Category: News

A mass was held on Wednesday at Mar Gregory Cathedral for Syriac orthodox in Damascus, on the centennial anniversary of the Syriac genocide (Seyfo 1915). The mass was led by Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II Karim, reports.

Patriarch Aphrem said the memory of martyrs, Assyrians and Armenians, who were killed at the hands of Ottomans, gives us a momentum to remain in Syria and defend it in the face of terrorism that targets the one Syrian family.

“The memory of massacres that killed half million of Syriac people and more than million and a half of Armenians will remain alive in our hearts as we will remember them in our prayers,” the Patriarch said.

He called on the world governments and parliaments to recognize the genocides, hailing the stance of the German parliament that lately recognized the genocide, demanding states that ignite the crisis in Syria to stop doing so.

Following the mass, a march of candles set off from the patriarchate into the park of Syriac martyrs.

Ombudspersons of Armenia and NKR have issued a joint statement urging to return the driving license of Mr. Aleksan Arakelyan, the NKR Defense Army Lieutenant-colonel, RA citizen, found in Azerbaijan.

On 14 June 2016 the Azerbaijani media disseminated information on a driving license issued by the Republic of Armenia authorities was found in Baku

(,). The driving license (class BC, issued on 27 August 2014, number: RG 052597) bore the name of Mr. Aleksan Arakelyan.

The Human Rights Defenders’ Offices of Armenia and Artsakh (NKR) conducted separate inquiries and made a conclusion that the mentioned document prima facie belonged to Mr. Aleksan Arakelyan, the NKR Defense Army Lieutenant-colonel, a citizen of Armenia. He became missing on 2 April 2016, the very first day of the full-scale Azerbaijani aggression against NKR (for more information on aggression, see NKR Ombudsman’s Public Interim Report at ). The body of Mr. Arakelyan was returned by Azerbaijan to NKR authorities on 10 April 2016.

In this regard, the Human Rights Defenders of Armenia and Artsakh (NKR) state that Azerbaijani authorities shall fulfill their obligation under the International Humanitarian Law, explicitly envisaged in Article 16 of the 1949 Geneva Convention (I), and ensure the document in question to be returned to Mr. Aleksan Arakelyan’s family in compliance with all rules and procedures.

The Azerbaijani authorities shall conduct also a comprehensive investigation and provide detailed public explanations on the fact on how the Lieutenant-colonel Mr. Arakelyan’s personal document appeared up in Baku and, moreover, in a public place.

At the same time, we call on international organizations, specifically on those conducting their activities in Azerbaijan and having a human rights protection mandate, to strictly observe the processes of Azerbaijani authorities to eliminate the described violation of the International Humanitarian Law, as well as investigate the reasons of violation.

We declare that this issue will be in the center of attention of both Human Rights Defender of Artsakh (NKR) and Human Rights Defender of Armenia.

Starting from July 15, 2016 Ukraine International Airlines will be operating 14 flights a week instead of current 7 on the direction Kyiv-Yerevan-Kyiv, Press Service of the Armenia International Airports CJSC reports.

This destination has recently started to become more popular especially for passengers, who have chosen Europe as their final destination.

Daniel Sturridge struck an injury-time winner as England came from behind to beat Wales and secure their first victory at Euro 2016, the BBC reports.

England keeper Joe Hart’s dreadful blunder allowed Gareth Bale’s 30-yard free-kick to creep in and put Wales ahead just before the interval in Lens.

Manager Roy Hodgson’s side were jeered off at the break and, with England’s campaign – and arguably his future – on the line, he gambled by introducing Jamie Vardy and Sturridge for the struggling Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane.

The roll of the dice worked as Vardy scrambled in an equaliser from close range after 56 minutes before constant England pressure saw Sturridge work his way into the area and poke past Wales keeper Wayne Hennessey at the near post.

England move top of Group B and need a point against Slovakia on Monday to earn automatic qualification into the last 16, while Wales must beat Russia to guarantee a top-two finish.

The international community must not be duped by surface-level efforts to smooth out Azerbaijan’s human rights record, which remains dire, said Amnesty International in a report published today, ahead of this week’s inaugural Formula 1 Grand Prix of Europe race in Baku.

“The arrival of the world’s premier racing series in Baku must not steer attention away from the government onslaught on civil society,” said Denis Krivosheev, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for Europe and Central Asia.

“Behind the glitz lies an everyday reality in which authorities have shut down NGOs and arrested or harassed their leaders,” Denis Krivosheev said.

Since the beginning of 2016, faced with falling oil revenues and rising international pressure, the Azerbaijani authorities have released several dozen prisoners. Among those released are twelve prisoners of conscience, including award-winning investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova.

While widely welcomed internationally, these pardons have neither addressed any of the long-standing human rights concerns in Azerbaijan, nor put an end to the practice of arrests of government critics on fabricated charges.

“The recent release of NGO leaders and activists should not fool anyone into thinking that the wind in Baku is blowing in a different direction. Those released are no freer to speak out now than they were while they were in jail. Their vacant cells have been filled with new victims,” said Denis Krivosheev.

Photo: Reuters

 

UN human rights investigators have for the first time accused so-called Islamic State of committing genocide against Yazidis in Iraq and Syria, the BBC reports.

A report says IS has subjected members of the religious group it has captured to the “most horrific of atrocities”, killing or enslaving thousands.

The group’s aim is to completely erase the Yazidi way of life, it warns.

The report says major powers should do more to help the Yazidis, at least 3,200 of whom are being held by IS.

IS, a Sunni jihadist group, regards Yazidis as devil-worshippers who may be killed or enslaved with impunity.

In August 2014, IS militants swept across north-western Iraq and rounded up thousands of Yazidis living in the Sinjar region, where the majority of the world’s Yazidi population was based.

Wreckage of the EgyptAir flight that went missing over the Mediterranean last month has been found, Egyptian investigators say, the BBC reports.

A statement said “several main locations of the wreckage” had been identified.

A deep sea search vessel had also sent back the first images of the wreckage, the statement added.

There were 66 people on board flight MS804 when it crashed on 19 May while flying from Paris to Cairo.

The Airbus A320 plane vanished from Greek and Egyptian radar screens, apparently without having sent a distress call.

 

 

 

The 9th DigiTec Business Forum will be held in Yerevan June 17-18 with an aim of contributing to the search for best technological solutions, providing the technology companies with an opportunity to meet and present themselves to potential customers. About 70 organizations have applied for participation this year.

Yes For Europe forum of European Partners and an Armenian-German business forum will be held within the framework of the event.

Modernization of military industry through application of innovative technologies will be the key topic of the forum, Karen Vardanyan, Executive Director of the Union of Information Technology Enterprises (UITE), told reporters today.

The Armed Forces and UITE have established a joint commission to sum up the framework of issues that will be submitted to IT specialists for solution.

According to Karen Vardanyan, three issues related to the modernization of military production are being considered today. “The short-term goal is to find solutions to counter the rival, which envisages either purchase of new weapons or modernization of old ones.  The medium-term objective is to create new military industry on the basis of existing technologies. The third issue is a strategic one, we have to think what kind of military industry we want to see in 15-20 years,” he said.

Representatives of the Armed Forces are expected to actively participate in the DigiTec forum.

Information security expert Samvel Martirosyan said the April war focused the attention on the need to ensure cyber security.

Photo: Getty Images

 

At least 36 people have been arrested in Lille following clashes between French police and football fans at the Euro 2016 tournament, the BBC reports.

French police said the arrests had been made throughout Wednesday – adding that 16 people had been hospitalised.

On Wednesday night, riot police charged at hundreds of England football fans as flares and bangers were set off.

The BBC’s James Reevell said tear gas had been used by riot police and it was mostly England fans involved.

Earlier, some English and Russian supporters had been detained after scuffles.

According to the , Dortmund have knocked back an opening £19m offer from Manchester United for the Armenia international, who is about to enter the final 12 months of his contract.

Mkhitaryan has rejected a new four-year deal on offer at Dortmund and German paper claim Mourinho is willing to double his pay to £7.9m (€10m) per season.

The 27-year-old favours a move to United, according to his agent Mino Raiola.

“Man United is a unique opportunity,” Raiola told Bild.

“Micki wants to go there immediately.”

According to reports, Arsenal have also submitted a bid.

However, Dortmund are planning to keep the attacking midfielder for the final year of his contract before allowing him to leave on a free transfer.