Category: News

The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France to Armenia Jean-Francois Charpentier has welcomed the signing of the Paris Climate deal by Armenia.

“I welcome the signing of the Paris Agreement on the Reduction of Climate Change by Armenia on September 21 in New York,” the Ambassador said in a statement.

“France, as a COP 21 chairing country, encourages the Armenian authorities to ratify the agreement as soon as possible and thus help the deal enter into force by the end of 2016.

The Agreement will come into force after being ratified by 55 countries, which account for 55% of greenhouse gas emissions.

On September 21 – the 25th anniversary of Armenia’s Independence – Armenian Acting Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian chaired the sitting of the UN General Assembly in New York.

A number of Heads of State offered speeches during the sitting.

The Armenian Government today approved the bill on amendments to the structure of the executive body.

Under the proposed bill, the Ministry of Economy will be renamed Ministry of Investments and Support of Entrepreneurship, the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources will be called the Ministry of Energy Infrastructures and Natural Resources, the name of the Ministry of Transport and Communication will be changed into Ministry of Transport, Communication and Information Technologies. The Ministry of Urban Development will be excluded from the list.

According to Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan, the Ministry of Investments and Support of Entrepreneurship will support the businessmen and address the issues they raise, consider their objections and proposals.

Speaking about the IT sphere, the Prime Minister said “the field has its peculiarities and it’s logical for the Ministry of Transport and Communication to address issues of IT, as well.”

The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs look forward to progress on key issues of Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement process.

“Meetings with the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan on Nagorno Karabakh peace process have concluded in New York. We look forward to progress on key issues,” US Co-Chair of the Minsk Group James Warlick said in a Twitter post.

The Minsk Group Co-Chairs held meetings with Armenia’s Acting Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov on the sidelines of the 71^st session of the UN General Assembly.

The bill criminalizing the Armenian Genocide denial will be submitted to the French Senate in a few days, Mayor of the French city of Alfortville, Vice-Chairman of the Armenia-France Friendship Group at the French Senate Luc Carvounas told a press conference today.

Mr. Carvounas hopes they will find a common ground with forces standing against the adoption of the bill. “I assure I’ve voted in favor of the bill before. We have had good relations with Armenia for a long time and have worked on issued of Armenian Genocide. I don’t think we’ll deviate from the path.

Speaking about the Turkish-Azerbaijani lobby, the Senator said “they are working actively, but are unable to prevent the work of the parliamentarians.”

Luc Carvounas heads a French delegation that has arrived in Armenia to participate in the events dedicated to the 25^th anniversary of independence.

The delegation has also visited Artsakh and held a meeting with NKR President Bako Sahakyan.

Senator Carvounas first visited Armenia with a delegation headed by French President Francois Hollande on the Armenian Genocide centennial.

Oxford University has come top of the Times Higher Education world university rankings, the BBC reports.

Oxford knocks California Institute of Technology, the top performer for the past five years, into second place.

The rankings show a mixed picture for European universities, while Asian institutions continue to rise.

The Times Higher tables rank universities worldwide on measures including teaching, research and international outlook – for example, numbers of overseas students and staff.

Editor of the rankings Phil Baty said it was “fantastic news” Oxford had come top, but the UK’s vote to leave the European Union was a big threat to the sector.

Photo: Reuters

A boat carrying African migrants headed to Europe capsized off the Mediterranean coast near the Egyptian city of Alexandria on Wednesday, killing at least 42 people, Egyptian authorities said, AP reports.

The army gave the toll in a statement, saying it had “thwarted an illegal immigration attempt” and that the boat had been 12 nautical miles off the coast when it sank.

Health Ministry spokesman Khaled Megahed said that the total number of dead was still unknown. Local official Alaa Osman from Beheira province said the migrants were from several African countries. He said over 150 people have been rescued so far but that bodies are still being pulled from the water.

Egypt’s official news agency MENA said the boat was carrying 600 people when it sank near the coast, some 180 kilometers north of the capital, Cairo. Osman said the boat had likely come from Kafr el-Sheik province, further to the east.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan needs to play more at Manchester United and in his correct position. That is the view of Arsenal legend and pundit Ian Wright, the reports.

Mkhitaryan has been used as a winger in his short United career but Wright believes he needs to play in his preferred central position.

“I’d like to see Henrikh Mkhitaryan play because he was so good at Borussia Dortmund,” he told .

“He has come in and he hasn’t played.

“What should have happened with Henrikh Mkhitaryan is that when he has come on, he should have come on in the position that he’s used to.

“Simply because that’s where he has done his best work.”

Mkhitaryan joined United from Borussia Dortmund for £26m in the summer.

But the Armenia international has started just one of his four Premier League appearances to date.

The 25th anniversary of Armenia’s independence was celebrated in Damascus on September 21.

Syrian Minister of Agriculture and Agrarian Reforms Ahmad al-Qadiri was a guest of honor at the reception hosted by the Armenian Embassy.

Attending the event were Grand Mufti of Syria Sheikh Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun, Adviser to the President Bouthaina Shaaban, Minister of Tourism  Bishr Yazigi, Electricity Minister  Mohammad Zuhair Kharboutli, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, lawmakers, political and public figures, religious leaders, members of the Armenian community.

Addressing the guests, Armenian Ambassador Arshak Poladyan refered to the path Armenia has covered during the 25 years of independence and the Armenian-Syrian relations. The Ambassador  presented the priorities of Armenia’s foreign policy and wished peace and stability to the people of Syria.

A number of political and public figures, representatives of the Armenian community were handed awards and certificates of gratitude of the Armenian Ministry of Diaspora and the Armenian Embassy in Syria for their contribution to the reinforcement of bilateral relations between Armenia and Syria.