Month: September 2013

AGBU INITIATIVE TO SUPPORT SYRIAN ARMENIANS’ PROBLEMS

16:48, 27 September, 2013

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS: The Armenian General Benevolent
Union (AGBU) organized a charity exhibition to assist the Syrian
Armenians’ problems. As Armenpress was reported by the AGBU
representative Lena Baghdasaryan, the works of the Syrian Armenian
photographer Vahe Shahinyan will be exhibited. “The exhibition
presents the series of photos under the theme “Syria in my memories”
consisting of about 150 photos. The opening will be held on September
30 at 18:00 at the House Museum of Hovhannes Tumanyan, though for the
visitors it will be open on October 1-11 at 11:00-17:00. The entrance
will be free”, – said Lena Baghdasaryan.

Currently about 10,000 Syrian Armenians live in Armenia, who are
permanently supported by the Ministry of Diaspora of the Republic
of Armenia in apartment and job issues. About 1000 Syrian Armenians
applied to the Ministry and were provided with jobs.

The Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) is the world’s largest
non-profit organization devoted to preserving and promoting the
Armenian identity and heritage through educational, cultural and
humanitarian programs. Each year, the organization supports, serves,
and connects over 400,000 individuals across Armenia, Karabakh,
and the Diaspora.

Through the vision of its leaders and the generous support of devoted
donors and members over the years, AGBU has played a significant role
in upholding Armenian traditions and values by adapting to the needs
of the worldwide community and the demands of the times. Since 1906,
AGBU has remained true to one overarching goal: to sustain a foundation
for the benefit of all Armenians.

AGBU currently operates with an annual budget of over 36 million
dollars, which is made possible by our countless benefactors. We have a
global reach with headquarters in New York City and an active presence
in 28 countries. AGBU addresses the needs of Armenians in the homeland
and throughout the Diaspora with traditional and progressive programs –
from schools, scouts, camps and support for the arts to internships,
virtual learning and professional networks.

AGBU strives to foster a deep sense of national identity and pride in
our youth in order to prepare them for preserving our rich national
heritage and to instill in them a vested interest in continuing the
traditions that will benefit our people for generations to come.

© 2009 ARMENPRESS.am

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA TO HOST EXHIBIT, AWARD CEREMONY ON WORLD TOURISM DAY

September 27, 2013 – 13:08 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – United Nations World Tourism Organization marks
World Tourism Day on September 27.

It was at its third session (Torremolinos, Spain, September 1979),
that the UNWTO General Assembly decided to establish World Tourism Day,
beginning in 1980. This date was chosen to coincide with an important
milestone in world tourism: the anniversary of the adoption of the
UNWTO Statutes on September 27, 1970.

The purpose of the event is to foster awareness among the international
community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural,
political and economic value. The event seeks to address global
challenges outlined in the United Nations Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs) and to highlight the contribution the tourism sector
can make in reaching these goals. Armenia posted a tourist inflow of
321 279 people in January-June 2013, up 14,3% from 2012 results. In
the reporting period 343 263 left the country to travel, up 13,6%
from 2012 results. According to data provided by the hotels, the
majority of tourists are arriving from CIS, most of the from Russia
(23,7%); European tourists are second in the list, with 8,7%; 6,6%;
6,3% arriving from France, Germany and Italy respectively.

11.8%; 6%; 3%; 1,1%; 0,7% of tourists were travelling from the U.S.,
Iran, Georgia, Canada and Turkey.

Tourists who visited Armenia over the reposting period were spending
$115 a day if using the tourist agency’s services and twice as less
if travelling on their own.

On the occasion of the World Tourism Day, Armenian Youth Foundation
will organize an exhibit at Yerevan’s Northern Avenue, with Armenian
regions and the capital to be represented by the pavilions installed.

An official ArmTourism Awards ceremony is due in the evening, to
honor representatives of the sector who contributed to development
of tourism in Armenia.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT HOSTED KAREKIN II AND ARAM I

16:06, 27 September, 2013

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS: The President of the Republic of
Armenia Serzh Sargsyan hosted His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme
Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians and His Holiness Aram I,
the Catholicos of Cilicia on September 27. As Armenpress was reported
by the Department for Mass Media and Public Relations of the Armenian
President’s Staff, Serzh Sargsyan, His Holiness Karekin II and His
Holiness Aram I touched upon the Bishops’ Synod of the Holy Armenian
Apostolic Church taking place at the Holy See of Mother Etchmiadzin.

The spiritual leaders once more highlighted the participation of the
Armenian President in the opening ceremony of the Bishops’ Synod of
the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church.

Earlier Armenpress reported that at the Holy See of Mother Etchmiadzin,
President Serzh Sargsyan participated at the opening of the Bishops’
Synod of the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church presided over by His
Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians
and His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia. The
President made a statement, welcomed all Bishops of the Armenian
Church, including the spiritual leaders who have arrived to Armenia
from the remote Armenian communities spread all over the world. He
expressed hope that the Synod will from now on conclude regularly in
the same spirit of unity for the glory of our faithful believers. Serzh
Sargsyan wished all the best and fruitful work to the participants
of the Synod. The statement of Serzh Sargsyan said in particular:

“Your Holiness Karekin II Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All
Armenians, Your Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of
Cilicia, Your Eminences,

I am glad to be here, at the Armenian spiritual center, at the Holy See
of Mother Etchmiadzin which is precious to us all. I cordially welcome
you all, all Bishops of the Armenian Church and particularly spiritual
leaders who have arrived to the blessed soil of our Motherland from
the remote Armenian communities spread all over the world. Taking
this opportunity, I would like to say that I am well aware of your
patriotic undertakings aimed at the preservation of the national
identity and I thank you for them.

I am thankful to the Catholicos of All Armenian for extending
invitation to me and for the opportunity to address you with welcoming
remarks. As any son of our nation, being present here I deem it
necessary to once again express my filial affection, devotion and
support to the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church.

People who are familiar with the ups and downs of our history can
duly appreciate the vital mission which the Armenian Church has been
performing and continues to perform today. This spiritual institution,
which had been established through the efforts of the Apostles, for
the stateless and world-spread Armenian nation never lost its ties
with the uppermost values which bond together the Armenian identity.

The lamp ignited by Saint Gregory the Illuminator today too continues
to spread light among us, while the servants of the Armenian Church
continue their devoted services, faithful to the behests of Saint
Sahak Partev, Mesrop Mashtots, Nerses Shorhali, Grigor Tatevatsi and
brilliant Patriarchs Nerses Ashtaraktsi, Khrimian Hayrik, Vazgen I
and our other spiritual fathers.

It’s been twenty-two years since we have restored our independent
Armenian statehood; however in the Armenian national life the national
preservation role of our Church continues to be important just as
much. Today, more than ever we have to strengthen spiritual values
which link us together and make us one united Armenian nation.

Through the power enshrined in our Constitution, the Republic of
Armenia recognizes the exceptional mission of the Holy Armenian
Apostolic Church in the spiritual life of the Armenian nation,
development of our national culture and preservation of the national
identity. It is with great pleasure that I state close cooperation
between the State and the Church and our ability to complement each
other in the resolution of our national issues.

Eminent Spiritual Fathers,

Motherland Armenia is home to all Armenians while the Mother Church
is the cornerstone and pillar for Armenia and Armenian nation. For
centuries, the glance of the devout Armenian nation has been directed
to Holy Etchmiadzin. Right here the heart of our Mother Church is
throbbing, nourished with the love and prayers of the millions of
our faithful brothers and sisters.

Now, we are witnessing the epoch-making event indeed. For centuries,
due to different circumstances, and particularly in the last six
centuries, it was not possible to invite a bishops’ synod of the
Armenian Church. I am glad to state that currently it has become
possible to overcome that problem and to convene the Bishops’ Synod
at the Holy See of Saint Etchmiadzin, on our native land.

This event is a major signal to our devotees and is called upon to
prove the Mother Church’s dedication to the mission of uniting the
world-spread Armenian nation. I am confident that this conclave will
manifest new process in the Armenian spiritual life and will allow the
entire Armenian nation to take upon the realization of all-Armenian
issues with new vigor and energy.

With the convocation of this meeting, the Holy Armenian Apostolic
Church is ushering a new era of its history. It gets the opportunity
to find answers to multiple questions of our spiritual and moral life,
to streamline its reforms and modernize its work according to the
current challenges.

I know that the agenda of your works is rather exhaustive. I believe
one of the issues under discussion deserves special attention: it
pertains to the important initiative of canonization of the victims
of the Armenian Genocide.

On the eve of the centennial of the Armenian Genocide, our entire
nation continues to say “No” to the crimes against humanity. It is
our duty to our forefathers, to our innocent victims and to the entire
human kind so that new genocides may be prevented in the future. With
this regard, the anticipation of our entire nation from the Armenian
Church and its Bishops is great.

Devastating civil war in Syria is going on; it has become a grave
challenge for the Armenian-Syrian community. Situation in Syria is our
greatest pain and our number one concern every day. At the direst for
our nation times, the people of Syria received with open arms those who
narrowly escaped the Genocide and shared with us whatever they had. We
wish that the situation is resolved through the political means as
soon as possible and the bloodshed is stopped in this friendly state.

The responsibility to preserve the Christian faith, love and morals,
our devotion as the apple of our eyes is a blessing for us all. I
am deeply convinced that all this for centuries has been embodied
and fulfilled in the life of our nation by the Armenian Church with
all its dioceses, parishes, communities and structures. This is an
institution which is to be loved, cherished and preserved by every
Armenian as the guarantor of our nation’s unending journey to eternity.

Asserting once again my joy on the Bishops’ Synod of the Holy Armenian
Apostolic Church, I remain hopeful that it will be convened regularly
in the same spirit of unity for the glory of our faithful believers. I
wish you all success and fruitful work.

God bless and preserve the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church and our
Armenian world.

Thank you”.

© 2009 ARMENPRESS.am

DIASPORA CAN BENEFIT FROM ITS CONNECTION WITH COMPATRIOTIC ROOTS

– September 26, 2013

By Appo Jabarian
Executive Publisher / Managing Editor
USA Armenian Life Magazine

September 25, 2013

Most Armenians have a die-hard habit of asking a new acquaintance:
“Tseronq urdeghen en?” (“Where do your grandparents come from?”).

In the Diaspora and even in Armenia, whenever a group of Armenians
gathers, a “little” Armenia is created. One’s ancestor may turn out to
be from Hadjin, Marash, Aintab, Garin (Erzrum), Van, Mush, Sassoun,
Baghesh (Bitlis), Kayseria, Musa Ler (Dagh), Amasia, Zeytun, Sis,
Adana, Ourfa, Dikranagerd and many other lost Armenian localities in
Turkish-occupied Western Armenia and Armenian Cilicia.

Immediately after the Turkish-executed Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923,
the forcibly deported orphaned survivors kept their memories of their
localities alive by laying the foundation to numerous compatriotic
societies. To the credit of succeeding generations living in-exile,
several compatriotic associations continue to exist in the Middle
East, Europe, United States, Canada, South America and elsewhere;
and serve as living bridges to the lost homeland.

Many exiled Armenians used to grant each other nicknames based on
one’s ancestral roots – Hadjintsi Koko (“tsi” suffix meaning “from”),
Marashtsi Manouk, Aintabtsi Vicken, Vanetsi Hrayr, Mushetsi Hagop,
Sassountsi Jirayr, Adanatsi Minas, Kaysertsi Sarkis, Musa Lertsi Sahag,
Zeytuntsi Harut, Sisetsi Avedis, Ourfatsi Hovannes, Bitlistsi Armen,
so on and so forth.

Even one of the three officially recognized Armenian municipalities
of the Middle East Bourj Hammoud, Lebanon (population 200,000) is
subdivided into several neighborhoods named after the lost Armenian
localities in Armenian Cilicia such as Nor (New) Sis, Nor Marash,
Nor Amanos; and Nor Hadjin in neighboring Beirut, capital of Lebanon.

In many other communities of the Armenian Diaspora, as far I know,
there are no neighborhoods that are named after such localities. But
many members have established additional chapters on various continents
creating one more layer in their transnational community.

Marashtsis serve as a good example. Compatriotic Union of Marash
boasts several chapters worldwide – one in Eastern United States;
another in Western U.S., Argentina, Australia, Syria and Lebanon. They
even have a city in contemporary Armenia named Nork Marash. Zeytuntsis
have Verin (Upper) Zeytun also in Armenia.

In the United States, there are literally dozens of such organizations
continuing their mission in keeping the spiritual ties to one’s
ancestral roots alive. They serve as a bedrock of the Armenian Cause
on micro level. These organizations educate their members about
their hometown cultural values as well as their personal rights to
recover one day their ancestral real and personal properties illegally
confiscated by Turkey. In a sense, they serve as unofficial Armenian
municipalities in exile.

One such organization is Sis Compatriotic and Cultural Society (USA)
that was founded in 1993 in Los Angeles to continue the mission of the
mother chapter in Lebanon that was established in the 1920’s. This
association is named after historic capital of Armenian Kingdom
of Cilicia (1080-1375) that later became an important city in the
short-lived Autonomous Armenian Cilicia also known as Integral Armenia
(1919-1921).

The organization is still going strong thanks to the undying dedication
of its members. Like many other Armenian compatriotic organizations,
Sis Compatriotic seems to be determined to overcome the challenges to
secure quality regeneration in order to keep the torch alit generation
after generation until the day comes when Sis, Cilicia – like many
other localities is freed from the yoke of illegal Turkish occupation.

That day may come “in 5, 50 or 500 years,” says (Zeytuntsi) Harut
Sassounian, Publisher of The California Courier, reminding us, but
what good is it if coming generations forget about their roots and
their ancestors’ Cause! What if one day historic opportunities come
and the lands are freed but there are no Armenians to claim them!

That’s exactly why Armenians must continue educating themselves and
their children about their Cause both on macro and micro levels.

It is with such a sense of urgency that Sis Compatriotic and Cultural
Society Board of Trustees has organized its biennial general meeting
this Sunday Sept. 29 in order to pave the way for the new generation
of Sisetsis.

A recent invitation letter by the organization states: “Our
organization can remain strong as long as together we maintain a
high level of national awareness; a sense of mission and mutual
empowerment. Similar to other Armenian compatriotic organizations,
Sis Compatriotic and Cultural Society propagates restorative justice
for all fellow compatriots. Each and every compatriot is entitled to
demand the return of his/her ancestral real and personal properties
to them as the rightful owners.”

By keeping its compatriotic unions strong the Diaspora can benefit
from its ancestral roots reinforcing the Armenian Cause on micro
level that can be crucial in empowering individual Armenians in their
collective quest for justice.

PHOTOGRAPHER ARA GULER’S EXHIBITION OPENS IN BRUSSELS

September 27, 2013 – 17:22 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Photographer Ara Guler’s exhibition, “Istanbul
in My Memoirs,” has opened in Brussels as part of the Turkey-EU
Intercultural Art Dialogues project, Hurriyet Daily News reported.

Curator Beste Gursu said Guler photographed stories that will
not be forgotten for generations. “Ara Guler depicts the colorful
life and socio-cultural aspects of this giant metropolis, which is
always observed carefully because of its cultural richness, artistic,
economic, and strategic importance – through his own perspective with
shots that offer an insight into history. What is often ignored in
photos taken by Ara Guler is the documentary-like and also surrealistic
manner of expression of the uncertainty that he is always in search
of,” Gursu said.

Ara Guler is a Turkish Armenian photojournalist, nicknamed “the Eye
of Istanbul” or “the Photographer of Istanbul”. He is considered one
of Turkey’s few internationally known photographers.

Guler was born in Istanbul on August 16, 1928, to ethnic Armenian
parents. He studied at the local Getronagan Armenian High School.

Owner of a pharmacy on Istiklal Avenue, his father had a wide circle
of friends from the art world of the period. Ara Guler’s early contact
with this world inspired him to embark on a career in cinema. During
his high school years, he jobbed in movie studios and attended
drama courses held by Muhsin Ertugrul, the founder of modern Turkish
theater. However, he abandoned cinema in favor of journalism, joining
the staff of the newspaper Yeni Istanbul as photojournalist in 1950
and studying Economics at the University of Istanbul at the same time.

Guler’s work is collected by international institutions, such as the
National Library of France in Paris; the George Eastman Museum in
Rochester, New York; University of Nebraska-Lincoln Sheldon Memorial
Art Gallery; Museum Ludwig Köln, and Das imaginäre Photo-Museum,
Köln.

Guler attaches the greatest importance to human presence in his
photographs and describes himself as a “visual historian”. He believes
that photography should provide a memory of people, of their lives
and especially their suffering. While he considers that art lies,
he believes that photography can only reflect reality.

IAN GILLAN: WHOLE SONG WAS ABOUT DEPARTING AND JON SPEAKING TO US FROM WHEREVER

September 27, 2013 | 01:22

YEREVAN. – Above and Beyond will be the third single from Deep Purple’s
brand new LP Now What?!, with the release of the single due on October
25. The song pays tribute to the band’s late keyboardist Jon Lord.

A month ahead, he has been honored in the Armenian city of Gyumri,
where he arrived to attend the opening ceremony of a completely rebuilt
music school. Schoolchildren will now take their piano classes in
Jon Lord room.

Lord was always there to help his bandmate Gillan with charity actions
for Armenia, including the 1989 rendition of Smoke on the Water as a
single. Later he contributed to the super group WhoCares, along with
Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi, lead guitarist of HIM Mikko Lindstrom,
ex-Metallica’s bassist Jason Newsted, and Iron Maiden’s drummer
Nicko McBrain (Iommi and McBrain are both old-timers with projects
for Armenia: Iommi contributed to the 1989 single, and McBrain played
at the final Rock Aid Armenia project, remake of Led Zeppelin’s Rock
and Roll in 1991).

In 2011, WhoCares recorded a single, Out of My Mind/Holy Water, for
Armenian relief. The proceeds were used to rebuild the music school
in Gyumri, the second-largest city in Armenia and one of the most
severely affected by the 1988 earthquake.

>From 1989 onwards, for a whole generation of Armenian rock fans,
Gillan has been the face of the charity efforts of rock musicians
for Armenia, including Rock Aid Armenia in 1989-91. But Gillan never
showcased his role with the project. At the opening ceremony in
Gyumri he once again told that he was “only a face of the project”
and acknowledged others for their input, including fellow musicians.

Seeing Jon Lord’s piano room was very special for Gillan. Jon’s
presence, he told, was “very tangible” at Now What?! sessions.

“Actually there’s no particular song that’s dedicated to him,
although one particular song, Above and Beyond, became pretty much
Jon’s property, because the lyrics are about parting,” he told the
Armenian News-NEWS.am correspondent.

“I did some notes about love going away or somebody going on a long
journey, but Jon died during the process of making a song, so I wrote
the lines: ‘Souls having touched are forever entwined.’ I mean somehow
that was Jon, and the whole song was about departing and Jon speaking
to us from wherever up above. His presence became very tangible at
that time,” Gillan said.

Speaking of the piano room at the school, he added: “Jon’s spirit is
here as well.”

FLORA MARTIROSYAN’S STAR “APPEARS” IN THE SKY

21:22, 27 September, 2013

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS: Star after famous singer Flora
Martirosyan was registered in the international catalogue of sky
figures during Music week in Yerevan on September 24. Armenpress
was informed from the organizers of Music week in Yerevan, that the
document of international standard for star renaming will be brought
to Armenia before the festival gala concert.

“Our beloved star will shine forever in infinite universe. Now a star
is singing. Here is the voice of unique Flora.”,- author is these
words dedicated to Flora Martirosyan is the organizer of the festival,
showman Emil Karat.

Flora Martirosyan died on November 22, 2012, at the age of 55, from
some arisen difficulties after the gallbladder surgery.

© 2009 ARMENPRESS.am

‘SOS SARGSYAN’S PRESENCE STRENGTHENED US’ – GUZH MANUKYAN

20:32 27.09.13

The Armenian cinema and theater have been bereaved of their patriarch,
the actor Guzh Manukyan said as he spoke of the decease of the renowned
Armenian actor Sos Sargsyan.

“The most difficult thing is to speak of a man in the past tense. And
it is doubly difficult in this case. Unfortunately, the ranks of our
great actors are thinning out. And Sos Sargsyan was an actor whose
talent can hardly be described in a few words. True, he has not been
creatively active in recent years, but his life and presence have
been strengthening us,” Manukyan said.

He regrets that he did not play with Sos Sargsyan on the same stage
or in cinema, but an episode in the film Nahapet is the most favorite
for the actor.

“All his roles were excellent. He was always sincere and devoted to
his roles,” Manukyan said.

The actor and scriptwriter David Hakobyan, who is working at the
Hamazgain Theater, which was headed by Sos Sargsyan, perceives Sos
Sargsyan as a strong worker of theater.

“In 1990s, when no one had either strength or willingness to set
theater back to its feet, he was able to unite people and accomplish
that task with their help,” Hakobyan said.

Asked if the Hamazgain Theater will struggle for Sos Sargsyan’s
dream to come true – getting a piece of land allocated for a new
building of the theater – Hakobyan said: “Unfortunately, even the
foundations were not laid during Sos Sargsyan’s lifetime. I hope the
authorities will take a sober view of the problem, and we, for our
part, must do our best for the theater to be built. The task is not
to build Sos Sargsyan’s theater, but the first theater in independent
Armenia. It will be evidence that the country has gained a secure
foothold and can afford to construct a theater rather than cafes or
entertainment centers. It is a problem of the state because it is
only a country confident in its future and wishing to see it that
can build a theater.”

Sos Sargsyan’s first role on the stage was in the play Medzabadiv
Muratsganner (Honorable Beggars) staged by Yervand Manaryan.

The great actor himself told about it some two months ago.

“His story was so beautiful. I am happy that he played his first role
in my play. His favorite role was Varpet Mkrtich in Egnar Aghbyur. He
wished to play that role once more,” Manaryan said.

He highly appreciates Sos Sargsyan great contribution to Armenian
art and his services to the Armenian nation.

Armenian News – Tert.am

MKRTICH MINASYAN: SOLUTIONS MUST BE FOUND TO GIVE SECOND LIFE TO OLD BUILDING OF ZVARTNOTS AIRPORT

16:03 27/09/2013 ” SOCIETY

Discussions are being held concerning the old (round) building of
Zvartnots airport and the responsiveness to public opinion in such
issues can become a precedent, chairman of the Union of Architects
of Armenia Mkrtich Minasyan told Panorama.am in an interview.

“An agreement may be reached with consideration of interests of all
sides. All solutions will be discussed in an attempt to give a second
life to the building,” Minasyan said.

The chairman of the Union of Architects noted that the building is
currently in a poor condition because it has not been used for a
long time.

“Concerns were raised at the recent architectural exhibitions in
Vienna and Istanbul about the condition of buildings of Soviet
modernism. There are buildings which are not listed among protected
monuments but need protection. Such buildings are symbols of the epoch
and if we lose them it will mean that we went by an entire epoch,”
said the architect.

Source: Panorama.am

BAKO SAHAKYAN WELCOMES BRITISH BARONESS’ JUBILEE VISIT TO KARABAKH

19:44 ~U 26.09.13

President of the Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) Republic Bako Sahakyan
received on Thursday a delegation head by Caroline Cox, a cross-bench
member of the British House of Lords, who is on her 80th visit to
the country.

Welcoming the guests, the president said that the baroness’ jubilee
visit to Karabakh is a fair manifestation of her sincere friendship
with the country.

According to a press release by the NKR Presidential Office, Sahakyan
honored Ms Cox with the Mesrop Mashtots order, praising her service
to Nagorno-Karabakh and its people.

He highly appreciated the baroness’ contribution to the country’s
development, and her efforts towards raising the NKR recognition issue
at different international tribunals. He expressed belief that the
baroness will continue her humanitarian mission with the same energy
as before.

The meeting was also attended by President of the NKR National
Assembly Ashot Ghoulyan, the writer and public and Zori Balayan,
and different government officials.