Author: Ara Felekian

Jack Torosian biography: 13 things about Armenian entrepreneur, artist from Glendale, California

Ara Felekian
 
CONAN Daily
June 15 2022
BY ABDEL JIBRI OMAR ON JUNE 15, 2022 
Jack Torosian is an Armenian-American entrepreneur, producer and artist from California, United States. Here are 13 more things about him:
  1. Born Akop Torosian in Erevan, Armenia, he immigrated to California as a teenager.
  2. Aside from Glendale, he has lived in other parts of California including Granada Hills, Porter Ranch and Canoga Park.
  3. His brother Robert Torosian is married to Marina Fermanyan.
  4. Professionally known as No Limit Boss, he owns the Papillon International Bakery in Glendale, California and No Limit Super Gym in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California and in Miami, Florida, USA.
  5. In April 2014, he was involved in a triple shooting at a body shop in North Hollywood.
  6. In 2015, his son Niko Torosian was born. In December 2015, he was convicted of possessing a deadly weapon with the intent to commit assault and sentenced him to three years of probation. 
  7. In 2018, his son Noah Torosian and his daughter Mila Torosian, who are twins, were born.
  8. In November 2020, he and other members of the Armenian community took to the streets of Los Angeles to protest the war between Azerbaijan and Armenia in Artsakh.
  9. He is Elda Madatyan‘s former husband. On November 25, 2020, she filed for divorce in Los Angeles.
  10. In March 2022, he released dance music singles titled “Dawning“, “Despair” and “Silhouette“.
  11. On June 11, 2022, he was caught on camera being agitated over a Mexican juice vendor setup outside his No Limit Super Gym in North Hollywood, saying to the people setting up Lety’s Aguas Frescas, “This is not a Mexican hangout”.
  12. On June 12, 2022, he was arrested at the Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles while he was trying to get on a plane to Miami. He was accused of threatening one of his employees with a weapon.
  13. He was 40 years old when he was arrested on June 12, 2022.
https://conandaily.com/2022/06/15/jack-torosian-biography-13-things-about-armenian-entrepreneur-artist-from-glendale-california/

Pashinyan “incriminates” Charles Michel and takes us for idiots

Ara Felekian
May 25 2022
Ara Tadevosyan
Director of Mediamax

I do not like writing an article “hot on the trail”, the topic should “boil” vaporizing the emotions as much as possible. But after what Nikol Pashinyan said in the National Assembly on May 25 I can not restrain myself.

On May 22 the meeting of the President of the European Council Charles Michel with the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and the Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan took place in Brussels after which Charles Michel came up with an extensive statement.

On May 25, answering the questions of the MPs in the National Assembly, Nikol Pashinyan outdid himself in indulging in wishful thinking.

He said that a very serious discussion took place in Brussels as a result of which the differences in the positions of Armenia and Azerbaijan have been registered:

“Azerbaijan considers the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolved, Armenia considers that it has not been resolved. In the possible context of the peace talks, Azerbaijan presented its five principles, and we presented our observations and the agenda and said that talks should be held on that basis. The principles we have proposed contain the security of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh, the rights and the clarification of the final status of Nagorno-Karabakh. As there was no agreement between the parties on the formulations as a result of the discussions, the president of the European Council decided to make a statement that would reflect as many elements as possible from the positions of both parties. How well it turned out, how accurate it is, is a matter of another discussion.”

That is, Nikol Pashinyan is trying to convince us that one of the leaders of the EU tried to collect a “puzzle” from the positions of Armenia and Azerbaijan, taking “a little” from each. In the past 4 years Nikol Pashinyan not once has proved his unique perception of diplomacy and international relations, but this time he outdid himself.

I’ll bring few quotes from Charles Mishel’s statement:

“They agreed on (emphasized by me-A.T.) the principles governing transit between western Azerbaijan and Nakhichevan, and between different parts of Armenia via Azerbaijan, as well as international transport through communications infrastructure of both countries. Notably they agreed on principles of border administration, security, land fees but also customs in the context of international transport.”

“They agreed on (emphasized by me-A.T.) principles of border administration, security, land fees but also customs in the context of international transport.”

“The leaders agreed to (emphasized by me-A.T.) advance discussions on the future peace treaty governing inter-state relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.”

At least in three points the President of the European Council clearly and unequivocally speaks about achieved agreements and makes no mention of disagreements in any point of his statement.

Let me make an effort and try to believe Pashinyan’s words. But what does it mean “How well it turned out, how accurate it is, is a matter of another discussion.”?

Any person with basic understanding of diplomacy, can state that such statements are being agreed on with the parties before being published. There can be no other way. The alternative is possible only in the case Pashinyan and members of his team did not want to get familiarized with the text of Michel’s statement in advance. If the head of the state says “how well it turned out, how accurate it is, is a matter of another discussion” about a document crucial for the future of Armenia and Artsakh, unfortunately, we can not rule out it either.

This article is not about whether Charles Michel’s statement is “good” or “bad”. It is about the fact that the state is being governed by a self-taught prime minister who thinks he can “incriminate” Charles Michel to save his own face and take us for idiots.

Ara Tadevosyan is Director of Mediamax.

https://mediamax.am/en/column/121316/

Sports: ATP-500։ Karen Khachanov reaches quarterfinals

Ara Felekian
NEWS.am
Armenia –

Karen Khachanov reached the quarterfinals of the ATP-500 tournament in Halle, Germany.

In the second round, Khachanov defeated Serb Laslo Đere 7-6 (7-4), 6-4. The match lasted one hour and 44 minutes.

Khachanov’s opponent in the quarterfinals will be the winner of the pair Nikoloz Basilashvili (Georgia) – Oscar Otte (Germany).

The tournament prize fund is 2.1 million euros.

Armenian FM presents latest developments over NK conflict settlement process to Bulgarian Parliament Speaker

Ara Felekian

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 11:15,

YEREVAN, JUNE 15, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan met on June 14 with Speaker of the National Assembly of Bulgaria Nikola Minchev on the sidelines of his official visit in Sofia, the Armenian MFA said.

The sides highly valued the bilateral relations that are based on historical commonalities and warm friendly ties between the two nations, highlighting the contacts at inter-parliamentary level for deepening and expanding those ties. They both emphasized the readiness to boost the ties between the Armenian and Bulgarian parliamentary friendship groups, as well as expand the partnership in international parliamentary platforms.

FM Mirzoyan introduced the Bulgarian Parliament Speaker on the ongoing reforms in Armenia aimed at developing democracy, protecting human rights and ensuring rule of law. The FM stated that the democratic reforms in Armenia are irreversible.

The sides exchanged ideas also about the opportunities for developing the economic cooperation. From the perspective of intensifying the human contacts and business ties, they highlighted the implementation of the program of direct flights between Yerevan and Sofia.

The development prospects of the Armenia-European Union ties were also discussed.

Mirzoyan briefed Nikola Minchev on the efforts made by the Armenian side to establish peace and stability in the South Caucasus, as well as the latest developments relating to the relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement process. The necessity of achieving a lasting and comprehensive settlement to the NK conflict through peaceful negotiations under the mandate of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship was emphasized.

Minister Mirzoyan also touched upon the current humanitarian situation caused by the 2020 war unleashed by Azerbaijan against Nagorno Karabakh, particularly the issues relating to the repatriation of Armenian prisoners of war and civilian captives, who are still illegally held in Azerbaijan, the preservation of the Armenian cultural and religious heritage in the territories under the Azerbaijani control and Azerbaijan’s deliberate actions to cause humanitarian problems in Artsakh.

Film: Aurora’s Sunrise: Armenian Genocide documentary to premiere at Annecy International Animated Film Festival in France

Ara Felekian
Public Radio of Armenia
Armenia –
, 13:05

Aurora’s Sunrise – a historical animated documentary film about the life of Aurora Mardiganian – will premiere in France this week.

At only 14, in 1915, Aurora faced the horrors of the Armenian Genocide. Within a year, witnessing the deaths of everyone in her family, Aurora had lost everything, and was sold into a Turkish harem. But with extraordinary courage and luck, she escaped to America, where her story became a sensation. The Zoryan Institute’s objective with this film is to bring to life the ZI’s Oral History Testimonies onto the big screen, through animated documentary films, to relay the stories of the Genocide survivors to the younger generations, especially of girls and to empower them, and to represent their communities in the face of great adversity and violence. 

In 2015, on 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the Zoryan Institute, signed a partnership agreement with Bars Media of Armenia to produce the animated documentary based on the testimony of A. Mardiganian. Aurora’s Sunrise was made possible with the academic contribution of the Zoryan Institute Armenia, based on its oral history archives (filmed by the Zoryan Institute on January 29, 1984). 

The film is directed by Inna Sahakyan. It is produced by Bars Media, led by Vardan Hovhannisyan, Gebrueder Beetz Filmproduktion & Artbox Laisvalaikio Klubas, with the financial partnership of Eurimages, the Zoryan Institute Armenia & the National Cinema Center of Armenia, and with the contributions of the Lithuanian Film Center, ZDF/ARTE, Public TV Armenia, and LRT. 

The Zoryan Institute is thrilled that 40 years after the launch of the Armenian Genocide Oral History Project, which collected testimonies of survivors of the 1915 Genocide across 4 continents, the great-grandchildren of those who experienced the genocide are experiencing life before, during, and after the genocide through a film that seamlessly blends a mix of footage from the Zoryan Institute’s original live interview with Aurora and the brilliant animation of Bars Media and their German and Lithuanian co-producers, along with scenes from the 1919 silent film “Auction of Souls” (film starring Aurora Mardiganian prepared by Near East Relief). 

“Great credit goes to the Zoryan Institute’s founders and staff at the time (early1980’s), who contextualized and carried out the Armenian Genocide Oral History Project, collecting over 3000 hours of oral history testimony from over 780 survivors in their 70s to 90s. The project was a significant financial undertaking, with the audiovisual equipment alone costing the equivalent to nearly half a million USD in today’s dollars employing a work force to conduct interviews, in cities across Europe, the Middle East, and North America,” the Institute says.

Over 100 standardized questionnaires were utilized, developed by a multidisciplinary ZI team of experts, that allowed the Institute to extract information on social, economic, political, and cultural practices before, during, and after the genocide to capture commonalities and patterns. Since launching its Armenian Genocide Oral History Project, the Institute has worked continuously and systematically to protect, digitize, and index its archival collection of over 780 oral history testimonies, to ensure the quality of the footage is maintained and usable for films like Aurora Sunrise.

The world premiere of Aurora’s Sunrise, is taking place at the prestigious Annecy International Animated Film Festival in France this week. Annecy is a week-long global festival that brings together the biggest names in animation to celebrate creative and diverse animation styles and techniques.

Now, 40 years later, the Institute’s dream of utilizing the enormous power of film to connect future generations with their universal history and raise awareness about the phenomenon of genocide has become a reality. With the generous support of the Friends of the Zoryan Institute, this dream has become a reality. In addition to initial cost of the Oral History testimonies, Aurora’s Sunrise film had a budget of over USD $1,000,000.00, and is only the beginning of these invaluable stories of Armenian Genocide survivors.

Ongoing transcription and translation efforts currently underway in partnership with the American University of Armenia, will make these stories more accessible to scholars, filmmakers, authors, institutions, and schools around the globe who wish to use these stories, as source materials for education in edifying the tolerance and understanding needed in today’s world, more than ever.

Armenpress: Armenia, France discuss cooperation in defense field

Ara Felekian

Armenia, France discuss cooperation in defense field

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 09:49,

YEREVAN, JUNE 14, ARMENPRESS. Armenia’s delegation led by Deputy Defense Minister Karen Brutyan is in Paris for participation to the Eurosatory international weaponry industry trade fair, the defense ministry said in a news release.

On June 13 Karen Brutyan met with French Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu, discussing a number of issues relating to the cooperation of Armenia and France in the field of defense.

PM Pashinyan touches upon consequences of war in Ukraine on Armenia’s economy

Ara Felekian

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 10:15,

YEREVAN, JUNE 14, ARMENPRESS. Armenia, like all the countries around the world, is very concerned about the situation around Ukraine, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said in an interview to Al Jazeera.

“What we see now? We see actually the collapse of the international order, and no one knows what will be the next international order. And of course, we are in favor of solving all issues through dialogue and peacefully”, he said.

When asked to comment on what impact the war in Ukraine could have on the Armenian economy, the PM noted: “Of course, it isn’t a pleasant situation in terms of economy for us. But to be honest, we had a 8.6% economic growth in the first quarter and we hope that we will be able to continue that dynamics. After the events in Ukraine many people and many businesses transferred from Russia to Armenia because we have mutual economic space and both Armenia and Russia are members of the Eurasian Economic Union”.

Pashinyan stated that not only the economic situation in Russia directly impacts the Armenian economy, but also the global economic tension connected with food supplies, inflation, etc. “But now the numbers of the economy of Armenia are quite positive”, he added.

Nikol Pashinyan said Armenia is trying to be direct, honest and reliable partner for Russia, for the European and Western partners, and for neighbors. “It isn’t easy task, but I think, the leadership is stipulated for situations like we have now. And it is our duty to manage this situation and keep the proper relations with our partners and not to betray anyone”, the PM stated.

Music: Serj Tankian Calls for Armenian Unity in Powerfully Moving ‘Amber’ Duet

Ara Felekian
June 6 2022

Chad ChildersPublished: June 6, 2022

A song doesn’t always need to be heavy to be “heavy.” And System of a Down frontman Serj Tankian has just delivered an Armenian-language, piano-backed duet with acclaimed Armenian vocalist Sevak Amroyan that hits with an emotional impact as hard hitting as some of his heaviest music. The new song is titled “Amber” and serves as a nod to the divide going on in Armenia that Tankian witnessed in recent years.

The singer explains, “’Amber’ was written in 2017 after I visited Armenia along with my friends Atom & Arsinee Egoyan and Eric Nazarian as members of the coalition ‘Justice For Armenia’ to serve as election monitors for the Parliamentary elections. I was so distraught by the slick theft of the elections before ever reaching the ballot box that I wrote this song as a response.”

He adds, “The lyrics however seem to be more poignant today when Armenians are divided politically and socially following the devastating attack on Nagorno-Karabagh and Armenia by Azerbaijan and Turkey in 2020 and the continuous fallout over negotiations with those two dictatorial regimes. ‘Amber’s’ message is that of unity and harmony. Those are the only truly powerful weapons of the Armenian nation.”

The English translation of the lyrics can be read below, though you can also grasp plenty from the the Hrag Yedalia-directed music video featuring Tankian, Amroyan and a young boy with a sketchpad with drawings representing some of the lyrics within the song.

As the track hits its peak moments, the boys starts to crumble up the pages, tossing them to the ground, with the video bringing it all together at the end with the pages forming a map of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabagh (known in Armenia and the diaspora as Artsakh).

Of his duet partner, Tankian states, “Sevak’s voice has a unique strength harking back to our people’s native lands. I loved listening to his songs like ‘Yarkhushta’ so when we met I was excited to work on something with him.”

Amroyan adds, “NaturalIy, I have listened to Serj Tankian’s music since childhood and always with a sense of pride. After getting acquainted with him, I realized that in addition to being an iconic musician he’s also a very proud Armenian. I am happy about our collaboration and thankful to Serj that we’re singing ‘Amber’ together. It’s a great honor for me.”

The song will officially be released this Wednesday (June 8) and you can pre-save it here, but for now check out the video and lyrics below.

Tissue covered mountains
We miss you
We miss you
Our stabbed and wounded land
We miss you
We miss you
Agreements can be altered
We are capable
We are capable
Lost piano under my hand
We carry guns
We carry guns

Harmony
We miss you

Agreements can be altered
We are capable
We are capable
Our stabbed and wounded land
We miss you
We miss you

Harmony
We miss you
Harmony
We miss you

I’m looking for your faces from the sky
But I do not see through the clouds

Clouds
Clouds
Clouds
I seek your mountains from the sky
I seek your rivers from the sky
I’m looking for your faces from the sky
I seek your mountains from the sky
I seek your rivers from the sky
I seek from the sky

I seek your mountains from the sky
I am looking for your faces from the sky

Tissue covered mountains
We miss you
We miss you
Agreements can be altered
We are capable
We are capable

Watch the video at https://loudwire.com/serj-tankian-sevak-amroyan-amber-duet-lyrics-video/
READ ALSO
SERJ TANKIAN Releases New Single “Amber” Sung Entirely In Armenian (metalinjection.net)
https://metalinjection.net/video/serj-tankian-releases-new-single-amber-sung-entirely-in-armenian
System Of A Down’s Serj Tankian shares Armenian protest song ‘Amber’ (nme.com)
https://www.nme.com/news/music/system-of-a-downs-serj-tankian-shares-armenian-protest-song-amber-3240901

Turkish press: Baykar CTO Bayraktar flies over Baku in Azerbaijani MiG-29 during Teknofest

Ara Felekian
 BAKU MAY 25, 2022 – 5:34 PM GMT+3

Selçuk Bayraktar, the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) flew the Mikoyan MiG-29, a Russian-made warplane belonging to the Azerbaijan Air Force to Baku to attend the Teknofest, Azerbaijan, May 25, 2022. (AA Photo)

Selçuk Bayraktar, the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of the Turkish drone magnate Baykar, flew over Baku during the Teknofest Azerbaijan – the first foreign edition of the leading Turkish aviation, space and technology festival – in a Mikoyan MiG-29 belonging to the Azerbaijani Air Force.

Bayraktar’s MiG-29 flight has been carried in the accompaniment of the Turkish combat drone Akıncı, developed nationally and originally by Baykar.

Selçuk Bayraktar performed the flight with the deputy commander of the Azerbaijani Air Combat Forces, Air Pilot Col. Zaur Rustamov.

Both holding special pilot licenses, Bayraktar and Col. Rustamov received a briefing from the first pilot of the Turkish aerobatics team SoloTürk, Air Pilot Col. Murat Keleş, before taking off from the Haydar Aliyev International Airport in Baku. They later switched to the Russian-made twin-seated MiG-29.

Air Pilot Col. Zaur Rustamov and Selçuk Bayraktar pose for a souvenir photo with the Azerbaijan Air Force personnel at the airbase, Teknofest, Azerbaijan, May 25, 2022. (AA Photo)

The formation flight of MiG-29 and Akıncı over Baku was watched with excitement from the city. Bayraktar commanded the MiG-29 during maneuvers and part of the formation flight.

Akıncı will also perform a show flight at Teknofest Azerbaijan.

The flight of Col. Rustamov, who received the Karabakh Medal for his duties in the 2020 war, and Bayraktar, who was awarded the Karabakh Order from the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev for his contribution to end the 30-year occupation, took about one hour. After the flight, Bayraktar and Rustamov posed for a souvenir photo with the Azerbaijani Air Force personnel at the airbase.

Artsakh parliament delegation meets with Ambassador of Armenia to Lebanon

Ara Felekian
NEWS.am
Armenia – May 26 2022
12:15, 26.05.2022

The delegation, headed by the Chairman of the National Assembly Artur Tovmasyan, met in Beirut with the Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia Vahagn Atabekyan and the diplomatic corps of the embassy.

According to the press service of the National Assembly of Artsakh, during a warm and friendly conversation, topical issues of concern to the Armenians, as well as prospects for Armenia-Artsakh-Diaspora cooperation were discussed.