Category: News

Brussels Airlines to launch Armenia service

Yeghisabet Arthur

Brussels Airlines will launch flights to Armenia from March 31st next year, according to Business Traveller.

The new route will be served by an Airbus A320, flying from Brussels airport to the capital city Yerevan once a week, with a second flight to operate in July and August.

Between December and March, Brussels Airlines will launch charter flights between Brussels to Yerevan as part of a partnership with Belgian-Armenian tour operator Armwings.

The flights will depart from Brussels airport in the evening on Friday, with the summer service departing on Tuesday. The return flight will leave Yerevan’s Zvartnots airport on Saturday morning, with the summer service departing on Wednesday.

The schedule will allow connections to destinations in France, Switzerland, Germany, Poland, Scandinavia, Spain, Italy, the UK, US and Canada. Bookings can be made from mid October.

Armen Amiryan appointed as Minister of Culture

Nahapetian Samvel

President Serzh Sargsyan signed a decree today, appointing Armen Amiryan – long-time Executive Director of Public Radio of Armenia – as Minister of Culture.

According to an earlier presidential decree, Armen Amiryan was relieved of the duties of the Member of the Council of Public Television and Radio Company of Armenia.

Russia has started delivery of weapons to Armenia under $200 mln loan agreement

Jagharian Tania

Russia has started the delivery of weapons to Armenia under the $200 mln agreement, Russia’s Ambassador to Armenia Ivan Volynkin said in an interview with  Radio Liberty.

The Ambassador also commented on the sale of Iskander ballistic missile system, noting that the fact is a testament to the allied nature of the Armenian-Russian relations.

According to Amb. Volynkin, the sale of the Iskander means that “the relations between Armenia and Russia are allied and friendly.”

As for the $200 mln loan agreement, the Ambassador said it’s in the process of implementation. “It is being implemented according to the plan, the delivery has already started,” Ivan Volynkin said.

Edward Nalbandian delivers lecture at Baker Institute

Karakhanian Suren

On September 26, in Houston, Edward Nalbandian, the Acting Foreign Minister of Armenia, visited the Rice University’s James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, where he delivered a lecture on the challenges in the South Caucasus.

The meeting, attended by leading experts and scientists, representatives of business sector, heads of diplomatic missions accredited in Houston, was chaired by Ambassador Edward P. Djerejian, the Founding Director of the Institute and renowned US diplomat.

In his remarks Edward Nalbandian presented the Armenia’s path during the 25 years of independence, the foreign policy priorities of Armenia, its stance on regional issues and ways to resolve them.

The Acting Foreign Minister of Armenia briefed in details on the current stage of settlement process of the Nagorno-Karabakh issues, presented the agreements reached during the Vienna and St. Petersburg meetings and Azerbaijan’s destructive efforts to backtrack from the implementation of the results of those meetings.

The Acting Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian spoke about Armenia’s initiative role in the international arena aimed at preventing the crime of genocide, Armenia’s involvement in different international institutions, its participation in peacekeeping operation in different countries under the UN mandate, Armenia’s cooperation with a number of international organizations, as well as he touched upon the consequences of the Syrian crisis, migration flows and situation in the Middle East.

At the end of the lecture Edward Nalbandian answered numerous questions of the attendees.

Mkhitaryan back in training and set for Man Utd return

Lilit Nahapetian

Henrikh Mkhitaryan is back in training after injury and is set to make his return in Manchester United’s Europa League clash against Zorya Luhansk this week, accoridng to Teamtalk.com.

Mkhitaryan, who suffered a thigh injury playing for Armenia earlier this month, has not featured since he was replaced at half-time during the 2-1 derby defeat to Manchester City on September 10.

The 27-year-old has missed United’s last four games but returned to training ahead of the 4-1 win over Leicester at Old Trafford on Saturday, but was not considered for the game.

However, he is in line to be part of Jose Mourinho’s squad for Zorya, currently second in Ukraine’s Premier League, when they visit Old Trafford on Thursday. United lost their first Europa League group game against Feyenoord and will be looking to get their campaign back on track.

Wayne Rooney is also expected to start for United, but Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Anthony Martial and Luke Shaw look set to miss out.

Shaw is recovering from a groin problem while Martial missed the win over Leicester after he suffered a head injury during the defeat to Watford.

Ibrahimovic was spotted in Milan on Monday with reports in Italy claiming the the 34-year-old has been granted a short holiday by Mourinho.