Cher: ‘Kim Kardashian did us proud with her magazine cover’
Cher has saluted Kim Kardashian for emulating the singer on a new magazine cover.
The Keeping Up with the Kardashians star recently covered Harper’s Bazaar Arabia sporting long, straight, black hair to mimic her pop idol Cher’s 1970s style.
“September Cover channeling my style icon Cher #HarpersBazaarArabia,” Kim wrote on Instagram alongside a picture of the cover.
After Kim revealed the cover and Cher saw other images inspired by her old photoshoots, the Believe singer heaped praise on Kardashian, writing: “My Little Armenian Sister did us both Proud.”
“I love you!!!!” Kim responded.
Kim has been a longtime fan of Cher’s, telling the magazine, “I always look up to other Armenian women. Cher is literally my fashion icon. She’s always had the sickest style. I’m obsessed with her. To think that she was wearing sheer dresses in the 1970s and just what people must have thought back then.”
In 2015, Kardashian paid homage to her fashion icon at the Met Gala in New York. Posting a shot of Cher at the Met Gala in the 1970s on social media, Kim wrote: “Tonight’s inspiration! Cher at the 1st ever Met Gala! I just met her and told her this photo was my inspiration for my dress tonight! She is so beautiful! So happy I met her!”
She later posted a shot of herself with Cher at the bash, and added: “This beauty, this icon! I’m so so happy I met her!!!! We spoke about our amazing Armenian journeys! And that Bob Mackie gown she wore to the Met (in) 1974.”
Mayreni creating her artwork for a new picture book. Photo by Yutaka Kakuma, Glocal Mitaka.
GLENDALE — Glendale resident Mayreni Abajian recently returned from a year abroad in Tokyo, Japan, where the unexpected highlight of her trip was introducing the Japanese people to aspects of her Armenian culture.
Classmates and friends instantly understood that she is an American, but they were surprised to learn about her Armenian heritage, most of them having no real concept of Armenia: its location, history, or culture. Abajian was happy to build bridges to their understanding by sharing information about Armenia with friends and preparing Armenian meals for them. Many of her friends quickly became interested in learning more about Armenia, some even expressing a desire to visit the country.
While studying in Mitaka, Tokyo, Abajian was introduced to “Glocal Mitaka,” an organization whose aim is to bridge the gap between the local Japanese community and foreign exchange students. Mayreni participated in a number of volunteer projects with Glocal Mitaka, including picture-book readings, a slide presentation, and language lessons. Mayreni and some of her classmates would occasionally read picture books to children, which she did in English, Japanese, and Armenian. Abajian developed a brief, interactive language lesson by which she introduced local youths to the Armenian language and alphabet.
Abajian’s most rewarding project was the publication of a new picture book, designed to introduce Japanese children to cultures around the world, including Armenia. Abajian and other foreign exchange students volunteered with Glocal Mitaka to design the story. Each student personally illustrated the pages for his or her culture. Her original drawings depict various aspects of Armenia, including Mt. Ararat, an Armenian church, a girl in traditional clothing, and a table offering foods such as lavash, pomegranates and apricots. Abajian then organized a visit to the Armenian Embassy in Tokyo, where she and Glocal Mitaka introduced the picture book to Ambassador Grant Pogosyan, who offered to promote the project. In May, the embassy displayed excerpts from the picture book at the Armenia Culture Week exhibition in Tokyo. After meeting their fundraising goals, Glocal Mitaka published the book and donated copies to local libraries.
Abajian, a graduate of CV High School, is a senior at the University of California at San Diego where she studies computer science.
PanARMENIAN.Net – Turkey‘s Catholic Armenian community held a religious service on Monday, August 14 in the western city of Izmir’s St. John Cathedral Basilica, Daily Sabah reports.
The Mass bears importance for the community as it is the first time they were able to pray in the historic church in 95 years.
The 19th-century basilica, heavily damaged in the Great Izmir Fire in 1922, was handed over to the use of NATO troops based in the city in the 1960s and was left unused for decades before its restoration in 2013.
Rev. Vartan Kazanciyan from an Istanbul Armenian church presided over the religious service attended by some 150 people.
The basilica was among the properties returned to ethnic and religious minorities after decades of discriminatory state policies toward those minorities.
A year ago today ArturAleksanyan won the 14th gold medal for Armenia in the 31st Summer Olympic Games.
ArturAleksanyan brought the fondest dream of all athletes into reality, when he became the Olympic champion. He won the most desirable title to be always at the very top.
He made everyone feel pride and joy, shine with a happy smile and share the grief of loss at the same time.
Aleksanyan is not an ordinary athlete, so he marked his victory in a completely different manner.
Artur wore a t-shirt with the picture of Robert Abajyan, 19-year-old junior sergeant who lost his life during the April war in 2016. The Olympic champion heroically honored the memory of Armenian martyrs.
Mediamax Sport presents the story of the Olympic t-shirt, told by Artur’s close friend, Greco-Roman wrestler Vagharshak Minasyan.
The secret intention and its realization
The April of 2016 was a tough and dark period in Armenia. The 4-day war touched everyone’s hearts. The Armenian athletes also shared the grief, while the year was very responsible and important for them. They had to prepare for the Olympic Games in Rio at the same period.
The idea of wearing such a shirt in Rio came to Artur during yet another training camp.
We were preparing for the event in August and talking to each other, while the topic of war was always on our minds. Once Artur told me about his intention, and we decided to keep it secret.
Aleksanyan chose the picture of Robert Abajyan, while Minasyan was responsible for ordering the shirt. It was ready only a few days before the team’s departure for Rio.
Artur really wanted to wear the t-shirt but decided to show it only in case of winning the gold medal. It is not allowed to wear t-shirts with anyone’s picture during the prize ceremony of the Olympic Games, otherwise you can be disqualified. Artur took the risk and went for his intention.
Everyone in Gyumri (Artur’s native town) and Yerevan followed the games with enthusiasm. A lot of people, friends and family members came to follow Artur’s decisive fight on the screen, placed in Gyumri Vardanants Square.
When he becamethe Olympic champion, I told everyone that Arturprepared a surprise but did not reveal it. I just said that he will show his t-shirt and you will understand everything, and that’s what happened. It was a very touching moment.
People were so excited towelcome our Olympiansat the airport. I held Artur on my shoulders, and I was really happy to see the incredible joy everywhere.
Victory devoted to heroes
ArturAleksanyan gave his first interview soon after becoming the Olympic champion, when he devoted his victory to the Armenian heroes of April war, all those who lost their lives and those who now protect our borders.
After the April war I was resolved to wear a t-shirt with Robert’s photo in case I win. I would love to have a shirt with photos of all our martyrs, but they are too many, so one shirt is not enough. Robert’s image encompasses all our heroes. This thought came to me as soon as I learned about Abajyan’s feat. I understood a lot thanks to him; I started to realize the true power of the Armenian nation and the way we can use it.
The athlete wished to show the Armenian hero to the whole world, and neither the Olympic Charter nor other restrictions could stop him from bringing his intention into reality.
Canada’s Armenian community has launched a coordinated grassroots and
lobbying campaign to convince the Liberal government to annul export permits for
the sale of Canadian-made armoured personnel carriers to Azerbaijan, according
to Armenian community leaders.
The campaign started after Radio Canada International and CBC reported in
July that the Toronto-based manufacturer INKAS Armored Vehicle Manufacturing
has signed
a deal with Azerbaijan’s interior ministry under which the company
has already delivered “a few” Canadian-made armoured personnel carriers (APCs)
to the oil-rich former Soviet republic.
The privately owned company has also set up a joint venture with an
Azerbaijani firm to produce APCs in Azerbaijan, which has been embroiled in a
simmering armed conflict with neighbouring Armenia since the breakup of the
Soviet Union in the early 1990s, said Roman Shimonov, vice-president of
marketing and business development at INKAS.
Chahé Tanachian, the Montreal-based president of the Canadian-Armenian
Political Affairs Committee, the lobbying arm of the Armenian General Benevolent
Union (AGBU), one of the oldest and largest Armenian Diaspora organizations,
sent a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to express the community’s
concerns.
“Canadians of Armenian descent and human rights activists throughout the
country are dismayed by Global Affairs Canada’s recent approval of the export of
Canadian-made armoured personnel carriers (produced by INKAS Armored Vehicle
Manufacturing) to Azerbaijan,” Tanachian wrote.
“The decision to furnish arms to a country which regularly threatens peace in
the region is one that violates all the principles that we as Canadians stand
for, and which Global Affairs Canada seeks to promote in the world.”
The controversy over the sale of INKAS APCs to Azerbaijan comes as the
government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is dealing with the outcry
over revelations by Radio
Canada International that very similar armoured vehicles produced by another
Canadian manufacturer, Terradyne Armored Vehicles, were
used by Saudi security forces in their heavy-handed crackdown on a
Shia-populated town in the kingdom’s restive Qatif region, as well as the
ongoing controversy over the sale of $15 billion worth of Light Armoured
Vehicles (LAVs) to the ultra-conservative kingdom.
Sevag Belian, executive director of the Armenian National Committee of Canada
(ANCC), one of the main groups lobbying the government on issues of concern of
the Canadian-Armenian community, said the news of the exports of armoured
personnel carriers to Azerbaijan created “great outrage” in the community.
“We reached out to the concerned governmental departments and agencies,
namely Global Affairs Canada,” Belian said in an interview with Radio Canada
International.
(click to listen to the interview with Sevag Belian)
Listen
The ANCC has also reached out to more than 50 Members of Parliament,
requesting them to make either oral or written representations to Global Affairs
to relay the message that the entire Canadian Armenian community “is absolutely
appalled,” Belian said.
The ANCC has activated a national grass roots campaign and set up a mass
email campaign appealing to the government to annul permits for the export of
Canadian-made defence equipment to Azerbaijan, he said.
The campaign has bombarded the Liberal government with over 1,200 emails and
letters, requesting a meeting with top government officials to discuss the
issue, Belian said.
Adam Austen, Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland’s spokesman, said
Parliamentary Secretary Matt DeCourcey will be meeting with the representatives
of the Armenian community at the earliest possible convenience.
“Armenia is a close friend and ally of Canada,” Austen said. “We have strong
people-to-people ties and an economic relationship that benefits both countries.
We are proud to work closely with the Armenian community in Canada as well as
the Armenian government.”
However, Azerbaijan’s envoy in Canada dismissed the campaign by the Armenian
community as “hysteria.”
“The illegal presence of Armenian armed forces in the occupied territories of
Azerbaijan remains a main cause for the escalation of the situation and
continues to pose a threat to regional peace and stability,” Azerbaijan’s Chargé
d’Affaires in Ottawa Ramil Huseynli said in a written statement. “In contrast,
the acquisition of armoured personnel carriers from a Canadian company does not
pose such a threat, as these vehicles are intended only for law enforcement and
civilian transport.”
Cooperation between the Canadian company and its Azerbaijani counterpart
creates jobs for Canadians, the envoy said.
“In this light, the hysteria of the Armenian community, who should put
Canadian interests above the rest, is unintelligible,” said Huseynli.
Groups such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have criticized
Azerbaijan’s human rights record and accused it of a “thorough crackdown on
dissenting voices,” as well as persistent reports of torture and other
ill-treatment perpetrated by its law enforcement agencies.
In November 2015, Azerbaijani police used Israeli-made armoured personnel
carriers similar to those produced by INKAS in a controversial security
operation that resulted in the death of six people and dozens of arrests in the
town of Nardaran, about 30 kilometres northeast of the capital Baku.
The federal government granted INKAS permits for the export of APCs despite
its own ongoing concerns over Azerbaijan’s poor human rights record. In a
statement sent to RCI earlier, Global Affairs officials admitted that Canada is
“concerned with the recurring crackdown on fundamental freedoms in Azerbaijan,
particularly with respect to journalists and human rights defenders in the
country.”
In addition, INKAS and AZCAN, its joint venture company in Azerbaijan, laud
the military applications of their vehicles in the sales pitch.
According to data collected by the Stockholm International Peace Research
Institute (SIPRI) over the last two decades, Azerbaijan has spent over $30
billion ($25 billion US) of its oil wealth to rearm and retrain its military,
purchasing high-tech weapons and munitions from Russia, Israel, Turkey, Ukraine
and Pakistan.
According to the 2016 Report on Exports of Military Goods from Canada,
Azerbaijan bought $378,705 worth of fire arms and ground vehicles in Canada.
Ottawa, however, denied a permit for the export of automatic firearms to
Azerbaijan in 2016 because it is not on Canada’s list of countries authorised
for exports of such weapons.
Belian said they cannot accept assurances from Canadian officials that
Canadian weapons being exported to Azerbaijan will not be used against civilians
or Armenian soldiers along the frontline of Nagorno-Karabakh.
“It’s a matter of principle,” Belian said. “Canada is becoming complicit in
further empowering the dictatorial regime in Baku and becoming complicit in
their efforts of suppressing the very fundamental rights that Canadian soldiers
have shed their blood for.”
As a full member of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
(OSCE) Canada can play a pivotal role in the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh
crisis by exerting pressure on Azerbaijan to make sure it agrees to a beefed up
ceasefire monitoring regime along the frontline between the two opposing forces,
Belian said.
Canada also fully supports the OSCE’s efforts to forge a peaceful and
comprehensive settlement between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karbakh
region, Austen said.
“We fully agree with the OSCE Minsk group that a military solution is not the
answer,” Austen said.
Armenpress News Agency , Armenia
Thursday
MG Co-Chairs understand that the reason of impossibility of progress
on NK conflict is Azerbaijan – deputy FM
YEREVAN, AUGUST 10, ARMENPRESS. The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs have
one task in the negotiations over the settlement of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict - to prevent all possible military developments,
Shavarsh Kocharyan – deputy minister of foreign affairs of Armenia,
told reporters after the Cabinet meeting, reports Armenpress.
“Their number one task is to take steps to reduce level of military
tension. The next mission of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs is to
contribute to the sides to come to an agreement”, the deputy FM said,
adding that the Co-Chairs are focused on this issue.
According to Kocharyan, they understand very well that it’s impossible
to speak about any progress on this issue and the reason of that is
Azerbaijan with its policy. The deputy FM said as before Azerbaijan
hopes to resolve the conflict by force, be it in the line of contact
with Artsakh and in the border with Armenia. According to him, even
though now there may be a relative silence along the line of contact
with Artsakh, incidents are taking place both there and in the border
with Armenia. “All this yet again shows that Azerbaijan is not
inclined to a peaceful settlement of the conflict and as before it
hopes to solve it by force”, Shavarsh Kocharyan said.
Armenian foreign minister Edward Nalbandian earlier informed that the
foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan will meet in New York in
the second half of September.
COURTESY PHOTO | Cover of the book ‘The Resurrection of an Armenian Girl’
“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of un-important people … Go ahead, destroy Armenia. See if you can do it … For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.”
—Excerpted from a quote by William Saroyan.
The revitalization of the spirit and wisdom of a grandmother, of a people and how that “will to live with compassion” is absorbed through generations.
Islander Richard Tarpinian has an amazing story to tell — of a son and that son’s intimate connection to his grandmother and ultimate book about her growing up and, at age 11, surviving the Armenian genocide of 1915. The story told in this brand new book and the surrounding context of the people involved will be the subject of our August 4 Friday Night Dialogue at the Shelter Island Library.
Richard’s late son and author, Stephen Tarpinian, was a revered swim coach, well known triathlon and ironman organizer and athlete who authored several important sports books and videos. Stephen as a true teacher, believed in people and uniquely drew their stories out as he did with his trusting grandmother, Hripsime Hekimian Tarpinian (Helen).
The story of her youth, her family and town’s death march from Sivas, Turkey to the Syrian desert is at once horrifying and uplifting. Her ultimate survival, rehabilitation and search for her brother, all the while trying to get out from under the hostility towards the Armenians, leads her to America. A new life, freedom and equality for Christians, she becomes a wife and mother … and we are left to ponder what is in her heart after witnessing all-too-vividly what men, at their depths, are capable of doing to each other.
By writing “The Resurrection of an Armenian Girl,” Stephen ensured that Helen, and this tragedy that beset the Armenian people, would never be forgotten.
Upon his unexpected death in 2015, his family and loved ones took up his cause. They finished the book as a tribute to Helen and Stephen and added an epilogue about Helen’s connection to the survivors and her enduring legacy of love and light.
A must for history buffs and an exciting page-turner of a true story you will not soon forget, this book leaves you thinking and appreciating life. Free copies of the book will be available. Donations will go to the Stephen Tarpinian Memorial Fund which provides triathalon grants and scholarships to high school swimmers, bikers and runners.
Join us on Friday, August 4 at 7 p.m. at the Library.
European Parliament representatives take interest in Karabakh conflict
20:17, 24.07.2017
YEREVAN. – Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Garen Nazarian on Monday received representatives of different subunits of the European Parliament.
At the meeting the Deputy FM briefed the latter on the efforts exerted by Armenia and the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing states towards resolving the Karabakh issue.
Apart from this, reference was made to the recent developments of Armenian-EU relations, work related to the formation of the legal and contractual framework carried out in different spheres, as well as the participation of Armenia in the EU projects, the MFA press service informed Armenian News – NEWS.am
Deputy FM Nazarian stressed that the majority of the commitments reflected in the joint declaration of Riga Summit have been implemented. In this context, he underscored the importance of active cooperation both with the EU organizations, including the European Parliament, and the EU member states.
Upon the request of the guests, Garen Nazarian touched on the efforts being exerted by Armenia and the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing states towards creating relevant conditions for advancing the process of peaceful resolution of the Karabakh issue. He also stressed that the destructive and provocative steps of Baku hinder these efforts.
Furthermore, the Armenian Deputy FM responded to various questions on pressing regional issues.
It was agreed to hold continuous meetings this format in order to address the issues on the agenda.
Deutsche Presse-Agentur
July 20, 2017 Thursday 9:53 AM EST
Azerbaijan jails travel blogger for 3 years for trip to disputed land
DPA POLITICS Azerbaijan conflict Armenia Azerbaijan jails travel
blogger for 3 years for trip to disputed land Moscow
A court in the former Soviet republic of Azerbaijan
sentenced Russian travel blogger Alexander Lapshin on Thursday to
three years in prison for visiting the disputed region of
Nagorno-Karabakh.
The region, which comprises about 4,500 square kilometres within
predominantly Muslim Azerbaijan, is controlled by Christian Armenian
separatists. Azerbaijan and neighbouring Armenia have fought over the
land for decades.
Lapshin, who also has Israeli and Ukrainian citizenship, was found
guilty of crossing into the region from the Armenian side without
Azerbaijan's authorization. He was detained in Belarus last year and
extradited to Azerbaijan.
YEREVAN, July 20. /ARKA/. Armenia’s economic activity index for Jan-June 2017 rose 6.1%, compared with that of the same period a year earlier, the National Statistical Service reported on Thursday.
The economic activity growth has been ensured by three segments of the national economy – industry, trade and services.
The country’s industrial output amounted to AMD 760.3 billion in Jan-June 2017 accounting for a 12.4% year-on-year growth, services totaled AMD 648.7 billion with a 10.9% growth and domestic trade turnover grew 12.6% to AMD 1 121.7 billion.
Instead, the construction sector, with its AMD 11.7 billion in Jan-June 2017, faced a 10% year-on-year decline, and agriculture, with its AMD 247.1 billion, accounted for a 1.4% gross product decline.
Inflation was recorded at 0.5% in Jan-June 2017.
Armenia’s foreign trade amounted to about $2 815.1 million in Jan-June 2017 with a 24% year-on-year growth.
In the government budget for 2017, economic growth is projected at 3.2%. ($1 – AMD 478.54). –0—