Author: Jhanna Virabian

Sports: FARCE CONTINUES: Arsenal fans denied entry visas for Azerbaijan to watch Europa League final

Jhanna Virabian
The Sun, UK
May 16 2019

FARCE CONTINUES: Arsenal fans denied entry visas for Azerbaijan to watch Europa League final

Gunners released a strongly worded statement to Uefa following the decision to host the final in Baku

 By Richard Forrester


ARSENAL have been forced to step in after some fans have been denied a visa for their Europa League final in Azerbaijan.

The Gunners have held talks with the Foreign Office after the club's British-Armenian season ticket holders have been told they won't be allowed in the country.

According to The Times, Arsenal want the Azerbaijan government to make an exception so loyal fans can watch the clash against Chelsea on May 29.

There are huge political tensions between Azerbaijan and neighbouring Armenia.

And it appears to also prevent Arsenal's Henrikh Mkhitaryan from taking part in the final for security reasons.

The Armenian international is set to be granted a visa on sporting grounds to take part but is deciding whether to participate with fears over his safety.

According to the Guardian, there is 'significant anger' at the club as a player is 'essentially forced to miss such a major match' which are out of his – or Arsenal's – control.

No other Arsenal midfielder has played more minutes in this season's Europa Leaguethan the former Borussia Dortmund and Manchester United man

Earlier on Thursday Arsenal released a statement slamming Uefa for the "unacceptable" decision to host the Europa League final in Baku.

The Gunners and Chelsea have been given just 6,000 tickets each for the showdowndespite the Baku Olympic Stadium's capacity of almost 70,000.

A statement said: "Everyone at Arsenal is delighted to have reached the Uefa Europa League final and we are all very much looking forward to the match against Chelsea on Wednesday, May 29.

"However, we are bitterly disappointed by the fact that due to transport limitations Uefa can only make a maximum of 6,000 tickets available to Arsenal for a stadium with a capacity of well over 60,000.

"Time will tell if it is even possible for 6,000 Arsenal fans to attend the match, given how extreme the travel challenges are.

"We have 45,000 season-ticket holders and for so many fans to miss out due to selecting a final venue with such limited transport provision is quite simply not right.

"The reality is that whoever reached the final would not be able to meet demand from their supporters."

Governor Hayk Chobanyan: There will be no unused land in Tavush Province within 2 years

Jhanna Virabian

From now on, agriculture, tourism, light industry, and education will be the priority sectors of Tavush Province of Armenia. The governor of Tavush, Hayk Chobanyan, told this to reporters today, on the 100th day of his tenure in this capacity.
 
According to Chobanyan, more than 61 investment projects are already being implemented in Tavush.
 
But as per the governor, the absence of sincerity and justice is the two biggest obstructing circumstances in governance.
 
“For years, people have not trusted the authorities,” Chobanyan said. “Now the time has come for sincere, fair, transparent governance. The country should be brought to its feet without dictatorship. And let’s not speak about our ancient civilization, but let’s become the most civilized nation.” 
 
In the provincial governor’s words, they will do everything they can so that there will be no unused land in Tavush within two years. According to Chobanyan, they need to restore and value the work of the agronomists and veterinarians, and to educate the villagers with the training programs.
 
The governor added that Tavush shall become one of Armenia’s tourism gems, and said they will develop both health resort and rehabilitation as well cultural tourism in this province. 
 
Also, Hayk Chobanyan stated that all programs and initiatives will be viewed from a security perspective, and the Tavush border villages shall be protected and resistant. 
 
“We are building a developing, creative, powerful, and dignified Tavush” the governor of this province concluded.


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President: The 21st century is the century of Armenians

Jhanna Virabian
Panorama, Armenia

On a working visit to Kazakhstan, President Armen Sarkissian of Armenia attended a penal discussion on the risks of the collapse of the global system of cooperation held on the sidelines of the 12th Astana Economic Forum.

The discussion focused on geopolitical shifts and challenges, the possible consequences of the technological revolution and the balance between seemingly contradictory concepts.

Responding to a participant’s question, Sarkissian said the world is changing rapidly, but people don’t have to be afraid of those change, since they open up new opportunities.

“Those who have a clear vision, who know what they are doing, those who are basically going in harmony with the time, I think, they will benefit. For me, it’s not a drama, but an opportunity and a wonderful world to live, challenging but interesting,” the president said.

The Armenian leader expressed conviction the 21st century is the century of Armenians. “We are global, we can change, we can adapt, and we are innovative,” Sarkissian said, observing he is highly optimistic about the future.

Letter to Editor of Lowell Sun, MA: Another, off-base theory on divine intervention

Jhanna Virabian
Lowell Sun (Massachusetts)
April 24, 2019 Wednesday
Another, off-base theory on divine intervention
 
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
 
 
As a compliment to Matthew Rowley's interesting reflection, "A Convenient Explanation: Was Notre Dame fire God's judgement?" (The Sun, April 21), let me share another recently proposed divine theory.
 
According to the conservative Turkish newspaper, Yeni Akit, whose recent headline boasts "The Famous Cathedral of France up in Flames. The Curse of Turkey is Fulfilled," the paper's editor associates the Notre Dame fire as (divine) revenge for France's recognition of the Armenian Genocide. The editor is referring to the 1915-23 Armenian Genocide, which was the systematic, state-sponsored extermination of 1.5 million Armenian men, women, and children by the Ottoman Turkish government, a genocide that the current Turkish government still denies to this very day.
 
Contrast this with the recent comment by former U.S. ambassador to Armenia, John Evans: "Today, as France and the entire world mourn the destruction by fire of Notre Dame de Paris, I am thinking of what the Armenians lost in terms of churches, some filled with priests and people, in the Armenian Genocide. Horrific!"
 
In 2004, John Evans was fired from his ambassadorial position because he unequivocably declared that the mass murder of the Armenians in Turkey during World War I was a genocide. This action was taken by the U.S. State Department to satisfy Turkey's protest that Evans insulted the reputation of the Turkish government.
 
ARA JEKNAVORIAN
 
Armenian National Committee, Merrimack Valley

“150 year-old Witnesses of the Armenian Genocide: Komitas Vardapet and Hovannes Tumanyan” exhibition to open in Yerevan

Jhanna Virabian
Panorama, Armenia
Society 18:40 20/04/2019 Armenia

On April 23, 2019, the temporary exhibitions hall of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Foundation will host the new exhibition “150 year-old witnesses of the Armenian Genocide: Komitas Vardapet and Hovannes Tumanyan”.

As the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute website reports, the exhibition is dedicated to the 150th anniversaries of two great Armenian intellectuals – Komitas Vardapet and Hovannes Toumanyan. The aim of the exhibition is to publicize their ties with the history of the Armenian Genocide. The exhibition has two main directions: on one hand friendly and creative relationship of the two geniuses is illustrated, and on the other hand, the impact of the Armenian Genocide and its tragic consequences on them.

The bilingual (Armenian, English) exhibition consisting of eight panels includes original materials from the collections of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute, as well as materials and photos from various archives and museums in Armenia. For the first time an excerpt from video testimony of Aghavni Mkrtchyan, a genocide survivor from Bitlis, on the relief work of Hovhannes Toumanyan in 1915 in Echmadzin among the Armenian refugees will be shown. A wead-beads of a unique importance made by Varteres Atanesyan, one of the Armenian intellectuals exiled to Chankere on April 11/24, 1915, is presented among the original materials.

The exhibition will be accompanied by Komitas' unfinished opera music based on Toumanyan’s “Anoush” opera, performed by Araks Mansouryan. Several sketches of the Armenian renowned painter Sargis Mouradyan from his "Komitas" series will also be exhibited.

After the exhibition opening tree planting ceremony will take place in the Memory Alley, in memory of the 150th anniversaries of Hovhannes Toumanyan and Komitas Vardapet.

The exhibition will be open until August 30, 2019, entrance is free.

Garo and Sosse Eshgian Named Honorary Presidents of Navasartian Games

Jhanna Virabian
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6 hours ago

Mr. and Mrs Garo & Sosse Eshgian

The Homenetmen Western Regional Executive announced this week that well-known community members Garo and Sosse Eshgian have agreed to serve as the Honorary Presidents of this year’s 44th Navasardian Games.

The Eshgians have long been strong supporters of Homenetmen. They are devoted members of the community who through dedication and hard work have succeeded in their life’s work. They have shared their success with the community by contributing to organizations and humbly have ensured that the needs of the community are met.

The Eshgians have had storied history in the community and from a young both have been involved in various community organizations. They play an active role in the every-day life of our community and through serving on various executive boards and committees they work hard to advance the national aspirations of the Armenian people.

The Homenetmen Regional Executive wholeheartedly congratulated the Eshgians for taking on the honorary presidency of the Navasardian Games and expressed confidence that they will graciously and fittingly carry out this responsibility.

Sports: Armenian journalists’ football team tops the table in Egypt tournament

Jhanna Virabian
MediaMax, Armenia
April 5 2019
 
 
Armenian journalists’ football team tops the table in Egypt tournament
 
 
Photo: Давида Алавердяна
 
 
Armenian journalists’ team has had a good start in the international football tournament in Hurghada, Egypt, winning 3 out of 4 games on the first day.
 
After beating Germany 5-2, the Armenian team won the matches against Belarus and Ukraine with the same score, 3-0. The draw was against Egyptian organization for tourism and hotels (EGOTH).
 
Currently, the Armenian team is at the top of the table. The players are preparing for the games against Sudan and Egypt teams, which will be held today.
 
Armenian journalists’ team has gained vast experience in international competitions, finishing third in the Lithuanian tournament for three times and taking silver in the 2018 tournament in Yerevan. The squad consists of journalists from different Armenian media outlets.
 
The Armenian team’s donors are ANRIVA TOUR, the only official Air Cairo representative in Armenia, and TotoGaming bookmaker.
 

Chess: European Chess Championship: Sergei Movsesian is a half point behind the leader

Jhanna Virabian
Panorama, Armenia
Sport 17:10 29/03/2019 Armenia

The penultimate 10th round of the European Individual Championship ending in Macedonian capital Skopje was victorious for the following Armenian representatives – Sergei Movsesian, Hrant Melkumyan, Shant Sargsyan and Manuel Petrosyan, Armenia’s National Olympic Committee reported.

Samvel Ter-Sahakyan suffered defeat and Hayk Martirosyan, Robert Hovhannisyan and Armenia’s new champion Arman Pashikyan drew their games.

Before the last round the best result among the Armenian representatives has been shown by Sergei Movsesian who after two wins in a row has gained 7.5 points and is half point behind the leader, Vladislav Artemiev. In the 11th round Movsesian will compete with Hungarian Ferenc Berkes with white pieces.

NK conflict settlement negotiation format will become complete by Artsakh’s involvement – MP

Jhanna Virabian

NK conflict settlement negotiation format will become complete by Artsakh’s involvement – MP

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15:03,

YEREVAN, MARCH 16, ARMENPRESS. By Artsakh’s return to the negotiation table, Armenia is proposing not a change, but a complete restoration of the format of the negotiation process for the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Tatev Hayrapetyan – MP of the My Step faction of the Armenian Parliament, told reporters today, commenting on Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev’s statement according to which change in the negotiation format is unacceptable, reports Armenpress.

“We are not proposing a change in format. We are proposing a restoration of a complete format”, she said.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan