Author: Meline Chalian

The Armenian national team will play is set to face Montenegro on November 11 in a 2018 qualifier. Armenia head coach Artur Petrosyan has announced the list of playersplaying for foreign clubs, invited for the training campaign:

Photo: EPA/THOMAS RASSLOFF

 

Russian and Syrian aircraft have stopped airstrikes in Aleppo area from 10 a.m. (07:00 GMT) Tuesday to introduce a humanitarian pause on October 20,  Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said on Tuesday, TASS reports.

“The airstrikes of Russia’s Aerospace Forces and Syria’s Air Force stop in the Aleppo area from 10 a.m.,” the minister said. “The long-term suspension of airstrikes is necessary to introduce a “humanitarian pause” on October 20,” he said.

This will allow “guaranteeing security of exit via six corridors for civilians and preparing for evacuation of those ill and wounded from the eastern part of Aleppo,” he said.

“We turn to the leadership of the countries having influence on the armed units in the eastern part of Aleppo with a proposal to convince their leaders to stop combat actions and leave the city,” Shoigu said.

“By the start of a “humanitarian pause” the Syrian forces will be withdrawn to the distances allowing militants to freely leave eastern Aleppo with arms via two specially created corridors: the first on the Castello road and the second in the area of market Souq al Hai,” he added.

Russia’s military announced plans to organize a “humanitarian pause” in Aleppo on Monday. Thus, the Russian Aerospace Forces and the Syrian army will stop delivering strikes from 08:00 a.m. to 16:00 Moscow time on October 20, Lieutenant General Sergei Rudskoi, the chief of the main operations directorate of the Russian General Staff, said.

 

 

 

ArmHiTec-2016 first international exhibition of Arms and Defense Technologies opened in Yerevan today.

The exposition features advanced weapons and military technical equipment, security systems, special police equipment, including armored vehicles, missile armament and equipment, military aircraft, small arms and ammunition, unmanned aerial vehicles and systems, communications, automated command and control systems and robotic systems, means of protection and personal protective equipment, laser, information and telecommunication technologies, information protection systems, outfit, equipage medical support plus some more.

“Drones and three types of unmanned planes have been developed, constructed and are being used by the Military Aviation Institute.  They are competitive on the international market and are no worse than other similar products,” Daniel Balasanyan, Head of the Military Aviation Institute, said at the opening of the exhibition.

“The Armenian military production industry has enough novelties and all opportunities of becoming a locomotive in the field of high technologies,” Defense Minister Vigen Sargsyan said in his opening remarks. He urged all local producers, representatives of the scientific field, leading students of local and foreign higher educational establishments to spare no effort to outline the framework of their involvement in the army-society link.

The Defense Minister hopes the exhibition will contribute to the expansion of international military-technical cooperation and the development of the military production potential of the participating countries.

French lawmaker, member of the France-Armenia Friendship Group François Rochebloine visited the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial today accompanied by Ara Babloyan, Head of the Armenia-France Friendship Group at the Armenian National Assembly.

The guests laid flowers at the memorial to the Armenian genocide victims and visited the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute.

François Rochebloine left a note in the guest book and planted a fir tree in the Memory Alley.

“Once again I’m excited to visit the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial. I would like to stress that this tree has been planted not only on behalf of me, but also on behalf of all Members of the French Parliament who have voted for the bill recognizing the Armenian Genocide,” Rochebloine said. He attached importance to the condemnation of the Armenian and all other genocides.

Three Syrian men have been arrested in Germany on suspicion of being sent by so-called Islamic State (IS) to launch attacks, prosecutors say, the BBC reports.

The men – aged 17, 18 and 26 – were detained after a series of pre-dawn raids in the states of Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony on Tuesday.

Police are reported to have seized “extensive material”.

But no concrete missions or orders had so far been found, the Federal Public Prosecutor’s office said.

In a statement, it said investigations so far suggested the three had come to Germany in November 2015 with the intention of “carrying out a previously determined order [from IS] or to await further instructions”.

They are said to have travelled through Turkey and Greece on false passports.

Investigators believe the men had volunteered for the alleged mission – and that the 17-year-old had been trained in handling weapons and explosives.

They were arrested when 200 police and security officers raided several premises including three refugee shelters.

Armenian National team players and the delegation of Football Federation of Armenia left for Czech Republic by Yerevan-Prague chartered flight. Czech Republic – Armenia friendly match will take place on August 31, at 19:15 CET, at Mestsky stadium in Mladá Boleslav. 23 of 26 players, called up by the head coach, Varuzhan Sukiasyan, will get prepared for upcoming matches against Czech Republic and Denmark:

Goalkeepers

Arsen Beglaryan FC Alashkert

Anatoly Ayvazov FC Shirak

Gor Manukyan FC Pyunik

Defenders

Gael Andonian Olimpique Marseille, (France)

Hovhannes Hambardzumyan FK Vardar (FYR Macedonia)

Varazdat Haroyan Padideh FC (Iran)

Taron Voskanyan Karmiotissa FC (Cyprus)

Hrayr Mkoyan FC Esteghlal (Iran)

Artak Edigaryan FC Alashkert

Gevorg Hovhannisyan FC Shirak

Midfielders

Henrikh Mkhitaryan Manchester United (England)

Marcos Pizzelli Al-Fujeirah  (UAE)

Aras Ozbiliz, Besiktas J.K. (Turkey)

Gor Malakyan, Stal (Ukraine)

Karlen Mkrtchyan FC Anzhi (Russia)

David Manoyan Karmiotissa FC (Cyprus)

Gevorg Ghazaryan C.S. Maritimo (Portugal)

David Hakobyan FC Shirak

Zaven Badoyan FC Banants

Forwards

Artur Sarkisov, FC Mordovia (Russia)

Gegham Kadimyan Karpaty (Ukraine)

David Arshakyan Chicago Fire (USA)

Ruslan Korian SKA-Khabarovsk (Russia)

 

Levon Airapetian will miss the training camp due to injury, while Vardan Poghosyan and Petros Avetisyan didn`t make final 23.

Suicide bomb attack on army training camp in Yemeni city of Aden had killed at least 45 people,  medical charity Medicins Sans Frontieres said on Monday, Reuters reports.

A spokesperson for the group said at least 60 other wounded people had been brought into a hospital run by the charity in Aden.

Borussia Dortmund have announced the signing of Mario Gotze from Bayern Munich, Goal.com reports.

The Germany international, who scored the winning goal in the 2014 World Cup final, had previously left Dortmund for the Bavarians but has now re-joined Thomas Tuchel’s side.

Gotze departed the club in somewhat acrimonious circumstances in 2013, having scored 31 goals in 116 matches for the club after his debut in 2008.

Some fans subsequently claimed that the 24-year-old would not be welcomed back to the club, but the deal has now been confirmed by both sides, with Gotze signing a four-year contract until 2020.

The attacking midfielder has also apologised to fans for his move to Bayern, and insists he will work hard to regain their trust, telling the club’s official website: “When I switched from BVB to Bayern in 2013 that was a conscious decision that I will not hide myself behind today.

“Three years later, and at 24, I look with different eyes at my decision. I can well understand that many fans could not understand my decision. I would not even take it today!

“When I return to my home, I want to try to convince all people with my performances – especially those who will not receive me with open arms. My aim is to again play my best football. For all of us, the club and the BVB fans. ”

Gotze struggled for game time at the Allianz Arena, and made just 14 Bundesliga appearances last term.

Political instability in Turkey, a NATO member and critical U.S. partner in the fight against terrorism, is already threatening to have an impact on the U.S.-led campaign against the Islamic State in Syriaand Iraq, USA Today reports.

On Saturday, one day after a coup attempt, Turkey closed airspace to military aircraft around Incirlik Air Base, forcing the U.S. to halt air operations at the base, the Pentagon said.  Incirlik is the base Turkey lets the U.S. use to launch anti-ISIL missions.

Commercial power to the base had also been cut off, but the U.S. was using an internal power source.

“U.S. officials are working with the Turks to resume air operations there as soon as possible,” Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook said. “In the meantime, U.S. Central Command is adjusting flight operations in the counter-ISIL campaign to minimize any effects on the campaign. U.S. facilities at Incirlik are operating on internal power sources, and a loss of commercial power to the base has not affected base operations.”

Photo: Reuters

 

Two Russian footballers have been punished by their respective clubs for being filmed celebrating at a lavish Monte Carlo party after the Russian national team had crashed out of the European Championships.

A video of Alexander Kokorin and Pavel Mamaev drinking champagne costing $500 a bottle whilst Russia’s national anthem played in the background appeared on Instagram, the TASS news agency reported Tuesday.

Reports claimed that the two men spent 250 thousand euros ($277,000) on champagne.

Kokorin, a player with Zenit St. Petersburg, was demoted to the club’s second team and fined a “substantial amount,” TASS reported.

Pavel Mamaev was also fined by his club Krasnodar and demoted to the club’s youth team.

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman has called a lavish Monaco party attended by members of the Russian national team “a shameless display of conceit.”