Author: Ani Kharatian

On 3 April President Bako Sahakyan received a large group of culture workers, among them famous musician and composer Serj Tankian, film director, screenwriter Atom Egoyan, philanthropists and representatives of the “Artsakh Fund” organization’s USA branch who arrived in Artsakh at the “Tufenkian” foundation initiative.

Various issues regarding the life in Artsakh, the state-building process, regional trends and the Motherland-Diaspora ties were touched upon during the meeting.

The Head of the State considered important such visits to Artsakh noting their positive impact on developing culture in the republic, introducing Artsakh to the outer world and strengthening the inter-Armenian ties.

Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge

 

Georgian nationals may travel without a visa to Europe’s vast borderless Schengen area from March 28.

Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili was among government officials who attended a two hour long gala concert on Europe Square Monday marking the end of two days of celebrations, according to DFWatch.

From Tuesday, Georgian nationals may visit Europe’s vast borderless Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180 day period. Also Georgian passport holders living in the breakaway regions Abkhazia and South Ossetia qualify for the visa waiver system.

Customs personnel have been given special instruction to give advice about procedures and check people’s documents, the interior minister said at a special briefing.

Although negotiations started as far back as 2013 with a so-called visa liberalization action plan (VLAP), it took until March this year until Georgia finally signed the agreement. The document was published in the EU journal on March 8 and enters into force on Tuesday.

Russia is not seeking to influence the presidential race in France, but has the right to meet with representatives of the country’s political parties, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at his meeting with the leader of France’s National Front political party Marine Le Pen in the Kremlin, TASS reports. 

“We attach great importance to our ties with France, and we try to maintain equal relations both with representatives of the current authorities and the opposition,” Putin said.

“We do not want to influence the events (the French presidential election) in anyway, but we have the right to maintain contact with all representatives of the country’s political forces, like our partners do, for example in Europe and in the United States,” he said.

Of course, it would be very interesting to exchange views with you on how our bilateral relations are developing and on the current situation in Europe. I know that you represent a group of fast-growing European political forces,” the president stated.

Prior to the meeting, the French politician, who is in Moscow at the invitation of Russian lawmakers, visited an exhibition devoted to Louis IX of France and relics of Sainte-Chapelle in the Patriarch’s Palace of the Kremlin.

Le Pen noted that France and Russia have deep cultural, economic and strategic ties. “This meeting is especially important when we are facing such a serious terrorist threat,” the French politician noted.

“Terrorism is an evil that can occur anywhere. Therefore, it’s always necessary to be on the alert and take measures,” Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said in an interview with .

“I understand that large sums are being spent in London and Paris, but this is a crime that can never be predicted. It’s different when you have an obvious enemy. But when people with a different task penetrate into Europe under the cover of migrants is a completely different thing. This is very difficult to fight,” President Sargsyan said.

“Security threats are very different in today’s world. For us, the threat is the situation in our region, i.e. Azerbaijan’s wish to solve the Karabakh issue though force,” President Sargsyan said.

“Armenia is situated about 400 km away from the area of Islamic State activity. This means that the events taking place in the Middle East are directly linked to our security. Considering that many citizens of CIS member states are involved in IS actions, there will sooner or later be people in the region with military experience, with barbaric methods, who will create additional difficulties in this fragile stability. Unfortunately, we already hear Arabic language and different voices across the line of contact. It seems people from the Middle East are gradually getting involved in conflicts in our region. This is of course very dangerous. There are other challenges in the modern world,” he said.

Jose Mourinho has named a 20-man travelling squad for Manchester United’s Europa League match against FC Rostov on Thursday evening.

The Reds flew out of Manchester Airport, bound for Russia, on Tuesday afternoon in preparation for the Round of 16 first leg at the Olimp-2 Stadium, where kick-off is scheduled for 18:00 GMT.

In this first-ever meeting between United and Rostov, Mourinho is keen to see his side establish what could be a crucial advantage ahead of next Thursday’s second leg at Old Trafford.

United’s travelling squad in full: De Gea, Romero, O’Hara; Valencia, Jones, Rojo, Smalling, Blind, Darmian, Young; Carrick, Herrera, Fellaini, Pogba, Mata, Lingard, Mkhitaryan; Martial, Rashford, Ibrahimovic.

Eric Bailly has not travelled to Russia due to the one-match suspension that he earned as a result of his dismissal in United’s last European match, away to Saint-Etienne.

Luke Shaw and Wayne Rooney are not in the group after starting against Bournemouth on Saturday, while Bastian Schweinsteiger has stayed at home, presumably with the minor injury that the boss revealed last Friday.

On a positive front, Henrikh Mkhitaryan has returned to the group and could feature for the first time since suffering an injury moments after scoring the only goal in last month’s win in France.

The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry has published the names of the names of its soldiers killed in no man’s zone as a result of an act of sabotage undertaken by the Azerbaijani forces on February 25.

Baku claims that the Karabakh side hindered the recovery of the bodies, bringing forth new requirements.

The Defense Ministry of the Artsakh Republic declares that according to an agreement reached between the parties with the mediation of the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, the recovery of bodies was to be organized on February 26 with the participation of ICRC representatives.

Artsakh says Azerbaijan is to blame for the failure to recover the bodies. “Evacuation of bodies did not take place because the Azeri side violated agreements,” the Ministry said in a statement.

“There is no alternative to the Minsk Group co-chairmanship format for the settlement of the Karabakh conflict, if we are really committed to seeking a mutually acceptable solution,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a joint press conference with visiting Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian.

The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs do not stay idle. Lavrov said the Minsk Group Co-Chairs have spoken about the need to accelerate the negotiation process on many occasions.

“The latest statement adopted in Munich underscores the unacceptability of the use of force and military rhetoric and stresses the necessity to implement the agreements reached at the summits in Vienna and St. Petersburg,” Lavrov said.

“We’ll continue to work in cooperation with out French and American counterparts to create an atmosphere conducive to a constructive dialogue that will allow to consider concrete offers on the Karabakh settlement,” the Russian Foreign Minister noted.

Speaking about the future of the OSCE Office in Yerevan, Sergey Lavrov said “we cannot be indifferent towards the issue, especially considering that the Office is headed by a Russian citizen.”

“The German and Austrian chairmanships of the OSCE have worked hard to settle the issue with Azerbaijani colleagues,” Lavrov said.  He voiced hope that the latest offer will help solve the question.

Photo: Reuters    

The Foreign Relations Senate Committee has narrowly approved Rex Tillerson as US secretary of state, despite concerns about his business ties to Russia, the BBC reports.

It split along party lines, with all 11 Republicans voting in favour and all 10 Democrats against. A full vote will now be held in the Republican-run Senate.

The Foreign Relations Senate Committee approved Mr Tillerson after leading Republican Senator Marco Rubio dropped his opposition.

Mr Rubio sparred with Mr Tillerson, a 64-year-old Texan oilmen, during confirmation hearings earlier this month, accusing him of being soft on Russia.

US astronaut Gene Cernan – the last man to walk on the Moon – has died aged 82, the BBC reports.

America’s space agency Nasa said it was “saddened by the loss” of the retired spaceman.

Captain Cernan was one of only three people to go to the Moon twice and the last man to leave a footprint on the lunar surface in 1972.

The final words he spoke there were: “We leave as we came and, God willing, as we shall return with peace and hope for all mankind.”

He was the commander of the Apollo 17 mission at the time.

Twelve people have walked on the Moon, and only six of them are still alive today.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan has offered some insight into what it takes to win huge games like Manchester United’s North-West derby against Liverpool on Sunday.

The Reds’ Goal of the Month winner believes there are a number of components to coming out on top in such fixtures and is relishing the chance to post an entry into the history books by helping Jose Mourinho’s side achieve a memorable result against the second-placed Merseysiders.

“Everyone is waiting for Sunday’s game,” Mkhitaryan told . “I missed the first game against Liverpool at Anfield but I know the price of this game. I know the importance of this game. I know very well the history.

“It’s not the first time I’m going to play in such a derby and you have to be ready that day. It doesn’t matter, you have to play for the team and have to play for the crowd to do your best to win that game because it’s going to be [recorded] in the history. Of course, besides that, we need the three points which is very important for the next few months.

“There are a lot of components,” he replied, when asked if the game will be emotionally, as well as physically, draining. “Not only the pressure, not only the way people are working for that game. It’s the teamwork, the last decisive pass, the last shot, the runs. It is everything.

“You cannot say you have to improve [just] this component so we can win. No, you have to improve other components. You have to win every battle, every small metre counts and you have to win your duels. Then you will see you will win the game.”

Jurgen Klopp coached Mkhitaryan at his former club Borussia Dortmund so he is well aware of the strengths of the Liverpool manager.

“They’ve improved a lot from last year with Jurgen Klopp,” he said. “I know him very well. He’s one of the greatest coaches and he can bring the team to a new level. His team are playing very interesting football and I think it’s going to be a nice game.

“I think he’s doing very well, he gives confidence to the players and takes the best out of the players. That’s what he does very well.”