Author: Badalian Vardan

‘THE ATOM EGOYAN COLLECTION’ FEATURES DIRECTOR’S BEST WORKS

Tuesday, April 8th, 2014

Armenian-Canadian director Atom Egoyan

LOS ANGELES (The Arts Desk)–Atom Egoyan’s stock has dropped a bit
in the 21st century. This box-set of his first seven films remains –
along with his response to the Turkish genocide of Armenians, “Ararat”
(2002) – the essence of his work to date.

These early films have as much personal character as his compatriot
and mentor Cronenberg’s. His feature debut “Next of Kin” (1984),
in which a teenager escapes his loveless home by pretending to be a
Toronto Armenian family’s long-lost son, introduces several themes:
carefully faked identities, and the erasable memories enabled by
video-tape. “Family Viewing” (1988), “Speaking Parts” (1989) and “The
Adjuster” (1991) elaborate these ideas with a deadpan comic edge,
and a growing repertory company including his wife Arsinee Khanjian
and Elias Koteas. “Calendar” (1993) stars Egoyan as a “nightmare”
version of himself, filming in Armenia’s hilltop churches and crumbling
post-Soviet cities, bringing the autobiography scattered through his
films to the fore.

In “Exotica” (1994), the characters’ cool suppressions disintegrate
in the hothouse of a tropically themed strip-club. The nature
of the relationship between a schoolgirl-dressed stripper (Mia
Kirshner), an obsessed customer (Bruce Greenwood) and a child’s
murder is unpicked in a film of interwoven secrets, two-way mirrors
and voyeuristic alcoves. Sarah Polley, these days a fine director
herself, joined Egoyan’s regulars here. She then made her name in
“The Sweet Hereafter” (1997), an adaptation of Russell Banks’s novel
about the aftermath of a small-town school-bus’s fatal crash. Polley’s
piercing intelligence as a surviving, abused child matches Ian Holm as
a fearsome, ambulance-chasing lawyer with a drug-addict daughter and
devastated heart. Gratefully helped by Banks’s command of character,
Egoyan’s structuring of time achieves a potent grace. His rhythmic
revealing of satisfying, deep mysteries peaks with these two films.

Extras include a thorough 1999 Egoyan interview, “Formulas for
Seduction,” and three early shorts, “Howard In Particular,” “Peepshow”
and “Open House.”

ARMENIAN CULTURAL WORKERS SPEAK OF FIELD’S PROBLEMS

21:50 * 08.04.14

Against the background of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s statement
on a sweeping cabinet reshuffle and mass media lists of “incoming”
and “outgoing” ministers, Tert.am got the information on two members
of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) rivaling for the post
of Armenia’s minister of culture.

Tert.am interviewed some cultural and art workers.

Chairman of the Painters Union of Armenia Karen Aghamyan wants
Armenia’s minister of culture to be a person that would consider
national culture the highest value of his activities. As to his opinion
of Armenian Minister of Culture Hasmik Poghosyan, he did not want to
make appraisals.

“I cannot say. I really do not know. I have never thought about it,”
Mr Aghamyan said when asked about a candidate for the post.

Asked about major problems of Armenia’s culture, Mr Aghamyan said:

“You are speaking of a whole system, and everyone has his or her
own opinion.”

Chairman of the Writers’ Union of Armenia Eduard Militonyan does not
want to name anyone either.

“No comments. We see people who love literature, love reading. We
have a minister working. What can I say now?”

Asked about his opinion of Armenia’s incumbent minister of culture,
he pointed out her contribution to book printing.

“Our minister has always been helpful in this matter. She has well
organized the printing of Armenian writers’ books.”

With respects to the problems, Mr Militonyan said that he is concerned
over the language problem.

“We have a problem of the Armenian language in Armenia – both on TV
and in the press. Respect for culture must be shaped. Created works
must be disseminated and presented to the world, for the Armenian
Diaspora to know our contemporary artists,” he said.

Theater expert Levon Mutafyan told Tert.am that he sees himself as
Armenia’s minister of culture.

“I think I can implement a number of cultural programs and the right
cultural policy. I do not think Armenia’s Ministry of Culture is
properly performing its function. It has turned into a producer center,
but it is supposed to implement a cultural policy and national culture
tasks, shape respect for theater,” Mr Mutafyan said.

Armenia’s Ministry of Culture is not implementing a global cultural
policy.

Mr Mutafyan is critical of the appointment of Andranik Arzumanyan as
director of Yerevan Opera House.

“He has no knowledge of opera or ballet. A theater expert or musician
must hold this post. But Andranik Arzumanyan was only director of
the Russian culture club in Egypt.”

With respect to Minister Hasmik Poghosyan, he said that she must
leave the post.

ARMENIA’S NEXT PRIME MINISTER WILL HAVE TO OFFER SOLUTIONS FOR VARIETY OF ECONOMIC PROBLEMS

YEREVAN, April 8. / ARKA /. Armenia’s next prime minister must be
a professional, who will have to offer solutions for a variety of
economic problems, according to Vazgen Safrayan, chairman of the
Union of Domestic Producers.

“The next prime minister should be a person who is well skilled in
economy and is well aware of the industrial, energy and agricultural
potentials of the country,” Safaryan told a news conference today.

He said one of the biggest challenges for the new head of the
government will be to mitigate social injustice by creating new
high-paying jobs, preventing exodus of labor migrants, cracking down
on monopolies and guarantee a level playing field for all.

Safaryan said the next prime minister should press for revival of
Nairit chemical plant, construction of the second unit of Yerevan
thermal power plant, creation of a copper smelter in Zangezur, building
a railway from Vanadzor to Fioletovo, opening free economic zones in
all the border areas of the country.

Safaryan praised the former Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian, who
resigned on April 3 highlighting his efforts in reforming industrial
development of the country.

According to official statistics, industrial production in 2012
amounted to 1.120 trillion drams, a 10% increase from 2011. Last
year the industrial production grew to 1.240 trillion drams. ($ 1 –
415.22 drams). -0-

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GENOCIDE RECOGNITION BILLBOARDS SHOWCASED IN BOSTON STREETS

[ Part 2.2: “Attached Text” ]

Genocide recognition billboards showcased in Boston streets April 8,
2014 – 09:37 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – During the month of April, the 2014 Armenian Genocide
commemorative billboards will be displayed at the corner of Arsenal
and School Streets in Watertown; on Cambridge Street, at the Lechmere
Station in Cambridge; and on Route 1 South, 1/4 mile from the Gillette
Stadium, in Foxboro, Asbarez reported.

Sponsored by Peace of Art, Inc, the 2014 Armenian Genocide
commemorative billboards honor the victims and survivors of the
Armenian Genocide. In this year’s message “Recognize
the Crime of the Century, the Armenian Genocide,” the word
‘genocide’ has imbedded the number 100, and handcuffs.

The number 100 refers to the approaching 100th anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide. The handcuffs refer to a century of victimization
and denial by the perpetrators of the Armenian Genocide and their
supporters. The Armenian Genocide was the crime of the century because
it was the first genocide of the 20th century. Had the genocide been
condemned by the world community, the governments that followed most
likely would not have used genocide as the means to eliminate unwanted
groups of their populations segregated by race, religion or ethnicity.

Millions of people around the world have been killed, victims of
genocide, for political motives, and ethnic cleansing. Since the
Armenian genocide took place in the beginning of the 20th century,
genocide has become an effective tool of war, to eliminate unwanted
sectors of the population segregated by race, or religion, or
ethnicity. As the Armenian people struggle for recognition of the
crime of the century, the world remains ‘blind’ to crimes
against humanity perpetrated around the globe. The world community
must recognize the Armenian genocide and condemn such crimes against
humanity.

Since 2003, through the annual commemorative billboards, Peace of Art,
Inc.has been calling for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide,
and it has urged the community at large, the President of the United
States, and the United Nations to recognize the Armenian Genocide. It
is time to urge Turkey to recognize the Armenian Genocide, and to
make amends.

“To deny the Armenian Genocide is to further victimize
those who perished and their descendants, it is an act of blaming
the victims. After a century of denial, it is time to place the
‘handcuffs’ on the criminals. For those who think that
after the last survivor dies there will be no more witnesses, and
with the passing of time the Armenian genocide will be forgotten,
know that all Armenians are survivors of the genocide, and as long
as the Armenian genocide remains unrecognized by Turkey, millions of
Armenians around the world will demand recognition and justice,”
said the president of Peace of Art, Inc. Daniel Varoujan Hejinian.

WHOEVER ARMENIA’S PRESIDENT HE WOULD HAVE MADE SEPTEMBER 3 DECISION – EXPERT

14:42 * 08.04.14

Whoever is Armenia’s president, he would have made the decision
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan made on September 3, 2013, said
political scientist Alexander Iskandaryan.

“The decision made on September 3 hardly had anything in common with
Armenian diplomacy. The decision was made outside Armenia, and Armenia
had no alternative,” Iskandaryan said at a debate.

According to him, when Russian President Vladimir Putin “arrived in
Baku nearly on an aircraft carrier,” and the issue of the gas price
was on the agenda, anyone would have done what Serzh Sargsyan did.

Armenia, which had adopted a course of European integration, had done
excellent work in drafting an Association Agreement with the European
Union. However, the miscalculation was that the authorities failed
to consider the possibility of the process being stopped at any moment.

Richard Giragosian, Founding Director of the Regional Studies Center
(RSC), believes that the September 3 decision has been Armenia’s most
serious political setback the in the past four years.

As to Armenia’s foreign policy achievements, they are mostly due to
setbacks of others, particularly Turkey and Azerbaijan.

Neither Mr Giragosian nor Mr Iskandaryan agrees with the experts
that claim that Armenia’s premier resigned under the pressure of
external factors, particularly that of Russia, and his resignation
is a follow-up to the Kazakh and Kyrgyz premiers’ resignations.

Moscow had nothing in common with the Armenian premier’s resignation,
the experts said.

ANDRANIK ARZUMANYAN OPERA AND BALLET NATIONAL ACADEMIC THEATRE DIRECTOR

13:00 / 08.04.2014

Andranik Arzumanyan has been appointed director of Al. Spendiaryan
Opera and Ballet National Academic Theatre.

He and another candidate Gagik Manasyan remained in the final contest
for the vacant post.

Nyut.am

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Studies Program
California State University, Fresno
Contact: Barlow Der Mugrdechian, 559-278-4930
ASP Office: 559-278-2669
Fax: 559-278-2129
Email: [email protected]

Visit the Armenian Studies Program Web Page at

Prof. Richard Hovannisian to Speak on
` The Armenians of Gesaria’
(From Evkere and Talas to Mount Arkeos, Chomakhlu, and Evereg)

Dr. Richard G. Hovannisian of UCLA will speak on ` The Armenians of
Gesaria’ (From Evkere and Talas to Mount Arkeos, Chomakhlu, and
Evereg) at 7:30 PM on Friday, April 25, 2014, in the Industrial
Technology Building, Room 101 Auditorium, on the Fresno State campus
(corner of Barstow and Campus Drive).
The presentation is part of the Spring Lecture Series of the Armenian
Studies Program and is co-sponsored by the Armenian Students
Organization as part of the activities commemorating the 99th
Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. The Leon S. Peters Foundation
has supported the Lecture Series for the 2013-2014 academic year.
By tradition, the Armenian presence in Cappadocia and Gesaria/Kesaria
dates back to the times of Tigran the Great and Gregory the
Illuminator. Down through the centuries Armenian communities in the
area grew in number and in size.
Professor Hovannisian has visited Gesaria (now Kayseri) several times
and will give a short overview of the region’s Armenian history and
the significant roles played by Armenians, both in urban and rural
Gesaria.
Dr. Richard G. Hovannisian is past holder of the UCLA Armenian
Educational Foundation Chair in Modern Armenian History and
Distinguished Chancellor’s Fellow at Chapman University, Orange
County.
Hovannisian is the author of Armenia on the Road to Independence , the
four-volume history The Republic of Armenia , and has edited and
contributed to more than twenty-five books including The Armenian
Genocide in Perspective ; The Armenian People from Ancient to Modern
Times ; Remembrance and Denial ; Looking Backward, Moving Forward ;
and The Armenian Genocide: Cultural and Ethical Legacies .
Copies of Armenian Gesaria as well as many other titles from the
`Historic Armenian Cities and Provinces’ series will be available for
purchase and signing by Prof. Hovannisian.
The lecture is free and open to the public. Free parking, no permit
necessary, is available in Lots P23, P24, or P20, adjacent to the
Industrial Arts building.
For more information on the lecture please contact the Armenian
Studies Program at 278-2669.

—

Barlow Der Mugrdechian, Coordinator
Armenian Studies Program
5245 N. Backer Ave. PB4
Fresno CA 93740-8001

ASP Office: 559-278-2669
Office: 559-278-2669
FAX: 559-278-2129

Visit the ASP Website:

MPS TO PACE TO RAISE KESSAB EVENTS AND ARMENIAN POW’S RETURN

April 07, 2014 | 11:54

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Spring
Session is underway Monday in Strasbourg, France.

At the PACE session, the Armenian National Assembly (NA) delegation
to PACE will raise the matter on the situation in and around Syria’s
predominantly Armenian-populated town of Kessab.

Non-pro-government Prosperous Armenia Party NA Faction Secretary
Naira Zohrabyan, who is also a member in Armenia’s delegation to PACE,
told the above-said to Armenian News-NEWS.am.

According to her, back on March 5, she had petitioned to the Council
of Europe (CoE) Commissioner for Human Rights, with a request to use
his powers to have Armenian soldier Hakob Injighulyan–who was held
captive by Azerbaijan last summer–returned to Armenia, or transferred
to a third country.

As per Zohrabyan, the CoE Commissioner will receive a respective
letter on Monday, too.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

LEVON ARONIAN ET SERGUEI MOVSISSIAN CHAMPIONS D’ALLEMAGNE AVEC BADEN-BADEN

ECHECS

Les joueurs de l’equipe d’Armenie des echecs, le numero 2 mondial
Levon Aronian ainsi que Sergueï Movsissian ont remporte le championnat
d’Allemagne avec leur equipe de Baden-Baden. Ce club a remporte les 14
dernières rencontres en totalisant le maximum de 28 points. Avant le
dernier tour, Baden-Baden est deja champion d’Allemagne. Le 6 avril,
avec les noirs, Levon Aronian remporta sa partie face au joueur de
Munich, Felix Graf.

Krikor Amirzayan

lundi 7 avril 2014, Krikor Amirzayan (c)armenews.com

ARMENIA NEEDS A STRONG MILITARY – OHANYAN

YEREVAN, April 7. /ARKA/. Armenia needs a strong army as neighboring
Azerbaijan and Turkey are pursuing anti-Armenian policies, acting
minister of defense Seyran Ohanyan said at a forum on youth policy,
the problems and the coverage held in resort town of Tsakhkadzor on
April 4-6.

In particular, the minister spoke about the information war launched by
Azerbaijan and Turkey to affect Armenia’s and Karabakh’s international
image through propaganda.

Each country is building its defense capacity based on economy, army
and mobilization capacities, as well as on feelings of patriotism in
the population, Ohanyan said. -0–

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