Author: Arbi Tashjian

The Deputy Prosecutor General of Belarus has decided to satisfy the request of the Prosecutor General of Azerbaijan on the extradition of Russian-Israeli blogger Alexander Lapshin, Chairman of the Armenian Chamber of Advocates

The ruling can be appealed within ten days, he said.

The Armenian Chamber of Advocates has set up a task force to provide professional assistance to Alexander Lapshin within the limits of its capacity.

The Azerbaijani side used firearms of different calibers as it violated the ceasefire regime 70 times last night, the NKR Defense Ministry reports.

The rival fired over 600 shots in the direction of the Armenian positions. The Azeri forces used different types of sniper rifles in the southern, eastern and northeastern directions of the frontline.

The front divisions of the NKR Defense Army confidently continued with their military duty all along the line of contact and resorted to response actions in case of extreme necessity, the Ministry said.

Photo: Getty Images

 

Colombia’s government says it will sign a new peace accord with Farc rebels on Thursday, after a previous deal was rejected in a referendum last month, the BBC reports.

The new revised agreement will be submitted to Congress for approval, rather than put to a popular vote.

But opposition groups say it still does not go far enough in punishing rebels for human rights abuses.

The deal is aimed at ending more than 50 years of civil war, in which more than 220,000 people have been killed.

In a televised address to the nation on Tuesday, President Juan Manuel Santos said: “We have the unique opportunity to close this painful chapter in our history that has bereaved and afflicted millions of Colombians for half a century.”

The original deal was signed two months ago in an emotional ceremony before world leaders but it was rejected in a referendum on 2 October.

A number of Turkish officers posted to Nato have sought asylum since the country’s failed military coup in July, Nato’s secretary-general has said, the BBC reports.

Jens Stoltenberg said the officers had requested asylum in the countries where they had been posted but gave no names, numbers or reasons for the requests.

The countries involved will consider the cases individually.

Turkey has dismissed, suspended, detained or arrested tens of thousands of people since the July coup attempt.

Many have been in the military, although others are teachers, policemen, judges and journalists.

Mr Stoltenberg said on Friday that “some Turkish officers working in the Nato command structure… have requested asylum in the countries where they are working”.

German media have carried reports that some members of the Turkish military have requested asylum in Germany.

Also on Friday, the UN rapporteur on freedom of expression, David Kaye, warned of a “grim” climate in Turkey since the failed coup.

He said: “The conclusions I would say are fairly grim and reflect what I think is a deep sense of restriction on freedom of opinion and expression throughout the country.”

An international conference on “Damascus: Prism of hope” organized by the Pontifical Oriental Institute was held in Rome.

The Armenian Embassy at the Holy See participated in the organization works. The conference was aimed at considering the problems existing in Syria and the Middle East from different perspectives.

Speeches were delivered by the Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I, Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches Leonardo Sandri, Armenia’s Ambassador to Vatican Mikayel Minasyan, representatives of different Christian churches and universities of the Middle East.

Addressing the conference, Armenian Ambassador Mikayel Minasyan said that “terrorists are trying to distort the cultural diversity in Syria.” He urged to struggle against such expressions of vandalism, indifference, the systematic destruction of Christian values in Syria, as it is impossible to imagine the Middle East without Christians.

“Yerevan is a delightful capital. Its wide, leafy boulevards are lined with cafés and wine bars where Armenians like to sit chatting late into the night,” Frank Gardner writes in an article published by The Telegraph.

“You know you’re in wine country the moment you arrive at Yerevan airport. You can’t really miss it as there’s a 20ft high inflatable wine bottle parked outside the terminal,” the article reads.

“A Christian country sandwiched between predominantly Muslim Turkey, Iran and Azerbaijan, Armenia likes its alcohol. They also produce what they say is the best brandy in the world and driving into town the advertisements are everywhere for Ararat brandy and Noy cognac,” the author writes.

“You look up to the horizon and there, towering over everything, is the magnificent, awe-inspiring snow-capped peak of Mount Ararat, 5,165 metres high and just across the border in Turkey. “It used to be ours,” Armenians say,” The Telegraph writes.

“Garni is a sort of miniature Parthenon, built in the 1st century AD, reduced to rubble by an earthquake in 1679, then rebuilt in the Seventies. It’s an extraordinary building in a dramatic setting but Geghard Monastery is, to my mind, even more impressive. Up a steep, cobbled road, through an archway, past pine trees swaying beneath yellow crags, this World Heritage-listed monastery is named after the lance said to have speared Christ’s flesh at the crucifixion,” the article reads.

For the full article click .

ranks Armenia international Henrikh Mkhitaryan 36th (between Mesut Ozil – 37th and Harry Kane – 35th) in its list of world’s 50 best football players of 2016.

Chief editors and correspondents from Goal‘s 38 editions across the globe all cast their votes. Players were judged on their level of consistency over the past year, their big-game performances, footballing legacy and the success of their team at both club and international level.

“The 27-year-old’s Old Trafford career may not have got off to the best start but the attacking midfielder was sensational for Borussia Dortmund last season, racking up 11 goals and 15 assists in the Bundesliga alone. One imagines that if he gets a regular run of Premier League games, then Mkhitaryan will quickly set about proving just why United paid £35.7m (€42m) for his services,” Goal writes.

Chief editors and correspondents from Goal‘s 38 editions across the globe all cast their votes. Players were judged on their level of consistency over the past year, their big-game performances, footballing legacy and the success of their team at both club and international level.

The bust of Missak Manouchian, National Hero of France, who participated in the Resistance Movement in France, was solemnly opened in Perdiguier Central Park of Avignon, France.

Attending the event were the Mayor of Avignon, Cécile Helle, Armenia’s Honorary Consul in Marseille Samvel Lalayan, President of the Armenian-French Cultural Association of Avignon Véronique Bruna-Mardoyan, Members of French Senate and National Assembly, author of the sculpture Marcella Kratz, representatives of local and regional governments, political and public figures, clergymen and French Armenians.

Mayor Cécile Helle presented the Missak Manouchian’s glorious path, emphasizing the respect and love he earned in France in response to his contribution to the anti-Fascist struggle.

Consul Samvel Lalayan referred to the friendly relations between Armenia and France, the effective cooperation between the Armenian community and the local authorities of Avignon.

The ceremony was followed by the screening of Robert Guédiguian’s film “The Army of Crime” (L’Armée du crime), dedicated to Manouchian and his group.

The event was widely covered in the local press.

China’s top political advisor Yu Zhengsheng met with Vazgen Manukyan, chairman of Armenia’s Public Council on Thursday, calling for joint efforts on the Belt and Road Initiative, Xinhua agency reports.

Describing Armenia as China’s good friend and important partner in the south Caucasus, Yu said both countries have a healthy and stable relationship based on equality, mutual benefit and respect.

“China and Armenia have understood and coordinated with each other on issues related to their core interests and major concerns,” said Yu, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

“China is willing to work with Armenia to consolidate the political and public opinion foundations for bilateral relations, and jointly push forward the Belt and Road Initiative and practical cooperation,” he said.

Yu said the CPPCC National Committee is ready to strengthen exchanges with Armenia’s Public Council in state governance.

Manukyan said Armenia is along the ancient Silk Road and has great interest in China’s Belt and Road Initiative, welcoming more cooperation with China in all fields.

Du Qinglin, vice chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, held talks with Manukyan later Thursday.

President Serzh Sargsyan sent a congratulatory message to Michel Aoun on his election as President of the Republic of Lebanon.

“I am confident that your years-long experience and endless dedication to the prosperous and safe future of Lebanon will contribute toward this goal. I have no doubt that during your tenure in office the friendship of the Armenian and Lebanese peoples, which comes from the depth of history, will strengthen even more and will acquire new qualities.

I wish you excellent health as well as strength and tenacity in reaching all your goals and implementation of all your programs,” reads the congratulatory message of the President of Armenia.