Category: News

Photo: AFP

Prime Minister Theresa May is to officially notify the European Union next Wednesday that the UK is leaving, the BBC reports.

Downing Street said she would write a letter to the EU’s 27 other members, adding that it expected negotiations to then begin as quickly as possible.

The move comes nine months after people voted 51.9% to 48.1% in a referendum.

Talks on the terms of the departure and future relations are not allowed under the Article 50 process until the UK formally tells the EU it is leaving.

If all goes according to the two year negotiations set out in the official timetable, Brexit should happen in March 2019.

The situation was relatively calm at the line of contact between the armed forces of Artsakh and Azerbaijan last night, Artsakh Defense Ministry reports.

The rival used firearms of different calibers as it violated the ceasefire more than 25 times, firing over 140 shots in the direction of the Armenian positions.

The front divisions of the NKR Defense Army keep the situation under control and confidently continue with the protection of the military positions.

About 30 bloggers from 11 countries came together in Artsakh for a forum initiated by “Artsakhakertum” NGO and the Atsakh Union of Journalists, Artsakhpress reports.

Attending the event were Anton Nossik (Russia), Anton Merkurov (Russia), Aleksandr Alimov (Latvia), Tarik Hafed (Algeria), Romain Mielcarek (France), Gilad Halpern (Israel), Aleksandr Hoishyk (Belarus), Irina Kovalchuk (Ukraine), Luciano Tirinnanzi (Italy), Petruška Šustrová (Czech Republic).

The forum focused on presenting conflicts on social media and ensuring freedom for bloggers and journalists.

The forum was chaired by co-president of “Artsakhakertum” NGO Artak Beglaryan and media expert Samvel Martirosyan.

Hrachya Arzumanyan, Director of the Ashkharh Center for Strategic Research, presented the reasons behind the Karabakh conflict.

“The Azerbaijani society needs to be cured from the illness called “Aliyev clan” with the help of the international court, which will condemn the upbringing that teaches generations to cut the heads and ears of Armenian women and children,” Arzumanyan said. He reminded that more than 100 Armenian soldiers were killed as a result of large-scale military actions waged by Azerbaijan in April 2016.

According to the expert, “they died because superpowers decided to play with the region.”

He believes that “under the conditions when the superpowers are unwilling to address the issue, bloggers can well  affect the situation.”

Artsakh’s Deputy Minister of Economy Sergey Shahverdyan presented the state of tourism in the country. He said about 15 thousand tourists from Russia, the US, Iran and European countries visit Artsakh annually.

“Tourism is a tool of intercultural dialogue, that’s why people must have freedom of movement,” he said.

He said teh Stepanakert airport doesn’t work because of Azerbaijan’s aggressive behavior and the apathy of international organizations.

Reuters – Billionaire philanthropist David Rockefeller, former head of Chase Manhattan Corp and patriarch of one of the most famous and influential American families, died on Monday, a family spokesman said. He was 101.

Rockefeller, who reportedly gave away nearly $2 billion in his lifetime, died in his sleep of congestive heart failure at his home in Pocantico Hills, New York, spokesman Fraser Seitel said in a statement.

One of the few remaining links to the U.S. “gilded” era of robber barons, he was the son of John D. Rockefeller Jr., who developed New York’s Rockefeller Center, and was the last living grandson of oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller, founder of Standard Oil and the family dynasty. He also embodied an era when globe-trotting bank chiefs worked with the world’s most powerful politicians.

Christian Bale, Chris Cornell, Serj Tankian, Angela Sarafyan and filmmaker Terry George will attend the premiere of the Armenian genocide-themed film The Promise.

Inspired by true events, The Promise tells the important story of the Armenian genocide and a struggle for love in a time of turmoil. This is the first wide-release film about a tragic history, featuring a critically acclaimed cast and director, and you’ll be there to experience the premiere in true Hollywood style.

The film hits theatres on April 21.

Ilhan Askin, chairman of the Turkish Azerbaijani Cultural Association in The Hague, has been sentenced to in the Netherlands for hate speech and inciting violence, for his “Karabakh will be Armenians’ grave” chants, the European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy (EAFJD) reports.

Askin has been sentenced to 120 hours of community service and a suspended imprisonment of four weeks with a probation period of two years.

Askin was prosecuted for having chanted “Karabakh will be the grave of the Armenians” during a Turkish rally in Almelo. With this statement, according to the prosecutor, he incited violence against and insulted a group of people because of their Armenian descent.

On 1 June 2014 a Turkish demonstration took place in Almelo, against the Genocide memorial erected in the churchyard of the Armenian Apostolic Church in the city.

The Armenian community, namely the Federation of Armenian Organizations in the Netherlands (FAON) and Dutch Armenian Committee for Justice and Democracy (Hay Tad) had filed a complaint against the statements made during that demonstration.

The court hearing on the case on March 3 lasted for two hours and was attended by many Armenians and Turks, as well as Dutch, Armenian and Turkish media. The video played during the session showed Mr. Askin chanting the words “Karabakh will be the grave of the Armenians” several times, and a crowd of a few thousand people repeating the slogan.

Mr. Askin stated that he doesn’t consider his statements an offence. He said that his expressions relate to a specific region, where due to the current situation war will possibly break out and blood will be shed. He believes that he has not done anything wrong. He declared he doesn’t regret his statements.

The Prosecutor extensively explained the process of examination of the case and demanded 80 hours of community service and a suspended imprisonment of two weeks with a probation period of two years, because it is necessary to give a strong message.

The Aurora Humanitarian Initiative in cooperation with Scholae Mundi Armenia will grant scholarships to students from Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt to study at the American University of Armenia (AUA). This scholarship fund (US $1 mln) is created as part of the Aurora Gratitude Projects.

The scholarships are for citizens of the above-mentioned countries, who wish to pursue the following degrees: BSc in Computer Science, Engineering Science, Data Science (starting 2018), Master of Public Health, Master of Engineering in Industrial Engineering & Systems Management, Master of Science in Computer & Information Science, Economics, Strategic Management, Master of Political Science & International Affairs, and Master of Arts in Teaching English as a Foreign Language.

“Armenia has a potential to become a global educational hub and we encourage the engagement of young people from the Middle East to come and study in Armenia. This scholarship offers opportunities to talented youth who have been affected, directly or indirectly, by wars in their region. We believe that it makes an impact not only on these young people who come to the country and benefit from its hospitality and qualitative education but enrich AUA community with highly motivated international students who will become ambassadors of Armenia and its culture in the future. The Aurora Humanitarian Initiative, thus not only offers scholarships to individual students, but also expresses gratitude to the nations who were the first to open their doors to offer a helping hand to the survivors of the Armenian Genocide,” said Veronika Zonabend, the co-founder of Scholae Mundi Armenia Foundation, and together with her husband Ruben Vardanyan, co-founder of the RVVZ Foundation which helped create the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative and the Aurora Gratitude Projects.

“The American University of Armenia is extremely grateful to the creators of the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative, specifically Ruben Vardanyan and Veronika Zonabend, who through their immense generosity have created an opportunity not only for students from the countries that hosted Armenian refugees from the Genocide to study in Armenia, but also afforded AUA an opportunity to serve these students. Their presence on our campus will provide enhanced diversity and enrich the lives of all students. We are proud to be a part of this initiative and, through our educational programs, be able to express gratitude to the descendants of the people who sheltered Armenians during the most tragic part of their history,” said Dr. Armen Der Kiureghian, President of the American University of Armenia.

The recipients will continue to receive the scholarships throughout their study at AUA as long as they are in good academic standing. The scholarship will cover tuition fees, travel and housing costs of the students. The Aurora Humanitarian Initiative and Scholae Mundi Armenia have committed to granting the scholarship through the year 2023.

Scholae Mundi Armenia Foundation continues to support the Aurora Gratitude Scholarship program which initiates humanitarian and educational projects to help children, refugees and other vulnerable citizens in the Middle East. On behalf of the survivors of the Armenian Genocide and in gratitude to their saviors, the descendants of the survivors of the Genocide transform their gratitude into action by helping with educational initiatives and scholarships, grants to humanitarian projects and promoting public awareness of humanitarian efforts. The scholarship programs of the Aurora Gratitude Projects are valued at US $7 million.

Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United have drawn Belgian side Anderlecht in the Europa League quarter-finals.

The Red Devils secured their passage to the last eight with a narrow 2-1 aggregate win over FC Rostov on Thursday.

Lyon were drawn against Besiktas, Dutch giants Ajax will face Schalke and Celta Vigo were paired with Belgium’s Genk.

The first legs will take place on Thursday, April 13, with the second legs scheduled for a week later on Thursday, April 20.

Manchester United edged a nervy encounter with Russian minnows FC Rostov at Old Trafford to reach the Europa League quarter-finals with a 2-1 aggregate victory.

Juan Mata got the decisive goal for United when he stabbed in from Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s flick, but Rostov threatened to take the game to extra time and Sergio Romero made two good saves late on.

The United goalkeeper first kept out Sardar Azmoun’s flicked header before thumping away Christian Noboa’s free-kick.