Category: News

Russian singer Dima Bilan, who won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2009, is preparing a music video about the Armenian Genocide. The singer revealed the plans in an interview with Muz TV, Yerkramas reports.

Part of the video has already been shot in the Ararat Valley, the rest will be shot it in a specially decorated pavilion at Mosfilm.

“I’m familiar with the topic not only from history,” Dima Bilan has said. “My mother’s grandmother – Shushan Kruni – escaped the massacre, when she was 13.”

“She was saved by Russian soldiers also escaping from Turkey to Russia. Unfortunately, my grand-grandmother died before I was born. But my mother says she looked for her relatives throughout her life without even knowing whether they were alive or not,” the singer said.

The video is slated for release in April next year. The singer has devoted it to the memory of his grand-grandmother and the millions of victims of the genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Empire.

Mats Hummels has backed Henrikh Mkhitaryan to come good for Manchester United.

The Armenian ace has struggled since his £26million switch to Old Trafford from Borussia Dortmund in the summer.

Mkhitaryan has been restricted to just two Premier League starts for the Red Devils so far this season.

However, his former Dortmund teammate Hummels insists the 27-year-old will shine for Jose Mourinho’s men if he’s given the chance.

“If you let him play, you will see how good he is. I am 100 per cent sure of this. He is one of the best I have played with,” he told the

“But if you can’t play, you can’t shine. It’s easy! It’s really easy! I saw part of the game against Feyenoord.

“I saw part of the game against West Ham. There he was – always good, as he is always when he is on the pitch. He played at that level (raises his hands) all of last year.”

Photo: Valery Sharifulin/TASS    

Uzbekistan’s interim leader Shavkat Mirziyoyev has become the country’s new president. Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated Shavkat Mirziyoyev on his election of Uzbekistan’s president and invited him to pay an official visit to Russia, the Kremlin press service said on Monday after their telephone conversation, TASS reports.

“The Russian president extended his warmest congratulations to Shavkat Mirziyoyev on his convincing victory at Uzbekistan’s presidential elections and wished him every success on this high state post,” the Kremlin said. “Both sides reiterated their plans to further strengthen Russian-Uzbek allied relations of strategic partnership and to expand mutually beneficial cooperation in various spheres.”

“Putin also invited Uzbekistan’s president-elect to pay an official visit to Russia. The invitation was accepted with gratitude,” the press service said.

Early presidential elections were held in Uzbekistan on Sunday. The elections were appointed after the death of Uzbekistan’s President Islam Karimov on September 2. Four candidates from all Uzbekistan’s officially registered parties vied for presidency. The candidates were acting President and Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoyev nominated by the Movement of Entrepreneurs and Businessmen/the Liberal Democratic Party; Khatamzhon Ketmonov of the People’s Democratic Party; Sarvar Otamuratov of the Milliy Tiklanich (National Revival) Democratic Party; and Nariman Umarov of the Adolat (Justice) Social Democratic Party.

Chairman of Uzbekistan’s Central Election Commission Mirza-Ulugbek Abdusalomov said earlier on Monday Mirziyoyev is winning the elections with 88.61% of the vote.

The Azerbaijani side kept violating the ceasefire regime at the line of contact with the Karabakh forces last night.

The rival mainly used firearms of different calibers /550 shots/ and sniper rifles /33 shots/. The Azeri side also used a hand-held antitank grenade launcher in the eastern /Martuni/ direction.

The front divisions of the NKR Defense Army confidently continued with their military duty and ensured the reliable protection of the frontline.

“The situation is calm at this point and is under vigil control of the Armenian forces,” the NKR Defense Ministry said.

Statement by Edward Nalbandian, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia at the International Conference on Nuclear Security: Commitments and Actions

Mr. President,
Distinguished Colleagues,
Ladies and gentlemen,

I would like to thank Director General Amano for convening this important international conference on Nuclear Security in Vienna.

This is a good opportunity to review the progress made in implementing decisions adopted during Nuclear Security Summits and 2013 Conference on Nuclear Security and IAEA General Conferences, as well as to elaborate our joint endeavors aimed at further strengthening the international nuclear security. In this regard the outcome document of the Ministerial Segment will guide us in our joint endeavor to achieve more effective global nuclear security.

Mr. President,

Armenia strongly supports the essential role of the International Atomic Energy Agency in the global nuclear security architecture and its leading role in facilitating and coordinating nuclear security activities among Member States, as well as international organizations and initiatives.

Armenia attaches great importance to reinforcing nuclear security both at national and international levels through the ratification and implementation of international legal instruments as well as the establishment of robust national legislation. It is noteworthy that in 2015 we have adopted Amendments to the Government decrees on approval of the licensing procedure for import and export of radioactive materials, on the rules of physical protection for radioactive materials and on the concept of physical protection and security of Armenian Nuclear Power Plant and nuclear materials. These measures are aimed at complementing the implementation of the provisions of the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and its Amendment.

Armenia fully implements its international obligations under the UN Security Council Resolution 1540. The National Action Plan of Armenia for 2015-2020 outlines series of concrete steps ranging from reviewing already implemented national measures to the coordination of ongoing and anticipated activities.

We are also active in counter-proliferation initiatives such as Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism and Proliferation Security Initiative. The Government of Armenia is continuously working with its international partners at bilateral and multilateral levels to further enhance its national capabilities in countering nuclear smuggling.

Mr. President,

Armenia closely cooperates on a regular basis with the IAEA and other relevant International organizations and partner countries on all issues related to the nuclear energy. The Armenian nuclear power plant has always registered excellent record of safety. The Armenian Government’s decision on extension of the life cycle of the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant was taken after thorough consultations with the IAEA and our international partners with a strong emphasis on ensuring its safety and security. In particular, numerous IAEA on-site inspections and assessment missions have reaffirmed Armenia’s commitment in implementing its international obligations and the highest level of openness and transparency. Non-compliance or deviation from the requirements of international treaties has not been recorded.

Against this background it is regrettable that some Member States, namely Azerbaijan and Turkey in a sheer disrespect to IAEA – its findings, records and analysis have been trying to exploit international fora for their own narrow political and propaganda purposes in order to spread groundless charges against Armenia. These fabricated and recycled accusations have nothing to do with the reality.

Mr. President,

As a strong supporter of the non-proliferation policies, Armenia reiterates its full compliance with the nonproliferation treaty and other relevant treaties, as well as IAEA safeguards agreements and additional protocol.

In conclusion, I would like once again to reiterate Armenia’s strong commitment to the collective efforts aimed at strengthening the nuclear security architecture.

Thank you.

 

 

 

Founder of the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) Gagik Tsarukyan will participate in the forthcoming political processes, head of the PAP faction Naira Zohrabyan told reporters today.

Gagik Tsarukyan will make a public statement in the near future to personally explain the format of that participation.

Zohrabyan noted that Gagik Tsarukyan is returning to politics at the request of his party members, but upon his personal decision. She also added that the Party will act on the opposition field.

Naira Zohrabyan said she has the impression that Gagik Tsarukyan’s return has caused panic on the political field, especially among the opposition.

“I can understand it, because Tsarukyan’s return has shuffled all political scenarios,” Zohrabyan said.

Photo: Getty Images

 

Thirty-three bodies have so far been recovered from a warehouse in Oakland, California, following a deadly fire during a party, officials say, the BBC reports.

Only about 20% of the building has been searched and “a significant number” of people are still missing, they said.

It is unclear what caused the fire at the converted warehouse.

The safety record of the building is under close scrutiny. There were no sprinklers and the only exit from the second floor was a makeshift stairwell.

Oakland fire chief Teresa Deloach-Reed said between 50 and 100 people were inside the venue when the fire started late on Friday.

The old warehouse, known as the Ghost Ship, was hosting a concert by electronic group Golden Donna and six other acts.

The fire caused the roof to collapse on to the second floor, part of which then fell through to the ground floor.

Covert Media has sold the Armenian disaster film “Earthquake” and fantasy thriller “The Night Watchmen” to multiple major international territories including Germany, Japan and Korea, has learned exclusively.

Sales were made through Covert’s recently launched Lexica Films label,which began operations ahead of the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival with the aim to champion five to 10 foreign language titles per year. Senior VP of International Jim Harvey leads the sales for President of International Liz Kim Schwan.

“Earthquake,” which had its market premiere screening at the American Film Market, has been acquired by AT Entertainment for Japan and First Run Inc for South Korea as well as Movie Cloud for Taiwan, One World Movies for India, Moxienotion for Indonesia, Sahamongkol for Malaysia and Vietnam, and with Cine Star for Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Colombia. The film has been submitted as Armenia’s entry for Best Foreign Language Film for this season’s Golden Globes.

Konstantin Lavronenko stars in a fictional account of the devastating 1988 Spitak earthquake in Armenia.

“Earthquake” is directed by Sarik Andreasyan from a script by Aleksey Gravitskiy and Sergey Yudakov, with participation from Grant Barsegyan and Arsen Danielyan. The cast also includes Sabina Akhmedova and newcomer Viktor Stepanyan.

Today, the newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Bulgaria to the Republic of Armenia Maria Pavlova Tsosorkova-Kaymaktchieva presented her credentials to President Serzh Sargsyan, President’s Press Office reports.

The President of Armenia congratulated the ambassador on her appointment and wished every success. Serzh Sargsyan noted with satisfaction that the Armenian-Bulgarian interstate relations have a strong base anchored in the cultural similarities and centuries-long friendship and dynamically developing political and economic dialogue. All this, according to the President, create an excellent foundation for further strengthening and deepening of the relations between Armenia and Bulgaria. Serzh Sargsyan expressed hope that the newly appointed ambassador will promote these relations through her active work, contributing to the opening and development of the entire potential for cooperation in different areas.

Ambassador Maria Pavlova Tsosorkova-Kaymaktchieva concurred with the President’s assessment of the interstate relations and stressed the importance of the full utilization of the existing legal field, which comprises over five dozen documents, and expansion of cooperation.

The parties exchanged also views on the NK peace process and challenges existing in the region.

The Azerbaijani side kept violating the ceasefire regime in almost all directions of the line of contact with the Karabakh forces last night.

More intensive firing was reported in the eastern direction of the frontline, where the Azeri side used firearms of different calibers, 60 and 82 mm mine throwers  and an automatic grenade launcher.

All in all, the rival violated the ceasefire 125 times, firing over 2,000 shots in the direction of the Armenian positions.

The Armenian side incurred no losses as a result of ceasefire violation, the NKR Defense Ministry said.

The Ministry also refuted the claims of the Azerbaijani side that “one was killed, nine wounded as a result of heavy fighting in the eastern direction of the line of contact” and said “it’s yet another misinformation.”

The Front troops of the NKR Defense Army confidently continue with their military duty and resort to response actions if necessary.

The situation has been calm this morning.