Author: Andres-Papazian

Orhan Pamuk and Dog Son of Dog: Voices From the Other Side of the Border

11 September, 2010

A new American novel draws powerful parallels with Pamuk’s Snow

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 10 /PRNewswire/ — In a forthcoming novel of ideas
mirroring the breakneck paradigm shifts of the 21st century, Los
Angeles writer Armen Melikian engages in a direct conversation with
Turkish author Orhan Pamuk’s Snow. Melikian’s novel, titled Journey to
Virginland, tackles a broad array of philosophical, religious,
political, sexual, and gender issues discussed by Pamuk, and in a
sense continues Snow’s narrative on the other side of the border from
Kars. Melikian’s antihero, a modern day Diogenes called Dog,
substantially widens the scope of the investigation which Pamuk’s
protagonist, Ka, has undertaken to expose a reactionary cultural
milieu that has spawned an epidemic of suicides by young women.

Melikian is a prodigious new voice in American literature. Commenting
on his debut novel, Paul McCarthy, a professor of literature at Ulster
University and a New York Times bestselling author, writes, “I am
struck by the extraordinary writing, vision, and, perhaps rarest of
all, originality of Journey to Virginland. In the best sense, I’m
reminded of George Orwell’s classics, and other authors of similar
stature, though there is no true parallel possible with a novel as
unique in concept and execution as Journey to Virginland.”

Pamuk’s story takes place mostly in Turkey’s Kars region; Melikian’s
novel unfolds in neighboring Armenia. Both societies have for
centuries shared Ottoman rule. Both Melikian and Pamuk have been at
turns acclaimed and ostracized in their homelands. Melikian lived in
Armenia for three years before being exiled as a result of his
devilishly iconoclastic writings.

Yet Armenia is but a point of departure in Melikian’s far-reaching
critical compass. Soon enough, the reader is given a box seat before
the seismic shifts of our times, the pivotal cultural and spiritual
failures of a world held hostage to hypercapitalism, post-9/11
realpolitik, and an ominous resurgence of nationalism and religious
extremism.

Journey to Virginland stands apart by the exhilarating paths of change
which it proposes. Its dazzling scope, sheer storytelling prowess, and
expansion of the novelistic endeavor as an artistic medium per se,
establish this novel as a rare literary enterprise.

For more information about Orhan Pamuk’s unexpectedly appearing and
archetypal “double,” whom Pamuk once searched for in Istanbul, or to
get your copy of Journey to Virginland, visit

SOURCE Armen Melikian

From: A. Papazian

Armenian Diaspora Minister receives Matsou Igityan

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Diaspora Minister Hranush
Hakobyan met with Chairman of `Karot’ Culture Development Fund Matsou
Igityan. Press service of the Ministry told Armenpress that during the
conversation the Minister attached importance to organization of
events of all-Armenian significance, noting that they afford an
opportunity of working jointly and presenting Armenian culture to the
world.

She welcomed the step of the fund, that on September 2, on the day of
Artsakh independence, `Karot’ all-Armenian third festival was
conducted in Armenia and in the NKR, the goal of which was
preservation and strengthening of the Armenian language and culture
among the Armenians spread all over the world. Matsou Igityan in his
turn mentioned that the festival has called on all the Armenians to
say no to violence, to racial and religious discrimination. The
festival, of course, also aims to present to foreigners and make them
acquainted with Armenian culture and art. Mr. Igityan proposed to the
Armenian Diaspora Ministry to become a participant and organizer of
the upcoming festivals, and received Minister’s approval.

From: A. Papazian

RA Diaspora Minister Receives Director and Actors of Armenian Theatre of Moscow

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS: RA Diaspora Minister Hranush
Hakobyan received today Slava Stepanyan, director of the Armenian
Theatre of Moscow, Zita Badalyan, and Kazbek Stepanyan – actors of the
theatre – who arrived in Armenia on tour within the framework of the
`One Naiton, One Culture’ and `Karot’ festivals.

An official from the press and PR office of RA Diaspora Ministry told
Armenpress that Mrs. Hranush Hakobyan greeted the guests and mentioned
that the Armenian spectator accepted their performances very well.

The Diaspora Minister awarded Zita Badalyan with the William Saroyan
Order of the Ministry for great investment in the strengthening of the
Armenian-Russian relations, development of the Armenia-Diaspora
relations and promotion to spreading the Armenian culture in the
Diaspora.

The Director of the Armenian Theatre of Moscow expressed gratitude to
the Diaspora Ministry for the warm reception and support and mentioned
that the award is obliging. He said they will stage plays, which will
be more interesting and directed to the preservation of the Armenian
nation.

From: A. Papazian

`Day of Painting’ Competition in Yerevan

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS: The `Foundation for the
Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets’ (FPWC) will hold October
24 the «Day of Painting’ competition.

Satenik Sargsyan, coordinator of the competition, said in an interview
with Armenpress that this year the competition will have pan-Armenian
significance. According to her, thousands of children from Armenia and
the Diaspora will have an opportunity to present their paintings on
nature-preserving.

`This event is directed to the sowing, development and strengthening
of seeds of nature-preserving into the consciousness of children,’
Satenik Sargsyan said. She added that the `Day of painting’ is aimed
at attract the attention of the society in environmental issues and to
integrate the youth into those activities.

`The fact, that the ceremony is open air, will give an opportunity to
attract more people in this beautiful festivity. The experience of the
last two years shows that the «Day of Painting’ becomes an original
display of children’s attitude towards nature,’ Satenik Sargsyan
stressed. She added that the competition will be held on the following
topics – `Nature of My Homeland’, `Zoo of My Dreams’ and `SOS’.

Every participant may present no more than two painting. Tables will
be placed in the English Garden of Yerevan; the participants will
paint on them the paintings, they had been presented beforehand.The
paintings of the participants from the Armenian centers of the
Diaspora will be presented via email and exhibited at a separate
exposition. The `Day of Painting’ will include a competition for
adults as well.

From: A. Papazian

Sardarapat Museum had 8640 visitors in summer

YEREVAN, SEPETMBER 11, ARMENPRESS: During summer months Sardarapat
Museum has had 8640 visitors against the 5861 of the same period of
2009. Karen Aristakesyan, director of Sardarapat memorial complex,
director of Sardarapat National Museum of Armenian Ethnography and
Liberation Movement History, told Armenpress that 286 excursions have
been conducted June-August in the museum in Armenian, Russian, German
and French languages.

`The growth of the number of visitors is conditioned by new
exhibitions, which attract especially tourists,’ Mr. Kirakosyan said,
adding that this year for the first time visits have been registered
from Hungary, Slovakia, Estonia, Turkmenistan and Czechia. The
tourists visiting the museum are both Diaspora-Armenians and
foreigners.

From: A. Papazian

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La Crescenta, CA.- Mr. Harut Sassounian, publisher of California Courier
Newspaper, will be the honorary guest speaker on ” Aktamar Holy Cross Church
Divine Liturgy, Church Service or Political Show” lecture & discussion at
Armenian Apostolic Church of Crescenta Valley on September 19, 2010 at 1pm.
A prominent public figure, analyst and a commentator, Mr. Harut
Sassounian,who is well known in the Armenian world community for his long
years of public service and involvement, has on many occasions commented on
issues involving restoration and the upcoming liturgy at this medieval
Armenian church.
Questions have been raised about the prudence of attending the Sept. 19
church services in Akhtamar to which the Turkish government has invited
Armenians from around the world, members of the international media and
foreign Ambassadors and dignitaries.
In his two articles:” Why Would Armenians Go to Akhtamar, and become Tools
of Turkish Propaganda?” and “Exploiting Akhtamar Church Again”,which were
published in Armenian Weekly and appeared in numerous websites
worldwide, Mr. Sassounian has urged all Armenians to boycott this new
propaganda ploy unless Turkish officials officially designate Holy Cross as
a church, not museum, opening it for year-round worship services, rather
than for one day only. He also has urged placing the church under the
jurisdiction of the Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey, not Ministry of
Tourism, and allowing Divine Liturgy to be celebrated regularly, after Holy
Cross is properly consecrated in accordance with Armenian religious rites.
Mass will be celebrated at the 10’th-century church of Surp Khach (Holy
Cross) for the first time in nearly a century on September 19, three years
after the church was renovated by the government of Turkey and converted to
a museum by allowing Turkey’s Armenian Christian community to hold religious
services there once a year.
Many argue that the restoration of the Akhtamar church was a political act,
done for political reasons. Critics argue that the restoration was the
result of political imperative rather than archaeological necessities. It
may have been paid by Turkey, but it was largely instigated by pro-Turkish
elements within the EU and elsewhere who wanted Turkey to make a highly
visible gesture that would show to its critics that all is well within
Turkey regarding its treatment of cultures.
Built between 915 and 921 A.D., the Akhtamar church is one of the few
surviving examples of the ancient Armenian civilization in what is now
eastern Turkey. Thousands of Armenian churches built there since the early
middle Ages were destroyed, ransacked or turned into mosques during and
after the 1915 Genocide of more than 1.5 million Armenians in the Ottoman
Empire.
Mr. Sassounian is the president of the United Armenian Fund and Senior Vice
President of Kirk Kerkorian’s Lincy Foundation. He was a human rights
delegate at the United Nations for 10 years and has played a leading role in
recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the U.N. in 1985. From 1978 to1982,
Mr. Sassounian worked as an international marketing executive for Procter &
Gamble in Geneva, Switzerland. He has a Master’s degree in International
Affairs from Columbia University and an MBA from Pepperdine University. He
is author of ” The Armenian Genocide: The World Speaks Out, Documents and
Declarations, 1915-2005,” published in English and Arabic. Mr. Sassounian
has been decorated by the President and Prime minister of the Republic of
Armenia, the heads of the Armenian Apostolic and Catholic churches and the
recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
The lecture & discussion will take place on Sunday, September 19, 2010, at
1:00 pm, following
the church services at Western Prelacy Hall, located at 6252 Honolulu Ave.,
in La Crescenta, California. General public is invited and welcomed to
attend this invaluable lecture. Admission and parking is free. Refreshments
will be served.

From: A. Papazian

Grand Candy broke Guinness World Record for largest chocolate bar

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS: Armenian `Grand Candy’ company has
set a world record in the nomination of `World’s Largest Chocolate
Bar’, which has been registered in the Guinness Book of Records. The
chocolate bar weighted 4 tones and 410 kg and was made in 4 days. The
previous record was set in Italy; the Armenian chocolate bar exceeds
the latter by 830 kg.

The bitter chocolate bar was manufactured in accordance to traditional
technology, using Ghana-imported cocoa beans. The chocolate bar was
presented today to the public. Legal representative of the Guinness
Book of World Records Elizabeth Smith handed to owner of `Grand Candy’
company’ Karen Vardanyan a certificate for the record. `This is the
first industrial record in Armenia; it is dedicated to the 10th
anniversary of establishment of `Grand Candy’, which we will mark
October 16,’ Mr. Vardanyan said, adding that day, during celebration
in the Republican Square, the whole society will have the opportunity
of tasting the chocolate bar. Mrs. Smith was deeply impressed by the
chocolate bar.

`I like chocolate very much. That is why it is a double pleasure for
me to register this in the Guinness Book of Records. The working staff
of the Guinness Records has claimed that I take several bars of
chocolate for tasting. I have already managed to taste and I liked it
very much,’ she said.

From: A. Papazian

NKR President signed a decree on awarding

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS: On September 11, President of the
Artsakh Republic Bako Sahakyan signed a decree on awarding.

NKR presidential press service told Armenpress that for courage shown
in the defense of combat positions and proper realization of tasks set
by the command staff and service duties David Yeghiazaryan, subunit
commander, private of the Artsakh Republic Defense Army and Yuri
Hovasapyan, subunit commander, lieutenant of the Artsakh Republic
Defense Army were awarded with the Medal `For Courage’.

From: A. Papazian

United Body of Los Angeles to Continue Commemoration Ceremonies on
95th Anniversary of Armenian Genocide All Year Round

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS: The United Body, comprised of
representatives of the main organizations of the Armenian community to
Los Angeles, will go on organizing commemoration ceremonies on the
95th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide all year round.

An official from the United Body informed Armenpress that a number of
scientific conferences and workshops, dedicated to the Genocide, will
be held, propaganda materials on the Genocide will be prepared and
commemoration ceremonies on the 95th anniversary of the Genocide will
be organized all year round.

The United Body intends to organize ceremonies, which will have
pan-Armenian significance and will be directed to the Armenian
interests. The United Body has created an ad-hoc body to organize its
works properly. The United Body is going to mark October the 90th
anniversary of Sevres Treaty with a public ceremony and seminar.

From: A. Papazian

`Product 2010′ 4th national award-giving ceremony in Yerevan

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 10, ARMENPRESS: The ceremony of handing `Product
2010′ 4th national award was held yesterday in the reception hall of
the Armenian government. The award was handed in nominations of food
and products of everyday use. `Product 2010′ was conducted under the
motto of `People’s Choice is the Only and the Best Assessment’.

Chairman of the Armenian Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen Arsen
Ghazaryan expressed gratitude to all the companies for participation,
expressing hope that in the upcoming years the number of the
participants will grow and the presented products will make even a
larger number. `Actually the awards are of conditional nature, as all
the companies deserve them,’ he added. Sixteen companies had submitted
applications for participation, presenting 100 products. Political
figures, representatives of big Armenian and foreign companies, of
state governing bodies and artists were invited.

From: A. Papazian