Armenian-French Junior Orchestra will perform concerts in France and Switzerland from June 28 to July 11. The ministry of culture reports, the organizers of the events are Tchaikovsky Special Music School of Yerevan and the Roman Conservatory of France.
The ensemble will perform a concert in Marseille on June 30, then in Valence – on July 5, Roman – on July 7, in Geneva – on July 8, and in Lion – on July 9.
According to the source, the concert program includes works by Armenian and French composers. Leading specialist from Armenia will deliver master classes in the scope of the tour along with get-to-know visits to cultural centers in France and Switzerland.
To note, the Armenian-French Junior Ensemble was formed in 2015 in France. Its first concerts were held in Lion, Valence, and Saint Etienne with a repertoire comprised of the music by Armenian composers Khachatourian, Komitas, Mirzoyan, Harutyunyan, Altunyan, and Sharafyan.
Police are set to announce charges against a dozen Turkish security agents who were involved in a violent altercation when Turkey's president visited Washington last month, a U.S. official said Wednesday.
The DC police are expected to say that seven men are being charged for felonies, and another five for misdemeanors. The official wasn't authorized to speak publicly on the matter and spoke only on condition of anonymity ahead of a Thursday news conference that includes Washington's mayor and police chief.
The action is likely to exacerbate what has become a major irritant in U.S.-Turkish ties. Relations were severely strained even before the May 16 clash, which happened as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived at the Turkish ambassador's residence in Washington after a White House meeting with President Donald Trump.
The NATO allies are still at odds over a U.S. decision to arm Syrian Kurdish rebels fighting the Islamic State group in Syria. Turkey considers the fighters to be an extension the Kurdish insurgency in Turkey known as the PKK, and claims without evidence that protesters who showed up during Erdogan's visit to Washington last week were themselves associated with the group. U.S. officials have said law-abiding Americans were affected.
Erdogan's security detail returned with him to Turkey after his visit, so it is unclear if any will face legal repercussions in the United States. However, they could end up being threatened with arrest if they return to the U.S. If any are still in the country, they could be expelled if Turkey refuses to waive diplomatic immunity.
Video of the protest showed security guards and some Erdogan supporters attacking a small group of protesters with their fists and feet. Men in dark suits and others were recorded repeatedly kicking one woman as she lay curled on a sidewalk. Another wrenched a woman's neck and threw her to the ground. A man with a bullhorn was repeatedly kicked in the face.
After police officers struggled to protect the protesters and ordered the men in suits to retreat, several of the men dodged the officers and ran into the park to continue the attacks. In all, nine people were hurt.
Earlier Wednesday, police said two men were arrested for their role in the fracas.
The Metropolitan Police Department said in a brief statement that Sinan Narin had been arrested in Virginia on an aggravated assault charge. It said Eyup Yildirim had been arrested in New Jersey on charges of assault with significant bodily injury and aggravated assault.
Yildirim made his first appearance before Federal Magistrate James Clarke in Newark, N.J., who ordered him held without bail pending his next court date in Washington.
Public defender David Holman sought home confinement, arguing that Yildirim wasn't a flight risk and had never been convicted of anything before. Clarke said he was less concerned with him being a possible flight risk and more concerned about the nature of the crime.
Holman told the judge that Yildirim has received death threats because of the case. He said Yildirim is a business owner with three kids and ties to the local community. Prosecutors told the judge Yildirim had been arrested twice in the late 90s on simple assault charges, but the charges were later dismissed.
Narin and Yildirim were both participants in the protests, according to a U.S. official familiar with the case. On the day of the violence, police detained two members of Erdogan's security detail but released them shortly afterward. Two other men were arrested at the scene — one for aggravated assault and the other for assaulting a police officer.
The U.S. official, who was not authorized to speak publicly to the matter and demanded anonymity, said DC police had identified 34 of 42 people who were involved in the fight, and are seeking their arrests. Police are expected to release photos of the other eight possible suspects and appeal to the public for information on their identities, the official said.
American officials strongly criticized Turkey's government and Erdogan's security forces for the violence; the State Department summoned Turkey's U.S. ambassador to complain. The Turkish Foreign Ministry then summoned America's ambassador to address about the treatment of the detained security guards.
Turkey's U.S. embassy alleged the demonstrators were associated with the PKK, which has waged a three-decade-long insurgency against Turkey and is considered a terrorist group by the United States.
Turkey's official Anadolu news agency said they chanted anti-Erdogan slogans, and that the Turkish president's team moved in to disperse them because "police did not heed to Turkish demands to intervene." The Turkish Embassy claimed the demonstrators were "aggressively provoking Turkish-American citizens who had peacefully assembled to greet the president. The Turkish-Americans responded in self-defense and one of them was seriously injured."
The Armenia national under-21 football team started the 2019 European Under-21 Championships with victory beating the Gibraltar team in Algarve, Portugal.
The score was opened by Armenia’s Narek Petrosyan. The second and third goals were scored by Alik Arakelyan and Petros Avetisyan respectively.
After the victory, Armenia tops the standings with Austria.
The court hearing into the case of 14 members of Sasna Dzrer was interrupted. When Artush Gabrielyan, Judge of the Court of General Jurisdiction of Yerevan Erebuni and Nubarashen administrative districts, entered the courtroom, no member of Sasna Dzrer group stood up. They said that no court had a right to judge them, then the Judge asked to keep silence, but the people in the courtroom didn’t obey and the Judge announced that the trial is postponed until June 20.
By the way, the Judge announced the postponement of trial in such a low voice that not everybody could hear it.
Hearings of ‘Sasna Tsrer’ group’s 12 members’ case took place at the Court of First Instance of Erebuni and Nubarashen Districts
Hearings of ‘Sasna Tsrer’ group’s 12 members’ case took place at the Court of First Instance of Erebuni and Nubarashen Districts
Hearings of ‘Sasna Tsrer’ group’s 12 members’ case took place at the Court of First Instance of Erebuni and Nubarashen Districts
Hearings of ‘Sasna Tsrer’ group’s 12 members’ case took place at the Court of First Instance of Erebuni and Nubarashen Districts
Hearings of ‘Sasna Tsrer’ group’s 12 members’ case took place at the Court of First Instance of Erebuni and Nubarashen Districts
Hearings of ‘Sasna Tsrer’ group’s 12 members’ case took place at the Court of First Instance of Erebuni and Nubarashen Districts
Hearings of ‘Sasna Tsrer’ group’s 12 members’ case took place at the Court of First Instance of Erebuni and Nubarashen Districts
Hearings of ‘Sasna Tsrer’ group’s 12 members’ case took place at the Court of First Instance of Erebuni and Nubarashen Districts
Hearings of ‘Sasna Tsrer’ group’s 12 members’ case took place at the Court of First Instance of Erebuni and Nubarashen Districts
Hearings of ‘Sasna Tsrer’ group’s 12 members’ case took place at the Court of First Instance of Erebuni and Nubarashen
PanARMENIAN.Net – Members of Armenia's Athletics Teamwon gold at Georgian Athletics Championship.
Lilit Harutyunyan and Ellada Alaverdyan scored first places in 1500m and 400m race disciplines respectively, Armenia’s National Olympic Committee reports.
Narine Shahbazyan, Secretary General of the Armenian Athletics Federation, noted that the championship is being held at a gym due to the lack of stadiums, which are currently hosting football matches.
The Armenian team is currently training for the European Athletics Team Championships. Prior to that, Armenian athletes Gayane Chiloyan, Angelina Avagyan, Ellada Alaverdyan, David Sargsyan and Yura Khachatryan will take part in the Balkan Cross Country Championships in Istanbul on June 3.
ARMINFO News Agency, Armenia
Monday
Armenia`s Deputy Foreign Minister`s statement in BSEC caused Erdogan`s
uncertain reaction
Yerevan may 22
Mariana Mkrtchyan. Armenia`s Deputy Foreign Minister Ashot
Hovakimyans's statement during special meeting of the BSEC Council of
Foreign Ministers caused the Turkish President Erdogan`s uncertain
reaction.
According to Azerbaijani Media, Hovakimyan called on the Speaker of
Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan Oktay Asadov not to use the platform of
BSEC for political speculations.
Immediately after the Hovakimyan's statement, Turkish President
Erdogan stated that he is not agree with Hovakimyan. "None of the
representatives speaking here made political blames and assessments.
But you dedicated all your time to that what in my opinion is not
right".
To note, Oktay Asadov during his speech said, "25 years ago BSEC was
created for long-term, tight cooperation. It is pity that during these
25 years our region became more dangerous, new conflict took place and
the prospects of the development of the region are under serious
threat. The human tragedies grow, the number of inhumanity, cruelty of
people. But for Azeris, in particular, for more then a million of
refuges it not something new. Armenia continues the occupation of 20%
of Azerbaijani territories and through that violates the security and
stability of the region. "The occupation of Azeri territories by
Armenia" create obstacles for regional cooperation. Unfortunately, on
of BSEC members continue its intolerance and aggression. The ideology
of Armenia made itself a mononational state and hinders both itself
and the region to develop. Armenia steel ignores the supremacy of the
International Law by refusing to implement 4 resolutions of UN
Security Council. That is why I would like to tell everybody that the
primitive way of thinking of the Armenian leadership is unhealthy. It
is of no doubt that Azerbaijan will fully restore its territorial
integrity within the norms of international law".
Armenpress News Agency , Armenia
May 18, 2017 Thursday
'The Promise' soundtrack author, Grammy winning singer Chris Cornell dead at 52
YEREVAN, MAY 18, ARMENPRESS. Chris Cornell, lead singer of Soundgarden
and Audioslave, died Wednesday night, his representative told CNN.
Cornell, 52, was in Detroit performing with Soundgarden, which had
embarked on a US tour in April. Brian Bumbery, his representative,
called Cornell's passing "sudden and unexpected" in a statement to
CNN.
"His wife Vicky and family were shocked to learn of his sudden and
unexpected passing, and they will be working closely with the medical
examiner to determine the cause," the statement read. "They would like
to thank his fans for their continuous love and loyalty and ask that
their privacy be respected at this time."
The Grammy-winning rocker had performed Wednesday night at the Fox
Theatre in Detroit, CNN reported.
Cornell wrote and performed the ‘Promise’ song for the eponymous movie
on the Armenian Genocide. Speaking about the movie , he said : "That
was one of the things that was important to me, was not just telling a
century-old story, but telling that story because it's happening
today," he said. "We need to be aware that these things happen now. We
need to kind of be slapped in the face with the fact that, as
horrendous as this was a century ago, in many parts of the world we
haven't gotten anywhere."
WASHINGTON — Bodyguards belonging to the Turkish president's security detail were involved in Tuesday's mass brawl outside the Turkish ambassador's residence here, senior U.S. officials confirmed to NBC News.
The well-dressed guards in suits and ties were captured on social media purportedly showing protesters being kicked and bloodied as uniformed authorities tried to contain the flaring violence. Nine people were hurt and two others were arrested, police said Wednesday, although none of those detained were guards — raising questions about their impunity under the law.
Disturbing Videos Show Turkish President's Guards Beating Protesters in DC1:20
The State Department said in a statement Wednesday that the U.S. was "communicating our concern to the Turkish government in the strongest possible terms."
"Violence is never an appropriate response to free speech, and we support the rights of people everywhere to free _expression_ and peaceful protest," said spokeswoman Heather Nauert.
Meanwhile, the Turkish government blamed the protesters, whom they said — without providing evidence — were affiliated with "terrorist" groups.
"The violence and injuries were the result of this unpermitted, provocative demonstration," read a statement from the Turkish embassy. "We hope that, in the future, appropriate measures will be taken to ensure that similar provocative actions causing harm and violence do not occur."
Emergency personnel were called to the ambassador's residence on upscale Embassy Row — only blocks from the homes of former President Barack Obama, Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump, and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson — at about 4:30 p.m.
President Donald Trump had met with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, at the White House just hours earlier.
Related: Trump and Erdogan Meet Amid Tensions Over Arming Kurds in Syria
A photojournalist for the local CBS affiliate tweeted that the gathering appeared to be made up of pro-Turkey demonstrators. But the event devolved into chaos when someone was reportedly seen carrying a flag of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party in Syria linked to a group that the United States wants to arm — over the objections of Turkey. The Turkish government considers them to be an offshoot of the terrorist organization the Kurdistan Workers Party.
D.C.'s Metropolitan police in a tweet condemned the fighting as standing "in contrast to the First Amendment rights and principles we work tirelessly to protect each and every day." Police officials said they plan to pursue all charges and find others involved.
Erdogan, meanwhile, has been accused of cracking down on journalists and his opposition following a coup attempt last summer that led the Turkish strongman to tighten his grip on power.
<img class="img-responsive img_inline" src=”"https://media3.s-nbcnews.com/j/newscms/2017_20/2003311/170517-turkey-protests-violence-njs-1243p_f7bea3e445b7034cb9f6301a42f3afef.nbcnews-fp-360-360.jpg" alt="Image: Violent clashes broke out between protesters and supporters of Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan" title="Image: Violent clashes broke out between protesters and supporters of Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan" />
Violent clashes broke out between protesters and supporters of Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan outside the Turkish ambassador's residence in Washington. VOA
Two of those hurt in Tuesday's fracas were seriously injured and taken to the hospital by ambulance, emergency personnel told NBC News.
In footage distributed by international broadcast outlet Voice of America, one man with a bullhorn could be seen on the ground getting kicked repeatedly, including by someone in a suit. Blood dripped down his face.
A separate tweet from a Washington-based Kurdish affairs analyst appeared to show a man in a suit grabbing a woman from behind with his arm around her neck.
The melee prompted Samantha Power, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations under Obama, to tweet Tuesday that "clearly Erdogan's guards feel complete impunity, drawing on tools of repression they use at home & knowing he has their back, no matter what."
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said in a statement that such a "violent attack on a peaceful demonstration — is an affront to DC values and our rights as Americans."
But the Turkish state-run Anadolu news agency blamed local police for being unable to quell the violence and said the guards were merely responding to "terrorist" sympathizers.
Those guards aren't likely to suffer from any fallout, according to Joseph Giacalone, a retired New York Police Department sergeant and professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York.
<img class="img-responsive img_inline" src=”"https://media3.s-nbcnews.com/j/newscms/2017_20/2002981/170517-turkey-protest-washington-njs-938a_45995bfe65353798d312cbe6d8c303f1.nbcnews-fp-360-360.jpg" alt="Image: Protesters rally against Erdogan in Washington" title="Image: Protesters rally against Erdogan in Washington" />
Opponents of President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan rally in Lafayette Park as Erdogan met with and President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington on May 16, 2017. Shawn Thew / EPA
Foreign security details are protected under diplomatic immunity afforded to their countries' leaders, he said. If protesters feel as if their civil rights were trampled, he added, they don't have any meaningful recourse under international law.
"It's going nowhere," Giacalone told NBC News. "This is not American police. There's no Civilian Complaint Review Board. (Protesters) can cry or scream, but the guards are covered."
Embassy properties, he added, also aren't technically under the jurisdiction of the United States. It's unclear how much of the altercation outside of the Turkish ambassador's residence took place on embassy property.
"Americans need to understand that these guys are used to dealing with radicals in their own countries and getting away with it," Giacalone said. "They don't play."
Asbarez – In collaboration with Salmast Heritage Association (SHA), Cambridge Professor of Linguistics, Bert Vaux, conducted a week-long research project on the dialect of Salmast, also believed to be the language of Historic Armenia.
The SHA identified nine Salmasttsi speakers of the dialect, arranged for appropriate space and technological support for interviews, and recorded individual and group sessions. The research subjects were from Haftvan, Mahlam, Sarna, Payajuke, and Akhtkhan. Dr. Vaux studied phonetic as well as written vocabulary words and sentences, and recorded the variations between regional definitions and pronunciations. The totality of the information they shared was qualified as “priceless,” as native speakers of the dialect are aging and not easily accessible. Most importantly, the week-long field work on the Salmast dialect showed that many of the words and definitions brought to light by the nine Salmasttsi interviewees are not found in Muradyan’s dictionary, the foremost authority on Armenian dialects.
Linguistics Professor Vaux received his PhD from Harvard where he taught for nine years. He is an internationally recognized expert in his field, is fluent in several languages including Armenian, and has published several textbooks and numerous papers on such topics as Historical Linguistics, Phonology, Dialectology and related subjects. He enjoys working with native speakers to document endangered languages, especially dialects of Armenian, Abkhaz, and English.
Dr. Vaux’ partial list of publications includes: The Phonology of Armenian; The Armenian Dialect of New Julfa, Isfahan; Eastern Armenian, A Textbook; A Textbook of Western Armenian; Hamshetsma: The Language of the Armenians of Hamshen; The Armenian Dialect of Khodorjur; Vowel Harmony in the Armenian Dialect of Marash; Syllabification in Armenian, Universal Grammar and the Lexicon; Armenian Encyclopedia of Languages and Linguistics and more.