Category: News

The fabled last will and testament of Alexander the Great may have finally been discovered more than 2,000 years after his death.

A London-based expert claims to have unearthed the Macedonian king’s dying wishes in an ancient Armenian text that has been ‘hiding in plain sight’ for centuries, reports.

The long-dismissed last will divulges Alexander’s plans for the future of the Greek-Persian empire he ruled.

It also reveals his burial wishes and discloses the beneficiaries to his vast fortune and power.

Evidence for the lost will can be found in an ancient manuscript known as the ‘Alexander Romance’, a book of fables covering Alexander’s mythical exploits.

Likely compiled during the century after Alexander’s death, the fables contain invaluable historical fragments about Alexander’s campaigns in the Persian Empire.

Historians have long believed that the last chapter of the Romance housed a political pamphlet that contained Alexander’s will, but until now have dismissed it as a work of early fiction.

But a ten-year research project undertaken by Alexander expert David Grant suggests otherwise.

The comprehensive study concludes that the will was based upon the genuine article, though it was skewed for political effect.

The revelation is detailed in Mr Grant’s new book, ‘In Search of the Lost Testament of Alexander the Great.’

He believes that Alexander’s original will was suppressed by his most powerful generals, because it named his then unborn half-Asian son Alexander IV and elder son Heracles as his successors.

Rather than accepting the leadership of what the Macedonians saw as ‘half-breed’ sons, which would have been ‘unthinkable’, they fought each other for power in a bloody period of infighting and civil war known as the ‘Successor Wars’.

It was in the decades following Alexander’s death that Mr Grant now believes the original will was secretly rewritten and distributed in leaflet form by one of the competing generals to ‘prove’ the legitimacy of his own inheritance, as well as to damn the generals opposing him.

Jose Mourinho has admitted he simply cannot leave Henrikh Mkhitaryan out of the team following his starring role in Sunday’s 4-0 win over Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup, according to Manchester United’s official website.

The Armenia captain was named Man of the Match by TV broadcasters after a fine display and an excellent counter-attack goal as the Reds eased to a comfortable victory at Old Trafford.

“Do you want me to leave Micki out after him being Man of the Match and playing so well as he did?” asked Mourinho at a press conference to preview United’s Premier League match against Hull City.

“I can’t! I think the players pick themselves, I’m just here to analyse what they do and to try to be fair with them. After such a good performance, Micki has to play. It’s simple.”

Mkhitaryan linked up with Anthony Martial for his goal against Wigan and Mourinho has encouraged the Frenchman to continue to build on that performance against the Latics.

“He has to perform better than the others that are competing with him for the same positions,” the boss said. “His position is where we have lots of options.”

In a meeting in Tehran with Armenia’s Defense Minister Vigen Sargsyan, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif hailed the expanding relations between Tehran and Yerevan, hoping that the ties would contribute to regional peace and stability.

The parties attached importance to the expansion of cooperation between the two countries in the field of security. Issues related to the reinforcement of bilateral cooperation, the deepening of friendly ties between the two peoples were discussed. Reference was made to regional issues, as well.

“In today’s world where extremist tendencies are growing in the name of different religions, the ties between Iran and Armenia can be exemplary,” Zarif said.  “We are witnessing the growth of relations in different fields,” he added.

Sargsyan, for his part, said Armenia attaches great significance to its ties with the Islamic Republic of Iran. He also referred to a recent visit to Yerevan by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, saying there have been new developments in the bilateral ties since the trip.

The interlocutors praised the cooperation in different spheres and attached importance to the deepening of relations. They also emphasized the impotance of regional peace and security as a prerequisite for the consistent development of the countries in the region.

Vigen Sargsyan briefed Javad Zarif on the situation at the line of contact between the armed forces of Nagorno Karabakh and the OSCE Minsk Group efforts towards the settlement of the conflict. The parties stressed the need to solve the issue in a peaceful way through negotiations and reiterated their commitment to contribute to the establishment of peace and stability.

President Donald Trump has nominated Colorado federal appeals court judge Neil Gorsuch for the US Supreme Court, the BBC reports.

If confirmed by the Senate, the 49-year-old would replace the vacancy left on the court by the late Justice Antonin Scalia.

The upper chamber’s Democratic leader has already said he has “very serious doubts” about the nominee.

The court has the last legal word on many of the most sensitive US issues, from abortion to gender to gun control.

The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs are ready to organize a meeting between the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in mid-February, Russian Co-Chairs Igor Popov told TASS.

“The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs have agreed to hold separate consultations with the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in mid-February,” he said.

“If the Ministers show interest, we’ll organize a meeting between them,” Popov added.

Besides, he said, according to an agreement reached in St. Petersburg last summer, consultations continue in Russia-Azerbaijan-Armenia format.

“Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has recently discussed the Karabakh issue with Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov. As soon as necessary conditions are created, there will be a possibility of a trilateral meeting,” the Ambassador added.

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian told a press conference yesterday that “Armenia never refuses from any meeting.”

“The meeting with the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister will take place, if the Azrei side agrees,” Minister Nalbandian said.

The U.S. Government will continue to give importance and priority to achieving a peaceful settlement for Nagorno-Karabakh’s future, U.S. Ambassador to Armenia has said.

“The more time I spend in Armenia, and certainly in the tragic aftermath of last April’s fighting, the more I realize how much the lack of a peaceful resolution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflicts diverts precious resources – both Armenian and those provided from Armenia’s international and Diaspora friends – from our shared goals and, frankly, the priorities I and my Embassy have set for ourselves,” Ambassador Mills said in his remarks to American Chamber of Commerce of Armenia.

“Let me underscore the continuing importance and priority the Embassy, the U.S. Government, and I personally will continue to give to achieving a peaceful settlement for Nagorno-Karabakh’s future,” Richard Mills stated.

Asbarez – A month prior to his passing, famed Armenian-American actor Mike Connors—born Krikor Ohanian—attended the “Ex-Fresnotzi” luncheon on December 11, 2016.

During the lunch, Connors met with Armenian American community leader Walter Karabian, the benefactor of the Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region’s Walter and Laurel Karabian Fellowship in Sacramento.

Connors gained stardom for his lead role as detective Joe Mannix on the show Mannix, a decade-long series acclaimed to be “the most popular crime show on television during the time.”

In addition to films he appeared in, he narrated the 1975 J. Michael Hagopian documentary The Forgotten Genocide, and Ararat Beckons.

Connors also narrated a 1994 documentary film titled William Saroyan: The Man, The Writer, directed by Paul Kalinian.

Connors passed away on January 26 after being diagnosed with leukemia a week earlier at 91 years old.

Connors was born in 1925 in Fresno, California to Armenian parents Krekor and Alice Ohanian, and survived by his wife of 67 years Mary Lou Wells, his daughter Dena and granddaughter.

The Dutch club Willem II is reportedly interested in signing Armenia international Aras Ozbilis,  reports.

The former Ajax striker is currently playing for Turkish Besiktas, and was loaned to Spanish Rayo Vallecano last summer.

Willem II currently sits 11^th in the Dutch league.

On an official visit to Iran, Armenian Defense Minister Vigen Sargsyan visited the editorial office of the Armenian Alik daily.

During the meeting with the editorial staff, Vigen Sargsyan spoke about Armenian-Iranian relations, the ongoing work at the Armed Forces and the future plans. He presented the achievements of the Army and answered questions. The Defense Minister briefed the attendees on the provisions of the “Army-nation”idea.

The delegation headed by Vigen Sargsyan later visited the Tehran Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church and met with Prelate, Archbishop Sepuh Sargsyan and representatives of the Armenian community.

The Defense Minister hailed the constructive role of the Armenian Church and Diaspora organizations in the preservation of the Armenian identity, as well as the reinforcement of Armenian-Iranian friendly relations and their further development.

 

Asbarez – On Thursday February 9, the All-Armenian Student Association (All-ASA) will be coordinating the annual simultaneous college campus “Stain of Denial” silent protest against denial of the Armenian Genocide. ASA chapters on their respective college and university campuses will stage protests. The event is co-sponsored by the Western and Eastern Regions of the Armenian Youth Federation, ARF Shant Student Association, Alpha Gamma Alpha, and Alpha Epsilon Omega.

Stain of Denial is organized to engage college students in raising awareness about the Armenian Genocide, its ongoing denial, and the need for recognition and reparations. The protest is held every winter in order to symbolize the fact that genocide denial by nations including the Republic of Turkey and the United States continuously occurs throughout the year and not only on April 24th, the day that is typically cited as the beginning of the systematic deportation and extermination of Armenians and other minorities in the Ottoman Empire. The protest will concurrently take place on campuses throughout the United States from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Pacific Standard Time, along with complimentary activity on social media that specifically incorporates the hashtags #StainOfDenial, #ArmenianGenocide, and #DivestTurkey, aimed at augmenting the event’s exposure. The messaging of the protest at each campus will highlight three themes: history of the genocide, its consequences and contemporary conditions of affected Armenians worldwide and current student action. The third theme specifically highlights resolutions that ASAs have passed through their student government councils, including both Armenian Genocide recognition and divestment bills, the latter of which targets over $70 million of University of California funds allocated toward the Turkish government as a part of the #DivestTurkey initiative.

The All-ASA openly invites alumni, graduate students, faculty, non-Armenian student organizations, and the general public to join their respective campus’ ASA in the call for justice, either in-person or on social media if they are unable to physically participate. The All-ASA released a statement preceding the protest, reading: “The Armenian Genocide claimed the lives of 1.5 million people and forced the dispersion of Armenians throughout the world. The Republic of Turkey, a descendant regime of the Ottoman Empire, has led a denial campaign since its founding to stave off responsibility for necessary reparations, setting a cyclical precedent for the repression of justice. The United States, under political pressure from Turkey, has also refused to acknowledge the genocide by its rightful classification. As Armenian-Americans, we believe that politics and humanity need to be held in separate realms. The Stain of Denial is a tool to educate each campus’ community about the Armenian experience and the cycle of genocide.”

ASAs participating in this year’s Stain of Denial include those based at Cal Poly Pomona, Cal State Northridge, the Claremont Colleges, Glendale Community College, Los Angeles Valley College, Loyola Marymount University, Occidental College, Pasadena City College, Santa Monica College, UC Los Angeles, UC Irvine, UC Riverside, UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara, UC Santa Cruz, and the University of Southern California. For the first time in its history, Stain of Denial will also include universities outside of California as well: Armenian students at Northeastern and Tufts Universities located in Boston, Massachusetts, Yale University, Concordia University, Montreal, and various colleges on the East coast of Canada will be participating. Information on Stain of Denial including details about campus protest locations can be found on the All-ASA website: www.all-asa.org .

The All-Armenian Student Association (All-ASA) works to unite various Armenian-American college student organizations and serve the greater Armenian-American community through cultural, social, educational, and activist programming. As the largest confederation of ASAs in the nation, All-ASA is dedicated to collaboration among its constituent organizations, leadership development of its members, and community service.