Author: Garik Boshkezenian

The statement by the head of the press service of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry about the alleged military use of monuments of Islamic architecture located on the territory of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic does not correspond to reality and is another allegation in a series of fraud and forgery, constantly used by the Azerbaijani side, Press Service of the NKR Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

“Azerbaijan, with its rich experience of using religious monuments for military purposes, which is proved by the conversion of the Kazanchetsots church in Shushi into a military warehouse in 1992, once again is trying to ascribe its own behavior to the Karabakh side.

There are numerous compelling evidences of systematic and deliberate destruction of Armenian cultural heritage sites by the Azerbaijani authorities on the whole territory of Azerbaijan, as well as in the occupied Shahumyan region of the NKR.

The most blatant act of vandalism is the destruction of the medieval Armenian khachkar/cross-stone cemetery near the town of Jugha (Julfa) in Nakhichevan and turning the site into a military range in 2005. Despite numerous international appeals, the Azerbaijani side, trying to avoid responsibility, does not allow international experts to visit the area, where there was a cemetery of cross-stones.

If the Azerbaijani authorities are genuinely interested in the implementation of the fact-finding mission to assess the situation with the historical and cultural monuments, and do not pursue merely political or propaganda aims, then we can expect that the work of the mission will start from visiting the occupied Shahumyan region of the NKR and Nakhichevan.

At the same time, we consider it necessary to note that all the monuments located in the territory of the NKR, irrespective of their origin, are included in the State Registry of the NKR Historical and Cultural Immobile Monuments and are under state protection.

The Nagorno Karabakh Republic has been and remains open to international cooperation in the protection and preservation of cultural and historical heritage, and expects a similar openness of Azerbaijan.”

“Today is a holiday, and we’ll always celebrate it together,” Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Russia to Armenia Ivan Volynkin told reporters today.

Speaking about the Karabakh conflict, the Ambassador said “weapons will not solve the issue.” “The conflict can be solved only in a peaceful way, only at the negotiating table,” he added.

As for the sale of Russian weapons to Azerbaijan, Amb. Vollynkin said: “Show me documents, according to which Russia keeps selling weapons to Azerbaijan.” Besides, he said “Russia sells weapons to Armenia, as well.”

The recognition of NKR independence will lead to a solution of the issue, but will transfer it to a new stage, Director of the Armenian branch of the CIS Institute Alexander Markarov told reporters today. According to him, the issue of recognition will be brought into agenda if Azerbaijan unleashes more serious military actions, as this will allow Armenia to once again insist that Azerbaijan is unable to solve the issue in a peaceful way.

Political scientist Sergey Shakaryants says the recognition of NKR has numerous layers with corresponding consequences. According to him, the real recognition takes place in the nation’s subconsciousness. He believes the recognition is untimely today as it had to have been done much earlier.

Shakaryants considers that recognition would not impede the negotiation process, and there are examples of it. He says that if Armenia recognizes Nagorno Karabakh and sings a corresponding agreement with the latter, all countries tied with Armenia by different agreements will have to take this into account.

“We’ll resort to recognition of Artsakh, when we see all other options are excluded. Recognition will mean Nagorno Karabakh moves to a category of semi-recognized states.  In that case it will have some level of sovereignty, which will be somewhat restricted. In any case, recognition will mean Armenia has not seen any other option,” Markarov said.

Borussia Dortmund’s Henrikh Mkhitaryan is currently enjoying his most influential campaign as a professional footballer, according to .

The BVB number ten has provided 13 assists in the league this term – more than any other Bundesliga player – and has also chipped in with 11 goals.

Regarded as something of a hero in his native Armenia, with whom he is the country’s all-time top goalscorer, Mkhitaryan was the best player on the pitch in Dortmund’s recent 3-0 victory at VfB Stuttgart, playing a part in all three of his side’s goals. Over the course of the 90 minutes, he was involved in seven of BVB’s 16 attempts at goal.

Thomas Tuchel’s team host VfL Wolfsburg this coming Saturday, and Mkhitaryan will be hoping to pick up where he left off at the Mercedes-Benz Arena.

Armenia’s Hripsime Khurshudyan won a gold medal at the European Weightlifting Championships under way in Norway.

She lifted 113 kg in the snatch and 137 in the clean & jerk.

This was the third gold medal of the Armenian team. Andranik Karapetyan became the winner in the 77 kg weight category, with Tigran Martirosyan coming second. Nazik Avdalyan won the gold in the 69 kg weight category.

Simon Martirosyan (105 kg) won a bronze medal.

Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley will preside at a 4:00 p.m. prayer service for the first ever Archdiocese of Boston commemoration of the Armenian Genocide at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, April 23, the  reports.

Among those present will be Archbishop Khajag Barsamian of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan from the Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church, and vicar general Msgr. Andon Atamian, who will be representing Bishop Mikael Mouradian, of the Armenian Catholic Eparchy of the United States and Canada.

Nationally-acclaimed performers of the Armenian national instrument, the Duduk, will open the service, and a combined Armenian guest choir under Maestro Artur Veranian will sing, organizers said.

“With Cardinal Seán’s vision and support, the archdiocese is pleased to offer this occasion of joint prayer in remembrance, witness, and in Christ’s promise of resurrection with our Armenian brothers and sisters,” said Bishop Arthur L. Kennedy, director for the Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs.

Last year, Pope Francis made headlines when he referred to the 1915 mass killing of Armenians by the Ottoman Turks as “genocide.” Turkey denies the slaughter was a genocide, although a number of countries have officially recognized it as such.

The Vatican confirmed this month that Pope Francis will visit Armenia in June following invitations from Catholicos Karekin II, the Catholicos of All Armenians, the supreme head of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

“Pope Francis put the moral weight of the papacy behind this cause of human dignity — the least we owe those who have suffered a genocide is the recognition that it happened, especially when they are our brothers and sisters in Christ and the first nation to accept Christianity in 301 AD,” said Vito Nicastro, associate director for the Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs.

Nicastro said the Boston commemoration service will make the pope’s message present on a local level.

“The service is not only of remembrance but also of resurrection. By standing with (the Armenian people), we share in the defeat of evil — ultimately it is an expression of the Easter mystery,” said Nicastro.

Borussia Dortmund are hoping to keep midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan at the club amid interest from Juventus and links with Arsenal, the club’s sporting director Michael Zorc has told .

Mkhitaryan, 27, who is under contract at Dortmund until 2017, has been instrumental for a rejuvenated Dortmund side this season, setting up 24 goals and scoring a further 20 in 43 appearances.

Alongside Marco Reus and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, the Armenia international has been part of a trio which has scored 74 goals and set up 41 for one of the best attacks in Europe this season.

His performances for Dortmund have, however, been noticed by other European top clubs with Juventus and Arsenal said to be monitoring his situation.

According to a report, Arsene Wenger has sent his scouts to Dortmund as he hopes to rebuild his midfield next season, and in an interview with Mkhitaryan’s agent Mino Raiola has confirmed Serie A leaders Juventus are also eager to sign him.

“I know that [Massimiliano] Allegri likes him, and Micki would be delighted to play for the Bianconeri, but you’ve also got to bear in mind that [Dortmund coach Thomas] Tuchel regards him as a player he cannot do without,” Raiola said. “That is why I think it is difficult that anything will happen.”

In Bild on Thursday, Raiola added: “We are in no rush to prolong the contract at Dortmund. We will act calmly.”

Zorc, however, refused to comment on Juventus’ interest, and added that they “are in good talks with Micki and Mr. Raiola.”

The AGBU Performing Arts Departments (PAD) in New York and Paris announce the opening of the submission cycle for the 2016 AGBU Sayat Nova International Composition Competition. In 2006, AGBU France launched the competition, a biennial event open to composers from all backgrounds. Since the start of the competition, submissions have arrived from over thirty countries, including Ghana, Korea, Mexico and Russia, in addition to Armenia and the United States. Winners have been from Argentina, Armenia/Nagorno-Karabakh, France, Hong Kong, Mexico and the United Kingdom and gala concerts have taken place at prestigious venues, such as Symphony Space in New York and Salon d’Opéra and Salle Cortot in Paris.

The competition, which celebrates its tenth anniversary this year, is designed to introduce Armenian music, literature and history to a wider international audience by asking composers to submit compositions for an ensemble of Armenian and Western instruments that integrate Armenian poetry. In past years, composers have been asked to use the works of poets Sayat Nova and Daniel Varoujan. This year, they are asked to draw inspiration from the tenth-century Armenian monk, poet and philosopher Grigor Narekatsi, who was named a Doctor of the Church by Pope Francis in 2015. Each year, the competition is judged by a renowned panel of musicians, which has included Alain Altinoglu, Jenny Q. Chai, Michael Jarell, Paul Mefano and Michel Petrossian.

By August 31, composers are invited to submit a seven to ten-minute composition for a chamber ensemble of six musicians, including: a string quartet (two violins, one viola, and one cello), one shvi (traditional Armenian woodwind instrument), and one male vocal tenor (spoken and/or sung). For the second year, the submission process will take place through Vox Novus, a music company that has designed special software to allow all submissions and judging to take place online. “We are grateful for Vox Novus’s partnership and devotion to the competition’s success. Their generosity and ingenuity helped us to further introduce the competition to composers worldwide, fostering creative love and inspiration from our ancient culture in composers of many different heritages,” said Hayk Arsenyan, the director of PAD New York.

Over the years, the competition has grown to include new and bigger awards. The winners of the competition will receive cash prizes and will be eligible for three special awards, including the new Armusic Publishing House Award. This award allows the top three winners to have their winning works published by the Composers Union of Armenia’s Armusic Publishing House in Yerevan. The top winner will receive two additional prizes: the Carnegie Hall Award, which gives the composer the honor of having his/her piece premiered at the AGBU Performing Artists in Concert at the Weill Recital Hall, and the Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra (ANPO) Award, which offers the composer the opportunity to be commissioned to write a 10-minute piece that will premiere by the ANPO during the 2017/18 season.