Sunday 18 June 2017

Armenian News... A Topalian... Soldiers Killed in Karabakh


RFE/RL Report
3 Armenian Soldiers Killed In Karabakh
June 16, 2017


Three Armenian soldiers were killed on "the line of contact" around
Nagorno-Karabakh on Friday in what the Karabakh Armenian military
called a ceasefire violation by Azerbaijan.

Karabakh's Defense Army said the three conscripts -- Arayik Matinian,
Vigen Petrosian and Vartan Sargsian -- died after Azerbaijani forces
fired anti-tank grenades at one of its frontline positions east of the
disputed territory. "An investigation is underway to clarify details
of the incident," it said in a short statement.

The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry did not immediately react to the
report. The ministry said on Friday morning one of its soldiers was
shot dead by the Armenian side. It did not specify where the conscript
died.

Azerbaijani media reported later in the day that another Azerbaijani
serviceman, a 26-year-old contract soldier, was also killed in
action. The Defense Ministry in Baku did not confirm the information.

The combat deaths come just days after the U.S., Russian and French
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group visited Armenia and Karabakh for
further talks on ways of reviving the Armenian-Azerbaijani peace
process. They will travel to Baku this weekend or early next week.

In their most recent joint statement released on May 18, the mediators
urged the conflicting parties to "take all necessary measures to
prevent any further escalation in the conflict zone."


Panorama, Armenia
June 17 2017
3 Karabakh soldiers posthumously awarded with "For Service in Battle" medal 

On 17 June, President of Artsakh Bako Sahakyan signed a decree according to which servicemen of the NKR Defense Army's N division Vardan Sargsyan, Arayik Matinyan and Vigen Petrosyan were posthumously awarded with the "For Service in Battle" medal for bravery shown during the defense of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic state border, the Central Information Department of the Artsakh President’s office reports. 

To note, on June 16, at around 18:05, the Azerbaijani forces broke the ceasefire regime across Karabakh-Azerbaijan Line of Contact applying rocket-propelled antitank grenade launchers, as a result of which 3 Karabakh Defense Army servicemen – Arayik Matinyan (b. 1997), Vigen Petrosyan (b. 1997) and Vardan Sargsyan (b. 1997) were fatally wounded. 


Public Radio of Armenia
June 17 2017
Another Armenian soldier killed by Azeri fire, Artsakh pledges ‘targeted response’ 

Private of the Artsakh Defense Army Tigran Gasparyan (born in 1997) was killed in a fresh Azeri provocation in the northern direction of the line of contact at 09:40 this morning, Artsakh Defense Ministry reports. 

The Ministry shares the sorrow of the heavy loss and expresses support to the serviceman’s family and friends. 

The Defense Ministry pledges a ‘targeted and non-proportional’ response to the adversary’s actions inspired by the lack of targeted statements by relevant international structures. 

Three soldiers were killed by Azeri fire yesterday. 


Public Radio of Armenia
June 17 2017
Armenian family survives London fire 

An Armenian family has survived the fire at Grenfell Tower in London.

Mesrob Kasemdjian has helped his 68-year-old aunt to safety from the 17th floor of the burning London tower block, taking nothing but his mobile phone.

“We got out but we lost everything. Everything. I’ve got only what I’m wearing on me,” Mesrob tells the Channel 4 News .

Thirty people have been confirmed dead in the fire, another 70 are still missing.

The fire, at broke out at the 24-storey block shortly before 01:00 BST on Wednesday.

It tore through all floors of the building and took more than 200 firefighters 24 hours to bring it under control.


ARMINFO News Agency, Armenia
June 15, 2017 Thursday
Armenia may soon quit smoking in public places
Naira Badalyan. 

In Armenia, a ban on smoking in public places may soon
come to force. Levon Altunyan, head of the Ministry of Health, told
reporters on June 15 after the government meeting that the department
will begin work on the anti-smoking program in September, which it
plans to complete within a month.

According to the minister, one of the important points of the proposed
program will be a ban on smoking in public places. Referring to NGO
research, Altunyan noted that only 20% of Armenia's population opposes
drastic measures in the fight against smoking. Meanwhile, 80% of
Armenians are in favor of harsh measures against smoking.

As for possible sanctions, today the head of the Ministry of Health
refrained to name specific fines and figures, noting that this is the
business of economists and lawyers.

To remind, at the end of May the Minister of Health Levon Altunyan at
an event dedicated to the International Day without Smoking, which was
held under the slogan "Tobacco is our common enemy", announced the
development of a law banning smoking in public places. The law
provides for the prohibition of smoking in all public places.

It is also expected to rise in price of tobacco products by 30%. "This
law can meet opposition, but we are ready for this," the minister
said. According to the minister, a particularly productive step in the
fight against smoking is a "blow to the pocket" of a smoker, and not a
psychological effect. "The purpose of the anti-smoking program for 5-7
years to reduce the number of smokers in Armenia by 30%," said
Altunyan. 


news.am
June 16 2017
Levon Aronian becomes winner of Norway Chess 2017
Leader of Armenian chess Levon Aronian on Friday won the title of the winner of Norway Chess 2017 super tournament held in Stavanger, Norway.

In the last round, Aronian played a draw against Wesley So with black pieces, collecting 6 points.

The only rival of the Armenian grandmaster for the first place, American Hikaru Nakamura, lost to American Fabiano Caruana in the last round, coming the second with 5 points.


Tert, Armenia
June 15 2017
Paul Hobbs introduces inaugural vintage in Armenia 

World renowned winemaker Paul Hobbs visited Armenia on May 7 and 8 to introduce the Yacoubian-Hobbs label, as well as to visit the vineyard and oversee winery operations, Asbarez reports.

Yacoubian-Hobbs is a partnership between Paul Hobbs and the Yacoubian family focused on crafting boutique, high-quality wines from the Armenian highlands. The inaugural 2014 vintage included a lineup of three wines, one white and two reds, all made from indigenous Armenian grapes.

A week earlier, Hobbs and the Yacoubians launched their inaugural vintage in Los Angeles at the famed 71Above restaurant to great praise and accolades. “The Yacoubian-Hobbs portfolio is a testament to Armenia’s potential for making quality-driven, stellar wines” said Hobbs at Noyan Tun. “After all, this is the cradle of winemaking and as such must have its place on the global map of quality wines. When one tastes the wines, the Yacoubian-Hobbs surely asserts a right step in that direction.”

The white, made of a blend of four indigenous grapes, hints to perfectly ripened fruit, while maintaining a remarkable freshness and layers of complex aromas and flavors. The red on the other hand, made of 100 percent of the indigenous Areni grape, offers a fresh, structured, elegant wine with bright red fruit flavors and the telltale pepperiness of Areni. Finally, the top shelf Sarpina, again made from the Areni grape, shines with its deep and brooding purple color, with a stunningly aromatic nose, and a complex flavor profile of dried herbs, black cherry, volcanic minerals and ripe, wild strawberry.

“A taste of these wines hints to the distinction that Armenian wines can garner in the global market. Hobbs’ _expression_ surely radiates this anticipation: “We are on our way and we are very excited” an enthusiastic,” Hobbs concluded.

On the heels of its introduction in Armenia and Los Angeles, Yacoubian-Hobbs won a silver medal in the TEXSOM International Wine. Texsom (som stands for sommeliers) has become one of the most prestigious venues for international wine competition as it brings together prominent judges and the most progressive, rising star sommeliers.

The Yacoubian-Hobbs wines are already available in all high-end restaurants and wine merchants in Armenia. The wines have also been released in the United States.

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