On 3 November President of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Bako Sahakyan signed a decree appointing Victor Kocharyan deputy secretary of the NKR Security Council, releasing him from the post of the NKR Security Council Secretary.
According to another Presidential decree signed on the same day Vitaly Balasanyan was appointed Сecretary of the NKR Security Council.
At least 239 migrants have died in two shipwrecks off Libya, the United Nations said on Thursday, Reuters reports.
Carlotta Sami, a spokeswoman for the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR, said the information was confirmed by two survivors brought ashore on the Italian island of Lampedusa.
Leonard Doyle, chief spokesman for the International Organization for Migration, said 4,220 lives had now been lost in the Mediterranean so far this year.
Photo: Sputnik/ ALEXEY DRUZHININ
Russia has granted citizenship to Steven Seagal via a decree from president Vladimir Putin, published on the Kremlin’s official web site on Thursday.
“He has made requests about citizenship for a long time and quite persistently,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said
“This [was his] desire, he had really applied. He had been really persistent for a long time and been asking to grant him citizenship, he is actually renown for his quite warm feelings toward our country. He never made a secret out of it, at the same time he is quite famous, as you know, actor,” Peskov told journalists, reports.
In September, Seagal said that he was considering the possibility of applying for Russian citizenship. He explained his plans by the desire to spend several months a year with his friends in the country.
President of the Football Federation of Armenia introduced Artur Petrosyan as the new head coach today.
Hayrapetyan handed the newly appointed coach a shirt of the national team and wished him success in his activity.
Artur Petrosyan said “changes in the squad are expected.” The coach said they will be visible during the 2018 World Cup qualifier against Montenegro to be held in Yerevan on November 11.
Petrosayn said he will leave his job at FC Zurich’s youth team to stay in Yerevan and follow the national championship.
Artur Petrosyan has signed a two-year contract.
Chairman of the National Council of Slovakia Andrej Danko visited the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial today accompanied by Vice-Speaker of the Armenian National Assembly Edward Sharmazanov and President of the Standing Committee on Foreign Relations Artak Zakaryan.
Members of the Slovakian delegation laid a wreath at the memorial to the Armenian Genocide victims and paid tribute to their memory with a minute of silence.
The guests visited the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute and left a note in the guest book.
Sharing his impressions from the visit, Andrej Danko said: “Sharing the sorrow and bowing before this memorial with huge respect, I never try to hide my tears.”
Parliament must vote on whether the UK can start the process of leaving the European Union, the High Court has ruled, the BBC reports.
This means the government cannot trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty – beginning formal discussions with the EU – on their own.
Theresa May says the referendum – and existing ministerial powers – mean MPs do not need to vote, but campaigners called this unconstitutional.
The government is expected to appeal.
Ministers were given the go-ahead for a further hearing to take place at the Supreme Court, which is expected to take place before the end of the year.
The prime minister has said she will activate Article 50, formally notifying the EU of the UK’s intention to leave, by the end of next March. This follows the UK’s decision to back Brexit in June’s referendum by a margin of 51.9% to 48.1%.
The EU’s other 27 members have said negotiations about the terms of the UK’s exit – due to last two years – cannot begin until Article 50 has been invoked.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $50 million loan to improve the transport efficiency and safety of the M6 Highway from Vanadzor in Armenia to the border with Georgia at Bagratashen, one of the most strategic roads for internal and external trade.
“Road transport plays an important role in the national economy of Armenia, which relies heavily on trade with neighboring countries like Georgia,” said Jiangbo Ning, principal transport specialist with ADB’s Central West Asia Regional Department. ”ADB supports the government’s priority to develop and increase the efficiency of the transport system as a prerequisite for economic growth, and for increased access to social and economic services.”
The M6 highway is a vital link connecting Armenia with Georgia and beyond, providing the shortest link between the respective capitals: Yerevan and Tbilisi. In 2014, the Bagratashen border crossing handled 0.85 million tons of import and export freight, representing almost half of the country’s total import freight tonnage and goods by road.
The conditions of this vital highway, though, are deteriorating and imposing high transport costs on users. Some structures are dangerous and need to be rehabilitated immediately. Every year, landslides, flooding, falling rocks, and heavy snowfall cause road closures. These factors have contributed to a poor safety record – about 30 crashes and six fatalities per year during 2012–2014.
These problems are mainly attributed to a historical lack of maintenance and limited maintenance funding, old road design and technical specifications, and a lack of qualified human resources and contractors, as well as consulting companies with the necessary knowledge and skills to conduct maintenance.
The project will rehabilitate and upgrade 51.5 km of the total 90 kilometers of the two-lane M6 highway, as rehabilitation of the remaining 38.5 kilometers will be financed by the European Investment Bank. Facilities and safety along and in the vicinity of this road section in northern Armenia will be improved, and the institutional capacity of the Ministry of Transport and Communications will be strengthened.
ADB is also providing additional support to help the government take proactive steps to increase the budget allocation for road maintenance, and enhance its effectiveness through policy dialogues.
Once completed, the project will help improve access to social services, agriculture, tourism, and jobs, with the aim of reducing regional economic and social disparities. The upgraded road link will particularly benefit the Lori region, a major destination that attracts local and international tourists, by help it transition from its high dependence on minerals and chemicals to a more diversified economy with an emphasis on the tourism and service sectors.
ADB, based in Manila, is dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration. Established in 1966, ADB in December 2016 will mark 50 years of development partnership in the region. It is owned by 67 members – 48 from the region. In 2015, ADB assistance totaled $27.2 billion, including cofinancing of $10.7 billion.
The Azerbaijani defense propaganda maintains the policy of disseminating disinformation to mislead both the international community and its own people, the NKR Defense Ministry said in a statement.
“In particular, on November 2 the Azeri side spread information in the media and social networks, claiming that the shells fired from Armenian mortars fell on the Chemenli settlement in Aghdam region and other populated areas,” the Ministry said.
The NKR Defense Ministry declares that the information does not correspond to reality. Moreover, it, says, by spreading such statements the rival is trying to justify future provocations.
“The front divisions of the NKR Defense Army strongly respect the commitments and never target the peaceful settlements,” the statement reads.
Jose Mourinho is taking 21 players with him to Istanbul for Manchester United’s Europa League meeting with Fenerbahce on Thursday, accoridng to Manchester United’s official website.
Phil Jones, who has yet to make an appearance this season, is included after injury but fellow defender Chris Smalling has not made the trip. Tim Fosu-Mensah, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Anthony Martial have also been named in the squad but Michael Carrick, Memphis Depay and Antonio Valencia will remain in Manchester.
Bastian Schweinsteiger, who trained with the players this week, has not travelled as he is ineligible for the group stages of the Europa League.
The Reds are currently level on points with first-placed Feyenoord on six points. Both sides have won two and lost one, but the Dutch side are top of Group A by virtue of the head-to-head record following Feyenoord’s 1-0 win over the Reds in September. Fenerbahce, who the Reds overcame 4-1 at Old Traffordtwo weeks ago, lie third on four points, with Zorya Luhansk bottom of the group on just one point.
United squad: De Gea, Romero, Johnstone; Blind, Jones, Darmian, Fosu-Mensah, Rojo, Shaw; Fellaini, Herrera, Mkhitaryan, Lingard, Mata, Pogba, Schneiderlin, Young; Ibrahimovic, Martial, Rashford, Rooney.
Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian will visit Berlin November 3-4, where he is set to meet with German Foreign Minister Frank Walter-Steinmeier.
Minister Nalbandian is also expected to meet with Christoph Heusgen, Chancellor Angele Merkel’s Foreign and Security Policy Adviser.
Within the framework of the visit Edward Nalbandian will hold meetings with Members of Parliament, leading political scientists and experts.