Author: Edgar Tavakalian

Pope Francis is more popular than any political world leader, an opinion poll has suggested, the BBC reports.

The poll by WIN/Gallup International indicates that Roman Catholics and Jews have the most favourable opinion of the Pope.

More than half of the world’s protestants and even the majority of atheists and agnostics view him favourably.

About 1,000 people were questioned in 64 countries.

Those taking part in the poll were asked: “Irrespective of your own religion, do you have a very favourable, somewhat favourable, somewhat unfavourable or very unfavourable opinion of Pope Francis?”

The Pope was most popular with Roman Catholics, of whom 85% said they had a favourable opinion of him, and among Jews questioned the figure was 65%.

Among the 64 countries polled, the Philippines was the most enthusiastic nation with 93% thinking favourably of the Pope.

WIN/Gallup said that the Pope heads the rankings when compared to the global popularity of political world leaders.

It gave him a net score – the difference between favourable and unfavourable opinions – of +41 ahead of US President Barack Obama on +30; German Chancellor Angela Merkel on +13; UK Prime Minister David Cameron on +10 and French President Francois Hollande on +6.

Sir Paul McCartney has filed legal papers in the US, as part of an attempt to reclaim the publishing rights to The Beatles’ back catalogue, the reports.

Although he co-wrote most of the band’s hits, the star has never controlled the publishing.

However, the US copyright act of 1976 gives writers the opportunity to reclaim the rights after 56 years.

The Lennon-McCartney catalogue becomes available in 2018, and Sir Paul has recently moved to recapture it.

According to Billboard, the star filed a termination notice for 32 songs with the US Copyright Office in December.

Most of the songs date from 1962 – 1964, although others come from much later in the band’s career. Some of those, including Come Together and Why Don’t We Do It In The Road, are not due to become available until 2025.

The Glendale Unified School District (GUSD) has passed a resolution to mark April 24th as a “Day of Commemoration for the Armenian Genocide,” the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) reports.

GUSD will be the first school district in the nation to have all of its schools closed in honor of that day.

“This is a great day for ‪HyeTad and all those who fight for justice and the memory of those we lost during the ‪‎Armenian Genocide,” ANCA said in a Facebook post.

On February 26^th 2016, the President of the Republic of Serbia H.E. Tomislav Nikolić met a delegation led by Mr. Kaspar Karampetian, President of the European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy (EAFJD), at the Presidential Palace in Belgrade. The delegation comprised of the Prelate of the Armenians of Romania Msgr. Datev Hagopian-Mouradian, the President of the Armenian Community in Serbia Mr. Samvel Ayvazyan and Dr. Yiannos Charalampidis – journalist and author of books on Nagorno-Karabakh.

The adviser to the President of Serbia and former Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Ivan Mrkić also participated in the meeting.

During the one-hour meeting, Karampetian expressed his gratitude to President Nikolić for his two visits to Armenia, especially during the commemoration of the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide, on behalf of all the members of the Federation.

EAFJD President stressed his satisfaction regarding the improvement of the bilateral relations between the Republics of Serbia and Armenia, during President Nikolić’s term in office. He expressed the willingness of the EAFJD to use its whole potential to help further deepen the relations between the two countries. Mr. Karampetian introduced the head of the Armenian Community in Serbia Samvel Ayvazyan to President Nikolić and focused on the Armenian Community in Serbia.

Accepting Mr. Karampetians’ request to provide to the Armenian Community of Serbia with land so that it can build a church, school, as well as a meeting hall, President Nikolić instructed his team to examine the possibility to satisfy the needs of the community, to help the latter be better organized, take care of their faith, language and traditions.

On behalf of the His Holiness the Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, Bishop Datev presented an icon which was sent as a gift to the President of the Republic of Serbia. Bishop Datev, emphasized the excellent relations between the Serbian and Armenian Churches, mentioning that a visit of the Serbian Patriarch to the Holy See of Etchmiadzin is being planned.

President Nikolić expressed his gratitude to the Catholicos of all Armenians for the valuable gift and thanked especially Bishop Datev, for his visit to Belgrade, to personally present to him the icon and its history. The President of Serbia also expressed his satisfaction about this meeting and thanked the Armenian delegation for the visit to Belgrade. He also emphasized that his visits to Armenia aimed at deepening the relations between the two countries. President Nikolić spoke particularly warmly of his participation in the commemoration of the Centenary of the Armenian Genocide, when he personally represented the Republic of Serbia. President Nikolić informed that the relations will be deepened much more in the future and that he is looking forward to welcoming the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan to Serbia in 2016.

“Today we had the honor of being received by the President of Serbia H.E. Tomislav Nikolić, with whom we had a very fruitful meeting and discussion. We are certain that the common history and values that we share with the Serbian people and the willingness of both Serbia and Armenia to deepen their cooperation will lead to significant results in the future,” said Karampetian.

“The President was favorable to our request regarding the Armenian community in Serbia, which will play also an important role in strengthening the ties between the two societies. I am confident that in the future we will have the opportunity to discuss other political matters with Serbian officials and reach a common understanding for the benefit of our two peoples,” concluded Karampetian

Photo: Valeriy Sharifulin/TASS    

The Syrian army and self-defense forces have regained control over the town of Kensaba, the last stronghold of militants to the north of Latakia (320 kilometers from Damascus), reports.

A spokesman for Syrian Armed Forces told SANA news agency on Thursday that Syrian forces also regained control over the Shellef fortress where fire positions of the enemy were situated.

 

A delegation headed by Iran’s Deputy Minister of Health Rasoul Dinarvand has arrived in Armenia with a view of deepening the cooperation between the two countries in the field of healthcare. The delegation comprising outstanding specialists of the sphere and representatives of the private sector had a meeting with Armenian Health Minister Armen Muradyan.

Rasoul Dinarvand said his country is interested in developing the cooperation with Armenia in the field of healthcare. “We want to make use of all opportunities for more effective cooperation,” he said.

Iran’s Deputy Health Minister said the Iranian private sector is interested in making investments in our country, namely establishing a medical center.

The parties pointed to pharmaceutics as a promising sphere of cooperation. The development of advanced technologies and methods of drug production was discussed. Reference was made to the promotion of exports and imports, as well as exchange of experience.

On 15 February NKR President Bako Sahakyan received Armenia’s newly-appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United States Grigor Hovhanissyan, NKR President’s Press Office reported.

The President congratulated Grigor Hovhanissyan on assuming the responsible position.

The meeting touched upon a range of issues related to providing truthful information about Artsakh in various US platforms and deepening the inter-Armenian ties.

NKR foreign minister Karen Mirzoyan was present at the meeting.

“There can be no lasting military solution of Nagorno Karabakh,” U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Richard Mills said in a Facebook chat with reporters on the first anniversary of his mission in Armenia.

“The escalation of tragic violence and rhetoric along the line of contact is a source of deep concern to the U.S. government. The possibility of that escalation triggering even through misjudgment or error along the line of conflict is real in my view. That is why the Minsk Group Co-Chairs have urged both sides to take steps to reduce the level of violence along the line of contact, and to implement mechanisms for monitoring the situation,” Amb. Mills said.

“This was a topic of discussion when the two Presidents met in Bern, Switzerland, in December. The U.S. Co-Chair, Ambassador Warlick, is engaged with the other Co-Chairs in continuing to move the dialogue forward,” he added.

“The Minsk Group co-chairs have raised with both sides the importance of investigative mechanisms along the line of contact and other steps to reduce the level of violence. This was discussed between the two Presidents during their meeting in Bern, in December. It is up to the two leaders to reach agreement on such steps. The Minsk Co-Chairs are facilitating discussions that I hope will lead to agreement,” Richard Mills said.

“Although there are some stark policy differences between the U.S. and Russia, we are still able to find common ground and cooperate on other issues of importance to the international community – most notably on the Iran nuclear issue and within the Minsk Group, where I have seen first-hand the Russian, French, and U.S. co-chairs engage effectively,” the Ambassador said.

Head of Aras Free Zone Organization has expressed readiness to host joint investments of Iranian and Armenian private sectors, reports. 

The Al-Nusra Front has destroyed the churches in the Armenian populated village of Al-Ghanimeh to the north of Lattakia, reports, quoting the Lebanese Al-Manar TV.

Footage shows that the Armenian and Evangelical Churches in the village have been destroyed, the cemeteries have been desecrated.

“The roots of this evil come from Turkey, they have destroyed churches. The rebels follow the example of Turks, who have no religion,” says a man, who visited Al-Ghanimeh after the Syrian forces pushed the terrorists back from the village.