Thousands converged on the athletic court of the Republican Stadium Thursday for a rally organized by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation celebrating the 19th anniversary of the independence of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.

CNN International will feature this weekend the story of a groundbreaking effort underway in Armenia that will bring to life its greatest ancient monastery and spur the revival of tourism and development throughout the country.

The chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, will begin a key visit to Turkey on Friday where he meet, with among others, Turkey’s new military chief, Gen. Isik Kosaner. “The purpose is to make a courtesy visit to Turkish Chief of General Staff Gen. Isik Kosaner,” US Embassy Spokesperson in Turkey, Deborah Guido, told Hurriyet.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev arrived in Azerbaijan on Thursday for a two-day visit to focus on economic ties, cooperation in the Caspian Region, and the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, the Russian RIA Novosti news agency reported.

One Armenian soldier was wounded late Tuesday after what the Nagorno-Karabakh Army press office described as an attack by Azeri units in an attempt to overrun Karabakh positions, reported ArmRadio.

On September 2, Armenians around the world will celebrate the 19th anniversary of the independence of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. During these 19 years, the people of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic have proved that exercising their inherent right to self-determination can result in positive steps toward state-building, furthering democratic values and institutions and, most important, guaranteeing the security of its citizens.

The United States, Russia and France will likely vote against a resolution on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict which Azerbaijan is trying to push through the UN General Assembly, a Brussels-based pro-Armenian organization said on Wednesday.

Sevan Nisanyan, the owner of Nisanyan Hotels, and a linguist, columnist, academic, and outspoken critic, is facing a demolition order on his hotels throughout Turkey. In a country packed with illegal constructions, the targeting of the Nisanyan Hotels speaks volumes about Turkey’s persecution of its minority citizens who dare to raise their voice against the government or its denialist policies.

Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian inaugurated a state-of-the art Soccer Academy in the Armenian capital on Wednesday as he awarded French Soccer legend Michel Platini with a Medal of Honor for his continued support for Armenia’s Football Federation, Armenian Public Radio reported.

The 2010 Summer Session of the Armenian National Committee-Western Region Internship-Externship Program (ANC-WR IEP) came to a close on August 17th with the program participants delivering their final presentations to regional leadership, staff, and fellow program alumni. The graduates reviewed their accomplishments over the previous ten weeks and fielded questions from the audience regarding their projects.

Under fire for its controversial defense in a high-profile freedom of speech case at the European Court of Human Rights, Turkey will reportedly drop efforts to defend itself and seek friendly settlements instead.