Author: Mary Lazarian

 

 

 

The recent reports suggesting there are only 3,000 Armenians remaining in Syria do not correspond to reality, says Aleppo Armenian Vazgen Mesropyan, Vice-President of the Social-Democratic Hunchagian Party of Armenia. According to him, even under today’s conditions Syrian Armenians are not willing to leave the country.

“We – Aleppo Armenians are against migration. We don’t want to move, we don’t want to follow Turkey’s policy. The displacements are the result of Turkish policy. We don’t want a second dislocation. All our property, our estates and archives are there,” Mesropyan told a press conference today.

The main archives of Syrian Armenians were kept in the Forty Martyrs Church destroyed by the Islamic State a few months ago. There is no exact data, but part of the archives documents are believed to have been preserved.

“The terrorists had digged tunnels to reach the church and blast it. Part of the archive materials has been saved. There are rumors that they will be brought to Armenia, but that’s not 100 percent certain,” he said.

Besides the archives, Armenians in Syria are trying to preserve their national identity. Children continue to attend Armenian schools even under shelling.

Egypt intends to establish a free trade zone with the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), comprising Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus and Armenia, by the end of 2016, the Egyptian ambassador to Russia told

A free trade zone deal between the sides was discussed in February during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Cairo. Egypt sent an official request to establish a free trade zone with the EEU last year.

“There is a kick-off already in the negotiation process and we estimate that it is going to take from 12-18 months,” Mohamed Elbadri told Sputnik.

At this stage of negotiations, the envoy added, each party will study the benefits of mutual cooperation before entering into direct talks regarding the details of the agreement.

The treaty should cover all trade in commodities between the countries.

The Russia-led EEU officially came into force on January 1. The bloc aims to achieve the free flow of goods, services, capital and labor across its member states, with provisions for a greater integration in the future.

Last week, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev approved a free trade zone agreement between the EEU and Vietnam.

The Armenian national team will play Euro-2016 qualifying round match against Portugal on June 13. The team will hold a training campaign from 5^th  to 13^th of June in FFA Technical centre/Football academy. Armenian national team interim head coach Sargis Hovsepyan called up 25 players to take part in training campaign:

Goalkeepers

Roman Berezovsky Dinamo (Moscow, Russia)

Gevorg Kasparov (FC Mika)

Arsen Beglaryan (Ulisses FC)

Defenders

Robert Arzumanyan Amkar (Kazakhstan)

Hrayr Mkoyan Esteghlal (Iran)

Gael Andonyan Olimpic (Marseille, France)

Levon Airapetian FC Pyunik

Taron Voskanyan FC Pyunik

Varazdat Haroyan FC Pyunik

Kamo Hovhannisyan FC Pyunik

Artur Avagyan FC Gandzasar

Midfielders

Henrikh Mkhitaryan Borussia (Dortmund, Germany)

Gevorg Ghazaryan Kerkyra (Greece)

Marcos Pizzelli Aktobe (Kazakhstan)

Aras Ozbiliz Spartak (Moscow, Russia)

Rumyan Hovsepyan Metallurg (Donetsk, Ukraine)

Norayr Aslanyan Almere City (Netherlands)

Artem Simonyan Zurich (Switzerland)

Zaven Badoyan FC Pyunik

Karlen Mkrtchyan FC Pyunik

Artur Yuspashyan FC Pyunik

Forwards

Yura Movsisyan Spartak (Moscow, Russia)

Artur Sarkisov Volga (Russia)

Ruslan Koryan Lokomotiv (Tashkent, Uzbekistan)

Artur Miranyan FK Vardar (FYR Macedonia)

An attack was carried out on the Samsun Agape Church by a man wielding a stick, who reportedly went on to insult church staff. However, the police did not bring charges against the attacker, reports.

According to a SAT7 news report, on Saturday night, a man wielding a stick turned up at the Agape Church, rang the doorbell, and then went on to insult church staff, also saying ‘You are making our children violate our religion.’ When a staff member realized the individual was carrying a stick, the police was notified.

A police patrol that arrived at the scene did take the stick off the man, however they did not detain him. According to witness accounts, the attacker continued to wander around the church building for a while, and then tried to re-enter the church.

Speaking to SAT7, Samsun Agape Church Pastor Orhan Pıçaklar said they had not filed a criminal complaint: “We are used to this kind of thing here, but what saddens me is the fact that the police did not detain the attacker, take him to the station and take a statement, tasks they are obliged to fulfill according to the Law of Misdemeanors. They could have at least taken him away from the Church and left him 500 meters away.”

Canadian Armenian filmmaker Atom Egoyan is among the 2015 winners of the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards, reports.

Five Canadians were named for the country’s highest honour for lifetime artistic achievement at an announcement Thursday morning in Montreal, Victoria, Vancouver and Toronto and via live stream.

• Walter Boudreau, C.M., composer, conductor and artistic director
• Atom Egoyan, film and stage director
• Diana Leblanc. actress and director
• Sarah McLachlan, singer, songwriter
• R.H. Thomson, C.M., actor, director, producer and arts advocate

The award is accompanied with a $25,000 cash prize contributed by the Canada Council for the Arts and a commemorative medallion produced by the Royal Canadian Mint.

The awards will be handed out by Canada’s Governor General David Johnston at a special ceremony in Ottawa’s Rideau Hall on May 29. The recipients will be celebrated with a star-studded gala featuring special performances and tributes at the National Arts Centre on May 30.

Founded in 1992, the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards are given to Canadians whose accomplishments are deemed to have inspired and enriched the country.

 

The name of the Princess of Cambridge has finally been revealed to the world – Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, the reports. 

The baby’s name was announced this afternoon by Kensington Palace two days after the newborn’s birth. 

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge decided on a name for their daughter shortly after the birth but wanted to inform the Queen personally before it was publicly released.