Month: May 2008

PanARMENIAN.Net

Azerbaijan’s `delivery’ of Afghan mujahids to Georgia
is possible and even logical
06.05.2008 17:56 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The publication on Real Azerbaijan
website is very interesting, especially in the light
of close military and strategic ties between Georgia
and Azerbaijan, an Armenian expert said.

`The editor-in-chief of Real Azerbaijan, Eynullah
Fatulayev has been in prison for a long time, his
newspaper has been banned. Taking into account the
pressure of some European countries to release or
mitigate his sentence, this publication may turn out a
canard for his absolute discredit in order to deprive
him of any chance of amnesty dated to Heydar Aliyev’s
85th birthday,’ Eduard Abrahamyan, expert at Mitq
analytical center told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

`Azerbaijan’s `delivery’ of Afghan mujahids to Georgia
is possible and even logical. No one should forget
that during the Karabakh war, Azerbaijan hired
militants from various countries, including thousands
of mujahids from Afghanistan and Pakistan. Besides,
continuing recruitment of former military throughout
the CIS has become a good tradition for Azerbaijan,’
he added.

`As to Georgia, it can accept friendly assistance for
the purpose to bring to minimum its losses in
hostilities against Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Moreover, Georgia thinks over the possibility of
formation of separate military units consisting of
representatives of national minorities, including
Armenians and Azeris, who will first of all be thrown
into the bloody mess,’ he concluded.

It’s worth mentioning that on May 4, 2008, Real
Azerbaijan newspaper posted on its website an article
titled `Will Azerbaijanis help Georgia?’
( 65), telling
about the possibility of Azerbaijan’s military
assistance to Georgia in case of war against Abkhazia.
Meanwhile, a relevant publication by PanARMENIAN.Net
aroused hysteria in Baku.

Real Azerbaijan’s website was removed from the server.

However, PanARMENIAN.Net brings to the readers’
attention the screenshot of the website and a
reference in Google.

The article that aroused Azerbaijan’s confusion says
in part,

`Azerbaijan intends to assist Georgia in resolving its
territorial problems.

For the purpose, Baku-Kabul flights suspended in March
2008 will be resumed. Trained Afghan mujahids and
large lots of weapons are expected to be airlifted to
Azerbaijan and then to Georgia, Real Azerbaijan
website reports.

According to preliminary data, some 500 Afghan
commandos trained in British camps will arrive in
Georgia. In operation against Abkhazia and South
Ossetia, they will use weapons received from their
British sponsors, thus protecting Azerbaijan from
`coming into the spotlight.’

Reliable sources report that Azeris are being
recruited in Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine
and several other states with numerous Azeri diaspora.

The recruitment is conducted under supervision of
"Azerbaycan Diasporasi" chairman Fikret Veliyev,
chairman of Murmansk division of the All-Russian
Azerbaijani Congress Rafik Badirov, president of
federal national and cultural autonomy of Azeris of
Russia Sayun Sadykov. Not only ordinary Azeris but
also students of Moscow and Kyiv universities are
recruited.

Head of the department of political studies of the
Azerbaijani presidential administration Fuad Akhundov
and chief of the division of foreign policy planning
and strategic studies at the Azeri MFA Tofik Musayev
have been commissioned to coordinate the Azeri
diaspora’s work.

1.5-2 thousand prisoners, who committed grave crimes,
will be granted amnesty on occasion of Heydar Aliyev’s
85th birthday. It’s expected that half of them will be
sent to Georgia as well.

The process of Azeri units’ formation was speeded up
after Russian heavy artillery, weapons and equipment
and additional troops crossed Georgia’s state border.’

PRESS RELEASE
Office of Assemblymember Paul Krekorian
Adrin Nazarian Chief of Staff
620 N. Brand Blvd. Suite 403
Glendale, CA 91203
(818) 240-6330
(818) 240-4632 fax
[email protected]

May 5, 2008
Contact: Adrin Nazarian

Assemblymember Krekorian Announces Panel of Judges for FILMFEST 43

Glendale, CA – Praising their "artistic ability and experience," and "a
willingness to donate time and expertise to reviewing films of aspiring
local filmmakers," Assemblymember Paul Krekorian (D-Burbank) named the
judges who will consider the 103 submissions to the first FILMFEST 43,
set for 6:30 pm, Friday, May 16, at Glendale’s iconic Alex Theatre.

"I am very grateful that Mike Petros, Dug Ward and Robert Peterson have
taken time from their busy schedules to judge the work of these talented
and ambitious filmmakers from a dozen high schools throughout my
district," Assemblymember Krekorian said. "These visual-arts
professionals bring a wealth of experience and fine critical eyes to
their task. FILMFEST 43 is greatly enhanced by their presence and
judgment," he added.

Mike Petros is an associate professor of television at Glendale
Community College. He teaches writing and production, and lectures on
the pervasive influence of this medium. Dug Ward is an adjunct faculty
member at UCLA’s Animation Workshop. A former animator for Fox’s King
of the Hill, he directs the school’s MFA graduate-animation program.
Robert Peterson chairs the graduate film program at Art Center College
of Design, in Pasadena. He has more than 25 years as an award-winning
director/cinematographer.

"FILMFEST 43 submissions include narrative, documentary, animation and
experimental projects," Assemblymember Krekorian said. "I am very proud
and pleased that so many young artists in my district have entered their
work," he added. "This bodes well for the future of the film industry
in California." Assemblymember Krekorian chairs the Select Committee on
the Preservation of California’s Entertainment Industry.

FILMFEST 43 is open to the public and admission is free. To RSVP for
free tickets contact Assemblymember Krekorian’s District Service Office
at (818) 240-6330.

# # #

CASCA 2008

Carle ton University
1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1S 5B6

This year at the annual meeting of the Canadian Anthropology Society in
one of the panels Peter Balakian’s autobiographical work Black Dog of Fate
will be discussed. Here is the information on the panel.-

Saturday May 10, 2008
9 AM to 10:30 AM
III. A. 9. Historical Perspectives on Animals in Literature
Organizer(s) / Organisation: Sima Aprahamian and Karin Doerr . Concordia
University
Grown out of our discussion after last year’s CASCA Symposium on Fear,
where we discussed J.M. Coetzee’s Disgrace and spoke of Adorno’s focus on
animals in the context of his discussion on art after Auschwitz, our panel
will examine different authors and their approaches to the animal
domain. From an interdisciplinary perspective we wish to demonstrate how
they have used non-human characters in their works and
what these representations signify in the larger context of history,
culture, and aesthetics.

Chair: Karin Doerr
Room: Tory Building 234

Balakian’s Black Dog of Fate
Sima Aprahamian . Concordia University

Bear Experience: The Power of Ursus Major in Cree Thought
Diane George . Carleton University

The Significance of Mice in Kafka’s Last Story
Karin Doerr . Concordia University

TWO EVENTS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Free interpretation services in French and English are available for the two
plenary talks

1) Keynote Address: .Ethnography in an Era of Permanent War.
Friday May 9, 4:30-6:00 p.m.
Room: Minto Case 2000 (Bell Theatre)

by Professor Catherine Lutz, Department of Anthropology and Watson
Institute of International Affairs, Brown University

Catherine Lutz is a Professor in the Department of Anthropology and the Watson
Institute for International Studies at Brown University. She is the author of
The Bases of Empire: The Struggle against US Military Outposts (ed.) (Pluto
Press, forthcoming, 2008); Local Democracy Under Siege: Activism, Public
Interests and Private Politics (with D. Holland et al., New York University
Press, 2007); Homefront: A Military City and the American Twentieth Century
(Beacon, 2001), Reading National Geographic (with J. Collins, Chicago, 1993);
and Unnatural Emotion (Chicago, 1988). Lutz is past president of the American
Ethnological Society, recipient of the Leeds Prize, the Victor Turner Prize for
Ethnographic Writing, the Delmos Jones and Jagna Sharff Memorial Prize for the
Critical Study of North America, and the Stirling Award, and recipient of
research grants from the National Science Foundation, NIMH, Compton Foundation,
and National Endowment for the Humanities. She has conducted some of her
research in conjunction with activist organizations, including a domestic
violence shelter, Cultural Survival, and the American Friends Service
Committee.

2) Plenary Panel: .The Promise and Perils of an Engaged Anthropology.
Saturday, May 10, 2:00 . 4:30 p.m.
Room: Minto Case 2000 (Bell Theatre)

(Re)Writing (with) Monster Mothers: Learning Narrative Theory from Women
Convicted of Killing Their Children
Charles Briggs . University of California, Berkeley

Heightened engagement and transformation in the field: Reflections on the
.practical. side of ethnographic practices among the Dene Tha
Jean-Guy A. Goulet . Saint Paul University

L’engagement, une question pistmologique
Francine Saillant . Laval University

Walking the Talk : The Skillful Means to Collaborative Inquiry and Social
Engagement
Jacques Chevalier and Daniel Buckles . Carleton University

Defusing Hostility: Reflections on Raising Contentious Issues in Conservative
Settings
Catherine Kingfisher . University of Lethbridge

PRESS RELEASE
ARMENPAC, The Armenian-American Political Action Committee
Contact: Jason P. Capizzi
Tel: 972-635-5347
Fax: 972-635-5406
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

ARMENPAC SURVEYS ALL 2,069 CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES TO ASSESS THEIR
POSITIONS ON ARMENIAN-AMERICAN ISSUES

Irving, TX – ARMENPAC, The Armenian-American Political Action Committee,
recently issued its 2008 Congressional Candidate Questionnaire to every
candidate seeking election to the United States Congress on November 4,
2008. Since initiating this effort in 2006, ARMENPAC continues to be the
first and only Armenian advocacy organization to tackle this very important
project, and to apprise the Armenian-American community of its local
candidates’ positions on Armenian-American issues before Election Day.

"ARMENPAC implemented this daunting research project not just to educate the
Armenian-American community, but to also educate the candidates on our
issues that they will face if elected to Congress," said ARMENPAC Co-Chairs
Annie Totah and Edgar Hagopian. "By beginning dialogues and building
relationships with Congressional hopefuls early on, ARMENPAC is cultivating
a bipartisan majority in support of Armenian-American issues."

The 2008 ARMENPAC Congressional Candidate Questionnaire is comprised of
questions that succinctly and objectively apprise candidates of the issues
affecting the Republic of Armenia and the Nagorno Karabakh Republic. The
brief survey broadly addresses, and seeks the candidates’ position on, the
following topics: United States Reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide,
United States – Armenia Trade Relations, Turkish and Azeri Hostility toward
Armenia, the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Peace Process, and the Congressional
Caucus on Armenian Issues.

The 2008 ARMENPAC Congressional Candidate Questionnaire was mailed, during
the week of April 28th and sent to all 2,069 candidates running for seats in
both the United States Senate and the United States House of
Representatives. Each candidate received a unique "username" and "password"
granting them access to a secure area of the ARMENPAC website,
<; , so that they can submit their
responses to the ARMENPAC Congressional Candidate Questionnaire on-line.
Once a candidate responds to the Congressional Candidate Questionnaire, his
or her answers are posted in real time in the "Candidate Response" section
of the ARMENPAC website for all to view and consider before Election Day.
The ARMENPAC Board of Directors will issue its list of endorsed candidates
before October, 2008 based, in part, on the information collected in
response to the Congressional Candidate Questionnaire.

ARMENPAC is an independent, bipartisan political action committee
established to shape public policy by raising awareness of, and advocating
for, Armenian-American issues. ARMENPAC provides financial support to
federal officeholders, candidates, political action committees and
organizations that actively support issues of importance to
Armenian-Americans. For more information and how to join ARMENPAC, please
call (877) 286-1046 or visit <; .

###

Armenian National Committee – Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918
Fax: 818.246.7353
[email protected]

PRESS RELEASE

May 5, 2008

Contact: Ani Garabedian

ANC-WR Holds Annual Federal Town Hall Meeting

Los Angeles, CA – Over fifty members of the Armenian American
Community gathered at the Universal Sheraton on Saturday, May 3, 2008
to take part in the Annual Federal Issues Town Hall Briefing organized
by the Armenian National Committee – Western Region (ANC-WR). The
informative session which focused on major Armenian issues pending in
the second session of the 110th Congress featured presentations by
ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian and prominent political expert Charles
Mahtesian.

"Today’s event was a unique opportunity and extremely informative and
important for all members of the Armenian American community," stated
ANC-WR Executive Director Antranig Kziran. "Both Mahtesian and
Hachikian provided insight into topics that are of interest to
Armenian Americans and serve as valuable information," he added.

Mahtesian is National Politics Editor for Politico and served as
editor for the National Journal’s Almanac of American Politics, which
is commonly referred to as "the bible of American politics." Mahtesian
provided the attendees with his insider analysis of the United States
Presidential elections, the upcoming Congressional elections and
related issues.

Hachikian discussed several topics including U.S Foreign Aid to
Armenia, the Congressional Armenian Genocide resolutions, the upcoming
hearings in the Senate regarding an Ambassador to Armenia, the current
situation in Nagorno-Karabakh and various other issues of concern to
the community.

The annual federal town halls are geared to inform the Armenian
American community about issues that pertain to the community at
large.

The Armenian National Committee – Western Region is the largest and
most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in
the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of
offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States
and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANC-WR advances
the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of
issues.

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
—————————————— —-
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
Telephone: +37410. 544041 ext. 202
Fax: +37410. 565601
Email: [email protected]

PRESS RELEASE

175-06-05-2008

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian has a Meeting with f French
Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner in Paris

The first official meeting of Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian
and French Foreign Minister, Minister of European Affairs Bernard Kouchner
took place on May 5 in Paris. During the meeting the ministers discussed
bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest.
The Ministers praised the current level of bilateral relationship, which is
a solid basis for further development of the interstate cooperation in all
areas. The two agreed to deepen cooperation in bilateral, European and
international formats.

Edward Nalbandian presented to Bernard Kouchner policy priorities of the
Armenian Governmental coalition, formed after presidential elections, as
well as Armenia’s position on the regional security, the resolution of
existing conflicts and the development of the cooperation. In this context,
a special attention was paid to the Nagorno Karabakh problem settlement
process and its perspectives. Minister Nalbandian reiterated Armenia’s
willingness to continue the negotiations on the basis of the proposals of
the OSCE Minsk group Co-chairs and appreciated their efforts in this
process.
Armenian and French Foreign Ministers also discussed Armenia’s relations
with the European Union in the context of French Presidency of EU in the
second half of this year.

At the end of the meeting Minister Nalbandian invited Minister Kouchner to
visit Yerevan. The invitation was accepted.

Right after the meeting a press conference was held in French Foreign
Ministry. Answering to the questions of the journalists the Armenian
Minister confirmed Armenia’s willingness towards the peaceful settlement of
the Karabakh problem and stated," Today there is a strong need of
establishment of mutual trust between the sides and creation of a
constructive atmosphere for the negotiations. Today there is a strong need
to confirm that there is no alternative to peaceful and negotiated
resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement. Tomorrow I will meet
my Azerbaijani colleague in Strasburg and I hope to continue the
constructive dialogue to find ways of solution to the problem with the help
of the mediators".

Commenting on Armenian-Turkish relations, Minister Nalbandian stated that
the present generation of the two nations has a heavy heritage from the
past, and in order to turn over that black page the political leaders
should take joint steps. "Armenia is ready to establish relations without
any precondition, This will beneficial for the whole region and our
peoples",
stated Mr. Nalbandian.

In the evening of the same day Edward Nalbandian left for Strasburg to take
part in the 118th session of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers.

Later today in Strasbourg Minister Nalbandian will meet Azerbaijani Foreign
Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk group. -0-

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version: nian.htm

"SHENORHALI" COMMUNICATES ARMENIAN MUSIC TO FOREIGN AUDIENCES

The Catholicosate of Cilicia’s "Shenorhali" choir participated in the joint
concert of Christian choirs held in the auditorium of the Holy Spirit
University of Kaslik (USEK) on May 3. Under the artistic guidance of Zakar
Keshishian, whose professionalism has elevated the choir to new heights in a
brief period of time, "Shenorhali" communicated the uniqueness of Armenian
religious music to foreign audiences, by presenting a sample of liturgy
excerpts and hymns of the Armenian Church.

The concert also featured performances by the choirs of several other
Christian communities, which delivered selections of hymns belonging to
their respective churches.

Overall, the concert provided a taste of the rich musical repertoire of
churches in the Middle East through a beautiful mixture of several different
musical traditions spanning across various centuries.

##
View the photos here:
tos/Photos260.htm
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE
From: Mira Yardemian
Public Relations Director
Haigazian University
Mexique Street, Kantari, Beirut
P.O.Box. 11-1748
Riad El Solh 1107 2090
Tel: 01-353010/1/2
01-349230/1

Dr. Arda Jebejian on "Linguistic Challenges of the Armenian Diaspora in
Lebanon"

Beirut, May 6, 2008- On April 30, 2008, Dr. Arda Jebejian, current
lecturer in the Humanities Department at the University of Nicosia,
Cyprus, delivered a lecture entitled "Challenges of the Armenian
Diaspora in Lebanon: Implications for a Resolution of a Crime Still
Denied" at the Cultural Hour in the Haigazian University Auditorium.

Dr. Jebejian was introduced to the audience by Dr. Arda Ekmekji, Dean of
the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, who in her opening word tackled the
issue of the Armenian Genocide, pointing out to the fact that it is the
first genocide of the 20th century.

Jebejian began her lecture by explaining the role of language in
societies, as "the means of socialization into one’s culture, the
vehicle for transmitting the cultural heritage of the past, reshaping
it, and passing it on to the next generations."

Jebejian also explained the implications of the Armenian language on
Armenians who live in Diaspora communities. "They have been subjected to
shifts and fluctuations of language ideologies, ranges of identities,
sociopolitical and socioeconomic trends, and more recently to
globalization, consumerism, explosion of media technologies, and the
post-colonial and post-communist predicament of belongingness", Jebejian
noted.

Jebejian concluded her lecture by considering that pride in ethnic
identity, communal belongingness, and transmission of the Armenian
language and history, are crucial in hastening the just conclusion of an
internationally unresolved national tragedy.

PRESS RELEASE
For further information please contact
Ms. Gloria Caudill, Administrator
Armenian Studies Program
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
[email protected]
(734) 763-0622

MAJOR INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON GEORGIA PLANNED
BY ARMENIAN STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN

Conference will be Webcast Live

The Armenian Studies Program at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor,
is pleased to announce the convening of a major international
conference on "Georgia: The Making of a Nation," to be held at the
International Institute of the University on May 15-18, 2008.

More than 30 scholars from Georgia, Armenia, Russia, Turkey, Japan,
Canada and the United States will take part is this unique event. The
themes to be considered by the conference include: "Christian Georgia:
Culture and Identity in the Middle Ages and Early Modern Period," "The
Emergence of Modern Georgian Nationalism," "Diversity and Unity in the
South Caucasus: Discourses of Division," "Expressing the National,
Performing the Nation," "Evolution and Revolution in Georgian
Political Development," and "Challenges of the Modern Moment: Georgia
in the Globalizing World."

Details of the program can be found on the website of the Armenian
Studies program:

The conference is part of the series "Armenia and Its Neighbors." The
conference is open to the general public. Equally important is the
fact that the conference proceedings will be broadcast live on the
Internet. Interested individuals can follow the presentation of papers
and the discussions at the following web address:
052008.asx. (Michigan is in
the Eastern US time zone, the same as New York.)

Professor Ronald Suny is the main convener of the
conference. "Considering the increasing importance of the South
Caucasus region to the international community and of Georgia
particularly, we think this gathering will constitute a milestone that
will not only make this important country known to our audiences but
also bring together scholars from around the world who have devoted
time and energy to understand it," stated Professor Suny. "From the
Armenian point of view," he added, "it is essential that all neighbors
be understood first in their own context."

The conference is co-sponsored by the Department of History, the
Department of Near Eastern Studies, the Rackham Graduate School, the
International Institute, the Center for Russian and East European
Studies, the Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies, and
the Eisenberg Institute for Historical Studies at the University of
Michigan, Ann Arbor; and by the American Research Institute of the
South Caucasus (ARISC, based at the University of Chicago).

Gloria Caudill, Administrator
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Armenian Studies Program

AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone: 212.319.6383, x118
Fax: 212.319.6507
Email: [email protected]
Website:

PRESS RELEASE

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

AGBU Cairo Concludes a Busy Calendar of Philanthropy and Events

AGBU Cairo retired the year 2007 with some promising philanthropy,
aiding in the funding of two very important and meaningful programs that
will continue to prosper into 2008 and beyond.

December 13, 2007 marked the inauguration of the Armenian Studies Center
at Cairo University’s Faculty of the Arts. To show their appreciation
for the efforts of the faculty in the establishment and oversight of the
Armenian Studies Center, AGBU Cairo Chairman Viken Djizmedjian and board
member George Simonian paid a visit to the Dean of the Faculty of Arts,
Ahmed Abdallah Zayed. The Armenian Studies Center will offer Armenian
language courses, as well as courses on Armenian literature and history,
and will organize conferences and lectures on Armenian culture and
heritage.

The first lecture took place that very day: Professor Nicolai
Hovhanessian from the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia was
invited to give a lecture on Armenian-Arab relations, which was attended
by professors, students, and members of the Egyptian-Armenian community.
The Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to Egypt, Ruben Karapetian,
was among those in attendance, and has had a significant role in the
creation of the Center. AGBU Cairo contributed 30,000 LE (approx. $5,500
USD) to defray the center’s expenses.

Even the youngest members at AGBU Cairo gave of themselves, and for a
great cause. On December 14, 2007, AGBU Cairo’s Dziadzan children’s
choir performed for the children at the Cairo Children’s Cancer Hospital
in honor of "Armenian Day," along with Housaper’s Dzaghgastan choir and
members of the Sardarabad and Zankezour Armenian dance troupes. The
children were delighted by the groups’ cheerful songs and dances.
"Armenian Day" was first initiated by the First Ladies of Armenia and
Egypt in April 2007 during the President of the Republic of Armenia’s
first official visit to Egypt. The Armenian Embassy in Egypt and the
Egyptian-Armenian community sponsored this cultural initiative in an
effort to provide moral and material support to the Egyptian
government’s work in building this state-of-the-art hospital for the
treatment of children with cancer. AGBU Cairo has donated 10,000 LE
(approx. 2,000 USD) to the Cairo Children’s Cancer Hospital.

And now, as 2008 progresses, AGBU Cairo has continued its efforts in
education and the promotion of Armenian culture, with a very exciting
lecture, another performance by the Dziadzan children’s choir and a
presentation about AGBU’s growing list of youth programs in Armenia.

AGBU Cairo invited Hamlet Petrosyan, Professor of Archaeology and Senior
Research Fellow of the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of the
National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, to present the findings of
ongoing archaeological excavations of the historical city of Tigranakert
in Karabakh, built during the reign of King Tigran the Great, who ruled
95-55 BC. Petrosyan gave two lectures: the first was held in Cairo on
February 22 at the Belekdanian Hall, and the second in Alexandria at the
Boghossian School on February 24.

Petrosyan’s riveting lectures were complete with comprehensive
photographs and a DVD video presentation, affording the audience a sense
of the magnitude of this long-term project. The massive excavations are
being conducted by a group of archaeologists and scientists, and have
thus far uncovered the ruins of the fortifying walls of the ancient
city, as well as a cemetery, a church from a later period, and several
housing compounds. Everyone in attendance was impressed and awed by the
dedication and rigor shown by Petrosyan and his fellow scientists in
their ongoing efforts to complete this project, despite practical and
financial difficulties that have arisen.

On March 13, the Dziadzan and Dzgaghgastan choirs joined voices at the
Belekdanian Hall in Cairo in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the
Karabakh liberation movement. Their performance was part of a cultural
event organized by the local Armenian political parties. The program
included a lecture on the history of the conflict by the director of the
Armenian Institute of History at the Armenian National Academy of
Sciences, Ashod Melkonian, a flute and piano recital by Maestro Zakar
Keshishian and Gamila Keshishian, a dance performance from the Zankezour
troupe, and a poetry recitation by Nora Koehnelian.

Later, on March 30, AGBU Armenian Youth Program coordinator, Hermine
Duzian, traveled to Cairo to speak about the menu of youth programs
offered by the organization in the homeland. In addition to the
established Yerevan Summer Intern Program and the annual Youth Trip to
Armenia and Karabakh, this year will witness the launch of the AGBU
Scout Camp and the AGBU Study Abroad program in coordination with the
American University of Armenia (AUA). For more information about these
summer programs, visit The following day,
Duzian traveled to Alexandria to speak to parents and youth about the
Armenia programs.

Established in 1906, AGBU () is the world’s largest
non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City with an
annual budget of $34 million, AGBU preserves and promotes the Armenian
identity and heritage through educational, cultural and humanitarian
programs, annually serving some 400,000 Armenians on six continents.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress