Author: Babajanian Karo

ARMENIAN AND RWANDAN GENOCIDES SHARE CENTRE STAGE

Montral Gazette

March 21 2012
Canada

Playwright Rahul Varma’s decision to juxtapose the Armenian massacre,
which occurred during the First World War, and the Rwandan genocide
of 1994 in his new play, State of Denial, makes for a doubly sobering
evening of educational drama.

Most of us aren’t well-informed about what happened to more than 1
million Armenians within the Ottoman Empire while the rest of the
world (and its media) was preoccupied with the Great War. Although
many films have been made about the genocide, including Atom Egoyan’s
2002 movie Ararat, this is the first play I have seen on the subject.

(A quick Internet search turned up Joyce Van Dyke’s Deported /a dream
play, now playing in Boston.)

The current Turkish government remains in a state of official denial
about the massacre, which Hitler once boasted no one would remember.

In contrast, news of the Rwandan genocide spread quickly around
the world once the killing began, along with horrifying images on
television screens.

In order to bring both tragedies into his story, Varma shows a young
Rwandan-born Canadian documentary filmmaker named Odette (played by
Helen Koya) pursuing the life story of a Muslim woman named Sahana
(Rachelle Glait). Sahana has devoted her life to helping female
Armenian massacre survivors in Turkey overcome the aftermath of the
genocide. On her deathbed, she reveals a hidden past, leaving Odette
to connect the dots of the diaspora to Sahana’s Canadian granddaughter
(portrayed by Natalie Tannous).

Odette is clearly pursuing this story as part of her own healing
process after losing family members in the Rwandan massacre.

Because this is agitprop, the characters have a cardboard feel,
often left to deliver somewhat wooden messages rather than nuances
of meaning. The cast members – who also include Davide Chiazzese as
an unsympathetic Turkish official, Olivier Lamarche as the Canadian
diplomat Reid Cooper, and Matthew Kabwe as the Turkish good guy – all
strive valiantly to render themselves credible within multiple roles.

Glait plays her cards with a seasoned hand. But neophyte director
Deborah Forde offers little support, which makes for some odd moments.

The McCord Museum lecture theatre lends itself well to the use of
projections that set the backdrop for each scene.

The Armenian ambassador to Canada, Armen Yeganian, attended opening
night and said a few words, remarking that the play spoke for itself.

Perhaps the most remarkable thing about State of Denial is that it
was written by a playwright born in India and features a multicultural
cast, none of whom are of Armenian background. This makes it admirably
we-are-the-world earnest. But by definition, it lacks cultural
authenticity, as well as artistic expertise.

Still, State of Denial provides an important teaching moment about
genocide. File it under “highly worthwhile.” Teesri Duniya is a
theatre company like no other on the planet. You have to love it for
its idealistic intentions.

There will be panel discussions on Sunday and April 1, following the
2 p.m. matinees. The play runs two hours, including intermission.

State of Denial, by Rahul Varma, continues at the McCord Museum, 690
Sherbrooke St. W., through April 1. Tickets cost $22; $20 for seniors;
$12 for students. Call 514-848-0238 or visit teesriduniya.com.

On a more cheerful note, the 60-year-old Hudson Music Club, which
presented a terrific production of The Drowsy Chaperone last year
in Vaudreuil-Dorion, is now offering another Broadway musical, 42nd
Street. Anyone who enjoys hearing old, familiar songs like Lullaby of
Broadway and watching splashy tap-dance numbers within a quintessential
backstage story won’t want to miss this one.

Corey Castle, a consummate pro, directs this company of dedicated
amateurs who rehearse for months on end in order to put on shows
whose profits are donated to charity. Sheila Engel Katz is the
musical director, Amy Cooper the choreographer. Jean-Claude Olivier
has designed the New York City sets.

As Peggy Sawyer, the understudy who gets to be the star, Sophie
Protopoulos brightens up the stage with her perky presence, great
voice and dancing feet. Gail Marchand as Maggie, Philippe Gorbeille
as Julian Marsh and Nadia Verrucci as Anytime Annie are also standouts
within a high-energy cast.

42nd Street continues at Theâtre Paul-Emile Meloche, 400
St. Charles St., in Vaudreuil-Dorion. Call 1-866-967-8167 or visit
hudsonmusicclub.com.

ARMENIAN DEPUTY FM KOCHARYAN NOT INCLUDED IN REPUBLICAN PARTY PROPORTIONAL LIST

NEWS.AM
March 21, 2012 | 21:39

YEREVAN. – Armenian deputy FM Shavarsh Kocharyan is not included in
the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) proportional list, RPA
spokesperson Edward Sharmazanov told Armenian News-NEWS.am commenting
on the rumors circulated in media.

Deputy FM was indeed in the 76th place in the list, however, currently
he is replaced by deputy Minister of Social Affairs Artyom Asatryan.

RPA executive body has made some changes in the proportional list
on Wednesday.

ANI AND MARK GABRELLIAN ENDOW PROFESSORSHIP AND UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH GRANT

University of Rochester Newsroom

March 20 2012

Ani and Mark Gabrellian have established a multidisciplinary
professorship to better understand the most vital political and
economic issues of our era. The Gabrellians also have permanently
endowed an innovation grant for outstanding incoming undergraduates.

The Gabrellians have pledged $1.5 million for the professorship and
an additional $60,000 to endow the annual Mesrob Mashtots Innovation
Grant, which was created by the Gabrellians in 2010.

“I am deeply grateful to Ani and Mark Gabrellian for their commitment
to our faculty and students,” says University President Joel Seligman.

“The breadth of their experience in both the private and public
sectors has given them an acute appreciation for scholarship. Their
commitment to the next generation is exemplary.”

The Ani and Mark Gabrellian Professorship may combine the fields of
business, political science, international relations, history, or
other University disciplines, and will be focused on the political,
economic, global and historic problems of our time.

“We believe the challenges facing society now and in the future will
increasingly require analytical and problem solving approaches that
transcend individual disciplines,” says Ani Gabrellian. “Moreover,
we recognize that there is increasing interest among academics and
prospective students in multidisciplinary scholarship and teaching.”

Even as University of Rochester undergraduates, the Gabrellians
were drawn to multiple disciplines. Mark Gabrellian majored in both
political science and history, graduating in 1979. Five years later,
Ani Gabrellian, then Ani Nazerian, received her bachelor’s degree,
also as a double major, in political science and economics.

After completing professional degrees, his in law from the University
of California at Davis and hers in business administration from George
Washington University in Washington, D.C., the two worked, and met,
in the nation’s capital. Mark was first in private practice and
then represented the federal government as a litigator and work-out
specialist in connection with the savings and loan crisis, while Ani
became a commercial and investment banker and a financial analyst
with the Office of Thrift Supervision. Today, they work together in
their New Jersey based real estate development and management company,
Gabrellian Associates.

Through these experiences, says Ani Gabrellian, they frequently
witnessed a disconnect between government officials and the private
sector arising from each side’s misunderstanding or lack of knowledge
of how the other must function. “We saw how important it is for people
in government and business to come up with a more efficient way to
work together,” she says. The Gabrellian Professorship, they hope,
will help to bridge this divide.

“We believe in the concept of endowment,” adds Mark Gabrellian. “The
beauty of an endowment is that it lasts in perpetuity and will grow
over time. This is a gift based on a belief in the future.”

By endowing the Mesrob Mashtots Innovation Grant, the Gabrellians
also are ensuring that this award will remain a permanent part of the
portable research grants program administered by the University’s
Admissions Office. The grant is named after the Armenian scholar,
Mesrob Mashtots, who invented the Armenian alphabet and authored
numerous Armenian hymns and prayers. The award has been given each
year to three promising high-school seniors planning to enroll at
Rochester. It can be used to fund a summer internship, research job,
service-learning project, or other educational experience during the
recipient’s undergraduate years.

Both pledges support The Meliora Challenge: The Campaign for the
University of Rochester, a University-wide fundraising campaign
that was launched in October 2011 and runs through June 30, 2016
(campaign.rochester.edu).

Contact: Susan Hagen [email protected] 585.276.4061 (office);
585.576.5945 (cell)

TURKEY WAITS FOR FOUR MILLION RUSSIAN TOURISTS IN 2012

ITAR-TASS
March 18, 2012 Sunday 05:19 PM GMT+4
Russia

Turkey waits for four million Russian tourists in 2012 and develops
a new direction of tourism – religious tours, said Turkish Minister
of Tourism Ertugul Gunay in an exclusive interview with Itar-Tass
on Sunday.

He is now on a visit to Moscow.

“We expect around four million tourists from Russia in 2012,
which is the second place after Germany in the number of tourists
visiting Turkey, and we hope that Russia will preserve its position,”
he emphasized.

The minister also touched on an incident with poisoning Russians
with doctored alcohol in Bodrum. “We take utmost efforts to stiffen
control over strong beverages,” Gunay noted. “I was gladdened by the
fact that Russian authorities correctly perceived our efforts. We
have no problems with the Russian side.”

“I’d like to witness a rising number of Russian guests and that
Russians would come to us not only for holiday-making on beaches. We
take all efforts to create a possibility for tourists to visit our
country also with a view for religious and cultural tourism,” the
minister added.

“Antalya remains the most popular direction for the time being,
but I know how educated Russians are. Taking into account the rich
cultural potential of Russia, I’d like Russians to frequent our
cultural sight-seeing places,” Gunay continued.

“Turkey is now developing religious tourism,” the minister noted. “We
have something to offer, for instance, the well-known Sumela Monastery
in Trabzon, which was already restored and opened for visits by
pilgrims; the Armenian church Akdamar in the Van province as well as
churches and mosques in Eastern Antalya.

“Besides, annual events are staged in the city of Demr, the native
place of St. Nicholas whom the entire world knows as Santa Claus.”

Gunay said also of such “pearls” of Turkish historic heritage as St.

Sofia Cathedral and the Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Istanbul.

“Turkey has ten places which are already on the list of the UNESCO
world heritage,” the minister went on to say. “Another 26 are claimants
to be put down on this list. All of them are open for visits.”

In conclusion, Gunay praised Russian-Turkish cooperation in culture
and tourism as well as informed that during his Moscow visit, the
sides signed the Protocol on further cooperation in these spheres
between the two countries.

ANC OF CANADA ISSUES STATEMENT ON HUMAN RIGHTS MUSEUM

asbarez
Tuesday, March 20th, 2012

Armenian National Committee of Canada OTTAWA-The Armenian National
Committee of Canada issued a statement on Monday regarding the
organization’s position on the ongoing discussions with the Canadian
Museum of Human Rights.

Below is the complete text of the statement:

The creation and development of the Canadian Museum of Human
Rights (the CMHR) is an endeavor the likes of which has never been
attempted in Canada’s history. Complexity is inherent in such a
noble and virtuous undertaking. As such, it is to be expected that
the situation is dynamic and evolving as the process progresses. The
Armenian National Committee of Canada (the ANCC) has been actively
participating in and vigilantly monitoring developments with regards to
the CMHR as the process unfolds, consulting with various stakeholders
and experts when appropriate.

The ANCC has been involved with the CMHR and its process from the
very beginning. From the outset, the ANCC’s balanced approach has been
one that is forward-looking, collaborative, and firmly realistic. Our
desired outcome mirrors that of the community we represent – the just,
respectful and appropriate representation of genocide and the Armenian
Genocide. We have, in recent weeks, updated the leadership of various
Armenian-Canadian institutions and organizations about the progression
of our work and the challenges that lie ahead.

The ANCC remains in consistent dialogue with the CMHR, including
collaborative discussions and working sessions. Our relationship with
the senior decision-makers of the CMHR can be characterized as being
positive, open, and constructive. In addition, we have discussed the
CMHR with politicians and government officials with responsibility
for this matter.

The process continues, however, and is not yet over. Thus, the ANCC
maintains its vigilance with regards to the breadth and depth of
the Armenian Genocide exhibition, the permanency of the exhibition,
and the importance of consultations with the Armenian community in
long-term exhibition-related decisions.

Armenian National Committee of Canada

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ALSO PRESENTED IN BERLIN’S EXHIBITION

20:01 . 20/03

An exhibition titled “Missing Homeland” will open today in Berlin. It
is devoted to millions of deportees of Europe, who were forcibly
deported or exiled in 1900-2000.

What happened with Armenians at the start of the 20th century is
called Genocide in the exhibition. The periodical “Bild” writes this
is a new threat to German-Turkish relations.

As informed by our colleague Alla Serobyan, the Turkish Ambassador to
Germany has accepted the invitation, but it is still unknown whether
he will participate in the exhibition or not.

Scholar Tessa Hoffman has stated in her interview to Yerkir Media
Company that Armenians are among the peoples presented in the
exhibition because they suffered genocide in the Ottoman Empire.

To note, German Chancellor Angela Merkel will open the exhibition.

POLICE DISMANTLE DASHNAK’S TENT IN GYUMRI

07:16 pm | Today | Politics

A tent of the opposition Armenian Revolutionary Federation
-Dashnaktsutyun erected in the centre of Armenia’s northwestern city
of Gyumri has been taken down by the order of police, the local GALA
TV reports.

The red-colour tent had been pitched outside the theatre building
for a few days, with ARF-D representatives urging citizens to stand
up for their votes and avoid bribes.

The tent bore the inscriptions: “Vote is power” and “Do not allow
them to steal your votes.”

CULTURAL WORKER ACCUSING ARMENIAN INTELLECTUALS

Tert.am
21.03.12

Armenian intellectuals are easily corrupted by money and power now,
Artavazd Bayatyan, co-founder of the Ardzagank studio, told journalists
on Tuesday.

Speaking of intellectuals’ role on the threshold of elections, he
said that intellectuals are appointed to posts for the purpose of
“making use of them later.”

According to the singer, all the political processes are a mere
formality: everything is known beforehand and the only thing to do
is to confirm that.

S. SARGSYAN CONGRATULATED KURDISH COMMUNITY OF ARMENIA ON THE OCCASION OF NOVRUZ

21.03.12

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan sent a congratulatory message to the
Kurdish community of Armenia on the occasion of Novruz, press service
of Armenian President informs about this. The message especially says:

“I cordially congratulate the Kurdish community of Armenia on the
occasion of Novruz.

Let this dazzling holiday bring joy and happiness to each Kurdish
family. I wish that together with spring and awakening your cherished
wishes and goals come true and success comes to every area of your
community life and social life of our common home. From our side,
we are ready to provide all-round assistance in the resolution of
the arising problems.

Dear Kurd compatriots,

Your concerns our common concerns, and your joy is our common joy.

I once again congratulate you and wish all the best”.

ARMENIAN PRISONER HOSPITALIZED FOR DRUG POISONING

news.am
March 21, 2012 | 10:23

YEREVAN. – Armenia’s Vanadzor City Prison inmate Eduard Ayvazyan (born
in 1981) was transferred to city’s hospital, on Tuesday at 3:47 a.m.,
on symptoms of drug poisoning, the Ministry of Emergency Situations
informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

The patient is in serious condition.