Envoy: Sumgait pogrom 1st ethnic cleansing against Armenians in USSRMarch 1, 2013 - 20:26 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - On February 27, Armenian embassy in Lebanon organized a concert in Beirut’s Saint Louis Church, with Geghard Monastery choir participating. In his opening speech Armenian ambassador to Lebanon Ashot Kocharian noted that the concert will deepen the cultural ties between the two countries. The envoy said the event was timed to the 25th anniversary of Sumgait pogrom, with hundreds of innocent Armenians falling victim to the tragedy. Ambassador Kocharian further described Sumgait pogrom as "the first ever ethnic cleansing against Armenians in the Soviet Union." Leader of Armenian Prelacy of Lebanon Archbishop Gegham Khacherian, high-ranking officials, foreign diplomats and cultural workers were present at the event, MFA press service reported. Top stories Six total incidents have burned 19 old-growth trees. Friday night 8 trees were torched along the beautiful main entrance. The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. Hikmet Hajiyev has said that there is no place for USAID operation in Azerbaijan any longer. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says. Partner news | Police try to impede Armenian Church head’s access to war memorial Police tried to stop the supreme head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Catholicos Karekin II, from visiting a war memorial. “He will leave”: Protest leader no longer demands meeting with Pashinyan Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan no longer demands a meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Armenian Catholicos calls for national unity against threats Karekin II issued a message on Republic Day marking the anniversary of the First Armenian Republic. Pashinyan: Armenia’s desired goal is “on the horizon” Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that Armenia is moving forward “without interruption”. |