Senegal’s Fatma Samba Diouf Samoura has been appointed as FIFA’s first female secretary general, the BBC reports.
She succeeds former secretary general Jerome Valcke, who was banned from football-related activity for 12 years.
Samoura, 54, spent 21 years working for the United Nations and will start at football’s governing body in June.
“It is essential Fifa incorporates fresh perspectives as we continue to restore and rebuild our organisation,” said FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
On May 12 the Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia Arman Tatoyan met with Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjørn Jagland in Strasbourg.
Tatoyan presented to the Secretary General the gross human rights violations committed against the civilian population of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh as a result of Azerbaijani aggression initiated in the beginning of April.
During the meeting the Defender presented to Thorbjørn Jagland specific examples of atrocities committed by Azerbaijani armed forces. He also handed to the Secretary General the published Report of NKR Human Rights Defender which analyzes those cases of atrocities.
Tatoyan underlined the devastating consequences of Azerbaijani aggressive policy of disseminating hatred and violence towards people of Armenian ethnicity which endangers the Council of Europe human rights protection system. Moreover, the Defender noted that such policy is being encouraged at state level and is of an absolutely intolerant nature.
It was noted that human rights violations are unacceptable under any circumstances, human rights protection cannot be limited by politics or borders.
The parties emphasized the role of the Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) in implementing the European standards in the country. More specifically, the importance of the Ombudsman institute in executing the European Court of Human Rights judgments was emphasized. The parties also discussed issues related to prevention of domestic violence, protection of the rights of people with disabilities, as well as other issues in the field of human rights protection.
Asbarez – The Hayastan All-Armenian Fund proclaimed a joint appeal with all major Armenian organizations of the Western United States, to develop and strengthen Artsakh’s statehood and, especially today, to further its security:
At this time of crisis, when the people of Artsakh are engaged in a life-and-death struggle to defend our homeland against the blatant aggression of the Azeri armed forces,
We, the Armenian churches, organizations, and unions of the Western United States declare that:
ACTING in the spirit of pan-Armenian unity;
ASSERTING that the security of Artsakh is of indisputable and absolute importance to every Armenian;
RECOGNIZING the crucial and ongoing role which the Armenia Fund (Hayastan All-Armenian Fund) has had for the past quarter century in the development and strengthening of Artsakh’s statehood, by uniting the largest structures of the Armenian diaspora around this vision,
We REAFFIRM our unanimous support of the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund’s mission and goals,
AND
APPEAL to all Armenian Americans to generously contribute to the Armenia Fund’s HELP ARTSAKH! Telethon, which will be broadcast by all Armenian television channels in Los Angeles on Saturday, May 14, 2016. This special Telethon is dedicated to addressing the urgent humanitarian needs of war-torn Artsakh.
Contributing to the security of the homeland is the duty of every Armenian.
May 9, 2016
Los Angeles, California
Western Diocese of the Apostolic Church of North America, Burbank
Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America, La Crescenta
Armenian Evangelical Union of North America
Armenian Catholic Eparchy of U.S. and Canada
Social Democrat Hunchakian Party of the Western USA
Armenian Democratic Liberal (Ramgavar) Party, U.S. Western Region
Armenian Revolutionary Federation, Western U.S. Central Committee
A.G.B.U. Western District Committee
Armenian Relief Society of Western USA
Armenian Assembly of America, Southern California Regional Council
Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian met with Jean Bize, Chairman of the French Senate European Affairs Committee, in Paris.
The sides discussed efforts towards overcoming the consequences of large-scale military actions unleashed by Azerbaijan against Nagorno-Karabakh, possibilities of resumption of the negotiations.
Regarding that, Edward Nalbandian attached significance to addressed statement, issued by Jean Bize on April 7, assessment of the situation and proposed steps towards settlement of the issue. Necessity of implementation of a mechanism for investigation of the cease-fire violations was stressed.
During the meeting, Armenia-European Union relations, negotiations on a new legal framework for cooperation, start of the dialogue on visa liberalization were reflected on.
On the same day, Edward Nalbandian met members of Parliamentary Friendship Groups of the Senate of France and National Assembly of Armenia, with whom discussed a range of issues on the development of the Armenian-French relations, cooperation between legislative bodies of the two states, cooperation within Parliamentary Assemblies.
Overcoming of consequences of Azerbaijan’s aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh was in the center of the meeting. Edward Nalbandian thoroughly presented to the French Senators efforts exerted by Armenia and the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs in this direction.
During the meeting, developments unfolded in the Middle East, fight against terrorism, migration crisis were touched upon
Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan received IMF Executive Director for Armenia Menno Snel.
Hailing the ongoing effective cooperation with the IMF, the Prime Minister said his government will make consistent efforts to implement the commitments assumed under the Extended Financing Facility, including the ones relevant to the structural reforms. Hovik Abrahamyan noted that the current pace of the program will allow the Government to complete all the planned reforms.
Dwelling on Armenia’s economic position, the Premier pointed out that despite the impact of adverse developments in the region, the Government managed to maintain macroeconomic stability and a relatively low level of inflationary pressure, which provided the opportunity to address many welfare problems.
As the Prime Minister noted, even in the face of the aforementioned unfavorable trends, GDP grew by three percentage points last year. The annual growth of economic activity was 5.6% in the first quarter of this year. Vigorous efforts are underway to promote exports.
Appreciating the effective cooperation between the Government of Armenia and the IMF, Menno Snel for his part expressed satisfaction with the pace of joint programs. He stressed the need for consistency and follow-up in pension reform. Highlighting the adoption of the new tax code, he noted that the Government has done a large amount of work in this direction. Armenia’s monetary policy was described as efficacious and conducive to macroeconomic stability and economic development.
The parties went on to exchange views on regional developments. Reference was made to other issues of mutual interest.
A new exhibit opening in Glendale is designed to offer the public a greater insight into the history of the Armenian people, according to
“Armenia: An open wound,” is presented by the Armenian American Museum and the city of Glendale and is curated by the Museo Memoria Y Tolerancia in Mexico City.
The images span decades, from the New World to the Old and from happiness to despair – including the Armenian Genocide in the early years of the 20th century.
“You will definitely get a great experience here about the Armenian culture, but you will also witness what happened during the Genocide period as well as the aftermath of the Genocide period to see how different countries, different people responded,” said Berdj Karapetian, chairman of the Armenian American Museum.
The exhibit includes a re-creation of a desert many Armenians were forced to migrate to and gives a sense of the desolation and the desperation they endured.
A hundred years later many still feel the pain of what happened. And they are hoping everyone can learn from it through the images and words on the walls.
The is free and open to the public. It runs through June 11 at the Brand Library & Art Center, 1601 West Mountain St., Glendale.
The organisers of the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest, SVT and the EBU, have revealed the running order for the Grand Final on Saturday.
The running order was proposed by the producers of show (SVT) and approved by the EBU Executive Supervisor, Jon Ola Sand and by the Chairman of the Reference Group, Dr. Frank-Dieter Freiling.
The running order for the Grand Final
President Serzh Sargsyan received today Menno Snel, Executive Director of the IMF Netherlands/Belgium Constituency.
President Sargsyan thanked Mr. Snel for properly representing Armenia’s interests in the IMF in the course of the past five years.
Taking into consideration that Menno Snel will be completing his mission in the near future, the President wished him success in his future activity and voiced hope that the cooperation with the next IMF Director would be as effective and constructive.
Serzh Sargsyan hailed the role of the IMF in the execution of Armenia’s economic policy, underlining that considerable economic reforms have been implemented thanks to long-term cooperation with that authoritative financial organization.
Irrespective of a number of challenges, the negative external signals, it has been possible to achieve certain progress through joint efforts with the IMF, the President said and stressed that Armenia is interested in continuous cooperation with the IMF.
Menno Snel also praised the Armenia-IMF relations and the joint programs, noting that solid bases have been created for future cooperation.
The Azerbaijani side used artillery weapons of various calibers, as well as 60, 82 and 120 mm mortars and hand-held antitank grenade launchers, as it kept violating the agreement on ceasefire along the line of contact with the Karabakh forces last night, the NKR Defense Ministry reports.
The front divisions of the NKR Defense Army showed restraint and resorted to response actions only in case of extreme necessity.
The anti-aircraft defense and electronic warfare divisions of RA Armed Forces neutralized an unmanned flying vehicle near Yelpin community in Vayots Dzor province.
Spokesman for the Ministry of Defense Artsrun Hovhannisyan uploaded the photos of the downed drone on his Facebook page.
Further details about the ownership and production of the drone will be provided later.