Henrikh Mkhitaryan has hit top form, and he knows who he has to thank. The Armenian has played like a man reborn since Thomas Tuchel took over as Dortmund coach. sat down with the attacking midfielder to discuss all things Dortmund.
Category: News
EU interested in a speedy and peaceful resolution of the Karabakh conflict
President Serzh Sargsyan received today Herbert Salber, EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia.
The President welcomed the guest and congratulated on the extension of his mandate. President Sargsyan expressed hope that Mr. Salber will do his best in the framework of his mandate – to establish trust between the warring parties in the region, which will be conducive for the efforts aimed at the peaceful resolution of the conflict. Serzh Sargsyan stressed the importance of maintaining by the EU of its balanced position and implementation of the commitment to create an atmosphere which would be favorable for the comprehensive resolution of the issue.
The EU Special Representative assured that the European Union is interested in a speedy and peaceful resolution and is eager, within the scope of its abilities, to promote the resolution of the issue, supporting efforts of the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group which is dealing with the issue. Mr. Salber noted that it is the only agreed upon and acceptable format.
The parties spoke also about the recent developments in the NK peace negotiations conducted in the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group, current situation and possibilities of registering progress. The President of Armenia introduced the position of the Armenian side.
Serzh Sargsyan and Herbert Salber exchanged views on the avenues that the EU can use to assist the peaceful resolution of the conflict. The parties stressed once again that there is no military solution to the NK issue and said it can solved based on the compromise which would meet the interests of the conflicting parties and will be acceptable for them.
Today is Holocaust Remembrance Day
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has issued a message on the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust:
During the Second World War, six million Jews were systematically rounded up and exterminated. The Nazis also murdered Sinti and Roma, political prisoners, homosexuals, persons with disabilities, Jehovah’s Witnesses and Soviet prisoners of war.
The Holocaust was a colossal crime. No-one can deny the evidence that it happened. By remembering the victims and honouring the courage of the survivors and those who assisted and liberated them, we annually renew our resolve to prevent such atrocities and reject the hateful mentality that allows them.
From the shadow of the Holocaust and the cruelties of the Second World War, the United Nations was established to reaffirm faith in the dignity and worth of every person and to uphold the rights of all to live in equality and free from discrimination.
These principles remain essential today. People worldwide – including millions fleeing war, persecution and deprivation – continue to suffer discrimination and attacks.We have a duty to remember the past – and to help those who need us now.
For more than a decade, the Holocaust and the United Nations Outreach Programme has worked to educate young people about the Holocaust. Many partners – including Holocaust survivors – continue to contribute to this essential work.
The memory of the Holocaust is a powerful reminder of what can happen when we stop seeing our common humanity. On this day of Holocaust remembrance, I urge everyone to denounce political and religious ideologies that set people against people.Let us all speak out against anti-Semitism and attacks against religious, ethnic or other groups.Let us create a world where dignity is respected, diversity is celebrated, and peace is permanent.
Germany fully supports the efforts of Minsk Group Co-Chairs, Ambassador says
Germany has assumed the chairmanship of the OSCE. The Head of the OSCE Office in Armenia, Ambassador Andrei Sorokin and German Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia Matthias Kisler met with reporters today to present the priorities of the German presidency.
Ambassador Kisler said the resolution of conflicts will be a priority for the German presidency. Referring to the Karabakh conflict, he said “Germany is convinced the co-chairmanship of the OSCE Minsk Group is the only forum for organizing the dialogue between the conflicting parties.”
The German Ambassador expressed his concern over the situation at the line of contact, especially the use of heavy weapons, which results in casualties.
“Germany closely cooperates and fully supports the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs’ initiative to create a mechanism of investigation of border incidents,” he said. “Germany is aware of the importance of the mechanism for both parties and wants the sides to agree to its implementation,” Amb. Kisler stressed.
Andrei Sorokin, in turn, reminded that the issue was discussed during Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s visit to Germany. The Ambassador refuted the rumors about Germany’s intention to replace France as a Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group.
Without going into details about the two anti-Armenian reports debated by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe yesterday, Matthias Kisler said “the Minsk Group is the only forum for the settlement of the Karabakh conflict, other movements and forums are unacceptable.”
The Head of the OSCE Office in Armenia said “the two reports were obviously very unpleasant and anti-Armenian.” According to him, the fact that the more important of the two was rejected can be seen as a victory.
“I think PACE is following some policy line, which ignored all principles, including the basic principles of the OSCE,” he said.
Armenia, India amend tax treaty to fight evasion
A Protocol to amend the existing Double Taxation Avoidance Convention was signed by the Government of India and the Government of Armenia here today, reports.
The Protocol amends the Double Taxation Avoidance Convention between India and Armenia that has been in existence since 9th September, 2004. The Protocol amends the Article on Exchange of Information for tax purposes to bring it in line with the updated provisions in the OECD Model. The Protocol will enable the two countries to exchange information related to financial and banking transactions under the Double Taxation Avoidance Convention, and thereby facilitate them in addressing tax evasion. It is also expected to further strengthen the efforts of Government of India in curbing generation of black money.
The Amending Protocol was signed by Shri Arun Kumar Jain, Chairman, Central Board of Direct Taxes(CBDT), on behalf of Government of India and by H.E. Mr Armen Martirosyan, the Ambassador of Armenia to India, on behalf of the Government of Armenia.
Tigran Mansurian turns 77 today
Renowned composer Tigran Mansurian celebrates 77th birthday today.
Tigran Mansurian, the son of Armenian parents, was born on 27 January 1939 in Beirut (Lebanon), where he attended the French Catholic School. In 1947 he and his family returned to their homeland. After having attended a special music school, Mansurian studied composition at the Yerevan Conservatory, where he subsequently taught music analysis with special emphasis on New Music.
Within the space of only a few years he advanced to become one of Armenia’s leading composers. As time went on he developed friendly artistic relationships with composers such as A. Volkonsky, E. Denisov, A. Schnittke, S. Gubaidulina and A. Pärt, and with performers such as N. Gutman, O. Kagan, K. Georgian, and later with Kim Kashkashian and Eduard Brunner. At the beginning of the 1990s Mansurian was appointed director of the Yerevan Conservatory. In recent years he has devoted himself exclusively to composition.
Mansurian’s work includes orchestral works, seven concertos for string instruments and orchestra, sonatas for violoncello and piano, three string quartets, choral music, chamber music, and works for solo instruments.
Mansurian has said that his models were the Armenian composer Komitas and Claude Debussy. Early in his career he became acquainted with the music of Pierre Boulez, and was soon able to make deft use of complicated modern compositional techniques. In the course of time he developed an increasingly simple and almost liturgical kind of style. He attained to a terse and economical mode of expression which in a mystical kind of way combines ancient and modern elements. Mansurian’s music reflects the heritage of the venerable musical tradition of Armenia, which dates back more than a thousand years and ranges from the melodies of mediaeval ecclesiastical chant to specific scalar systems and musical forms. The composer’s sensitivity and his understanding of the spirit of the age find expression in his attempt to rebuild the musical bridges that were destroyed in the final years of the twentieth century.
Mansurian’s music is lyrical. And the lyrical images of his music possess a suggestive power which, despite its reductionist slant, none the less makes it sound emotional.
Italy covers nude statues for Iran President
Photo: AP
Italian hospitality for the visiting Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has stretched to covering up nude statues, the BBC reports.
Mr Rouhani and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi spoke at Rome’s Capitoline Museum after Italian firms signed business deals with Iran.
But several nudes there were hidden to avoid offending the Iranian president.
Italy also chose not to serve wine at official meals, a gesture France, where Mr Rouhani travels next, has refused to copy.
An Islamic republic, Iran has strict laws governing the consumption of alcohol.
Mr Rouhani is in Europe on a five-day tour seeking to boost economic ties after the implementation of a deal on rolling back Iran’s nuclear activity saw sanctions lifted.
Armenian St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral included in the official tour of the City of Buenos Aires
The Armenian St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral, located in the neighborhood of Palermo, Buenos Aires has been included in the official tour program of the Government of the City of Buenos Aires “Knowing BA” which proposes a circuit for tourists visiting the city, reports.
The program enables tourists to tour the city’s neighborhoods, parks, forests, monuments, theaters, to learn about the architecture, history, cultural heritage, accompanied by guides provided by the City Government.
Organizers of “Knowing BA” wanted to include the Armenian Cathedral as a sign of the significant presence of the Armenian community in Buenos Aires.
A group of tour guides involved in the program visited the church and were welcomed by Archbishop Kissag Mouradian, Primate of the Armenian Apostolic Church for Argentina and Chile, and employees of the institution in order to receive information and instruction they will need in their work. They also received literature on the Armenian Church.
EU reaffirms support for OSCE Minsk Group efforts
On January 27, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian received Herbert Salber, EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the Crisis in Georgia.
During the meeting the Nagorno-Karabakh negotiation process was discussed. Minister Nalbandian briefed Herbert Salber on the results of the meeting between the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan held last month in Bern.
Herbert Salber reaffirmed the support of the European Union to the efforts of OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs aimed at an exclusively peaceful settlement of the issue.
The sides reflected on Armenia-EU cooperation, exchanged thoughts on the results of the 16th session of Armenia-EU Cooperation Council.
Armenia’s Foreign Minister and the EU Special Representative touched upon developments unfolding in the states and regions adjacent to the South Caucasus.
Armenian delegation commends PACE for rejecting biased report on Nagorno Karabakh
The Armenian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has expressed gratitude to delegates, who demonstrated a principled stance and rejected a report dangerous for the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict presented by Robert Walter.
The Armenian delegation said in a statement that the two reports debated at PACE today “grossly distort the history and essence of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and impermissibly interfere with the peaceful settlement process.” “This is supported by an earlier statement released by the OSCE Minsk Group and the speeches of a number of delegates during the plenary sitting of the Parliamentary Assembly,” the statement reads.
“Aware of the responsibility of the moment, members of the Parliamentary Assembly rejected the report on “Escalation of violence in Nagorno-Karabakh and the other occupied territories of Azerbaijan.”
As for the second report on Sarsang water reservoir “a number of MPs voted in favor of it, ignoring the opinion of the international community and demonstrating a unilateral stance, thus attributing a political meaning to a humanitarian-technical report.”