ArmInfo.The Swedish government has withdrawn its decision to finance a Swedish- Azerbaijani company that organized all-inclusive tours to Azerbaijan last year.
As Swedish journalist Rasmus Canback wrote on his Twitter page, the company sued the Swedish government in connection with the termination of subsidies, but the Swedish court declared Azerbaijan an anti-democratic state and rejected the company’s complaint.
ArmInfo.Head of the General Department of Defense Policy and International Cooperation of Armenia Levon Ayvazyan received the delegation led by the Head of the Regional Military Cooperation Directorate of the US European Command, Colonel Jeffrey Wright.
According to the press service of the Armenian Defense Ministry, during the meeting the issues of the Armenian-American cooperation in the field of defense were discussed. The parties confirmed their readiness to develop cooperation in the field of military education, military medicine, peacekeeping and other areas.
Issues of regional security were also discussed.
John Altoon
Untitled, 1969
Ink and Pastel on Paper
63’ X 43’
Courtesy of the Joan and Jack Quinn Family Collection
WATERTOWN, Mass. – The Armenian Museum of America is pleased to present its largest contemporary exhibition On the Edge: Los Angeles Art 1970s – 1990s from the Joan and Jack Quinn Family Collection. This selection of work explores a period that is pivotal to understanding current practices and the West Coast mentality. Included are Lita Albuquerque, John Altoon, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Lynda Benglis, Vija Celmins, Gregory Wiley Edwards, Claire Falkenstein, Frank Gehry, David Hockney, John M. Miller, Helmut Newton, Ed Ruscha, Andy Warhol and more.
On the Edge premiered at the Bakersfield Museum of Art in 2021 and was curated by Rachel McCullah Wainwright. “The work and artists on display have come to represent a period of history that transformed art making,” said Wainwright. “Art made in Los Angeles during the late 1960s and 1970s onward is defined by a unique spirit of anti-conformity, a play of new materials, a celebration of light and the California cool ethos.”
Part of what makes the collection so unique is its foundation in friendship between artist and collector. “Few individuals have left such an indelible mark on the artistic landscape of Southern California more than the Quinns” says Wainwright.
Newly married in the 1960s, Joan and Jack took to collecting early. “We reveled in our friendship with the artists as we brought our communities together,” notes Quinn. Jack used his skills as a prominent and influential attorney to help an array of emerging artists and their dealers navigate the worlds of law and business, while Joan found herself both muse and promoter.
The companion exhibit Discovering Takouhi: Portraits of Joan Agajanian Quinn is curated by Natalie Varbedian and Gina Grigorian and includes Armenian artists such as Dahlia Elsayed, Jean Kazanjian, Silvina Der Meguerditchian, Ara Oshagan, Zaven Sarkissian and Aram Saroyan. The distinctive works are a selection from Quinn’s unprecedented collection of portraits consisting of over 300 gifts by friends who have painted, sculpted and photographed her image in their style.
Ara Oshagan
Untitled, 2013
Archival pigment photographic print
19” x 23”
Courtesy of the Joan and Jack Quinn Family Collection (Photo: Alan Shaffer)
“We are incredibly excited to exhibit these prominent works owned by American-Armenian collector Joan Agajanian Quinn,” says AMA executive director Jason Sohigian. “We are a living museum that preserves and shares ancient and medieval artifacts and has a long tradition of also highlighting modern art in our galleries. These are certainly exhibits you will not want to miss.”
Joan is the co-host of Beverly Hills View and has been the producer and host of the Joan Quinn Profiles for over 35 years. The Los Angeles native was west coast editor of Andy Warhol’s Interview, society editor of Hearst’s Los Angeles Herald Examiner and the founding west coast editor of Condé Nast Traveler. She has been appointed to an array of city and state commissions; in 2017, she received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
The exhibition opens on Thursday, June 16 with a reception for Museum members at 5:00 pm and a preview for non-members at 7:00 pm. It runs from June 16 to November 30 and is generously sponsored by the JHM Charitable Foundation.
The Armenian Museum of America’s galleries are open Thursday through Sunday from 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm, and it is located at 65 Main Street, Watertown, MA.
The Armenian national team presented the third set of the kit.
The technical sponsor of the Armenian team is Macron.
10:46, 26 May 2022
YEREVAN, MAY 26, ARMENPRESS. (Press Release, Artsakh MFA) On May 23-25, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh David Babayan paid a working visit to the Republic of South Ossetia to participate in the inauguration ceremony of the newly elected President of the Republic, Alan Gagloyev.
During the inauguration ceremony, the Foreign Minister of Artsakh read out the congratulatory address of the President of the Republic of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunian.
During the visit, Minister Babayan was received by newly elected President of South Ossetia Alan Gagloyev. The Minister had also a meeting with Acting Foreign Minister Dmitry Medoyev. A wide range of issues related to the Artsakh-South Ossetia relations and regional processes were discussed at the meetings. The sides noted the importance of consistent development and deepening of relations, expansion of cooperation between different state and public structures.
Within the framework of the visit, David Babayan delivered a lecture at the South Ossetian State University He briefed on the origin of the Azerbaijani-Karabagh conflict and the current realities, as well as touched upon the centuries-old Armenian-Ossetian ties. At the end of the lecture, the Foreign Minister answered the questions of the University’s lecturers and students.
During the visit, the Foreign Minister also met with representatives of the Armenian community of the Republic of South Ossetia. Minister Babayan noted the importance of strengthening the Homeland-Diaspora ties, as well as highly appreciated the special attitude of the South Ossetian authorities towards the Armenian community of the country, proudly stressing that the local Armenians manage not only to maintain their national identity and connection with the historical homeland, but also to be exemplary and patriotic citizens of South Ossetia.
Chief of Staff of the Foreign Ministry of the Republic of Artsakh Semyon Afiyan accompanied the Minister during the visit.
By Trend
Armenian opposition announces 40,000 march of its supporters in Yerevan on Saturday evening, Trend reports citing Armenian media.
“According to conservative estimates, more than 40,000 people are currently participating in the National Resistance Movement rally in Yerevan. The number of protesters is replenished with new participants,” Vice Chairman of the Republican Party headed by ex-President of Armenia Serj Sargsyan Armen Ashotyan said.
He noted that the protesters are demanding the immediate resignation of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
The Armenian Series of The Press at California State University, Fresno announced the publication of its fifteenth volume, entitled “From My Life and Thought: Reflections on an Armenian-American Journey,”—a memoir by Dennis R. Papazian, a well-known community leader, Professor Emeritus of History, and founding Director of the Armenian Research Center at the University of Michigan, Dearborn.
Writer Michael Bobelian, who provides the foreword to the volume, describes the post-genocide, twentieth century Armenian-American experience as one that witnessed the transformation of the community from one of “widows and orphans” with “little economic or political clout” to a community able to come together in pursuit of more ambitious goals of genocide recognition, political advocacy, academic excellence, and success in business and other professions.
“Born in 1931,” Bobelian writes, “Dennis’s life spanned this epoch, a crucial time in Armenian-American history that has long been overlooked by Armenians who have otherwise dedicated immense resources to preserving their culture. In fact, other than the late Vartan Gregorian, none of Dennis’s peers have produced an account of this time period.”
According to Bobelian, “this memoir provides readers with a much-needed front-row seat of this transformative era. Dennis’s account of the changes endured by the Armenian-American community offers a behind-the-scenes look at some of the leading institutions and individuals of his generation: Alex Manoogian, William Saroyan, and the Catholicos all make appearances in these pages. What makes Dennis so atypical is the different hats he wore. As a scholar, community leader, and spokesperson, Dennis served the Armenian-American community in myriad ways: participating in academic organizations, speaking to the press, lobbying politicians, delivering speeches, doling out grants, and so much more.”
In “From My Life and Thought: Reflections on an Armenian-American Journey,” Papazian shares his reflections on a quintessentially twentieth-century American life shaped by the challenges of the immigrant experience, his family’s struggle to create a life in a new land, and his determined efforts to secure an education that would ensure a life of security and the promise of the American dream.
From left: Marie Papazian, Dr. Mary Papazian, Ani Papazian, Dr. Dennis Papazian
Born 90 years ago in the pre-World War II, pre-civil rights American South of Armenian immigrant parents from Istanbul, Turkey, Papazian pursued a Ph.D. in Russian history, becoming one of the first American students to study in the then Soviet Union during the height of the Cold War. Not only did this experience open the world to him, it also placed him in the center of major geo-political events, teaching him nuance and perspective that would lead him to become a highly sought analyst as the Soviet Union broke apart decades later.
Upon his return to Michigan, Papazian went on to live a life of contribution and service as he engaged in a decades-long career in higher education as an educator, scholar, and administrator. During this period, he also became a key leader in the emergence of an Armenian-American community just finding its footing fifty years after the 1915 Armenian Genocide, where he made significant contributions to multiple Armenian community, religious, academic, and political institutions.
“Alongside Dennis’s exploration of Armenian-American life,” Bobelian writes, “there is plenty of adventure within these pages. His time as a graduate student in Moscow at the height of the Cold War reads—at times—like a lighthearted John le Carré novel. Papazian barely survived a plane crash and had face-to-face interactions with Eleanor Roosevelt, John Kennedy, and Dwight Eisenhower along the way.” And while Dennis’s life placed him in the center of the rebirth of the Armenian community in America, it also is a classic American immigrant tale, one in which, according to Bobelian, “he regularly navigated life as a hyphenated American, shuffling—as many Armenians do—between various cultures and multiple identities.”
In “From My Life and Thought,” Papazian shares his resilience, keen sense of perception, and vision, as well as the memorable characters he meets along the way, as he reflects on his consequential, eventful, and at times surprising life. Through it all, he writes with humor and wit, as he tells a story that will inspire readers of all generations and backgrounds and give hope to all who join him on his journey.
The Armenian Series at California State University, Fresno was established through the generous support of the M. Victoria Karagozian Kazan and Henry S. Khanzadian Kazan Endowment. Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian is the general editor of the series.
“From My Life and Thought: Reflections on an Armenian-American Journey” is available at Abril Bookstore or the NAASR bookstore.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a private talk with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin.
“We regularly keep in contact on all issues of the bilateral agenda and on regional issues, however, there are always a lot of questions – this is obvious given the intensity of our dialogue,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the beginning o fthe meeting.
Putin noted that over the past year the two countries have seen a decent growth in trade, investments continue. “We continue to work actively together in the settlement of the Karabakh issue – already in a trilateral format, together with our partners from Azerbaijan,” he added.
“There are a lot of questions, I am glad to have the opportunity to meet with you both and talk about this entire complex,” Putin said.
Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan, in turn, expressed gratitude for organizing the CSTO Jubilee Summit and for the traditionally warm reception.
“Of course, the 30th anniversary of the Collective Security Treaty and the 20th anniversary of the Collective Security Treaty Organization are significant events, and I think we had a very meaningful conversation. It is very important that this conversation is aimed at the future, the further development of our organization,” Pashinyan said.
“Of course, less than a month has passed since my first official visit to the Russian Federation. We had a very meaningful conversation then, and as you rightly pointed out, our bilateral agenda is so rich that we can meet more often,” the Armenian PM said.
“In terms of the economy, I would like to note that after a certain decline in March, there is an intensification of bilateral economic ties. We see investment interest from Russian business that wants to invest in Armenia. And I know that you are encouraging Russian businessmen to invest in Armenia. I want to thank you for that,” Nikol Pashinyan added.
“Of course, I hope that today we will discuss issues related to regional security, stability, the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, as we mentioned in our joint statement, as well as the important role of the OSCE Minsk Group,” the Armenian PM said.
10:57, 18 May, 2022
YEREVAN, MAY 18, ARMENPRESS. For about two years the joint project of the Foundation for Armenian Science and Technology (FAST) and the Armenian Ministry of Defense gives new opportunities to pre-conscription age men to serve their scientific, technological, engineering and math knowledge in the targeted sectors of the Armenian Armed Forces.
FAST organizes trainings 6 months before each draft. This 6-month training is free of charge and is a wonderful educational and professional opportunity for future conscripts to prepare as much as possible for the entrance exam to the “Unit 1991” that is organized by the Ministry of Defense. Participants, who successfully complete all the exams, start service in the Unit.
Speaking to ARMENPRESS, one of the program trainers Nshan Potikyan said that the preparation courses started in January 2020. “The courses allow all future conscripts to deeply study the directions of data science and artificial intelligence, by paying great attention to the respective sections of higher mathematics and programming”, he said.
Potikyan said one of the goals of the project was to ensure continuous education, because now pre-conscription age men, after entering a university, are immediately drafted into the army. That’s why the necessity of this training emerged so that these men serve in the special unit and also continue their professional education.
Talking about the opportunities of the course, the specialist said that those participants, who fail to enter into the service in the “Unit 1991”, get knowledge in any case and at least understand what is artificial intelligence. As for those who succeed, they gain much more knowledge and skills during their service years, as well as bring their contribution to important projects in the Armed Forces. And most importantly, he noted, that these men start their future career from an early age.
“The program is intended for pre-conscription age men and young women who have at least a Bachelor’s degree in science, technologies, engineering and mathematics and are ready to join the Defense Ministry’s projects after the completion of the course on voluntary or contract basis. Applicants, who pass the stages of testing and interviewing, participate in the 6-month and 12-month free course on data science and artificial intelligence”, Potikyan said.
He said the course consists of 5 parts: Mathematics, Programming, Machine Learning, Deep Learning and graduation programs.
Alexander and Hovhannes, who participated in the previous stage of the preparation course, are currently waiting for their turn of conscription in direction of machine learning and artificial intelligence.
They say that the project enabled them to study and specialize in mathematics and to some extent in programming. It also allowed them to enter into the world of artificial intelligence they had no idea about before.
The current participant of the course Koryun said he had no idea about artificial intelligence before. “By learning about the project I applied and now I am very happy because I get a lot of knowledge and I am sure that we will become a specialist to some extent after the completion of the project”, he said.
A total of 410 young people participated in the preparation courses of the Unit 1991. A new admission is expected soon and will be announced in advance.
Interview by Gayane Gaboyan
Photos by Hayk Badalyan
17:11,
YEREVAN, MAY 18, ARMENPRESS. On May 18, Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan, who is on a working visit in Brussels, paid tribute and laid a wreath at the Khachkar-monument dedicated to the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims in Henri Michaux Square in Brussels, the Armenian Foreign Ministry said.
The khachkar-monument had recently been vandalized, then hours later it was restored with the efforts of the city authorities.