Author: Ekmekjian Janet

Users of the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) are voting politically on The Promise without having seen it, writes.

The Terry George-directed film stars Christian Bale and Oscar Isaac and is set during the final days of the Ottoman Empire, leading up to the Armenian Genocide that killed 1.5 million.

Despite having been screened to the public three times only, The Promise now has 86,704 ratings on , 55,126 of which are one-star and 30,639 of which are 10-star, with very few ratings falling anywhere in between. The majority of votes come from males outside the US.

It is IMDb’s policy not to interfere with user ratings, but many have called for the database to step in following the tide of negative ratings.

According to the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), pro-Turkey Armenian Genocide deniers have begun efforts to undermine the film, urging negative reviews and ratings on popular movie sites including IMDB, where over 80,000 ratings have been logged, most from outside Canada – the only venue where the film has been shown.

Armenian American billionaire Kirk Kerkorian’s Armenian Genocide-era epic The Promise premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on September 11th to wide acclaim.

The French Senate just voted 156 to 146 to pass a bill criminalizing the denial of the Armenian Genocide of 1915, LaProvence.com reports.

The text is consistent with that adopted by the National Assembly.

Oxford University has come top of the Times Higher Education world university rankings, the BBC reports.

Oxford knocks California Institute of Technology, the top performer for the past five years, into second place.

The rankings show a mixed picture for European universities, while Asian institutions continue to rise.

The Times Higher tables rank universities worldwide on measures including teaching, research and international outlook – for example, numbers of overseas students and staff.

Editor of the rankings Phil Baty said it was “fantastic news” Oxford had come top, but the UK’s vote to leave the European Union was a big threat to the sector.

 Horizon Weekly – On Monday, September 19 2016, the Armenian National Committee of Canada (ANCC) hosted a Reception on Parliament Hill, where over 50 Ministers, Members of Parliament, Senators and staff gathered to celebrate this milestone.

 During the event, following opening remarks delivered by the ANCC, MP Harold Albrecht (Former Chair of the Canada-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group), MP Arnold Chan (Current Chair of the Canada-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group), MP Alexandre Boulerice (Vice Chair of the Canada-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group) and His Excellency Armen Yeganian, Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia in Canada offered their congratulatory messages.

Ambassador Yeganian’s speech is provided below:

Honorable members of Parliament,
Distinguished guests,

I am delighted to stand before you, within the grand walls of Parliament. First, I would like to thank Members of Parliament, especially those who are or have been the members of the Canadian-Armenian Parliamentary Friendship Group, for many years of mutual cooperation. Armenia pays great importance to the development and deepening of friendly relations with Canada. Together, we are strengthening relations between our two countries.

The cooperation of our respective parliaments within the framework of international organizations is ongoing and increasing. We work together closely within the International Organization of La Francophonie. I have to say that over the course of last 5 years we have had an unprecedented number of mutual visits on the level of parliamentary delegations. Jim Karygiannis and Stephane Dion visited Armenia and Artsakh, two parliamentary secretaries Deepak Obhrai and Chungsen Leung led the delegation that participated at our President’s inauguration, Jason Kenney in his capacity as Multiculturalism Minister visited Armenia in 2014 and last year we had Chris Alexander heading delegation for Centennial events and Christian Paradis participating at Francophone Ministers’ summit in Yerevan. Similarly we had number of Armenian MPs and Ministers paying visits to Canada.

The sincere attitude of Canada towards the Armenian people was displayed through the number of resolutions recognizing the Armenian Genocide, an approach, which was reaffirmed in 2015. In doing so, Canada emphasized its commitment to stand against injustice and crimes against humanity, and demonstrated its commitment to ensure such crimes perpetrated against mankind, will always be condemned and prevented.

We understand and respect Canadian government’s balanced position on the issue of conflict resolution in Artsakh, Nagorno-Karabakh.

Dear guests,

Armenia marked the 98th Anniversary of the establishment of its First Republic in May of this year, and I congratulate all of us on that occasion.

For us, this is the day to reflect on what our people were able to save and protect. In establishing the First Republic, we saved the last piece of our birthplace and the last remnants of our nation. It was a difficult matter to accept, but it was the reality. The bleeding Armenian nation, on the verge of annihilation, just three years after 1915 was able to stand up to the enemy, to prevail, and throw the enemy back. Many consider the heroic battles of May and their victorious outcome a miracle. We prevailed, we survived, and we finally liberated ourselves after 600 years of torture. Our independence and our statehood were not a gift to us. We paid the highest price possible. We did it alone; moreover, we did it against all odds.

At the same time, we mark the 25th Anniversary of Armenia’s Independence exactly in two days. The Armenian people’s thousand year long march has filled each page of our history books with countless memories, has filled it with tears of joy, pain of loss; it has filled it with resolve to rise in the face of adversary and struggle against injustice; it has filled it with the prayers of hopeless nights and promising victories that come with the first rays of sunlight as dawn breaks. Our people perfectly recollect every single page of our history, a history of their struggle. They remember those who have fallen as we advance on our age-old path and celebrate each day of our victorious unity. 25 years ago a new page was written in gold; inscribed in our history book. On September 21, 1991, an entire nation stood and unanimously announced to the world that they assume anew the burden, responsibility, and honor of mastering their own destiny. And every year, as we look ahead we vow that we are the guarantors of calm mornings for our children and peaceful sunsets for our parents, it is us, the united Armenian People.

The tongue we speak is Armenian, in which we prayed at the dawn of civilization and which can be heard today at the different corners of the world. It can be heard thanks to the absolute unity demonstrated by our people 25 years ago. That unity has not only granted us independence, but has also given us the power to fight and the spirit to create over the course of two and a half decades. The State, the Army, the market economy and civil society have been the institutions that we established as our unambiguous response to the chance given to us by time and challenges imposed upon us.

Dear friends,

September 21st marks revival of our people that survived the first genocide of the 20th century – one of the gratest crimes against humanity.

Yes, our history book is also filled with lines fraught with our people’s blood. We remember those lines very well. We will continue to remember it as long as the blood of our ancestors martyred by the Ottoman Empire’s sword in Van, Mush, Trabzon, Yerznka, Marash, Sebastia, Erzurum and Kharberd has not frozen in our veins. We distinguish ourselves by doing everything possible so that never again shall our people face the danger of annihilation. We hold dearly in our hearts the belief that in a world full of contradictions and dangers, the only true guarantor of the Armenian people is a sovereign and independent Armenian state. We know, beyond doubt, that people are the only source of power. We have confidence that unity will prevail when we arrive at decisive turns and monumental challenges as we march forward in time, writing our history book.

September 21 is the symbol of our faith, our convictions and our confidence. Once again congratulations on Independence Day!

Long live the Republic of Armenia!

The probably of resumption of military actions is high, NKR Defense Minister, Colonel General Levon Mnatsakanyan said in an interview with agency.

“The behavior of the rival allows to conclude that it has not completely refused from its plans. Therefore, the resumption of military actions is possible any time in the future,” the Minister said.

He added, however, that “the April war has somewhat restrained the rival.” “This can be seen in their statements. Before they were declaring they would win the war in three days, while now they refrain from such rhetoric,” Colonel General Levon Mnatsakanyan said. He voiced hope the Azeri side would completely refuse from its intentions.

Speaking about Azeri threats to hit capital Stepanakert and civilian objects from Smerch multiple rocket launchers, the Minister said: “If Azerbaijan strikes Stepanakert, corresponding measures will be taken.” he did not go into detail about the measures, but noted that the response would be incomparable.

Referring to the losses the NKR Defense Army sustained during the April war, Minister Mnatsakanyan said: “Who says the losses were great? Of course, every loss is important to us, we deem any loss unacceptable. The military actions are cruel in the respect that they lead to human and material losses. Therefore, it is unacceptable to give any assessment as to whether the number of losses was great or not.” He added that “the losses of the Azeri side were several times greater than ours, even considering that they used the unexpectedness factor and elite military units. That’s why I consider that the NKR Defense Army has coped with its task with honor and valor. The rival has understood that all its aggressive steps are doomed to fail in the future.”

“We lost some positions as we did not expect attacks all along the line of contact,” he said, adding that “it actually did not affect the capacities of the Defense Army.” “The troops fulfill their task at the frontline. Of course, it would be better had we not lost the posts. However, in the short period of time we had before the ceasefire, we regained considerable part of the positions. Should the military actions continue, we’ll have broader opportunities. Nevertheless, I don’t think the losses are irretrievable. I believe we’ll still have a chance to regain our lost positions,” Minister Mnatsakanyan said.

On 8 July Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan received chairman of the Pan-Armenian Games’ International Committee Ishkhan Zakaryan, Armenian Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Gabriel Ghazaryan and a group of officials representing these two structures.

Issues related to the organization of the 7^th Pan-Armenian summer games to be held in Artsakh in 2019  were discussed during the meeting.

President Sahakyan highlighted holding the Pan-Armenian games in Artsakh from the viewpoints of developing the sphere of sports and culture, as well as cementing the Armenia-Artsakh-Diaspora trinity underlining that everything possible would be done for organizing the games at the highest level.

National Assembly chairman Ashot Ghoulyan, prime-minister Arayik Haroutyun and other officials were present at the meeting.

An Armenian government delegation headed by Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan will leave for Russia tonight for a working visit.

On June 8 the Prime Minister will participate in the regular sitting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation between Armenia and Russia to be held in St. Petersburg.

Photo: AFP/ADEM ALTAN

 

Putin has received Erdogan’s message where he apologized for death of Russian Su-24 pilot and expressed readiness to resume relations with Russia, Kremlin spokesman has said.

According to the Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Erdogan “is sorry” and is willing to deal with the crisis in the relations between two countries, Sputnik News reports.

Photo: Twitter/ Amichai Stein

 

An armed man wearing a mask is reported to have opened fire at a cinema complex in western Germany, the BBC reports.

German media report that at least 20 people have been injured in the attack at the Kinopolis complex in Viernheim, near Frankfurt.

They say the gunman is inside the complex and surrounded by armed police, who have sealed off the area.

It is unclear whether he is alone or if he has taken hostages.

Photo: Getty Images

 

The French government has urged cities hosting Euro 2016 matches to ban alcohol near venues and fan zones, the reports.

It follows three days of clashes between fans and police in Marseille.

Uefa is investigating after Russia supporters appeared to rush at England fans in the stadium after their draw on Saturday. It has threatened to ban both teams if there is further fan violence.

The UK government has offered to send extra British police ahead of England’s next match in Lens on Thursday.

French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said: “I have asked for all necessary measures to be taken to prohibit the sale, consumption and transport of alcoholic drinks in sensitive areas on match days and the day before, and on days when fan zones are open.”

The ban will include public areas, as well as shops and off-licences, Mr Cazeneuve said.

Senior local officials can also ban bars and cafes from serving drinks on their terraces in containers that can be used as missiles.

“The events which took place in Marseille… are unacceptable. Unacceptable for the authorities, unacceptable for society, unacceptable for football lovers,” Mr Cazeneuve said.