Author: Toneyan Mark

Sports: Az to be one of the trickiest journeys for London rivals

Toneyan Mark
Sunday Life
May 26, 2019 


AZ TO BE ONE OF THE TRICKIEST JOURNEYS FOR LONDON RIVALS

by  MARK MANN-BRYANS

CHELSEA and Arsenal will meet in the Europa League Final on Wednesday after taking a long and winding road to the Olympic Stadium in Baku.

The decision taken by UEFA to stage the Final in Azerbaijan's capital -a city further east than Baghdad and Riyadh -has come under further scrutiny since two clubs separated by just seven miles reached the showpiece event.

Those fans lucky enough to have landed both a ticket -with just 6,000 allocated to each club -and been able to organise travel will also then have to contend with a local kick-off time of 11pm to appease television audiences across the continent.

The few direct flights between London and Baku sold out quickly, some even before Arsenal and Chelsea were confirmed as the finalists, while other non-direct routes can take over 10 hours.

It is also a drive of over 50 hours behind the wheel or a potential four-day train ride.

Even if you are a fan with both ticket and travel, you could still find yourself being rejected for an Azerbaijan visa -Arsenal reporting some of their supporters with dual British-Armenian citizenship had come across such an issue.

Hostility remains between neighbouring countries Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed Nagorno Karabakh region, where a ceasefire was declared in 1994 after fighting erupted several years earlier.

Arsenal's Henrikh Mkhitaryan, captain of the Armenia national team, missed the Europa League group game against Qarabag in Baku earlier this season because of the issue.

The club are now working with UEFA in the hope safety measures can be put in place to allow the 30-year-old to travel for the Final as part of Unai Emery's squad.

Once a ball is kicked in anger inside the Olympic Stadium on May 29, attention will hopefully switch to a London derby with plenty at stake.

The success of both Emery and Maurizio Sarri's respective first seasons in England could be defined in this 90 minutes -plus the potential extra-time and penalties -so far from home.

Emery, who won the Europa League three years in a row with Sevilla and has not lost a knockout game in the competition since 2012, replaced Arsene Wenger last summer with the remit of returning Arsenal to the Champions League.

Their stumbling end to the Premier League season meant they finished fifth, missing out on an elusive top-four spot by a single point.

Victory for the Gunners would see Emery achieve his first aim as well as add a piece of silverware to toast his maiden season at the helm at the Emirates Stadium.

The Spaniard will continue in the job even if he is on the losing side, whereas counterpart Sarri does not even have the comfort of knowing victory in the Final will be enough to keep his.

The 60-year-old has faced adversity, a common theme among recent Chelsea managers, whether it be supporters lamenting his style of play, his goalkeeper refusing to be substituted late on in the Carabao Cup Final defeat to Manchester City or contending with constant speculation that Eden Hazard will leave this summer.

It is a credit to Sarri that he has steered the ship through such rough seas, guiding the Blues to third in the table -already securing Champions League football next year -and taking them all the way through to Baku.

There still may be no room for him in the Stamford Bridge dugout next season, such is the shelf-life of a modern Chelsea boss working under Roman Abramovich.

On the pitch, too, there are plenty of talking points.

Could it indeed be the last appearance of Hazard -who is seemingly bound for Real Madrid -in a Chelsea shirt? The Belgium forward has reportedly already told the club of his wishes.

Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud joined from Arsenal in January 2018 and will be looking to end the Europa League as top goalscorer as he heads into the Final with 10 goals to his name already this season.

To finish as the outright leading marksman, Giroud will need to beat Petr Cech.

The Arsenal goalkeeper will retire after the Final, which he has declared is his "dream" way to bow out as he comes up against a team where he won no fewer than 14 major honours.

It may well have been a long road to Baku for the club, players and supporters.

But even after the Final, the journey of some of their main protagonists will be far from over.

Armenia Parliament speaker proposes transferring some of PM’s powers to government, legislature

Toneyan Mark
News.am, Armenia
Armenia Parliament speaker proposes transferring some of PM’s powers to government, legislature Armenia Parliament speaker proposes transferring some of PM’s powers to government, legislature

10:43, 17.05.2019
                  

YEREVAN. – President of the National Assembly (NA) of Armenia, Ararat Mirzoyan, has formally put into circulation a package of bills that envisages expanding the powers of the government and of the NA—including its opposition factions—on the account of the Prime Minister’s powers.

In particular, these bills propose to change the precept for setting up the State Commission for the Protection of Economic Competition, and the Public Services Regulatory Commission.

Under the current regulations, the NA appoints the chairpersons and members of these commissions, but upon the recommendation of the Prime Minister.

But the new bill envisages that, after the termination or cessation of the powers of the chairpersons of these commissions, the right to nominate candidates for these vacant posts shall be reserved for the government, instead of the Prime Minister.

Also, the draft law proposes that the government as well as the NA ruling and opposition factions successively nominate candidates for the vacant posts of members of these commissions.

Syrian-Armenians: Homesick in the Original Homeland

Toneyan Mark
Enab Baladi
May 3 2019


Afandi Abu Saow, Armenian Christian, standing near the remains of an Armenian church I Raqqa, which received several aerial attacks during the prayers – 24 February, 2018 (NurPhoto)


On April 24, Armenians around the world commemorated the victims of the genocide that the Ottoman Empire is accused of committing against them in 1915.

Armenians estimate the numbers killed in this genocide to be around 1.5 million. However, the Turkish government refuses to abide this accusation, claiming it has evidence and documents which demonstrate that hundreds of thousands, both Turks and Armenians, were killed during the Ottoman Empire’s war against Russian forces which sought to occupy eastern Anatolia.

Despite the substantial divergence between what Armenian and Turkish memories have reserved of that era, it is certain that many thousands of victims fell, and that more survivors underwent the tragedy of displacement which, in the case of many of them, has led them to then settle in Syria.

 

Armenian presence in Syria dates back to the Byzantine era, as they have had a vast empire that lasted from 321 BC to 428 AD. The influence of this empire reached northern Syria, and took the city of Antioch as one of its four capitals.

The Roman advance towards Armenia then led to the re-emigration of its people towards the Syrian north, as they settled in Aleppo, Kilis, Gaziantep, Kahramanmaraş and Antioch, where they remained until the Mongol invasion.

Armenians then left these areas, establishing a new empire in Cilicia, which lasted nearly a hundred years. When this empire crumbled, they returned to Aleppo, forming the Armenian Diocese there during the fifteenth century.

Armenians then continued to flock to the Syrian areas during the Ottoman rule, but the largest influx thus far only took place in the early twentieth century.

According to the Armenian Ministry of the Diaspora, the number of Armenians in Syria is estimated at around 100,000, with more than 60,000 residing in Aleppo alone. Other sources estimate their numbers to be between 60,000 and 80,000.

Granted Syrian citizenship and becoming equal in rights and duties with the rest of the Syrian people, Armenians have become part and parcel of the Syrian community.

“Generation after generation, Armenians have integrated into Syria, and they consider it their home country, while retaining their Armenian identity,” said Armenian-Syrian actor Gerard Aghabashian to Enab Baladi.

Armenians have also established several churches in Syria, the oldest of which is the Forty Martyrs Cathedral in Aleppo, dating back to 1491 AD. Armenians began converting to Christianity since the early third century AD, and most of them followed the Orthodox denomination.

Armenians have also owned private schools and institutes that teach the Armenian language, as well as many publications and magazines in their mother tongue.

Aghabashian said that Armenian integration into Syrian society varies from one region to another, depending on the diversity of its population. “Sometimes Armenians can only be known through their distinctive names, and in other regions they self-segregate and integrate to a much lesser degree. However, this does not negate the fact that they consider themselves Syrians.”

Armenians have continuously had a prominent presence and participation in various fields within Syrian life, from politics and the military, to culture and art.

As for their customs and traditions, Agabashian added, Armenians have retained some distinctive foods from their Armenian heritage. However, they are prepared differently from what’s common in Armenia today.

They are also known for special religious holidays, and for their commemoration the Armenian genocide.

After the beginning of the Syrian conflict in 2011, the proliferation of violence, insecurity and poor living conditions, many of the Armenians of Syria have been forced, like their fellow nationals, to leave their homes and seek safety outside Syria.

According to estimates by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, more than 14,000 Syrian Armenians have returned to Armenia, and obtained asylum or the Armenian citizenship.

Moreover, thousands of Armenians have also left for Lebanon, Europe or America, reducing their numbers in Syria by half or more, with no accurate statistics as to the numbers of those who remained.

Apart from the varying dialects spoken by Armenians of the Diaspora and those living in Armenia, Syrian-Armenians also face a difference in some social and cultural customs in Armenia.

Aghabashian visits Armenia frequently. His impression of Syrian-Armenians there is that most of them “feel alienated, and regard Armenia as a foreign country. They also face difficulties in integrating into local Armenian society.”




Sports: One more school in Armenia enjoying the perks of the CEV School Project

Toneyan Mark
European Volleyball Confederation


Yerevan, Armenia, . The CEV School Project and the accompanying 'School Volley' festival was organised earlier this week in the city of Stepanakert in Armenia as the kids of the local primary school No. 7 enjoyed their day with Volleyball. The president of the Armenian Volleyball federation Hrachya Muradyan was also present on this occasion.

A total of 38 children from the sixth grade took part in the festivities and educational sessions led by the coaches from the Stepanakert Sports School – Gayane Melqumyan and Melania Mnacakanyan. Everybody was keen to learn the rules of our game and get their hands on the practical sessions – trying out various technical elements of Volleyball. The day concluded with a Volleyball game and gifting of the sport's equipment that the CEV is funding for all participants of the project to further develop the skills of the pupils.

ISIS shifts interest to CIS countries, including Armenia – Russian official

Toneyan Mark
Panorama, Armenia

Following the defeats in Syria and Iraq, the Islamic State has shifted its interest to number of CIS countries, including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kirgizstan, and Armenia, Head of department combating extremism at Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs Oleg Ilyinikh has stated on Friday.

Ria Novosty agency reports, the Russian official’s remarks came during a presentation at a conference dedicated to international cooperation on combating terrorism and extremism.

168: Armenian, Russian PMs discuss Eurasian inter-governmental council’s upcoming session over phone

Toneyan Mark
| 14:31 | March 20 2019
Category
Politics

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Prime Minister of Russia Dmitry Medvedev held a telephone conversation during which they discussed the upcoming session of the Eurasian inter-governmental council to be held in Yerevan on April 30, the Russian government said in a statement.

“During the phone talk Russian PM Dmitry Medvedev and Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan discussed the session of the Eurasian inter-government council which will take place in Yerevan on April 30, as well as a number of urgent issues of the Armenian-Russian relations”, the statement said.

Armenia in contact with New Zealand authorities to find out details of Armenian note found on gun of mosque attackers

Toneyan Mark

Armenia in contact with New Zealand authorities to find out details of Armenian note found on gun of mosque attackers

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17:30, 15 March, 2019

YEREVAN, MARCH 15, ARMENPRESS. Armenia’s foreign ministry is in contact with the authorities of New Zealand regarding the note in Armenian and other languages found on one of the weapons used for the attack on the two mosques in the city of Christchurch, MFA spokesperson Anna Naghdalyan told Armenpress.

“We are in contact with New Zealand’s relevant authorities on all issues linked with the incident”, Anna Naghdalyan said.

One of the weapons used for the attack on the two mosques in New Zealand is covered with notes in different languages, including Armenian and Georgian, the videos released from the incident show.

The Georgian state security service has already reacted to these reports, stating that it cooperates with its partners to find out details about the persons arrested following the attack and the weapon used.

The gun covered in white lettering featured the names of King Davit Agmashenebeli and Prince David Soslan, the second husband of Queen Tamar, in Georgian, the Battle of Kagul 1770 (Russian-Turkish war) and the Battle of Bulair 1913 were written in Russian.

The Battle of Sarikamish (one of the biggest military clashes between Russian and Ottoman empires during the WWI) is written in Armenian on the gun.

49 people have killed in the shootings in mosques in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand.

New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern described the shootings as a terrorist attack.

Armed people entered the the Al Noor and Linwood Masjid mosques in Christchurch at about 13:45 local time shortly after the day prayer, blocked the entrance doors and opened fire. According to eyewitnesses, about 200 and 300 people were inside the building when the attack occurred. Police told citizens to stay indoors. All schools in the city were closed.




Civil movement activists in for rescuing "Karahunj" are waiting for a decision from gov’t in connection with "barbaric" excavations on territory of monument

Toneyan Mark
Arminfo, Armenia
Asya Balayan

ArmInfo.Activists of the civil movement in the name of saving "Karahunj" are waiting for a decision from the government in connection with the "barbaric" excavations in  the territory of cultural heritage. Such a statement was made by  activists of the civil movement in the name of saving a unique  historical monument, the oldest observatory "Karahunj", speaking of  the fate of the oldest observatory "Zorats-Karer".

To note, the civil movement formed in defense of "Karahunj", whose  members are various organizations and individuals, demand to stop the  excavations in "Karahunj" and pass this heritage to the next  generations, and in the future to carry out excavations only when it  is possible to carry them out using modern equipment and  participation of foreign experts.

The activists call on the country's authorities to punish and prevent  further destructive actions being carried out by the head of the  archaeological expedition "Zorats Karer", scientific secretary of the  Historical Environment Protection Service of the Ministry of Culture  of Armenia Ashot Piliposyan.

In their publication, activists called upon journalists and all those  who are interested in what happened at the observatory of the  "Zorats-Karer" (Karahunj) Historical and Cultural Reserve to go to  the government building to present a description of the incident, and  also send a request – a letter of demands to the Prime Minister,  thereby strengthening their constructive steps and position.

<We are more inclined to say that this is the logical end of the  struggle, which was filled with constructiveness and patience. After  the government's decision, our next steps will also become clear,  since we will not tolerate destruction and vandalism in our  historical and cultural heritage, especially when it comes to  national and universal historical and cultural heritage, "the message  of one of the activists says.

According to activists, Piliposyan barbarously carries out  excavations with the help of heavy and other equipment, which leads  to the devaluation of an ancient cultural, historical and scientific  monument that has existed for at least 7500 years.

Piliposyan's actions are interpreted by activists as anti-Armenian  activities aimed at distorting Armenian history, falsifying it for  the sake of personal professional ambitions, aggressively interfering  with the stories of tour guides and refuting the well-known version  of "Karahunj" as the oldest observatory, claiming "Karahunj" is just  a cemetery.

Thus, doubting the version of the famous world-renowned scientist,  radio astronomer, creator of the unique radio-optical telescope of  academician Paris Heruni about "Karahunj", as an observatory, which  was proved by four independent scientific methods and confirmed by  many foreign experts.

However, Ashot Piliposyan, in turn, said that the excavations here  will be continued in order to clarify once and for all the purpose of  this monument, overgrown with all sorts of legends. To recall,  "Karahunj" or as it is also called <Armenian Stonehenge> gained world  fame after Heruni, who devoted to the study of this unique monument  for many years of work and published many scientific works, came to a  scientifically based version of "Karahunj" as the oldest observatory.  This hypothesis is supported by conical holes drilled in the upper  part of high stones processed by an ancient man. If you look closely,  they are directed to certain points of the sky. Thanks to the stone  observatory, the ancients did not only follow the movement of  celestial bodies, they made up an exact calendar of the beginning of  agricultural work, harvest, and travel time. It should be noted that  the age of many archaeological monuments of Armenia is several  thousand years, referring to the period of the Stone Age and the  Neolithic. The "Karahunj" megalithic complex dates back to this age -  7,500 years BC.

The huge megalithic complex "Karahunj" is located in the south of  Armenia, near the town of Sisian, on a mountain plateau located at an  altitude of 1,770 meters above sea level. This mysterious structure  covers an area of about seven hectares and is a circle formed by  hundreds of large vertical stones.

Interestingly, the location of the "Karahunj" stones almost  completely repeats the pattern that forms the Chinese pyramids on the  ground. And from the height you can see that the stones in the center  of "Karahunj" schematically repeat the constellation Cygnus, that is,  a certain star corresponds to each stone.  The adherents of this  hypothesis are sure that there existed a certain highly developed  civilization, which thus perpetuated the atlas of the starry sky  compiled by it in stone. 

Turkey: Death of Mesrob Mutafyan mourned, leader of the Armenian Apostolic Church for 20 years

Toneyan Mark
The Global Dispatch


Turkey: Death of Mesrob Mutafyan mourned, leader of the Armenian Apostolic Church for 20 years

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) expressed condolences on the death of Mesrob Mutafyan, who was elected leader of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Turkey in 1998.

Image/CIA

The Armenian community in Turkey is estimated to be at less than 40,000, most of whom reside in or around Istanbul. USCIRF also urges the government of Turkey to allow this community to freely hold elections for a new patriarch. Last year Turkish authorities again prevented the community from holding an election for a new leader.

“We express our condolences to the Armenian community in Turkey on the loss of its spiritual leader,” said USCIRF Commissioner Andy Khawaja. “We also want to take this opportunity to urge the government of Turkey to allow this community to elect its new patriarch. The ability of Turkey’s Armenians to freely choose a new patriarch is a critical part of their religious freedom. The government’s prevention of an election continues to exemplify its willful disregard for religious freedom for all.”

In its 2018 Annual Report, USCIRF placed Turkey on Tier 2 for engaging in or tolerating religious freedom violations that meet at least one of the elements of the “systematic, ongoing, egregious” standard used to designate a “country of particular concern” under the International Religious Freedom Act.

Rep. Sherman Commemorates 1988 Sumgait Pogroms Against Armenian Community

Toneyan Mark
Targeted News Service
March 9, 2019 Saturday
Rep. Sherman Commemorates 1988 Sumgait Pogroms Against Armenian Community

WASHINGTON

WASHINGTON, March 9 — Rep. Brad Sherman, D-California, issued the following speech, which was published in the Congressional Record on March 7, commemorating the 1988 Sumgait pogroms against the Armenian community:

Madam Speaker, I stand in solidarity with the Armenian American community in commemorating the February 1988 Sumgait Pogroms. Thirty-one years ago in the Azerbaijani town of Sumgait, peaceful Armenian residents were brutally targeted on the basis of their ethnicity and subjected to unspeakable crimes. In March 1988, The Economist reported the atrocities and documented the murder and mutilation of pregnant Armenian women and newborn babies in a maternity hospital. Other mainstream media reports from the time speak of Azerbaijani mobs hunting down Armenian families and committing murder, rape and property theft.

The Sumgait Pogroms were the beginning of an escalation of violence against the Armenian minority, with a wave of anti-Armenian violence spreading to Kirovabad in November 1988 and to Baku in January 1990, which culminated in the forcible expulsion of 390,000 Armenians from Azerbaijan and the 1991-94 war over Artsakh (the former Nagorno Karabakh).

In response to the Sumgait and Kirovabad pogroms, Nobel Prize-winning dissident, nuclear physicist and human rights activist, Andrei Sakharov, appealed to the international community to condemn the atrocities and prevent further violence by stating: "Armenian people are again facing the threat of genocide. The events in Sumgait and Kirovabad may be its beginning. This must not be allowed to happen!" (November 26, 1988, The New York Times)

The government of Azerbaijan must be held accountable by the international community for the pogroms committed against its minority Armenian population, and I will continue to work in Congress to shed light on and learn the lessons of such atrocities.