Month: September 2013

Protest in front of Yerevan Covered Market – Videos

15:51 – 01.09.13

The action group `To free historical monuments from oligarchs’ keeps
on holding protests against construction at Yerevan’s Covered Market.

The first protest was held on August 31. Seven activists were detained
by the police.

A group of people, with most of them women, introduced themselves as
ex-workers of the Covered Market and told journalists that they object
to protests.

`The market must be re-opened and we will resume our work there. The
Yerevan City supermarket will not be constructed in place of the
covered market,’ they said.

The activists clashed with the `ex-workers’ and police had to interfere.

The protest is going on now.

Armenian News – Tert.am

Videos

NKR Foreign Minister Received Ambassador Kasprzyk

15:16 – 01.09.13

On August 31, 2013, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic Karen Mirzoyan received Personal Representative of
the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk.

During the meeting, the sides discussed a series of issues on the
situation on the Line of Contact between the armed forces of the NKR
and Azerbaijan and the monitoring conducted by the Office of the
Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office.

Armenian News – Tert.am

Raffi Hovannisian. About Armenia’s membership to the European Union

September 1 2013

Raffi Hovannisian holding a public meeting at the Theater Square in
Gyumri referred also to the foreign policy issues of Armenia. Speaking
about the initialing of Association Agreement at the the Eastern
Partnership Summit to be held on November 29 in Vilnius, the leader of
the `Heritage’ party said,- `Gül is saying to organize the meeting of
Turkish speaking people in Stepanakert, Europe and America insist on
initialing, Russia as a strategic partner is selling strategic weapons
to rival Azerbaijan, and Armenia, sitting in the middle, various
grooves, one fighter for freedom, the other a young man having a
tuition, the other for the justice of workers, the other for justice
of housing, they are in the struggle separately. We are going to lose
if we do not urgently change something. In my opinion, a very
important decision is expected by November, `Heritage’ and myself are
in favor of joining the European Union, if the EU recognizes Armenia’s
national interests and people’s civil rights. More tangible, more
concrete, I think that in parallel to initialing or before it, the
Republic of Armenia should recognize the sovereignty and territorial
integrity of the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, in order to avoid any
doubt as to what the Association Agreement refers to. Personally, I’m
not familiar with the text and it is very suspicious as to why the
authorities did not publicize the agreement. But at present choice,
one who does not respect the vote of Armenian people, who does not
respect the national interests of Armenia, including Artsakh, in my
opinion, should not have the signature of Armenia. I am inclined that
if the respect to Armenia is available, who respects Armenia in that
way, he should have the respect of Armenia,’- said Raffi Hovannisian.

Nune AREVSHATYAN

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About Sargsyan-Putin meeting. `Serge Sargsyan’s consent is at the
bottom of the visit’

August 31 2013

On September 3, Serzh Sargsyan is planning to have a meeting with RF
President Vladimir Putin. As announced by the president’s press
office, cooperation in the systems of political, commercial and
economical, energy and humanitarian will be discussed at the meeting,
also other issues regarding integration processes in the CIS and
provision of security and stability in South Caucasus will be
discussed. With regard to this meeting, in the conversation with
Aravot.am, the Chairman of the ANC Foreign Relations Committee
Vladimir Karapetyan expressed his concern,-‘It’s quite a long time
that the Armenia’s authorities have referred to the Russian side for
the organization of the visit and the visit did not turn out. It is
known that the answer of the Russian side was expressed by Putin’s
visit to Azerbaijan. All of these pursued the goal to show the
discontent to Armenia with regard to recent moves. The matter is about
the document to be signed with the EU. Serzh Sargsyan could not manage
such a policy that was managed by RA presidents, ministries of foreign
affairs for the period of 20 years, the policy of complementarity and
balancing. And if we expand our relations with the EU, and the
European institutions, at the same time, we were expanding the
strategic partnership with RF to the same extent. Unfortunately, I
have to mention that today the issue of orientation is raised, and I
have a great fear that Serzh Sargsyan’s consent to deviate Armenia
from the European path is at the bottom of the visit and the Russian
consent. I have these fears. And even if Association Agreement is
initialed, which is also under threat today, there are no guarantees
of signing at this moment. I’m not sure that there will be public
announcements, but the fact that there are dangers of European
integration, I predict it, there is information about it.’ Vladimir
Karapetyan also said that everything should be done not to allow
Armenia deviate from the path of complementary and balanced policy.

Hripsime JEBEJYAN

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Would it be possible to release the broadcast media from strong hands
of the authorities?

August 31 2013

The experts foresee a revolution in television domain in Armenia The
President of `A1+’ TV company Mesrop Movsesyan, the Chairman of Gyumri
Journalists’ club `Asparez’ Levon Barseghyan, President of Yerevan
Press Club Boris Navasardyan, Chairman of Committee to Protect Freedom
of Expression Ashot Melikyan and others are planning to convene a
general assembly by the end of September to discuss the idea of
establishing a satellite, public TV. They have participated in such a
discussion still two years ago at the public council meeting convened
by `A1+’ TV company. The Chairman of Gyumri Journalists’ club
`Asparez’ Levon Barseghyan informed about it in a conversation with
`Aravot’ detailing the need for having a satellite TV,- `This is an
old idea, at least I have talked about it many times. In other words,
it’s going to be a public TV. This idea has been continuously
developed, and the idea revived in me over and over that to change the
anti-popular regime, Armenia needs to have a real public television
established and originating from the public, and providing information
to Armenians throughout the world. In terms of technical solutions, it
could be a satellite television, which, of course, must cover the
satellite and be available to the Diaspora,’- said Levon Barseghyan.
As listed by him, Armenia has state-public and private television
networks, it remains to have a public services providing, multi-genre
TV company. `We have the state-public and private networks, let them
be, let them be more, but I think we need a TV that does not pursuit
profit, actually providing public services to the society, offering a
wide variety of news and analysis, up-to-dated, not retarded,
operatively responding to everything. I have never thought of mine or
of Poghos’s, I have tried my best to be helpful in the development of
the idea. And I think it would be really Armenian, maybe a
joint-stock, but not with such shareholders that someone dictates
something, a truly independent and diverse information and analysis
providing company. We need it a long time ago, and this gap was never
filled. Of course, it will be broadcast over the internet, the local
television stations might be willing to rebroadcast some things, cable
networks, and so on and so forth,’- presented Levon Barseghyan. He
also said that nothing is yet decided, and the comments on the
Facebook will be taken into account, which has created a wide field
for people to be expressed. `There are people who are already willing
to transfer money, to where, it is not clear, naturally, given
institution is missing, some sort of legal-organizational issue is to
be decided, as to what it will be, a foundation, or a business. I am
not inclined to business structures, but it is necessary to convene a
general meeting with interested parties in this sphere or issue to
understand what to do and how to do. But the fact that it is a
necessity that the control over the sphere of radio and television has
become a key tool of reproduction for Armenia’s authorities for almost
15 years, to wash the brains, to advocate what they want, is definite.
We really need a public television. Perhaps, this idea will start
changing something in the politics of many TV channels. Maybe it will
not change, nevertheless, we need to go ahead, I am already sure, I
have been convinced for a long time, for about 6 years I have been
talking on different levels, but publicly, probably, for the 2nd or
the 3rd time,’- said Levon Barseghyan. According to our interlocutor,
Yerevan Press Club has proposed legislative changes to make the
satellite television in our country more simplified, get out of the
licensing, in other words, whoever wanted can rent a satellite channel
and release its TV programs. `The world has greatly become small, if
there is a restriction, the broadcaster goes to another country to
broadcast. I think our idea has nothing to do with defective work or
defective practice of the National Commission of Television and Radio.
Let them go and work, as they want, to control and monitor, oppress,
dictate, liberalize radio-television broadcast sphere, or stop
censoring or start censoring, as they want. This idea is technically
far beyond their possible riots. They are not going to like it, that’s
for sure, we know it, we already feel from different comments, yelling
of fakes on the `Facebook.’ It is already felt that they have fallen
into hysteria, they are raving about some grants, but all of this, as
well as my and the activities of our organization is going to be
public, in front of everybody, let them come and watch the whole
process, everything will be in front of them,’ – said the Chairman of
the Club `Asparez’. He once again repeated that their goal is to have
a true public TV company,- `Our goal is to have a true public company.
We didn’t have it, we had it by the name, actually we didn’t have it.
In other words, it is not good that in 22 years of our independence,
all that we listen from each other, neighbors, from the event, come
home and changing the channels try to find but could not find or find
very little. Whatever stupidity is, you can watch in the news, except
for the most important ones, about which it is spoken throughout
Armenia. You can watch something in 1-2 news channels, but it seems to
me, it is very limited, and sometimes in poor quality. This gap needs
to be corrected, if they correct it by then, thanks God, there will be
no need to waste efforts to open it. Who knows, maybe there are
elections in two or three years ahead, they will liberalize, amend the
Constitution, will diminish the power of the president, will make the
prime minister powerful, will think, well, brother, the television, so
what. Now, when you compare, for example, with the content of TV/radio
broadcast of 5-6 years ago, it is much more liberalized, but still
kept in a strong hand that at any flare-up moment, they can introduce
the censorship from March 1 to 20, the risk is not eliminated at any
time. In other words, the chain of the freedom is a bit prolonged,
they can freely wonder, but it should be, they will quickly cut the
chain short in a short domain,’- assures our interlocutor.

Nune AREVSHATYAN

Read more at:

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Istanbul Writer Jaglin Celik: `The ghosts of the past won’t let the
Turks rest easy’

Sako Arian

21:09, August 31, 2013

Armenia and the diaspora expect that a new generation of writers in
Armenian will come to the fore in Turkey.

They think about this. They talk about it very little, and when they
clash with reality, suddenly they remain silent and lose all interest.

After the literary successes of the glorious Zahrad era (I say Zahrad
because he was the last of the Mohicans of the progressive literature
starting from the 1950s and an entire generation was to be baptized
with his name), for us to state that today that Armenian literature is
being written with a new sense of vitality in Bolis is a difficult
proposition.

In opposition to this nearly greying impression, a new phenomenon is
apparent. A group of Armenians writing in Turkish is already visible
in Bolis. Let me say that I have no pretensions of providing a full
list of their names. Given this, it is sad that there is no direct
link with these writers. Furthermore, specific information or
translations of their books and other works is lacking. Tragically,
this is the case.

`I wanted to be an actress, but it didn’t work out.’ This is how my
conversation began with Jaglin Celik; an Armenian writing in Turkish,
for whom falling into literature has become something akin to
preparing and presenting a theatrical work.

`When becoming an actress became impossible, years later, writing
turned into something like presenting a theatrical work. This was the
main reason, but there was something else. I felt I had things on my
mind to say to others. Through writing, I was able to listen to my
inner voice and express it. This was something very important to me.’

Jaglin concludes by telling me that she visited Armenia last June to
participate in the ninth conference of foreign language writers. Few
knew of her, and it’s unfortunate that her works haven’t been
translated into Armenian.

When asked if she considered herself an Armenian or Turkish writer,
Jacqueline Celik responded: `None of this is important, because there
are always cases when you think about your identity.’

To explain this reality, Jaglin tells me that when she travelled to
Germany a few years ago to take part in a writers’ meeting (and to
represent Turkey), some Turkish newspapers covering the event asked if
it was correct for an Armenian woman writer and a Jewish one (Roni
Margules) to represent all of Turkey in Europe.

Jaglin also told me that they present her as an Armenian woman writer
(her words). She starts to laugh loudly when she says this.

Born in Istanbul, Celik has authored four books, the last of which is
a novel called `Celebration of Wrath’ published in 2011.

The novel is about the `tragic events’ of 1915. She says the idea of
writing a novel sprung to life when she watched a documentary film
prepared by American health agencies. The film was about a scientific
experiment in which special conditions were created for mice and they
were given poison to gauge the effects.

The experiment revealed that the mice would start to scream whenever
they encountered the poison placed in their cages.

`I used this image in my novel,’ says Jaglin, adding that there is a
character in the novel of a mouse and that mouse lives for three
generations and that throughout the entire length of the novel there
is a certain flash-back. She also says that what she wanted to convey
through the novel is that knowing the pain of one individual it is
possible to also open all the cracks and crevices of all the
survivors’ psychological state of mind.

Jaglin Celik doesn’t conceal the fact that as a citizen of Turkey she
sometimes feels that there is a heavy burden on her shoulders.
Regarding this she says, `There are walls between us.’

She tells me that she is often invited by news outlets to speak about
Armenian issues and that she always rejects such proposals. In an
angry tine she says, `Why should I speak about these things. Let them
talk about them.’

Naturally, I was going to broach the issue of Armenia with Jaglin.
This is her third visit here and speaking about the future of Armenia,
she expresses the hope that one day Armenia will be the `final home’
for all Armenians. For the writer, the ultimate issue is that Armenia
becomes so strong that `it becomes the final home for all of us.
Armenia must become just as strong as Israel.’

Responding to my question as to whether certain changes are visible in
Turkey today, Jaglin says `The murder of Hrant Dink, which was a heavy
blow for Turkey, opened the eyes of many and they (Turks) started to
ask each other why Hrant was killed.’ She adds, `Today, we are living
between two extremes.’

When I ask her how Turkey will be able to extricate itself from this
crisis, she says that it’s a very big problem.

The writer also points out that in Turkey today such issues are freely
discussed, angrily noting that, `Everyone wrote about it and talked
about it, but it was an Armenian who died, Hrant died,’

`There’s a sort of unease,’ she says. `The ghosts of the past have
become visible. The ghosts of the past are in the back of the heads of
the Turks and won’t let them rest easy. Today, they are not at peace.’

When I ask her if this unease will lead to some changes, Jaglin
answers that `it is sad that the Turks quickly forget. The Turkish
intelligentsia is faced with serious problems today. What is more
disconcerting is that the Turks often use the Armenians and the Kurds
to resolve their problems.’

She concludes by saying that today the Turks have wound up facing one
another. `Today, they are in confrontation with their government.’

Continuing, Jaglin tells me that she has a strong circle of Turkish
friends and acquaintances and that she couldn’t imagine her life
without it.

`My milieu and my Turkish friends are irreplaceable. I have always
taken part in Kurdish and Turkish civic movements and gatherings and I
aim to continue doing so.’

Concluding, Jaglin notes, `We are not the same but we have lived
together and for me this is of great value.’

(Translated by Hrant Gadarigian)

The Arab Spring and the Armenian Winter

EDITORIAL | AUGUST 29, 2013 11:00 AM
________________________________

By Edmond Y. Azadian

The political turmoil artificially created in the Arab and Muslim world has
come to be named euphemistically as the Arab Spring, as if promising a
better future for the citizens of that region. Instead, political
instability, economic collapse and bloodbaths have come to be associated
with that spring.

As one observes carefully, that `spring’ visits certain specific countries,
while others are bypassed. And that selection is based on the political
orientation of the target country.

The avowed promise of the `spring’ is to bring democracy, human rights and
freedom to the nations subjected to the breeze of that gentle season. For
example, that `spring’ never visits a country like Saudi Arabia – a most
reactionary country where people’s limbs are chopped off based on
antiquated medieval laws and women not only rank as second-class citizens
but they are bought and sold much like cattle in marriage. In the same
category are Kuwait and the Emirates where the majority of foreign workers
are treated as slaves, while the ruling class enjoys obscene opulence.

These are the darling allies of the US and enjoy the political epithet of
`moderate,’ truth notwithstanding. But the main reason that the breeze of
that `spring’ does not blow in their direction is because they are never
perceived as a threat to our strategic ally, Israel. Thus, the rest of the
Arab and Muslim countries are entitled to benefit from that `spring.’

The Middle East correspondent of London’s Independent, Robert Fiske, has
pointed out the irony of the Arab Spring, where a medieval despotic kingdom
like Saudi Arabia is engaged in an open war to bring democracy to Syria,
the only Muslim-majority country where political Islam has no place, or at
least did not until hired mercenaries were sent to destabilize that strong,
progressive, and yes, authoritarian country. Saddam Hussein of Iraq was the
first victim of that policy concocted elsewhere in the West and exported to
the most stable countries.

This `democratization’ campaign begins with the docile media, ridiculed by
Mr. Fiske as the tentacles of their respective governments, be it the
demonization of the targeted government or a particular ruler until the
saturation point where poison and lies have convinced the public that that
particular demon deserves to be overthrown.

And then the international law becomes a caricature to justify the lawless
actions of the powerful.

All informed and participating agencies had certified that Iraq did not
possess weapons of mass destruction, yet the Bush-Cheney administration had
decided to topple Saddam Hussein and make the first Arab country to serve
as a political and military base for Israel Iraq (namely, in its current
semi-autonomous Kurdish region). After one million casualties in Iraq, and
4,500 deaths in the US army and 50,000-60,000 permanently injured veterans
to burden the US economy, the carnage is still continuing with the same
intensity in Iraq and the US economy still struggles to recover from
$3-trillion war damage. No one is questioning what happened to the
`democracy’ promised in Iraq. Only Saddam Hussein was sent to the gallows
and the perpetrators of the war are still enjoying life in their bunkers
and the Halliburtons of the world are reaping the booties of the war.

Syria is next on the chopping block. No one had raised a voice to bring
change in Syria – contrary to media fabrications. But the change was
introduced in Syria at the butt of guns by mercenaries who have wreaked
havoc. Despite coordinated aggression by Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and
Jordon, at the behest of the US president, Assad is still in power. The
last chance to destroy that country hinges on the Tomahawk cruise missiles
of the US Navy, amassing at this time in the eastern Mediterranean.

Another country to `benefit’ from the Arab Spring is Egypt, where a
transformation is in the offing as the military tries to tame the violent
Muslim Brotherhood.

All these countries had served as a haven to the survivors of the Armenian
Genocide. Armenian refugees flourished in these countries without
discrimination and built affluent communities.

Saddam Hussein protected the Iraqi-Armenian community. The churches, the
schools, cultural and youth centers thrived through the government’s
generosity. Making such public statements is anathema to the engineers of
war but they are only the truth. Today, those churches, schools and
businesses are the target of the vandals who were supposed to bring
democracy to Iraq.

As of this writing, the remnants of Aleppo’s affluent Armenian community
are under the protection of Assad’s government, who had treated the
Armenians as creative and privileged citizens of Syria. Should that
government fall, Armenians would be the first target of the Jihadists who
have put Aleppo under siege.

Glenn Beck – otherwise the most unsavory of political commentators –
circulated recently a graphic video and stated, `We are supporting
cannibals.’ At this moment those cannibals are at the doorsteps of each
Armenian still stranded in Aleppo.

The Syrian War has already spilled over into Lebanon where another affluent
and well-established Armenian community is affected.

Egypt was one of the safest countries in the Middle East, ironically, safer
than even the US. Not any more. Blood is flowing in the streets and
burglaries, kidnappings and rapes have destroyed the fabric of society.
Many Coptic churches have been burnt down. The attempt to burn St. Gregory
Armenian Church, on one of the main thoroughfares in Cairo, was not
successful, but that does not give comfort to the Armenian community, as
the Christians have become the unwanted minorities in the country, targeted
by the very same seekers of `democracy’ that the West supports. Many of
those freedom seekers, after the dust settles, show themselves to be
intransigent and hard-core fundamentalist Muslims that turn on their
Western sponsors.

The Arab Spring has only brought mayhem to the countries it has visited
thus far. There are no organized Armenian communities in Libya and Tunisia,
but those countries also have been destabilized, threatened with violence
and fragmented.

With the fall of the `Evil Empire,’ the balance of the world power was
destroyed and the Western countries have a free hand to `tame’ the rest of
the small nations by promising democracy and offering bloodbaths.

Thus far, the `Arab Spring’ has turned into the Arab nightmare. In the
process, Armenian communities are destroyed. A century after the Genocide
displaced Armenians once again are forced to join the ranks of the world
refugees, abandoning their ancestral homes and churches, as well as
prosperous businesses and affluent cultural life. The Arab Spring has
created an Armenian winter.

– See more at:

From: A. Papazian

Al-Rahi rejects aggression on Syria, Patriarch Bedros warns against
repercussions

Sep 01, 2013

Beirut, (SANA) – Patriarch of Antioch and all the East of Maronites,
Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros al-Rahi, reiterated his rejection of any
aggression on Syria, calling for solving the crisis via political and
diplomatic means.

After a visit to Patriarch John X Yazigi of Antioch and All the East
for Greek Orthodox Church in Lebanon, Patriarch al-Rahi said “We
oppose any foreign intervention in Syria, we do not want war to erase
what we have built in this region.”

Al-Rahi called for releasing the two abducted bishops, the Greek
Orthodox Metropolitan of Aleppo and Iskenderun, Bishop Paul Yazigi and
Syriac Orthodox Metropolitan of Aleppo, Bishop John Ibrahim, hoping
that peace will prevail in Syria and the Middle East.

For his part, The Armenian Catholic Patriarch Nerses Bedros XIX, said
that no one can foretell the results of any aggression on Syria,
calling upon the superpowers to help Syria overcome the problem it is
facing through dialogue.

M. Nassr/ M. Eyon

AGBU’s Musical Armenia Program Launches Young Artists’ Careers

ARTS | AUGUST 29, 2013 10:50 AM

NEW YORK – In just one year, the AGBU Musical Armenia Program (MAP),
which was launched last summer to connect talented young artists with
their cultural heritage, has given participants even more: career
opportunities.

With MAP’s support, Shaghig Amy Kazandjian, a recent college graduate
from Canada and a French horn player, has landed a spot in the Yerevan
State Opera and Ballet orchestra. The contract will keep Kazandjian in
Yerevan through the upcoming fall season, where she’s building on the
weeks of intensive training that all MAP participants enjoyed.

Kazandjian, who joined the Yerevan State Opera and Ballet in two
summer concerts, wasn’t the only MAP student to take the public stage
in Armenia during the program, which ran from July 15 to August 4.

Percussionist and composer Andrea Godoshian, who hails from Michigan,
played alongside celebrated jazz musician Armen `Chico’ Tutunjian and
his band in a live show-and each of MAP’s seven participants have
their sights set on performing in the 2014 Renaissance International
Music Festival in Gumri after receiving a personal invitation from the
festival’s director, pianist Karine Avdalyan.

Avdalyan was one of the many renowned artists with whom the students
met as they practiced playing the French horn, harp, percussions,
viola, violin and singing and composing. Several performers taught
back-to-back MAP seminars, including mezzo-soprano Anna Mayilyan and
music historians Gagik Ginosyan, Mher Navoyan, Araxy Saryan and Arthur
Shakhnazaryan. Each offered instrumental and vocal lessons in addition
to lectures, which spanned genres and years, such as those on
19th-century Armenian classical music, Armenian jazz and folk music,
medieval spiritual music and 18th century Armenian minstrel music. For
the MAP artists, who call Bulgaria, Canada and the United States home,
it was an experience they could only find in Armenia.

When the MAP participants weren’t training with professionals, they
were collaborating with some of Armenia’s youngest artists. On a
special trip to the Talin Music School with members of the global
group El Sistema Armenia, they joined students in an interactive class
focused on Komitas’ work. The MAP students themselves were following
in the footsteps of the legendary musician, who travelled across the
country gathering and recording different songs and before leaving
they gave a joint concert with the school’s youth. AGBU Performing
Arts Department Artistic Director Hayk Arsenyan commented on the
significance of the visit, stating, `During the time we spent at the
Talin school, we got to the heart of the MAP mission: to bring
Armenians from around the world closer to the country’s culture and
arts. Watching the students collaborate, it became clear we
accomplished that goal. They were inspired by everything they learned
from the children of Talin and are sure to take the experience with
them when they return home and move forward in their careers.’

If the trip to Talin introduced the MAP group to Armenia’s future
generation of artists, museums tours helped them better understand the
country’s musical history. MAP brought the students to the
house-museums of cultural icons Aram Khachaturian, Sergei Paradjanov,
Alexander Spendiarian and Hovhannes Tumanyan for an intimate look at
their lives and work. At Yerevan’s Charentz Museum of Literature and
Art, where PAD Director Arsenyan led a lecture on Armenian composers
of the Ottoman Empire, they also had the opportunity to see firsthand
the manuscripts and instruments owned by Armenia’s earliest musicians,
including Sayat Nova and Jivani. MAP participant Stephan Atamian of
New York commented, `I realized throughout the summer that some of the
only documentation we have of our musical heritage is archived in
Armenia’s wonderful museums. At the same time, I realized that it is
up to us Armenian artists to bring those pieces to life as only music
can.’

At the final MAP gala concert on Sunday, August 4, in the salon of
Khachaturian’s house-museum, the participants gave new life to pieces
that dated from as early as the fourth century. They also showcased
their own work. Before an audience of tourists and fellow musicians,
the entire MAP ensemble, together with their instructors, performed an
original piece composed by student Andrea Godoshian especially for the
event. It was one of the highlights of an evening that was made
complete when student and vocalist Eliz Gagosian joined Mayilyan’s a
cappella trio.

The final gala concert marked the end of a summer of learning and
creating. But for the students, it was only the beginning. As Shaghig
Kazandjian shared, `Through MAP, I was able to discover Armenia and
embrace my culture, history and identity in ways I never could have
imagined. I learned so much about my musical heritage and I can’t wait
to continue to immerse myself in Armenian music in the months to come.
I’m so excited to join the orchestra of the Yerevan State Opera and
Ballet, a once in a lifetime opportunity that I know I will look back
on years from now as one of the highlights of my career-thanks to
AGBU.’

– See more at:

WWLP 22News
Sept 1 2013

Armenian festival held in Springfield

By Sy Becker

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – The Sunday before Labor Day has also come
to mean the annual St. Mark Armenian fest in Springfield.

Armenian music has always played an important part in the festivities
at St. Mark Armenian church in Springfield.

Another is the traditional food. Shish Kabob we know about, but
organizer David Jermakian told 22News, there’s so much more, `We have
something called Lush Kabob, two thirds beef and one third lamb. We
have tons of pastries and stuffed grapes for a small church with only
one hundred members We do what I think is a fantastic job,’ Said
Jermakian.

The families who attend the fest enjoy the food, the music and the
feelings of togetherness.