Category: News

On a working visit to Latvia, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan today had a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The interlocutors discussed issues related to Armenian-German interstate relations, and praised the fact that the bilateral agenda of cooperation that  has considerably expanded and enriched in the recent period, has been consolidated by about sixty agreements.

President Sargsyan expressed gratitude to the German Government for continuous support to Armenia.

The interlocutors referred to Armenia-EU relations and the perspectives of development. The Armenian President stressed the essential role of Germany in the deepening of those relations.

During the meeting reference was made to the 100^th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the commemoration events held in Germany and a number of other countries. President Sargsyan expressed gratitude to the German authorities for their position on the condemnation of the Armenian Genocide.

The interlocutors exchanged views on regional issues in the South Caucasus, including the process of peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group.

Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev has signed a ratification on the country’s ascension into the Eurasian Economic Union, Sputnik News reports.

The parliament of Kyrgyzstan approved the ratification on Wednesday.

The Eurasian Economic Union includes the countries of Russia, Armenia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan.

Islamic State fighters have seized the northern part of the ancient World Heritage-listed city of Palmyra in Syria, a monitoring group has said, the BBC reports.

Militants seized part of the town of Tadmur located on a strategic east-west route next to Palmyra on Saturday but had been pushed back from the ruins.

Palmyra contains architecture of one of the most important cultural centres of the ancient world, according to Unesco.

Now they have reached Palmyra, it is feared IS fighters may destroy it.

IS demolished the Unesco world heritage site of Hatra in Iraq in March, seeing it as a symbol of idolatry.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said a third of Palmyra had been taken after battles with government forces.

The site features a colonnaded street, major public buildings and funerary monuments.

It dates back to the 1st and 2nd Century, mixing Graeco-Roman techniques with local traditions and Persian influences.

On 20 May Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan visited the French Senate and met a group of Senators.

The President briefed the Senators on the state-building process in Artsakh, its domestic and foreign policy, the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict settlement process, regional trends and responded to questions.

The President underlined that official Stepanakert attaches importance to the development of bilateral relations with France, a friendly country and one of the cradles of democracy, a country which  became a second homeland for hundreds of thousands of Armenians, who escaped their historic land following the Armenian Genocide.

The President rated high the role of France in the Karabakh conflict settlement process and in maintaining peace and stability in the region.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to France Vigen Chitechyan was present at the meeting.

Barcelona midfielder Xavi is ready to announce on Thursday he is leaving Barcelona to join Qatari side Al Sadd in a three-year deal, says his agent, the reports.

Xavi, 35, has been with the Spanish club for 17 years, winning eight league titles, three Champions League trophies and several other cups.

His final league game for the newly-crowned champions is set to be against Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday.

Barcelona still have a Champions League final and Copa del Rey final to play.

According to his agent, Ivan Corretja, Xavi would also become an ambassador for the 2022 World Cup to be held in the Gulf state and look to start his coaching qualifications.

The Spanish player has also represented his country 133 times – a record for an outfield player – and was an integral figure in helping Spain win the 2010 World Cup and the 2008 and 2012 European Championship.

French ambassador to Azerbaijan Pascal Meunier has been summoned to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry on Wednesday in connection with the visit of Nagorno Karabakh President Bako Sahakyan to France on 17-19 May 2015, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hikmat Hajiyev told APA.

Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Khalaf Khalafov handed a note of protest to the French ambassador, he said.

According to the source, Khalaf Khalafov noted that the visit, as well as a number of French MPs’ participation in the parliamentary elections held in Nagorno Karabakh on 3 May 2015 as observers run contrary to the spirit of growing friendly and cooperative relations between France and Azerbaijan.

The ambassador said he has informed his country about the note handed to him by Azerbaijani authorities.

President of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Bako Sahakyan is visiting France. Within the framework of the visit he has had meetings with French MPs and the Mayors of a number of French cities.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev won’t be able to participate in the summit of the EU Eastern Partnership program to be held in Riga on May 21-22.

President’s aide for public and political affairs, Ali Hasanov made the remark on May 20 while talking to media, Azeri media report.

He noted that “the President has an extremely busy schedule as very little time is left to the start of the first European Games and preparations for this important event have entered the final stage.” “That’s why the head of state will not be able to attend the Summit.”

Hasanov said Azerbaijan will be represented at the Riga Summit by Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan, Chief of the Administration’s Foreign Relations Department Novruz Mammadov and Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov.

The meeting is expected to bring together the political leadership of the 28 EU Member States and six EaP partner countries – Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine – as well as the EU institutions, including Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, and Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission.

Kim Kardashian will present the CFDA Media Award to Kevin Systrom, the founder of Instagram. She shared the news Tuesday afternoon on that very platform, as well as Twitter, reports.

Systrom will be receiving the award  because of all that the social media platform has done for the fashion industry.

Taraji P. Henson will present the accessories award, Amanda Seyfried for women’s wear and Joshua Jackson for men’s wear. The presenters for the Swarovski awards are still in the works and will be revealed at a later date.

 

On May 21 UEFA President Michel Platini will arrive in Armenia on May 21 for a one-day official visit, Press Service of the Football Federation of Armenia reports.

Michel Platini will meet with the President of the Football Federation of Armenia, Ruben Hayrapetyan. He will visit the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and the Football Academy.

The UEFA President will have a short briefing with reporters at the Football Academy.

“The United States as a member of the OSCE Minsk Group, continues the efforts to solve the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Today, we continue our efforts in this direction,” APA quotes US Ambassador to Azerbaijan Robert Cekuta as saying.

According to him, the co-chairs have been negotiating with the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia to organize a meeting of the presidents this year. He said “the leaderships of both countries must demonstrate the will to take a step based on the ideas proposed by the Co-Chairs towards a peaceful resolution of the protracted conflict.”