Author: Eduard Nalbandian

Jurgen Klopp holds no doubts that Dortmund midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan is one of the biggest talents in the world, the Daily Mail reports.

The Liverpool manager, who arrived at Anfield early on Thursday with his squad ahead of the Europa League clash with Bordeaux, plucked the Armenian from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2013 and remains a confirmed admirer.

Liverpool have been linked with a move for the 26-year-old, given his links with Klopp, and Juventus have monitored his situation.

Mkhitaryan came in for severe criticism last season – Dortmund struggled for much of it and were in danger of suffering relegation – but, talking in a new ebook Reading The Game centred on the 2014-15 campaign, Klopp leapt to his defence.

Mkhitaryan’s agent claimed he wanted to leave the club in February and – while new boss Thomas Tuchel wants to extend his contract beyond 2017 – there remains questions as to whether he will remain in Germany.

When it comes down to it, 99 per cent of people would be happy to have Mkhitaryan’s problems,’ he said. ‘There is no doubt in my mind that he is one of the most talented players in the world.’

‘He possesses an incredible combination of speed and technique. There’s very, very few you can say that about.’

‘There’s a reason why the world’s best chess players come from Armenia like Mkhitaryan. Yes, other countries product chess players, but Armenia produces far more than could reasonably expect,’ Klopp said.

Jurgen Klopp’s new ebook ‘Reading The Game: A Year in Black and Yellow’ is now on sale and can be bought from Amazon.

Celine Dion brought the theatre to tears at the American Music Awards as she performed a tribute to the victims of the terror attacks in Paris earlier this month, the Daily Mail reports.

The French-Canadian sang Edith Piaf’s Hymne a l’Amour as a montage showing of Paris landmarks, including the the Louvre and the Arc de Triomphe, and the French capital uniting in the wake of the attacks, played behind her.

Several audience members at at the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles, California, were visibly moved as Celine sang the emotional French classic in honour of the 130 people who died in the attacks on November 13. 

Piaf wrote Hymne a l’Amour in 1949 for the love of her life boxer Marcel Cerdan, who was killed only months later while flying to New York from Paris to visit her.

Officials say suspected Islamist gunmen who stormed a hotel in Mali’s capital, Bamako, have “no more hostages,” the BBC reports.

The Radisson Blu Hotel was stormed by special forces after gunmen entered it and seized 170 people. At least 30 of the hostages are known to have escaped.

Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and its offshoot al-Murabitoun said they carried out the attack, according to an agency used by jihadists in the region.

At least 18 people have died and two soldiers wounded.

One of those killed was Geoffrey Dieudonne, a member of parliament in Belgium’s Wallonia region.

The Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said it possesses no information on whether there were Armenian citizens or ethnic Armenians among those killed or injured in Paris attacks.

The series of attacks which claimed the lives of at least 127 on Friday became the worst terrorist incident in French history.

Armenian President and Foreign Minister earlier issued statements, offering condolences to the friendly people of France.

Photo by Andrea Bruce/The New York Times

Christianity “could disappear completely” within a decade in parts of the Middle East, a report has warned as Isis and other groups continue their violent persecution of the faith, reports.

Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), a UK-based Catholic campaign group, has chronicled a dramatic decline in the faith over the last two years largely due to what it called the “religiously motivated ethnic cleansing” in Iraq, Syria, Nigeria and other countries hit by Islamist insurgencies.

But researchers found that totalitarian regimes such as in North Korea, and extremism in faiths outside Islam were also playing a part in the 22 nations reviewed.

John Pontifex, the editor of Persecuted and Forgotten? A Report on Christians oppressed for their Faith 2013-15, said: “A cultural genocide of Christians is erasing the presence of faithful from large swathes of the Middle East, the very heartland of the Church.

“Far from laying the entire blame for persecution against Christians at the door of extremist Islam [the report] demonstrates that many of the problems stem from non-Muslim extremist – nationalist – faith groups and historically communist totalitarian regimes.”

Researchers wrote that with the faith disappearing from entire regions, including parts of Africa, it was “changing from being a global faith to a regional one”.

Iraq was among the 10 countries where persecution is ranked as “extreme”, with the charity saying Christianity’s future in the country is “in doubt” amid an exodus of refugees pushed out by Isis’ violent advance last year.

The ACN warns that Christians could virtually disappear from Iraq within five years “unless emergency help is provided at an international level on a massively increased scale”.

Numbers of Christians in the country are believed to be as low as 275,000, while the figure in neighbouring Syria has dropped from 1.25 million in 2011 to as few as 500,000 today.

Isis and other jihadist groups have targeted religious minorities in both countries, driving them from their homes, kidnapping priests and murdering those who refuse to renounce their faith.

Researchers said that Christians were not only a target because of their faith itself, but because of their “perceived links with the West and a view associating the faithful with colonialism”.

The report held Islamism to be the greatest threat but also highlighted attacks sparked by militant forms of Hinduism, Judaism and Buddhism.

The countries where Christians were deemed most at risk were: China, Eritrea, Iraq, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria and Vietnam.

The Pope sent a message from the Vatican addressing ACN’s findings, saying the world must be made aware of the “plight and suffering” of Christians.

“[Pope Francis] prays that those in positions of authority will diligently strive not only to eradicate religious discrimination and persecution in their own nations, but also to seek ever more effective ways to promote international cooperation in order to overcome these offenses against human dignity and religious freedom,” a statement said.

Marking the report’s launch in the House of Lords, David Cameron said Christians were being “systematically discriminated against, exploited and driven from their homes because of their faith”.

Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish First Minister, also sent a message of support to ACN, saying that the “extent and scale of the problem” must be identified in order for persecution to be properly addressed.

Photo from Fars News Agency

President Serzh Sargsyan had a meeting today with the President of the Presidential Council for Nuclear Energy Safety, Adolf Berghoffer, at the Government Reception House, who has arrived in Armenia to take part in the 14th regular session of the RA Presidential Council for Nuclear Energy Safety (PCNES).

The Armenian president and the PCNES president touched upon the scheduled works aimed at increasing the level of ANPP security, the events envisioned by the program for extension of the ANPP second energy block’s operation terms, talked about issues concerning the construction of the ANPP new energy block and about the cooperation with the IAEA, including within the frames of the OSART mission.

Following the meeting, Serzh Sargsyan and PCNES President Adolf Berghoffer took part in the session of the Presidential Council for Nuclear Energy Safety at the Government Reception House where the president delivered opening remarks.
During the session, ANPP CJSC Acting Director-General M. Vardanyan presented to the council members the activities of the ANPP.

A. Martirosyan, chairman of the RA State Nuclear Safety Regulatory Committee by the Government, presented the report of the Armenian nuclear safety regulatory body for the 2013-2015 period which was followed by discussions on the presented reports.

Opening Remarks by RA President Serzh Sargsyan at the 14th Session of the Presidential Council for Nuclear Energy Safety

Dear chair,

Dear council members and participants,

Opening the 14th session of nuclear energy safety council I’d like to express sincere gratitude to all the council members for their professional support in the implementation of the national program for the improvement of safety level of the operational unit of the Armenian NPP.

The Armenian NPP plays a special role in uninterrupted power supply of the republic of Armenia and therefore your work is very important for us. Thank you very much.

Over the period that has elapsed since the previous session some changes took place in the composition of the council. Due to mr Bezzubov’s transfer to another post we included Mr. Alexey Ferapontov. Thank you for your agreement to join our council. Thank you very much.

Alexey Victorovich we wish you successful and fruitful work.

In a week, on November 5, it will be 20 years after the restart of unit 2 of the Armenian NPP after 6 years of conservation. It is a unique project in many aspects. An unprecedented amount of rehabilitation work was performed utilizing numerous original engineering solutions. Since unit-2 restart, over 1400 measures have been taken to raise its safety level.

On September 17, this year, in Vienna the 7th technical session on coordination of international aid to raise the Armenian NPP’s safety was held. The priority program of measures was discussed at the session to raise the safety of unit-2.

I want to avail myself of the opportunity to thank the IAEA, the governments of the USA, RF, Czech Republic, the UK, France, Italy and the European Commission for technical support over these years.

Dear participants

In December 2014, and February 2015 the governments of the Republic of Armenia and Russian federation signed agreements on cooperation in the project for extension of operation of unit-2 and extension of a state export loan to the government of the Republic of Armenia. Both agreements have come into force and the work has commenced.

The program for extension of operation of unit-2 will be implemented in two stages:

First, integrated research program for systems, equipment, components and structures of the NPP.

Second, necessary replacement of and upgrade for obtaining a license for operation within additional deadline, and measures to raise the safety level of the Armenian NPP, including the ones suggested in the report based on stress test under technical support of the European commission.

Under the 1st stage, the research of 4500 units of equipment, systems and components has been finalized. The report for stage 1 will be finalized in March 2016.

In parallel, we have started to work on stage 2. We hope despite short deadlines Russian specialists with active involvement of Armenian specialists will implement the whole amount of work on time and with high quality.

On October 7, this year, the first session of the joint coordination committee to extend the operation of unit-2 of the Armenian NPP was held. Within the framework of this session, the governments of Armenia and Russian federation signed an agreement on rapid notification about nuclear accident and information exchange in nuclear and radiation safety.

In accordance with government decree of July 31, 2014 on the approval of the action plan for 2014-2020, the commission date of the new nuclear unit is synchronized with the decommissioning date of the operating unit. Thus Armenia confirms its intention to develop nuclear energy and this domain occupies a key position in energy development program.

Detailed information on the implementation of recommendations of the previous session of the safety council will be presented by the heads of the Armenian NPP and the State Committee for Regulation of Nuclear Safety. I’d like you to focus on a number of fundamental issues.

Under EU technical support, the drafting of the document “Strategy for Nuclear Waste Management and Waste Nuclear Fuel” is almost over. The analysis of current situation and of the acting legislation is over. After approval of the strategy, the government will develop and approve the Implementation Plan.

According to the provisions of the Unified Convention for Safe NW Management and Waste Nuclear Fuel, in May 2015 Armenia submitted its first national report to the IAEA.

To rectify the comments of OSART mission to the Armenian NPP, a document called Program and management plan for RW at the Armenian NPP was developed.

The purpose of the program is to bring RW management at the Armenian NPP in compliance with modern requirements. Stage by stage implementation of the program is planned in 2016-2019, using loans for operation extension project.

IAEA mission assessed the probabilistic safety analysis (PSA) for the seismic stability of unit-2 of the Armenian NPP. IAEA’s recommendations have been completely implemented and reflected in the final report, and today we can state that seismic safety of the Armenian NPP meets modern safety requirements and target indicators for existing nuclear plants.

To improve personnel training at the Armenian NPP, it is necessary to elevate the current simulator to its full potential. This year, the NPP will allocate its own funds to implement this work.

The Armenian plant shall concentrate its efforts, both financial and technical, on successful completion of work.

Now, I will say a few words about the personnel training situation at the ANPP.

Last year, some heads of the ANPP were relieved of their posts for the improper performance of their duties. I would like to urge the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources to use our financial resources effectively to ensure the security and safety of plant operations and fulfill the tasks on time. We have agreed with the leadership of the energy ministry and with the new leadership of the ANPP to fully rule out negative phenomena.

I think that the human resource management policy is of primary importance to Armenia’s all nuclear energy branches. It is important to improve and keep skilled specialists both at the plant and all the specialized agencies.

Additional information

The RA Presidential Council on Nuclear Power Safety was created in 1996 by the decree of the President of Armenia. This independent advisory body was established based on the need to ensure safe operations of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant.

The Council comprises scientists and experts of internationa
l recognition and repute.

The Council carries out its functions through the annual meetings of the body.
The Charter stipulates that the Council’s main objectives are:

 • formation of the priority directions for the nuclear power safety and development, drafting of the tasks pertinent to the existing problems
• analysis and expertise of the drafts of the normative legal acts related to the peaceful and safe use of the nuclear power which are being presented to the President of the Republic of Armenia.

The members of the Council are:

• Adolf Birkhofer – Chairman of the Council (Germany)
• Vahram Petrossian – Executive Secretary of the Council (Armenia)
• Robert Avagian (Armenia)
• Alexander Lokshin (RF)
• Vladimir Asmolov (RF)
• Aleksey Ferapontov (RF)
• Robert Badnits (US)
• Bernard Gesdont (France)
• Gerald Ouzunian (France)
• Christopher Watson (Great Britain)
• Miroslav Lipar (IEAE, Austria)
• Jozeph Mishak (Czech Republic)

On the occasion of Armenia’s Independence Day, Armenian Consul General to Aleppo Tigran Gevorgyan visited the Armenian home for the elderly in Aleppo.

Tigran Gevorgyan toured the nursing home accompanied by its director, members of the board of trustees and the leader of Syria’s Armenian evangelical community and talked to the elderly people that live there.

The Consul General congratulated them on the 24^th anniversary of Armenia’s independence and assured that issues of Syrian Armenian, especially the aged people and children, are always in the focus of attention of the Armenian authorities.

Tigran Gevorgyan expressed gratitude to the staff of the nursing home for their devoted work.

The same day the Consul General visited the Armenian orphanage. He congratulated its young residents on the occasion of the start of the new academic year and wished them every success in their studies. He assured that the Consulate General would maintain its cooperation with the orphanage.

The Consul General and the leadership of the orphanage discussed the possibility of organizing the summer rest of the children in Armenia.

Tigran Gevorgyan conveyed donations from Armenian benefactor Vardan Sermakesh to both the nursing house and the orphanage.

A deal on limiting Iran’s nuclear programme in return for the lifting of sanctions has been reached at talks in Vienna, diplomats say, the BBC reports.

Under the agreement, access for nuclear inspectors monitoring Iran’s programme would reportedly not be automatic.

Six world powers including the US, Russia and the UK have been negotiating with Iran for several years.

The so-called P5+1 – the US, UK, France, China and Russia plus Germany – want Iran to scale back its sensitive nuclear activities to ensure that it cannot build a nuclear weapon.

Iran, which wants crippling international sanctions lifted, has always insisted that its nuclear work is peaceful.