Author: Adrine Hakobian

Former UN Secretary-General Javier Pérez de Cuéllar dies

Adrine Hakobian

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 09:49, 5 March, 2020

YEREVAN, MARCH 5, ARMENPRESS. Former Secretary-General of the United Nations Javier Pérez de Cuéllar has died in Peru at the age of 101, the United Nations said in a statement.

“He was an accomplished statesman, a committed diplomat and a personal inspiration who left a profound impact on the United Nations and our world. Mr. Pérez de Cuéllar’s life spanned not only a century but also the entire history of the United Nations, dating back to his participation in the first meeting of the General Assembly in 1946”, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement, offering condolences.

Reuters reports Perez de Cuellar served as head of the international body from 1982 to 1991. During his time in office, he played a crucial role in securing the release of American hostages held in Lebanon as well as peace accords in Cambodia and El Salvador.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




Armenian church delegation to meet with Pope Francis

Adrine Hakobian
Public Radio of Armenia
Feb 17 2020

 

A delegation of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin has left for the Vatican with the blessing of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.

The delegation will participate in the meeting of young clergymen from the Eastern Orthodox and Catjolicos Churches.

During the one-week visit, the delegation will visit the Catholic educational and training centers, the Apostolic Palace, and will have an official meeting with Pope Francis.

Pontifical Delegate of Western Europe and the official representative of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin in Vatican, Archbishop Khazhak Parsamian and high-ranking Catholic and Armenian Catholic clergymen will host a reception for the participants of the gathering. .

The Netherlands completes ratification of Armenia-EU Agreement

Adrine Hakobian
Public Radio of Armenia
Feb 14 2020


On 12 February 2020, the Netherlands notified the General Secretariat of the European Council and the Council of the EU about the completion of its internal procedures necessary for the ratification of the Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement.

Twenty-one EU member states – Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Poland, Luxembourg, Denmark, Malta, Romania, United Kingdom, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Germany, Ireland, Croatia, Sweden, Slovenia and the Netherlands – have now informed the European Council and the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union of the completion of the internal procedures necessary for the ratification of the Agreement.

Belgium and France have also completed domestic procedures necessary for the ratification of the Agreement, but are yet to inform the EU Secretariat.

Armenian FM, OSCE chief discuss Karabakh peace

Adrine Hakobian
Panorama, Armenia
Feb 15 2020

On the margins of the Munich Security Conference, Foreign Minister of Armenia Zohrab Mnatsakanyan met on Friday with OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger, the Foreign Ministry’s press service reported.

The FM noted that Armenia attaches great importance to strengthening and expanding effective partnership established with the OSCE executive structures through new targeted programs and initiatives. In this regard, the sides discussed collaboration in the framework of the OSCE’s Armenian Co-operation Program and ways to enhance its efficiency.

Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Thomas Greminger touched upon the process of the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) conflict and the recent meetings held within its framework

The Armenian foreign policy chief stressed the importance of direct engagement of Artsakh authorities in the peace process, especially on the issues related to the security and status of Artsakh.

The two officials highlighted the consistent steps aimed at strengthening the environment conducive to peace and preparing the peoples for peace, as well as the importance of OSCE’s role in that process. 

Eurovision: Entries of “Toward Eurovision” song contest released

Adrine Hakobian
Panorama, Armenia
Feb 5 2020

Public TV Company of Armenia has released the entries of the “Toward Eurovision” contest, the national selection for the Eurovision 2020. The songs are available at the Public TV YouTube channel .
 
As reported earlier, 12 best acts were picked to compete during the national final, where the winner will get a chance to sing for Armenia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2020.
 
The list includes Athena Manoukian, TOKIONINE, ERNA, Miriam Baghdasaryan, Agop, Karina EVN, Vladimir Arzumanyan, Hayk Music, Arthur Aleq, Gabriel Jeeg, EVA Rida, Sergey & Nikolay Arutyunov.
The competing songs will be published next week on “Toward Eurovision” official YouTube channel. It is noted that the national contest will take place on February 15 at 19:00 CET live on Channel One and www.1tv.am.

Macron says France should be next to Armenia

Adrine Hakobian
News.am, Armenia
Jan 30 2020

14:39, 30.01.2020
                  

The task of France is to be next to Armenia, the French President Emmanuel Macron said at the event organized by the Coordination Council of Armenian Organizations of France (CCAF) on Wednesday.

According to Nouvelles dArmenie, speaking about Artsakh issue, Macron noted that France is committed to its role of mediator, and no one is interested in maintaining the status quo. Having explained that he had talked with both Azerbaijan president Ilham Aliyev and Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan, he assured that everything could advance in the spring. Finally, he touched on the painful topic of creating an atmosphere of friendship.

As he noted, he wants to be clear and honest and wants to identify more effective ways. It is necessary to find the legal framework for humanitarian and cultural support of the population, Macron said.

France’s task is to be close to Armenia, Macron said, adding that France will continue investing in New Armenia.

Armenia NGO president: Health minister casts his secret decision on provincial governors

Adrine Hakobian
News.am, Armenia
Jan 27 2020

13:29, 27.01.2020

YEREVAN. – The Minister of Health of the Republic of Armenia (RA), Arsen Torosyan, casts his secret decision to close maternity hospitals on the provincial governors. Nune Avanesyan, President of “Paratselsus” NGO, said this at a press conference today.

“RA Health Minister Arsen Torosyan responded with a letter to [opposition] PAP MP Arman Abovyan, and said that the process of closing maternity hospitals by the RA Ministry of Health cannot be carried out, as the founders of the provincial medical institutions are the provincial governors’ offices,” she said. “That is to say, Mr. Torosyan openly declares that the closure process does not apply to him, it applies to the provincial governors’ offices and community leaders. In that case, I want to understand with what principle Mr. Torosyan is announcing that they will be shut down, and I want to understand how the provincial governors will respond to this answer. It is also said that the expenses of these medical centers should be borne by the provincial governors’ offices, as they are the founders. Now I want you to concentrate, dear Mr. Torosyan: Who will solve this issue? The provincial governors’ offices or the Ministry of Health?”

According to the president of the NGO, if the provincial governors’ offices are going to solve this issue, she thinks that the provincial governors will be more competent and concerned for their residents, and they will do their best so that these medical centers continue to work.

Book: Hear story of ceramicist David Ohannessian

Adrine Hakobian
Enterprise
Jan 25 2020
 
 
Hear story of ceramicist David Ohannessian
 
The community is invited to hear the story of David Ohannessian, the renowned ceramicist who founded the art of Armenian pottery in Jerusalem, from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 30, at the International House Davis Community Room, 10 College Park. Ohannessian’s work and that of his followers are celebrated throughout Jerusalem.
 
Sato Moughalian, Ohannessian’s granddaughter, weaves together family memoir, art history and biography in this lecture, based on her book “Feast of Ashes: The Life and Art of David Ohannessian.”
 
The book was longlisted by the PEN America Literary Awards for the 2020 PEN/Jacqueline Bograd Weld Award for Biography. Copies will be available for sale.
 
This free event is sponsored by UC Davis Human Rights and the art history and Jewish studies departments.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Asbarez: Dilijan Chamber Music Series to Present ‘Transcendence’

Adrine Hakobian

“Transcendence,” the Dilijan Chamber Music Series’ 4th concert of the 15th season will be held on Jan. 26

The critically acclaimed Dilijan Chamber Music Series presents its “Transcendence” program at Zipper Hall. The fourth concert in the Series’ 15th Anniversary Season will be held on Sunday, January 26 at 200 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012.

Choral works by Komitas, the founder of the Armenian classical music tradition (selections from the Divine Liturgy), J.S. Bach’s timeless motet Jesu Meine Freude, as well as David Haladjian’s Domine Deus will be presented by the University of California, Los Angeles’ Seraphic Fire Young Singers under the direction of James Bass, in a Dilijan Series debut. Concluding the program is Beethoven’s masterwork of chamber music, his magnificent String Quartet Op. 135, written in the last few months of his life. The distinguished performers are violist Paul Coletti (Colburn faculty), cellist Peter Stumpf (former Principal, LA Phil), and violinists Varty Manouelian (LA Philharmonic) and Movses Pogossian (Artistic Director of the Dilijan Series).

The winner of the inaugural Tigran Mansurian Music Composition Competition will be revealed at the concert. The newly established Competition’s mission is to encourage the creation of chamber music that demonstrates a tangible connection to Armenian art, culture, and/or history, and is generously underwritten by Elizabeth and Justus Schlichting. In addition to a cash prize, the winning composition will receive a public performance by members of the Armenian Music Program at UCLA and a professional-level recording.

The 15th Anniversary Season of the Dilijan Series presents an exciting mix of old and new, known and unknown. Beloved masterpieces by Beethoven, Brahms, Schubert, and Haydn will be performed alongside works by Komitas, Arutiunian, Mansurian, Sharafyan, and other Armenian composers. In addition to some of Dilijan favorite returning artists such as singers Tony Arnold and Shoushik Barsoumian, pianist Steven Vanhauwaert, violist Paul Coletti, cellists Antonio Lysy, Clive Greensmith and Peter Stumpf, the Series will be welcoming several musicians in their Dilijan debut: LA Phil oboist Anne Gabriele, remarkable pianist and Artistic Director of the Yellow Barn Festival Seth Knopp, Canadian violinist/violist Scott St. John, clarinetist Yasmina Spiegelberg (Switzerland), cellist Yoshika Masuda (Japan), among others. The three Dilijan commissions of the season are works by Martin Ulikhanyan (homage to Tigran Mansurian’s film music), Dan Sedgwick, and a short film by Alik Barsoumian, which will be premiered alongside a live performance of the Prelude from Wagner’s Tristan and Isolde opera.

Established in 2005 by members of the Lark Musical Society (Vatsche Barsoumian, Founder/Director), the Dilijan Chamber Music Series is dedicated to showcasing traditional masterworks of Western classical chamber music, as well as pearls from the treasury of Armenian music. A strong believer in new music, the Series has commissioned and premiered 54 works since its inception. For more information and ticketing, please visit the website. There is ample paid parking available in the nearby garages, including Disney Hall across the street from the Colburn School. Enjoy visiting the Dilijan YouTube channel for a large selection of performances from the previous seasons.

To learn more, follow the Dilijan Chamber Music Series on Instagram and Facebook pages

Kiro Manoyan: Erdogan`s behavior can inspire Aliyev to take inadequate steps

Adrine Hakobian
Arminfo, Armenia
Oct 15 2019

ArmInfo.Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s behavior in Syria may inspire his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev to take inadequate steps. This was stated by  the head of the central office of “Hay Dat” and on political issues  of the ARF, Kiro Manoyan at a press conference on October 15,  speaking about the military aggression of Turkey against Syria.

Manoyan assessed the situation in Syria from the perspective of a  possible aggravation of the Karabakh conflict. According to him, the  process of its settlement was actually stopped even before the April  war of 2016. “This is not about negotiations, but about the  settlement of the conflict,” he stressed. Manoyan noted that after  the April war the negotiation process was frozen, and then, in  connection with the change of power in Armenia, the heads of the two  countries took some time to get to know each other.  “But today,  taking into account the recent statements by Ilham Aliyev and the  response of the Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, I think we  should not expect progress in resolving the Karabakh issue,” he said.

To recall, at the CIS summit in Ashgabat, Ilham Aliyev called the  national hero of Armenia Garegin Nzhdeh an accomplice of the Nazis,  who “heroized the former Armenian government.” For his part, Nikol  Pashinyan emphasized that Nzhdeh fought against the Turkish  occupation, and called not to distort historical facts, but to give  them an objective assessment.

“There is always a chance for an aggravation of the situation, but  the current situation in Syria, to some extent, I guess to have  reduced this probability. I think that political forces will be very  careful not to have a few hot spots in our region. But Erdogan’s  behavior in Syria can inspire his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham  Aliyev to inadequate steps, and we must always be ready for any  reality, including military action. It is not excluded that months  later similar events will be provoked, but  with participation  of  the other players.  “Manoyan said.