Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

COMMEMORATIVE CONCERT TO BE HELD AT CATHEDRAL OF ST. JOHN THE DIVINE

By Contributor on March 5, 2015 in Headline, Mid-Atlantic

On April 25, Perspectives Ensemble, in cooperation with the Cathedral
of St. John the Divine of New York, the Reverend James Kowalski, dean,
and Kent Tritle, director of cathedral music, will present a one-hour
concert of Armenian classical and village music and “sharagans”
(church hymns) in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide. The concert celebrates the beauty and endurance
of Armenian culture.

Zulal

Featured artists include Zulal A Cappella Trio with Teni Apelian, Yeraz
Meschian, and Anais Tekerian, as well as Perspectives Ensemble harpist
Alyssa Reit, and flutist and artistic director, Sato Moughalian. The
concert will take place in the St. James Chapel of the Cathedral
Church of St. John the Divine, 1047 Amsterdam Ave. at West 112th
St. The event is free and open to the public.

The concert will also mark the release of Perspectives Recordings’
second CD of “oror”/lullaby Armenian music for flute and harp,
dedicated to the memory of all those who have “fallen asleep.”

In Armenian, Zulal means “clear water.” Zulal, the a cappella trio,
takes Armenia’s village folk melodies and weaves intricate arrangements
that pay tribute to the rural roots of the music while introducing a
sophisticated lyricism and energy. Zulal’s singers have been singing
together since 2002.

The trio celebrates the trials and joys of old Armenian village life:
budding romances in elevated gardens, the disappointments of hapless
suitors, secret messages placed upon the western winds, the moonlit
faces of shepherd boys and their brides… These are the searing
impressions of the past that come to life in Zulal’s arrangements,
reminders of a simpler past, tokens of comfort in the complex,
modern world.

Sato Moughalian

Perspectives Ensemble was founded by Moughalian in 1993 as the resident
ensemble for the series “Perspectives in Music and Art” at Columbia
University. The ensemble has presented thematic concerts as well as
programs on subjects that bridge the visual, musical, and literary
arts, consistently receiving the highest critical accolades.

The New York Times praised the “first-rate performances by accomplished
musicians,” “a superb recital by the Perspectives Ensemble,” and
“rhythms [that] were remarkably precise, supple and subtle.”

Perspectives Ensemble presents concerts and recordings that feature
the works of living composers and historic figures, shedding new
light on their work through explorations of music in the context
of time and place. Perspectives has collaborated with IberArtists in
programs of Spanish and Catalan music of the modernist movement and for
world premieres by Vadillo, Artero, Sotelo, and Erkoreka. Perspectives
Ensemble was recently appointed “artist in residence” of the Foundation
for Iberian Music, City University Graduate Center. The New York
Times called the ensemble’s performance of “El Amor Brujo” stunning:
“Perspectives Ensemble worked [without a conductor], yet gave a
performance that was remarkably polished, fastidiously balanced,
and full of electricity.”

Perspectives Ensemble has presented in the Stern Auditorium of Carnegie
Hall, the 92nd Street Y, Lincoln Center, Columbia University, New York
University, the Rubin Museum, and the Ethical Culture Society, and has
recorded for Sony Classics, Newport Classics, and New World Records,
among others. It was the resident ensemble for the Young People’s
Chorus of New York’s Transient Glory commissioning program, and has
served as a resident ensemble for the Miller Theatre’s groundbreaking
“Pocket Concerto Project.”

Recordings include “Sonnets to Orpheus” by Richard Danielpour (Sony),
“Recollections” by Karl Husa (New World), and Charles Tomlinson
Griffes’ “Goddess of the Moon” (Newport). “The performances by the
Perspectives Ensemble, an outstanding aggregation based in New York,
are first-rate, with particularly fine playing by the flutist Sato
Moughalian,” wrote the New York Times. Most recently, Perspectives
Ensemble released a critically acclaimed CD featuring the works
of Xavier Montsalvatge with soloists Timothy Fain, violin, Sato
Moughalian, flute, Sasha Cooke, mezzo, and Angel Gil-Ordoñez in 2013
on the Naxos label.

The April 25 program is made possible by the generous support of
the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, the Daniele Doctorow Prize
for Music, the Jarvis and Constance Doctorow Family Foundation,
the Hegardt Foundation, and Perspectives Ensemble’s many friends.

The commemorative concert begins at 7 p.m. at the Cathedral of St.

John the Divine, St. James Chapel, 1047 Amsterdam Ave. (at
112th St), in New York. For more information, e-mail
[email protected] or call (212) 923-3657.

From: Baghdasarian

GYUMRI: 10 PEOPLE PROSECUTED OVER JANUARY PROTESTS, CLASHES WITH POLICE

NEWS | 06.03.15 | 16:31

GOHAR ABRAHAMYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter

Ten people in Gyumri who participated in protests following the
murder of a local seven-member family have been arrested and charged,
authorities said.

The news first reported by Gyumri-based Asparez Journalist Club head
Levon Barseghyan several days ago was confirmed by the Prosecutor’s
Office and the Investigation Committee today.

Charges were brought mainly on the first and the second points of
part 3 of Article 3 of the Armenian Criminal Code – hooliganism and
violation of public order which was accompanied by resistance to
government representatives.

“I was told that after the murder of the Avetisyans, 32-38 people
became suspects of street clashes that took place upon police
provocation. I spoke to two of them, they told me that they were shown
videos in which they were pictured defending themselves with stones
and sticks, they were charged and prohibited to leave,” Barseghyan
wrote on his Facebook account.

Late at night on January 15 after protests in Gyumri when protestors
said they will stay and wait in front of the Prosecutor’s Office
building until they are given guarantees that citizens detained that
day will be released and no persecution against protestors will be
carried out, Prosecutor-General Gevorg Kostanyan promised in front
of the Prosecutor’s Office building of the province of Shirak that
there will be no persecution against the detained protesters.

However, in response to galatv.am website, the Prosecutor’s Office
said that they are performing their supervising functions, and that
law-enforcement bodies take up measures defined by law.

Lawyer Nikolay Barseghyan sees it dangerous when cases are filed
against protesters.

“If a protest, or a rally is organized, it is natural that public
order is violated to some degree, but that does not lead to
crime, hooliganism,” Baghdasaryan told ArmeniaNow, adding that the
Prosecutor-General has no authority to give promises as to whether
someone will or will not be prosecuted, he is obliged to carry out
persecution within the framework of the law against those who commit
crimes.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIA’S MOD REFUTES AZERBAIJANI DISINFORMATION ON SUBVERSIVE ACT ASCRIBED TO ARMENIA

11:38, 6 March, 2015

YEREVAN, MARCH 6, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Defense of the Republic
of Armenia denies the disinformation spread by the Ministry of
Defense of Azerbaijan saying as if they prevented a subversive
penetration attempt of the Armenian Armed Forces. In a conversation
with “Armenpress”, the Press Spokesman of the Ministry of Defense
of the Republic of Armenia Artzrun Hovhannisyan stated that the
information is not true.

Asked if the information spread by the Ministry of Defense of
Azerbaijan on preventing the subversive penetration attempt of
the Armenian Armed Forces is accurate, the Press Spokesman of the
Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia Artzrun Hovhannisyan
underscored: “Of course not. This is yet another provocation of the
Azerbaijani side. Nothing like that happened. They will try to “set
up” the victims and injured of their own provocation for a long time
and they have to invent new Armenian subversive act, which never took
place, to “set up” every casualty and injured.”

From: Baghdasarian

EXHIBITION OF HANDWORK OF ARMENIAN WOMEN AT THE UN HEADQUARTERS

17:30, 06 Mar 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

The Armenian Relief Society, along with the Permanent Mission of
Armenia to the United Nations (U.N.), hosted a reception at the U.N.

to mark the opening of the “Stitching to Survive: Handwork of Armenian
Women,” an exhibit on Armenian textiles. The exhibit will be open to
the public until March 13.

The reception was attended by clergymen, representatives of UN member
states, different local and international structures, public and
political figures, journalists.

Addressing the attendees, Armenia’s Permanent Representative to the UN
Zohrab Mnatsakanyan noted that “the exhibition presents the history of
a nation, subjected to genocide exactly 100 years ago, which was then
described as “a crime against humanity and civilization.” According
to him, after studying this crime against Armenians, Raphael Lemkin
coined the term “genocide” three decades later.

The Permanent Representative underlined that having found refuge in
different countries of the world, Armenian women managed to regain
their identity, adapting to the new environment and reality. He
noted that the Armenian national not only managed to create powerful
structures in the Diaspora, but also regain its statehood and stand
next to other UN members.

The exhibition presents examples of handwork by Armenian Women brought
from the Armenian Museum of America.

From: Baghdasarian

POLITICAL EXPERT: MOSCOW HAS NO PART IN COLLAPSE OF PROSPEROUS ARMENIA PARTY

by Nana Martirosyan

Friday, March 6, 12:19

Moscow does not care for the domestic policy of Armenia unless it
starts affecting the regional and foreign policy of the country.

Consequently, the collapse of the Prosperous Armenia Party could not
be planned by Russia. Deputy Director of the Caucasus Institute Sergey
Minasyan told ArmInfo on March 6.

“Moscow does not care for the domestic policy of Armenia unless it
affects the country’s balanced and sometimes pro-Russian stand. In
addition, Russia perceives the domestic policy conflicts in Armenia
as provocations by the West. So, there is no sense is creating
additional conflicts,” he said. The politician believes that it
were miscalculations and hasty steps that collapsed the PAP. “It
is no longer as powerful a party as it was in January,” Minasyan
said. The political expert said Naira Zohrabyan’s appointment as
the PAP leader was anticipated following Gagik Tsarukyan’s February
5 call for consolidation and snap elections. “If Tsarukyan did not
retreat in 2012 and consolidated the opposition and participated
in the elections, we would have a bipolar political field today,”
Minasyan said. He is sure that the incumbent authorities are also
weak and lack public confidence.

Minasyan thinks Tsarukyan may emerge again ahead of the presidential
election in 2018. “Everything is possible. Yet a year ago, no one
could even imagine that the first and second presidents of Armenia,
Ter- Petrosyan and Kocharyan, might support the same political force.

However, the image of a politician is of big importance. Tsarukyan
has retreated twice already – he would hardly manage to enlist the
public support for a third time,” he said.

At the PAP Congress on March 5 Gagik Tsarukyan stepped down as the
PAP leader and announced that he leaves the big politics. Secretary
of the PAP parliamentary faction Naira Zohrabyan replaced him on the
posts of the PAP leader and PAP faction head saying the party will be
operating in he opposition camp. Mayors of Nor Hachn and Byureghavan,
Gagik Matevosyan and Hakob Balasanyan, left the Party on March 6.

Earlier, ex-minister of foreign affairs of Armenia, parliamentarian
Vartan Oskanian, Gyumri Mayor Samvel Balasanyan and another 7
parliamentarians had left the PAP.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN WRESTLING FEDERATION AGAINST ARMENIA’S PARTICIPATION IN 2015 EUROPEAN OLYMPIC GAMES

17:00 | March 6,2015 | Sports

The Wrestling Federation of Armenia is against Armenia’s participation
in the 2015 European Olympic Games to be held in Baku on June 12-18.

“After a thorough discussion of the issue, the leadership and the
executive committee of the Federation came to the conclusion that
Armenia’s participation in the Games is meaningless. In the coming
days, we shall inform the National Olympic Committee of Armenia
and the Ministry of Sports about our decision,” Levon Julfalakyan,
the head coach of the Armenian Greco-Roman style wrestling team,
said in his interview with the Federation’s website.

From: Baghdasarian

AZERBAIDJAN : AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL CONDAMNE L’AUGMENTATION DES PERSECUTIONS

Publie le : 06-03-2015

Info Collectif VAN – – Le Collectif VAN vous
invite a lire ce communique de presse publie sur le site d’Amnesty
International le 4 mars 2015.

Amnesty International

L’Azerbaïdjan va accueillir les Jeux europeens dans un contexte de
repression generalisee

[04/03/2015]

Menaces, violence physique et emprisonnement de detracteurs
du gouvernement sont devenus la marque de fabrique du regime en
Azerbaïdjan alors que ce pays se prepare a accueillir les premiers
Jeux europeens, a declare Amnesty International mercredi 4 mars,
a 100 jours de la ceremonie d’ouverture.

Dans un nouveau rapport intitule Guilty of Defending Rights:
Azerbaijan’s human rights defenders and activists behind bars,
l’organisation souligne l’augmentation des persecutions subies
par les detracteurs du gouvernement, qui sont detenus sur la base
d’accusations mensongères, battus, menaces et prives de soins medicaux
urgents et d’avocats.

>, a declare John Dalhuisen, directeur du programme
Europe et Asie centrale d’Amnesty International.

Au moins 22 prisonniers d’opinion languissent actuellement en
Azerbaïdjan dans l’attente d’un procès pour des faits inventes de
toutes pièces, allant de la fraude et du detournement de fonds a
l’usage de stupefiants et la trahison.

En juin 2014, le president Aliyev a affirme dans son discours a
l’Assemblee parlementaire du Conseil de l’Europe (APCE) que la
liberte d’expression, d’association et de reunion etait garantie
en Azerbaïdjan.

Pourtant, d’eminents defenseurs des droits humains ont decrit une toute
autre realite, en exposant en details plus de 90 cas de harcèlement,
d’intimidation, d’arrestations arbitraires et de poursuites motivees
par des considerations politiques visant des defenseurs des droits
humains, des journalistes et d’autres personnes osant critiquer le
gouvernement azerbaïdjanais. Les autorites n’ont pas tarde a reagir :
en quelques semaines, tous ceux qui avaient temoigne auprès de l’APCE
ont ete arretes, l’un après l’autre.

>,
a declare John Dalhuisen.

Leyla Yunus, militante des droits humains âgee de 60 ans, qui
figure parmi les plus vehementes et les plus en vue des critiques du
gouvernement, a ete arretee en juillet 2014, quelques jours après avoir
appele au boycott des Jeux europeens en raison du bilan deplorable
du regime en matière de droits humains.

Elle a indique a son avocat qu’un gardien de prison l’avait traînee
de sa cellule a une pièce vide où elle avait ete jetee par terre et
rouee de coups de pied. Une autre fois, un groupe d’hommes lui a fait
des gestes sexuellement menacants. Elle a passe les six derniers mois
en prison en attendant son procès, dans des conditions qui ont aggrave
ses problèmes de sante. Elle souffre de diabète et d’une hepatite C.

Leyla Yunus a ete inculpee de trahison, d’entreprise illegale,
d’evasion fiscale, d’abus de pouvoir, de fraude et de contrefacon. Ces
accusations, forgees de toutes pièces et motivees par des
considerations politiques, ont fait suite a de nouveaux règlements
que le gouvernement a introduits pour pouvoir fermer arbitrairement
les ONG et emprisonner leurs dirigeants.

Repression des journalistes

Les autorites ont intensifie la repression visant les journalistes
critiques a l’egard du gouvernement. Khadija Ismayilova, journaliste
d’investigation primee pour son travail, a ete arretee le 5 decembre
2014 sous l’inculpation farfelue d’incitation au suicide d’une
ancienne collègue.

Elle avait publie une liste de prisonniers politiques et enquetait sur
des allegations faisant etat de liens entre la famille du president
Aliyev et un projet de construction lucratif a Bakou. Avant son
arrestation, elle avait recu des menaces anonymes de publication
de photos intimes d’elle, probablement prises a son insu par des
agents du gouvernement pendant qu’elle se trouvait chez elle, si elle
n’abandonnait pas son travail.

Fausses accusations d’usage de stupefiants et de houliganisme contre
de jeunes militants

Les autorites s’en prennent egalement aux jeunes militants qui
les critiquent avec vehemence, en les accusant d’infractions a la
legislation sur les stupefiants ou de houliganisme. Les allegations
utilisees pour obtenir leur arrestation sont extremement douteuses
et les interrogatoires de la police axes sur leurs opinions politiques.

Faraj Karimov, un blogueur bien connu, a affirme avoir ete frappe par
des policiers qui voulaient lui faire > des faits ayant
trait a l’usage de stupefiants. Ces agents l’auraient en outre menace,
s’il ne signait pas des >, de > en placant des armes a leur domicile.

La violence est aussi monnaie courante en detention. Orkhan Eyyubzade,
militant en faveur de la democratie âge de 19 ans qui purgeait une
peine de detention administrative de 20 jours pour avoir participe a un
rassemblement pacifique >, a ete violemment attaque
par deux policiers. Il a indique a son avocat que ceux-ci l’avaient
force a se coucher a plat ventre, lui avaient menotte les mains
derrière le dos, arrache ses sous-vetements, l’avaient roue de coups
de poing et de pied et avaient menace de le violer avec une bouteille.

Aucune enquete efficace n’a ete menee sur ces allegations. En revanche,
il a ete accuse d’avoir agresse des policiers et condamne a deux
ans d’emprisonnement.

From: Baghdasarian

CARSON CITY COUNCIL UNANIMOULY REJECTS ATATURK MONUMENT MEASURE

Wednesday, March 4th, 2015 | Posted by Contributor

Carosn City Council debates erecting Ataturk Monument

CARSON, Calif.–The City Council of City of Carson voted unanimously on
Wednesday to reject a measure to erect a monument to Kemal Ataturk in
the city, after lengthy debate during the regular city council session.

More than 400 people opposing the measure, led by the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation Western US Central Committee, Armenian
National Committee of America-Western Region, the Armenian Youth
Federation and the American Hellenic Council flocked to the Carson
City Hall, where a capacity crowd in the council chamber spilled
outside to protest the measure.

Speaking against the monument were Glendale Mayor Zareh Sinanian,
Montebello Mayor Jack Hadjinian, Glendale City Clerk Ardashes “Ardy”
Kassakhian, Professor Levon Marashlian and the Vice Chairman of the
American Hellenic Council Aris Anagnos. Although there were only six
speakers permitted per side, there were 298 speaker cards submitted
in opposition to the monument and 101 in favor.

California State Assemblymembers submitted a letter in opposition to
the monument, which was presented at the meeting by a representative
of Assemblymember and former Carson City Councilman Mike Gipson,
and co-signed by Assemblymembers Adrin Nazarian, Katcho Achadjian,
Scott Wilk and Mike Gatto.

The Turkish Consul General of Los Angeles Raife Gulru Gezer was one
of the six speaking in favor of the monument. Carson Mayor Jim Dear,
who initiated the monument proposal, in the end changed his vote.

Asbarez will have detailed coverage of the meeting in later editions.

From: Baghdasarian

CITY OF CARSON UNANIMOUSLY VOTES AGAINST ATATURK MONUMENT

By MassisPost
Updated: March 5, 2015

CARSON – Voting unanimously, the Carson City Council opposed a
monument on March 4, 2015 commemorating Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in
the city’s International Sculpture Garden, which aims to honor world
leaders who have promoted peace during their lifetimes, reported the
Armenian Council of America. (ACA)

“In an unprecedented show of opposition to the proposed monument,
the Armenian American community including the ACA, Armenian National
Committee (ANC) and the Armenian Caucus of the Service Employees
International Union Local 721 (SEIU 721) filled the Council Chamber
to express, in solidarity, their vehement opposition to the project,”
said ACA Chairman Sevak Khatchadorian. “The proposed monument glorifies
Ataturk, a man deemed by historians as a dictator and promoter of
ethnic cleansing of Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians, and other minorities;
a movement that provided the basis for the persecution of minorities
in Turkey.”

Barry Heads II, representing the office of Assemblymember Mike Gipson,
read a letter written by Assemblymember Gipson and co-authored by
Assemblymembers Atchajian, Gatto, Wilk and Nazarian.

Barry Heads II, representing the office of Assemblymember Mike Gipson,
read a letter written by Assemblymember Gipson and co-authored by
Assemblymembers Atchajian, Gatto, Wilk and Nazarian. “The proposed
moment…. is incredibly insensitive and insulting to the memories of
those who died, and their surviving families,” the letter read. “To
erect a statue of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk ignores the sensitive political
context behind this controversial individual, and goes against the
stance taken by our representative bodies at the state and federal
level. Out of respect for those who perished and the loved ones they
left behind, we voice our opposition.”

Speaking on behalf of the Turkish community was Consul Genaral
of Turkey, Raife Gulru Gezer, who listed the names of political
and religious leaders who have praised Ataturk. She continued by
citing names of Armenians who were honored by Ataturk and insisted
that the monument would be commemorating a remarkable leader and
founder of the modern Republic of Turkey. Aris Aganos, founder of
the American Hellenic Council, shared with the Council his memories
of the haunting stories told by family members about the burning of
Smyrna by the Turks.

ACA Chairman Sevak Khatchadorian, along with Armen Sefyan Esq.;
Glendlae City Clerk Ardashes Kasakhian, and Glendale City Mayot
Zareh Sinanian

Other elected officials who voiced their concerns in opposition to the
monument included City of Montebello Mayor Jack Hadjinian, a direct
descendant of the atrocities committed by Ataturk, who told the City
Council that they would be honoring a man who murdered his family if
they voted in favor of the monument. Glendale Mayor Zareh Sinanyan
also revealed historical information about Ataturk as Glendale City
Clerk Ardashes Kassakhian shared an emotional story about his Greek
and Armenian ancestors who both suffered inhumanity under Ataturk’s
reign of power.

Both sides of the aisle provided testimony, however only 6 speakers
from each side were allowed to speak due to time constraints and an
overwhelming number of speakers – there were 298 speakers in opposition
to the monument and only 101 in support of the monument.

The Mayor had proposed a motion to move the item to the next Council
Meeting, however Councilmembers Robles and Holmes insisted on voting
for the motion. After speaking to the audience about the importance
of reconciliation and moving forward in unity, Mayor Dear, a history
instructor, expressed that he is a proponent of acknowledging the
Armenian Genocide and that there are revisionists who try to deny
that such an event occurred in history.

“The monument would bring bad notoriety to the City of Carson,” said
Councilmember Holmes and continued by stating that city should not
accept the gift.

The Armenian Council of America is a grassroots organization dedicated
to working with all political leaders, offering Armenian related
news, analysis and resources for policymakers, media, students and
activists, advocating issues important to Armenian Americans. The
Armenian Council of America aims to strengthen U.S. – Armenia and U.S.

– Nagorno Karabakh ties, the development of programs promoting
sustainable economic growth and good governance in Armenia, while
promoting the values and responsibilities of global citizenship.

Letter to Carson City Council by Assemblymembers Gipson, Atchajian,
Gatto, Wilk and Nazarian

From: Baghdasarian

RUSSIAN SOLDIER ACCUSED OF KILLING 7 IN ARMENIA TO UNDERGO SANITY EXAM

RAPSI News, Russia
March 5 2015

© RAPSI
14:12 05/03/2015

MOSCOW, March 5 (RAPSI) -Russian soldier Valery Permyakov who stands
charged with fatally shooting seven members of a family in Armenia
must submit to a pretrial sanity examination.

The examination will be conducted at the Russian base located in
Gyumri. It is expected to be complete within two weeks.

An investigation into the murder is being conducted by Russian and
Armenian officials, and all the procedures have been completed,
according to the source.

As a result of an armed assault on January 12 a family of seven was
killed, including a six-month-old baby that died of injuries a week
later. Permyakov was charged with the murder of two or more persons
under the Armenian Criminal Code. He pled guilty later in January.

Investigators interviewed over 30 witnesses and conducted over a
dozen expert reviews.

Chairman of the Russian Investigative Committee Alexander Bastrykin
travelled to Yerevan to coordinate the investigation. Bastrykin
said the trial would take place in Armenia and would be public,
which is intended to illustrate the intention of both countries to
provide justice.

From: Baghdasarian