Author: Hovhannisian John

Armenia And Ancient Egypt

Hovhannisian John
AllinNet
June 4 2017
June 4, 2017 Vigen Avetisyan Interesting

It appears that Armenians might be the only survived nation tradition, mythology and language of which kept the significance and meanings of forgotten Sumer, Mesopotamia and Egypt cultures.

Hardly preserved, scarred fragments of the ancient Armenian culture can serve as a bridge to understanding the historical experience and values of the said cultures.

In the culture of Ancient Egypt we can find quite a few fragments and traces of the once influential Armenian presence. As Robac wrote: “Around 3600 BC people of a different physical type appeared in Egypt: more squat, broad-leaved and more heavy-weight in appearance.

They were possibly Armenoids who came in small groups from Syria and Palestine. Most likely, they were ones who brought metalworking skills with them, because after 3600 static agricultural communities began to develop.”

It was with their help the reign of the first pharaohs began, the very first of which was Mina (Man, Menes, Minas). The Egyptian Copts still use “Ara”, which means father, lord, as a way of respectful addressing.

“Heiress of the throne, beneficent, the embodiment of beauty, the sweetness of love, Lady of North and South, beloved of Aten in flesh, the first wife of the pharaoh, beloved master of both lands, great in love and forever living Nefertiti…”

Neferneferuaten Nefertiti was born in 1370 BC, but Egyptologists still are unable to come to a final conclusion on where and in what family she was born.

Many believed that the very name of the queen conceals the secret of her origin. From Egyptian Nefertiti is translated as “arrival of the beauty”, which might mean she came to Egypt from another region. Parents raised her in the traditions of the monotheistic Aryan religion which worships the sun as the only deity.

Nefertiti was probably sent by her father to Egypt as a gift to Pharaoh Amenhotep IV in the “House of Ornaments” (harem) and became one of hundreds of foreign princesses brought to give birth sons of the lord.

Patriarchal locum tenens Archbishop Bekchian to arrive in Istanbul on June 1

Hovhannisian John 
Armenpress News Agency , Armenia
 Tuesday
Patriarchal locum tenens Archbishop Bekchian to arrive in Istanbul on June 1
YEREVAN, MAY 30, ARMENPRESS. Patriarchal locum tenens of Istanbul’s
Armenian Patriarchate Archbishop Garegin Bekchian – the Primate of
Germany’s Armenian Diocesee, will arrive in Istanbul on June 1, Agos
daily reports.
A special welcoming ceremony will be held, as well as liturgy will be
delivered at Kumkapı’s St. Mary church.
Bekchian was elected Patriarchal locum tenens in the Spiritual Council
of Istanbul’s Armenian Patriarchate on March 15. However, after his
election, Archbishop Aram Ateshian refused to leave the post of
patriarchal vicar which resulted in certain tension in the
patriarchate.
On May 24 Ateshian announced his resignation, officially inviting
Bekchian to Istanbul.

Béziers : Stanislas Haroutunian invente, encore et encore

Hovhannisian John
Midi Libre, France
27 mai 2017
Portrait il y a 1 jour 0 ANTONIA JIMENEZ
Stanislas ne manque pas d’imagination et cherche toujours à inventer.

Il y présentait son jeu de société ?oeSuper action?, sorte de croisement entre le démineur et les échecs, pour lequel il a déposé un brevet. « Oui, je suis fier d?avoir remporté cette médaille. Mais je n?ai ensuite réussi à rencontrer aucun industriel ou fabricant intéressé par mon jeu. Seul, c?est difficile » , indique l?ancien ingénieur en mécanique industrielle, d?origine arménienne, installé à Béziers, depuis 1997. La création dans l?âme et dans les mains D?autant plus que même après plus de vingt ans sur le sol français, Stanislas ne maîtrise pas très bien la langue de Molière. Et n?a aucun réseau pour l?accompagner dans ses démarches. Ses mains et son âme d?enfant parlent pour lui. Car l?homme, non seulement conçoit des jouets, jeux et autres objets utiles, mais il fabrique aussi les prototypes, au dixième de millimètre près, à l?aide de matériaux recyclés, chez lui, sur son balcon ou dans sa salle à manger, transformée en atelier pour ?oeGéo Trouvetou?. Ils sont tout d?abord destinés à ses enfants, sa famille, ses proches… Mais aussi pour son plaisir. Et pour celui de l?antenne biterroise de l?association d?éducation populaire Léo-Lagrange Méditerranée (où il est suivi car Stanislas est demandeur d?emploi). Il a conçu et fabriqué tous les petits meubles du spectacle de marionnettes que les bénéficiaires de l?association ont présenté le 20 mai dernier à la médiathèque de Béziers. Mais Stanislas ne s?est pas arrêté en si bon chemin, imaginant un jeu, ?oeLes Trésors de la pyramide? ; une planche de natation pour personnes à mobilité réduite en fibre de verre, ergonomique, légère, qui s?adapte au corps sur le dos et sur le ventre pour une stabilité sans faille. « J?ai tout étudié, calculé. Je l?ai même essayée » . Sans oublier un support pour deux cannes à pêche à fixer sur un muret, un parapet. Très pratique et résistante. Stanislas Haroutunina invente depuis toujours. Surtout des jeux. « Depuis que je suis petit. En Arménie, on n?avait pas trop d?argent pour s?acheter des jouets. Alors, je les inventais » . À 60 ans, son imagination et son désir de créer ne l?ont toujours pas lâché. Il continue de plancher sur ses idées, avec l?aide de ses deux enfants, Émilie et Edgar, pour faire plaisir aux autres, tout simplement. En ce moment, il étudie un nouveau jeu de société où les joueurs devront trouver des truffes. « Mais je voudrais, cette fois aller, plus loin. D?abord, trouver un appartement plus grand, avec, pourquoi pas, un garage pour pouvoir bien travailler. Puis, et surtout, intéresser un industriel qui voudrait bien m?aider à fabriquer en série et à vendre mes jeux ou ma planche. » ANTONIA JIMENEZ Contact : Léo-Lagrange au 04 67 28 25 70. Stanislas ne manque pas d?imagination et cherche toujours à inventer.

US voices ‘strongest’ concern to Turkey after brawl outside residence

Hovhannisian John 
Deutsche Presse-Agentur, Germany
May 18, 2017 Thursday
US voices 'strongest' concern to Turkey after brawl outside residence
By Frank Fuhrig, dpa WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - The US State Department
voiced its 'strongest possible' concern to Ankara on Wednesday after a
melee outside the Turkish ambassador's residence following President
Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit this week in Washington. The incident,
which occurred on Tuesday night, left 11 people plus one officer
injured, Washington Police Chief Peter Newsham said. 'We are concerned
by the violent incidents involving protestors and Turkish security
personnel Tuesday evening,' State Department spokeswoman Heather
Nauert said.
'Violence is never an appropriate response to free speech, and we
support the rights of people everywhere to free expression and
peaceful protest.' A video posted by Voice of America (VOA), a US
government-funded international broadcaster, showed uniformed police
unable to hold back a rush of mostly men in dark business suits across
Sheridan Circle, a north-west Washington roundabout where the
ambassador's residence is located. VOA reported that some of the
participants in the scuffle were Erdogan bodyguards. In the video, the
mob pushes across the street into about a dozen people holding
placards in Sheridan Circle Park and a handful of brawls erupt among
multiple combatants. One heavy-set man with a bullhorn around his neck
tumbles to the ground, where two men in suits and a third attacker
repeatedly punch, kick and stomp the victim, who curls into a fetal
position. One of the suited attackers clutches a red flag. Later in
the VOA video, the victim is seen stumbling around the park, his face
and shirt bloodied. Washington broadcaster WJLA reported that the
demonstrators included pro-Kurdish and Armenian activists protesting
Erdogan's human rights record, as well as supporters of the Turkish
president. Nine of the injured were transported to local hospitals,
treated and released, Newsham said. Police officers at the scene had
to call for backup and two arrests were made. A 49-year-old man from
New York state faces a charge of aggravated assault, and a 42-year-old
man from Fairfax, Virginia, faces a charge of assault on an officer,
according to authorities. The incident 'appeared to be a brutal attack
on peaceful protestors at the Turkish ambassador's residence,' Newsham
said. Police have 'very good video' in the case, and federal law
enforcement agencies are cooperating, he said. 'We intend to ensure
that there is accountability for anyone that was involved in this
assault,' Newsham said. On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump vowed
'unbeatable' cooperation with Turkey against the Islamic State
movement, after hosting Erdogan at the White House. 'We want to get as
many (allies) to help fight terrorism as possible, and that's one of
the beautiful things that's happening with Turkey. The relationship
that we have together will be unbeatable,' Trump said. He promised to
work with Erdogan 'on achieving peace and security in the Middle East,
on confronting the shared threats, and on working toward a future of
dignity and safety for all of our people.' The US and Turkey are both
members of NATO. Groups opposed to Erdogan demonstrated earlier
Tuesday outside the White House during his visit. On Monday night,
about 50 Erdogan supporters rallied near the White House, waving
Turkish flags and chanting Erdogan's name as he arrived in Washington.

TUMO Army program launched in Artsakh

Hovhannisian John

Today was the official start of the Artsakh phase of the TUMO Army program, a joint initiative between the TUMO Center for Creative Technologies and the Defense Ministry of the Republic of Armenia. The launch was announced at the TUMO Center in Stepanakert by Minister of Defense for the Republic of Armenia Vigen Sargsyan and TUMO CEO Marie Lou Papazian, with the participation of President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, Minister of Defense for the Republic of Artsakh Levon Mnatsakanyan and AGBU representatives Lena Baghdasaryan and Sasoon Baghdasaryan.

The Stepanakert center, which was founded and operates through a partnership between TUMO and the Armenian General Benevolent Union, hosts over 100 army conscripts stationed in nearby bases. They are acquiring skills in computer programming, robotics, graphic design and digital music composition.

The program, implemented through a partnership between TUMO and the Ministry of Defense, has been running since February, having started in TUMO Dilijan. Participating soldiers have already completed the TUMO program’s initial self-learning stage and have entered the first level workshops of their choice.

Marie Lou Papazian gave further details about the TUMO Army program to the President and Minister and, based on previous discussions with Vigen Sargsyan, suggested options for future expansion of the initiative. Vigen Sargsyan, in turn, affirmed the Defense Ministry’s intent to have a TUMO center at every major army base throughout the Republics of Armenia and Artsakh. He also welcomed the plans to build a TUMO center in the border town of Koghb, noting its importance in the context of the TUMO Army program.

The guests also viewed the display of Shushi-related infographics created during a joint project between TUMO and the Artsakh Ministry of Culture; the infographic designs were created by TUMO students during a learning lab with Lebanese specialist Ahmad Gharbieh. The minister is sure that once the soldiers have passed through the graphic design workshops, they will also gain such important skills in the field and will be able to create graphic design pieces for the army.

TUMO Army will give draftees the opportunity to acquire aptitudes that will make them more competitive both while they are serving in the Army and once they return to civilian life. The program will help discover the full potential of soldiers who might not otherwise have the possibility of developing their areas of interest outside of formal educational institutions.

Khloe Kardashian marks Armenian Genocide anniversary: It is our duty to not be silent

Hovhannisian John

Khloe Kardashian has marked the 102nd anniversary of the Armenian genocide with a powerful post.

The 32-year-old posted a picture of her and her sisters at the centenary of the genocide in Armenia to social media.

She wrote: “Today marks the 102-year anniversary of the Armenian genocide. In 1915, the Ottoman Empire committed mass extermination of 1.5 million Western Armenians. I am proud to be an Armenian!!!

“It is our duty to not be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation no matter their race or creed. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. It saddens me that history books don’t acknowledge such torture but my voice will be used to bring awareness to my people for being survivors!!!”

Khloe then shared a quote from Armenian-American novelist William Saroyan, writing: “‘I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered.

Eurovision 2017: Germany’s Levina sings Armenian song Kakavik – Video

Hovhannisian John

Levina, Germany’s representative for Eurovision 2017, has shared a Video of her singing the Armenian song “Kakavik.”

Levina accepted a challenge from Armenia’s entrant Artsvik, who sang the German song “Das Wandern ist des Müllers Lust” earlier.

On Tuesday Artsvik announced she’ll continue to pull the past into today by recording a series of covers of traditional songs.

She uploaded a short clip, where she revealed how the Eurovision 2017 theme “Celebrate Diversity” inspired her to launch the series of covers. She’s also challenging artists from around Europe to perform their own covers of Armenian folk songs of their choice.

Delegation of Serbia’s University of Defense visits Armenian National Defense Research University

Hovhannisian John

On March 22, the Delegation of the University of Defense of the Republic of Serbia headed by its Rector, Dr., Professor, Major General Mladen Vuruna visited the National Defense Research University, MoD, RA.

The Head of the NDRU, Doctor of Political Science, Professor, Lieutenant General Hayk Kotanjian received the guests. He presented the NDRU’s establishment process, its mission, goals and main tasks. The guests were also welcomed by the Deputy Head for Research of the NDRU, Head of the Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS), PhD in History Benyamin Poghosyan, who briefly presented the research activities of the University. The Head of the Center for National Security Policy and Information-Communication Technology of the NDRU, INSS Arman Grigoryan in detail presented the studies conducted in the NDRU on the areas of cybersecurity, information-communication technologies, as well as cyber-digital resource management.

The Head of the NDRU, Lieutenant General Hayk Kotanjian mentioned that based on the research conducted in the NDRU strategic assessments and recommendations are presented to the military-political leadership of Armenia.

The guests highly appreciated the NDRU’s activities and expressed satisfaction with the familiarization visit. They also expressed hope that the visit of the Delegation of the University of Defense of the Republic of Serbia to the NDRU will initiate cooperation between the two institutions.

Eurimages Fund approves €250 000 for the film “Spitak”

Hovhannisian John

The Board of Management of the Council of Europe’s Eurimages Fund has approved €250 000  for the film Spitak directed by Alexander Kott (Russia).

The National Cinema Development Foundation Armenia is a co-producer of the feature film.

At its 146th meeting held from 7 to 10 March 2017 in Strasbourg, the Board of Management of the Council of Europe’s Eurimages Fund agreed to support 19 fiction, 2 documentaries and 3 animation film projects.

Scotland to seek second Independence Referendum

Hovhannisian John

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed she will ask for permission to hold a second referendum on Scottish independence, the BBC reports.

Ms Sturgeon said she wanted a vote to be held between the autumn of 2018 and the spring of the following year.

She said she would ask the Scottish Parliament next week for permission to request a Section 30 order from Westminster.

The move would allow a fresh legally-binding referendum to be held, if consent is granted.

Speaking at her official Bute House residence in Edinburgh, Ms Sturgeon said the people of Scotland must be offered a choice between a “hard Brexit” and becoming an independent country.

Ms Sturgeon said the UK government had not “moved even an inch in pursuit of compromise and agreement” since the Brexit vote, which saw Scotland vote by 62% to 38% to remain the EU while the UK as a whole voted to leave.

The Scottish government has published proposals which it says would allow Scotland to remain a member of the European single market even if the rest of the UK leaves, which Prime Minister Theresa May has said it will.