Category: News

Germany on Friday reiterated that a parliamentary resolution on Turkey’s World War I-era massacre of Armenians was non-binding but denied it was distancing itself from the vote to appease Ankara.

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman Steffen Seibert said it had always been clear that the June vote calling the Ottoman-era mass killing a “genocide” had no legally binding character, a question he said was of great interest to Ankara.

According to AFP, Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier also said Friday, when asked about the Spiegel report, that the German parliament “has the right and freedom to comment on political issues but, as the parliament says itself, not every resolution is legally binding”.

Steinmeier said there had been “many areas of friction, not just since the coup attempt”, and again urged Turkey to respect the rule of law in its treatment of the tens of thousands of detainees.

The minister also said that “of course it is the task of diplomats to reduce these areas of friction and to search for ways to maintain relations with Turkey and to provide a future perspective for them”.

“In recent talks we got the impression that this is an interest also shared by Turkey.”

The Armenian Museum of Fresno celebrates the 25th anniversary of the independence of Artsakh, the eastern province of historical Armenia referred to in modern terms as the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, Donal Munro writes in the .

Two exhibitions mark the historic event: “Spirit of Artsakh,” which through a series of panels offers 2,500 years of history, faith, culture and the struggle for self-determination of Artsakh-Armenians; and “Armenia: From BC to Christianity,” a collection of 31 history paintings by Clovis artist Rubik Kocharian.

The special guest of the event is Robert Avetisyan, who represents Nagorno-Karabakh in Washington, D.C., as the republic’s official “permanent representative” to the United States. He will be on hand for the opening reception. He will speak about current conditions in his country. Avetisyan returned from a visit just a few weeks ago.

A major reason for the show is to acknowledge the “strong expression of the deep-rooted commitment of the Armenian Diaspora’s link to our ancestral homeland Artsakh,” says Varoujan Der Simonian, curator along with Ani Grigoryan (who was born in Artsakh) of both exhibitions. But it can also be an opportunity for people who don’t know much about the region to get a grounding in a region that has received a lot of media attention over the decades.

“Spirit of Artsakh” was conceived, Der Simonian says, as a way to familiarize people with the historical and cultural situation in the region, which has experienced armed conflict and political upheaval. Such topics as history, literature, clothing and landscapes are covered in text and images.

Kocharian paints in a realistic style. In his series of oil paintings on canvas, he takes significant moments in Armenian history and interprets them. In his “Baking Lavash Bread,” for example, he pays tribute to the unusual technique for producing it and the role lavash plays in the community. Kocharian will be on hand at the opening reception.

The two exhibitions continue through Dec. 16.

 

Turkey’s prime minister offered condolences on Friday over the death of Uzbek President Islam Karimov, Reuters reports.

“Uzbek President Islam Karimov has passed away. May God’s mercy be upon him, as the Turkish Republic we are sharing the pain and sorrow of Uzbek people,” Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said, speaking in a televised meeting with his cabinet.

On 1 September a festive reception devoted to the 25^th anniversary of the Artsakh Republic proclamation was held in the name of President Bako Sahakyan.

In his speech Bako Sahakyan mentioned that the proclamation of the Artsakh Republic was a significant and crucial event that opened a new and glorious page in the history of our people.

“The formation of the Artsakh Republic is the joint achievement of the whole Armenian nation, one of its greatest victories. Its independence and security are exclusive values that are not subject to any speculation. There is no return to the past for us. Any such attempt is pregnant with unpredictable consequences and is doomed to failure. We are looking towards the future that will undoubtedly be bright for our people and state”, underlined Artsakh Republic President in his speech.

President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, NKR second President Arkady Ghoukasyan, primate of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan, NKR National Assembly chairman Ashot Ghoulyan, prime-minister Arayik Haroutyunyan, high-ranking officials from Artsakh and Armenia, Diaspora representatives and guests from abroad partook at the reception.

A contemporary art exhibition hall opened at “Zvartnots” International Airport of Yerevan today. The exhibition opened at the airport departures hall will not only make the passengers’ journeys more interesting, but can also be a serious support for contemporary Armenian artists.

ArtAm at the airport’s departures hall is an artistic space aimed at dissemination and development of the Armenian culture and artists. Located at Zvartnots International Airport, its aim is to bring the Armenian culture closer to the community by making art and cultural heritage an active element of cognition and delight for its visitors.

By creating this artistic space to serve the society, Zvartnots International Airport expresses its commitment to the development of the Armenian culture.

The first collection of twenty-five paintings to be staged at ArtAm is authored by Hasmik Avetisyan.

The exhibitions will be changed every month, thus letting each painting to be displayed for a month in a place, where a vast number of people pass through.

On 1 September in the frameworks of the festive events devoted to the 25^th anniversary of the Artsakh Republic’s proclamation President Bako Sahakyan attended the mass cross race of the youth started in the Stepanakert Renaissance square, NKR President’s Press Office reports.

The Head of the State highlighted holding such events in the republic from the viewpoint of physical and patriotic upbringing of the younger generation.

NKR National Assembly chairman Ashot Ghoulyan, prime-minister Arayik Haroutyunyan, other officials, representatives from Armenia and the Diaspora were present at the event.

President Serzh Sargsyan has issued the following statement on the occasion of Knowledge and Schooling Day:

Dear schoolchildren and students, teachers and parents,

I cordially congratulate you on the occasion of the September 1 – Knowledge Day.

Once it was important to propagate the importance of knowledge; however, in the 21st century there is no doubt about that. Knowledge has become the most powerful weapon and tool in the world for every individual and society at large. In Armenia, we are highly aware of that. We all see the readiness and dedication, which parents put in to provide their children with good education.

We are improving our educational system consistently. We do realize that we have issues at schools and higher education institutions which need to be fixed. These issues have mainly to do with the level of education, which cannot satisfy us. We are not content just because perfection has no limits but also since in the contemporary world the pace of development has increased dramatically. We have to keep up with the world. We have to accelerate the development of education.

We also must make good education affordable for all. No teenager should lose the opportunity to receive good education only because he or she cannot pay for it.

Judging from the results demonstrated by our schoolchildren at the international competitions, our schools are not doing badly. Our school is competitive; however, we cannot be complacent, and it is necessary to raise the bar of our requirements every year, otherwise, we will be lagging behind the developing world.

I once again congratulate you all on the occasion of the Knowledge Day and wish you an academic year full of success and achievements.

Photo: NASA

 

There has been an explosion on the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where the aerospace company SpaceX was readying an unmanned rocket for launch, the BBC reports.

The cause of the blast is not clear and it is not known if anyone was hurt.

Nasa said SpaceX was test-firing a rocket which was due to take a satellite into space this weekend.

Pictures from the scene show a huge plume of smoke rising above the Cape Canaveral complex.

The force of the blast shook buildings several miles away.

Local emergency officials described the incident as a “catastrophic abort during a static test fire”.

CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS KAREKIN II,
SUPREME PATRIARCH AND CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS,
ON THE OCCASION OF THE DAY OF KNOWLEDGE
( September 1, 2016 )

From the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin we extend Our Pontifical blessings on the occasion of the Day of Knowledge, congratulating all the teachers, students and schoolchildren of educational institutions.

The mystery of the day expresses the desire and love of our people towards science and enlightenment, which has become a guarantor of our national longevity. Our nation celebrates every new Academic year with hope and expectations, that the soul and minds of our children be strengthened through the light of knowledge which is spread from the educational institutions. Education and knowledge are a God-given gift, enabling humanity to make their live safe and happy by recognizing his Creator and the world.

We extend our prayers to Almighty God asking to make the new academic year productive with His heaven-sent divine blessings, to grant strength and energy to teacher-lecturers and all devotees of education in order to educate a nation of deserving and talented children.

With the blessings of our Lord, may the new Academic year be fruitful with abundant merits for the sake of strengthening the Homeland and progress of our nation.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has hailed Manchester United’s capture of the ‘dangerous’ Henrikh Mkhitaryan, the Daily Star reports.

Wenger reckons Mkhitaryan is one of the most exciting new additions to the Premier League.

He said: “Mkhitaryan has always been a very good midfielder but last year was the first year where he scored goals.

“I think he scored 10 goals in the Bundesliga so that of course makes him more dangerous.

“He will bring something to Man United.”

United boss Jose Mourinho signed the 27-year-old Armenian from Borussia Dortmund for around £27m in July.

Mkhitaryan scored 23 times in 51 Dortmund appearances last term and was in high demand at the start of the summer.