Europe in it. You just have to play players where they are best. When you play [Lionel] Messi at right-back, he also wouldn’t be that good.”
Klopp, left Dortmund at the end of last season and has since taken charge of Liverpool, played Mkhitaryan on the right wing in several games last season, while Tuchel has used him in a more central role or on the left wing.
Real Madrid’s Benzema faces charge in Valbuena sex tape case in France
French footballer Karim Benzema has been placed under formal investigation in connection with a sex tape blackmail plot involving another player, the BBC reports.
The Real Madrid striker appeared before a judge in Versailles after being held in police custody overnight.
Police are investigating what part he played in an alleged attempt to extort money from fellow French international Mathieu Valbuena.
A source told AFP news agency that he had admitted involvement.
The 27-year-old star told investigators he had approached Mr Valbuena about the tape on behalf of “a childhood friend,” the report said.
According to French media, Mr Benzema mentioned the tape to the midfielder during a national team training session at Clairefontaine in early October, ahead of matches against Armenia and Denmark.
It was unclear whether he was offering friendly advice or trying to press his team-mate to pay the blackmailers.
The prosecutor’s office has confirmed that Mr Benzema is now under formal investigation for complicity in attempted blackmail and participation in a criminal conspiracy.
When a suspect is placed under formal investigation, he or she is then examined by a judge, who determines whether there is sufficient evidence for the suspect to be charged.
If formal charges do follow, Mr Benzema could face a minimum jail sentence of five years, the prosecutor said.
Meanwhile the court has banned the striker from contacting his France team-mate, or any other people charged in the case.
Correspondents say Thursday’s court judgement exposes the footballer to a lengthy period of doubt ahead of the Euro 2016 tournament that France hosts next year.
St. James Armenian Church in Evanston dedicates ‘khachkar’ to victims of Armenian Genocide
Photo by Kevin Tanaka/Pioneer Press
Members of the Armenian community gathered at St. James Armenian Church in downtown Evanston on Sunday, Oct. 25, for the unveiling of a traditional khachkar—or a cross stone—in front of the church, reports.
Khajag Barsamian, archbishop of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of American, led the ceremony, which consecrated “the uniquely Armenian monument in honor of the canonization of over 1.5 million martyrs of the 1915 Armenian genocide,” according to a press release from the church.
Evanston’s consecration ceremony took place at the conclusion of the special Episcopal Divine Liturgy (mass). “It was very uplifting and spiritual,” the Rev. Hovhan Khoja-Eynatyan, the pastor of St. James, said on Monday, Oct. 26.
“The khachkar monument, standing over ten feet tall in St. James’ front garden,” the release said, “was carved out of tuff stone in Armenia this summer and then shipped to Evanston.”
The release also explained that the art of carving khachkars dates back to the 4th century and “symbolizes the rebirth of Armenian culture after centuries of hardship.” the release said. No two khachkars are alike, according to the release.
“St. James’ khachkar was commissioned by the parish and supported through donations by dozens of individuals and families in the community in the names of loved ones both living and deceased,” the release said.
Almost every family has a member who was killed in 1915 or forced to leave their home, said Rev. Khoja-Eynatyan. So Sunday’s ceremony, was “very personal for every family,” he said.
On the emotional day, St. James parish members also marked the occasion by celebrating their 70th anniversary as a testimony to Armenians’ presence in the greater Chicago community.
“They (Armenians) came here to the United States,” said Rev. Khoja-Eynatyan, “and the first thing they did after settling was build churches.”
Driver of the crashed Yerevan-bound bus fell asleep, Russian Minitstry of Interior says
Photo by the Russian Ministry of Interior Affairs
The Yerevan-bound bus crashed in Russia’s Tula region because the driver fell asleep at the wheel, Deputy Head of the Russian Ministry of Interior Affairs Alexander Savenkov has said, RIA Novosti reports.
According to him, the number of road accidents has increased because of the violation of the work and rest periods.
A passenger bus en route from Moscow to Yerevan crashed in Russia’s Tula region, leaving eight dead and 48 injured.
After the accident the Moscow Traffic Police banned the exploitation of two similar buses transporting pasersengers from Moscow to Yerevan.
Russian jet violated Turkish airspace in Oct. due to anti-missile maneuver
Photo by Dmitriy Vinogradov/Sputnik
A Russian Aerospace Forces fighter was forced to violate Turkish airspace in October when it was conducting maneuvers to avoid a ground-based anti-missile defense system, Russian Aerospace Forces Commander Viktor Bondarev said Thursday, Sputnik News reports.
“Our plane was completing a strike task in northern Syria. There was heavy cloud cover. When our fighter started flying along the border with Turkey, the system showd that some sort of anti-missile defense systems were attempting to lock onto the warplane, so the pilot was forced to make an anti-missile maneuver in just seconds, and entered Turkish airspace a bit, which we honestly admitted to,” Bondarev told Russia’s Komsomolskaya Pravda daily in an interview.
On October 3, a Russian Su-30 Flanker multirole fighter violated Turkish airspace for a few seconds in the province of Hatay near Syria. The aircraft left Turkish airspace after being intercepted by two Turkish F-16 fighter jets.
Following the incident, the Russian Defense Ministry said it had taken all necessary measures to prevent any further violation of Turkish airspace.
On October 5, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu stated the incident involving the Russian jet had not affected relations between the countries. According to him, Moscow assured Ankara that such an incident would not occur in the future.
Armenia drops to 127th in FIFA World Ranking
The Armenian national team has dropped 36 places and is ranked 127th in the FIFA World Ranking released today. Armenia’s best result has been the 30th place in January 2014.
Belgium top the FIFA World Ranking for the first time in history. The Red Devils have jumped two places on the November edition to replace previous leaders Argentina (3rd, down 2) and world champions Germany (2nd, unchanged).
The biggest climbers in the top ten are Chile (5th, up 4), while England (9th, up 1) and Austria (10th, up 1) have each made slight progress. This is the first time that Belgium, Chile and Austria have ever reached such heights on the global ladder.