Author: Kalantarian Kevo

ARMENIAN DESCENT CONDUCTOR CARRYING A TURKISH SURNAME IS IN ARMENIA

[ Part 2.2: “Attached Text” ]

April 6 2015

French-resident Alain Altinoghlu will conduct the National Philharmonic
Orchestra of Armenia.

The next announcement of the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Armenia
(artistic director, Ed. Thopchyan) caused a surprise not only among
music lovers. French-resident conductor Alain Altinoghlu arrived in
Armenia for the first time to conduct the orchestra band.

Only in narrow vocational circles, people knew that the constantly
invited conductor to the world leading orchestras and opera theaters
carrying a Turkish surname is an Armenian by origin.

“Aravot,” first inquired from the artist why he carries
this surname up to date. The musician replied, “Indeed, it is a
fate of an Armenian man why my father and my mother were carrying this
name, I think, there should be no comment on it. I will only say that
in 1934, Turks were simply necessitating Armenians to carry a Turkish
surname. My parents moved from Turkey to Paris in 1971 and I was born
in 1975, and our last name is Altunyan. Both my father and mother
wanted to restore their true name in Paris, but in those years, the
French government had issued a law saying that if a foreign citizen
is willing to change its last name, then it should sound French. I
introduce myself to the world as an Armenian musician.”

Our interlocutor informed that he graduated from the Paris
Conservatory, where he currently teaches. His first performance as a
conductor took place in 2001 at the Paris Opera National. “I
have conducted performances at the “Metropolitan”
in New York, opera-houses in Chicago, Vienna, Berlin and Zurich,
among my achievements especially in the last season, I consider
the performance “Werther” by Massenet staged at
the “Metropolitan”, then Verdi’s “Simon
Bocanegra,” Mozart’s “Marriage of Figaro”
and “Don Giovanni” opera performances, as well as
Strauss’s “Salome” at the Vienna Staatsoper.

Recently, I also conducted in Zurich and not only …,”
said Alain Altinoghlu. He also added that this year, he will conduct
the world premiere of “Red Lanterns” opera by Christian
Jost in Zurich, as well as “Don Giovanni” performance at
the London Royal Opera House for the first time.

We also inquired about his career as a symphonic conductor. “I
have acted with Chicago’s, Philadelphia’s, French
and other orchestras. On April, I will conduct Mozart’s
“Requiem” in a concert in Paris dedicated to the 100th
anniversary of Genocide,” noted the conductor. Our fellow citizen
said that he is also a pianist and often acts with his wife – operatic
mezzo-soprano Nora Gubisch). He also said that he is cooperating
with his countrymen scattered all over the world, he mentioned Nare
Arghamanyan’s name known to the Armenian audience, with whom he
recorded Liszt’s piano concertos. To the questions of whether
it is possible for him to obtain an agreement with our opera-theater
directorate during his stay in Yerevan to perform as an opera conductor
in his homeland in the future, the artist said that he has heard about
our opera theater, but at this moment, he cannot have such negotiations
as the creative schedule is compiled 4-5 years ahead. To the point,
Alain Altinoghlu has arrived in his homeland with his father, wife
and son. They visited the Genocide Memorial.

Samvel DANIELYAN

Read more at:

ABOUT 2,800 MUSICIANS AND PERFORMERS TO PARTICIPATE IN “RENAISSANCE” INTERNATIONAL CONTEST- FESTIVAL OF MUSICIANS AND PERFORMERS

15:54, 6 April, 2015

GYUMRI, 6 APRIL, ARMENPRESS. This year’s “Renaissance” International
Contest-Festival of Musicians and Performers will be dedicated to the
100thanniversary of the Armenian Genocide and to the 70th anniversary
of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War. By the decision of the
organizers, the festival will be entitled “Against the Crime of
Genocide, Against Wars”. The organizers have received applications
from nearly 2,800 musicians and performers, of which 700 are from
36 countries, while the rest are from Yerevan and all provinces
of Armenia.

This year’s contest-festival will bring together musicians and
performers from the United States, the UK, Austria, Belarus, Belgium,
Germany, Egypt, Yemen, Estonia, Turkmenistan, Iran, Italy, Spain, Iraq,
Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, Lebanon,
Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Mongolia, Switzerland,
China, Russia, Syria, Serbia, Sudan, Georgia, Tajikistan, Taiwan,
Uzbekistan, Ukraine and France.

The solemn opening ceremony of the contest-festival will be held at
the Dramatic Theater of Gyumri on April 13 at 17:00. According to the
established tradition, the festival will begin with the blessing of
Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II and will be held under the high
patronage of First Lady of the Republic of Armenia Rita Sargsyan. As
always, this year’s contest-festival is also organized by the Ministry
of Culture of the Republic of Armenia, the “Pyunik” Pan-Armenian Human
Resources Development Foundation, the Gyumri branch of Yerevan Komitas
State Conservatory and “Renaissance” International Contest-Festival
NGO. The contests will be held in 14 categories at cultural and
educational institutions of Gyumri from April 11 to May 20.

LA TURQUIE CREE DES OBSTACLES POUR LA CONFERENCE SUR LE GENOCIDE A ISTANBUL

TURQUIE

L’Universite Bilgi d’Istanbul a annule sa decision de tenir une
conference intitulee le ” Le genocide armenien : Concepts et
perspectives comparatives” rapporte l’hebdomadaire Agos.

La veritable raison de l’annulation de la conference n’est pas claire.

L’administration de l’Universite a informe qu’elle ne pouvait pas
tenir une telle conference et a conseille de chercher un autre lieu
pour la conference.

La Fondation Histoire et l’UCLA, les organisateurs de la conference,
ont commence a chercher un autre lieu.

lundi 6 avril 2015, Stephane (c)armenews.com

ABOUT 10 ARMENIANS EVACUATED FROM YEMEN

12:53, 6 April, 2015

YEREVAN, APRIL 6, ARMENPRESS: Armenian citizens were evacuated from
Yemen by Russian airplanes. The Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Tigran Balayan told Armenpress
about it, stating that there are about ten evacuated Armenians among
the evacuated.

On April 5 the Russian ITAR TASS informed that Russia continues
providing for the security of its citizens and the foreigners living
in Yemen, including their evacuation. It was reported by the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, informing about the
airplanes, arrived to Moscow, bringing more than 300 citizens of
the Russian Federation and other countries. “67 of the evacuated are
Russian citizens, 245 from Belarus, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan,
Armenia, Tajikistan, Moldova, Kyrgyzstan, as well as Cuba, Egypt,
Syrian and Yemen”, – says the press release.

L’Avenir, Belgique
2 avril 2015

L’Arménie au coeur du débat

DISON Le Centre culturel de Dison et le FEL organisent le second café
du monde de la saison le samedi 25 avril, qui s’organisera autour du
thème de l’Arménie.

Philippe Raxhon, docteur en histoire et professeur de l’Université de
Liège, proposera une conférence sur le génocide arménien. Le 24 avril
1915, des notables et intellectuels arméniens de Constantinople
étaient arrêtés et déportés en Anatolie pour y être assassinés plus
tard. Ceci marquait le début du génocide, dont nous commémorons donc
le centenaire cette année. Une session de questions/réponses et un
débat citoyen suivront le propos. La conférence sera suivie d’un
concert de Nara Noïan, virtuose arménienne résidant à Bruxelles.

Infos: 087 / 33 41 81.

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
April 4 2015

49 US lawmakers urge Obama to recognize Armenian `genocide’ in letter

MAHIR ZEYNALOV / WASHINGTON

49 members of the US House of Representatives have written a letter to
US President Barack Obama to urge him to recognize mass killings of
Armenians at the hands of Ottomans in 1915 as genocide, claiming that
the move will help improve Turkish-Armenian relations.

`We are writing to underscore the importance of a full and just
acknowledgment of the Armenian Genocide in your annual April 24th
statement,’ 49 members of the US Congress wrote in the letter that was
accessed by Today’s Zaman.

The lawmakers said a clear recognition of the 1915 events as the
genocide, as Armenians mark its centennial this year, would affirm
that it is not an allegation, but rather a `widely documented fact
supported by an overwhelming body of historical evidence.’

In the run-up to his presidential victory in 2008, President Obama
promised to recognize the 1915 events as the Armenian genocide, only
backing down after being elected to the White House. In previous
years, Obama’s annual April 24 statement, a date when Armenians
consider the mass killings and forced deportations have started, had
been the most acute ever, but fell short of satisfying the Armenians.
Obama used the original Armenian word to describe the 1915 events in
an attempt to avoid using the term `genocide’ ` a statement that would
undoubtedly enrage Turkey.

For decades, Ankara has lobbied against the recognition of 1915 events
as genocide, whose nature and scale remain highly contentious.
Armenians claim that up to 1.5 million people were either killed or
sent to death in a deliberate attempt to eradicate the Armenian
minority in eastern Turkey. Ankara says the number of Armenians killed
is inflated and that the deaths were the result of war.

Both Turks and Armenians anticipate that Obama will issue a similar,
delicate statement this year despite mounting pressure on the White
House to finally recognize it with clear words.

Members of the Congress said a principled presidential statement
clearly citing the `Armenian Genocide’ would help strengthen
condemnations of the past, and recognize the important relationship
the United States shares with Armenia today.

`Please join with us this April in properly commemorating the Armenian
Genocide by citing it as a clear instance of genocide,’ the letter
told Obama.

They claimed that the recognition will honor the Armenian, Greek,
Assyrian and other Christian victims of this atrocity, pay
well-deserved tribute to American humanitarian relief efforts, pave
the way toward improved Armenian-Turkish relations, and meaningfully
`reinforce our own resolve to prevent future genocides.’

Rep. Robert Dold, who initiated the letter, said on Friday that the
US, as the world’s greatest advocate for freedom, has an obligation to
fully acknowledge one of humanity’s `most horrific crimes.’

`An unequivocal statement of recognition would not only reinforce our
own resolve, but it would also help prevent future genocides by
reaffirming that we will not tolerate affronts to human dignity,’ Dold
stated.

The letter was sent to the White House on Wednesday.

Congressman Dold is also the sponsor of a House resolution that calls
on the president to work toward `equitable, constructive, stable, and
durable Armenian-Turkish relations’ based upon Turkey’s full
acknowledgment of the `facts and ongoing consequences of the Armenian
Genocide.’ He introduced the resolution on March 18 and nearly 50
House members declared their support.

The issue has long been a source of tension between Turkey and several
Western countries, especially the US and France, both home to large
ethnic Armenian diasporas. Armenians in the US have put tireless
efforts to mark the killings this year.

The Armenians’ renewed push to recognize the killings as genocide
prompted Ankara’s counter-offensive. A number of high-level Turkish
officials visited Washington since the beginning of the year,
including Parliament Speaker Cemil Çiçek. Foreign Minister Mevlüt
ÇavuÅ?oÄ?lu is expected to arrive in the US capital just days before the
Obama’s statement as part of a Turkish government-orchestrated
campaign to blunt the momentum.

Last week, Turkish parliament speaker said at the Center for Strategic
and International Studies (CSIS) that Turkey wants the most to
illuminate every aspect of the 1915 events so that the issue is not
“exploited.”

“Whatever there is in front or behind [us], who provoked these events,
who promoted them… whatever happened, we want them to be unveiled
based on documents with all their dimensions,” Çiçek said, adding that
Ankara wants to eliminate the `exploitation of the 1915 events’ and
contribute to peace through `exposing historic realities.’

To dilute the existing bill at the House, a new Turkish-American lobby
group, Turkish Institute for Progress, is pushing through a resolution
that will highlight the reconciliation between Turkey and Armenia,
rather than debating the nature of the 1915 killings. The new bill
will be introduced by Rep. Curt Clawson and will call on Obama to
`work toward equitable, constructive, stable, and durable
Armenian-Turkish relations’ by establishing a new presidential task
force aimed at rapprochement, the Wall Street Journal reported on
Friday.

The report said the American-Armenian groups have expressed their
outrage at the proposal. It was not immediately clear how many US
lawmakers will throw their weight behind the resolution.

Onu Italia
2 aprile 2015

Genocidio armeni: Riccardi (Sant’Egidio), 24/4 giornata preghiera

ROMA – Il fondatore della Comunita’ di Sant’Egidio Andrea Riccardi ha
proposto di fare del 24 aprile una giornata della preghiera per
ricordare il genocidio degli armeni.

“L’ora della morte suonò il 24 aprile 1915. Ogni anno, proprio il 24
aprile, gli armeni ricordano Metz Yeghern, il Grande Male, la strage”,
scrive Riccardi in un editoriale sulla rivista “Famiglia Cristiana” in
cui ricorda che quest’anno ricorrono i cento anni “dal primo eccidio
di cristiani del XX secolo. La memoria della prima strage svanì e i
cristiani orientali restarono soli. Ancora oggi, in Medio Oriente, i
loro discendenti sono duramente perseguitati”.

Proprio per il centenario di quella strage – aggiunge il fondatore di
Sant’Egidio – sarebbe davvero significativo se le nostre comunità
cristiane in Italia, o altrove, ricordassero il primo olocausto
cristiano, innanzi tutto nella preghiera, magari
proprio il 24 aprile”.

La proposta di Riccardi segue una riflessione sui recenti fatti di
persecuzione e violenza contro i cristiani in Pakistan: “e’ un fatto
che ci richiama alla realtà: i cristiani oggi sono perseguitati. Non
per le loro posizioni politiche, né per il
loro peso sociale, ma perché cristiani”.

Sulla strage degli armeni, Riccardi, cattolico e storico, ha scritto
un libro pubblicato in questi giorni da Laterza: “La strage dei
cristiani. Mardin, gli armeni e la fine di un mondo” in cui il
fondatore di Sant’Egidio dice implicitamente al lettore che la tragica
cronaca delle persecuzioni subite dagli armeni agli inizi della Grande
guerra non sarebbe completa se non ricordasse che il loro destino, in
particolare a Mardin, fu condiviso dai cristiani.

Una foto del genocidio

Tornando sul quotidiano cattolico “Avvenire” a riflettere sulla
vicenda, Riccardi ha osservato che “questa storia non è una vicenda
turco-armena. Nel 1915 c’è stata la strage di tutti i cristiani:
armeni ortodossi in prevalenza, ma anche armeno-cattolici, siriaci
ortodossi e cattolici, caldei, assiri, e pure protestanti e cattolici
latini. Il governo giovane turco (laico e nazionalista), al potere a
Istanbul, volle una purificazione etnica degli armeni ortodossi, una
strage preventiva accusandoli di separatismo. Aveva garantito agli
ambasciatori “cristiani” che sarebbero stati risparmiati gli altri
ortodossi non armeni e i cattolici. Ma, per mobilitare i curdi e le
masse anatoliche, fu usato l’odio religioso contro il giaour
(l’infedele). Il disegno laico-nazionalista dei Giovani Turchi scatenò
il fanatismo contro i cristiani in quanto tali. Quasi due milioni di
morti. Finì un mondo di convivenza tra cristiani e musulmani. Fu
Seyfo, il tempo della “spada”: così lo chiamano siriaci, assiri e
caldei”. (2 aprile 2015)

CHYPRE
Un timbre arméno-chypriote commémorant le génocide centenaire sera
lancé la semaine prochaine

Un timbre commun arméno-chypriote commémorant le centenaire du
génocide arménien sera ancé la semaine prochaine dans le cadre d’une
série d’événements pour marquer cet anniversaire à Chypre rapporte le
journal Cyprus Mail.

Le représentant de la communauté arménienne à la Chambre des
représentants, Vartkes Mahdessian a organisé un événement pour la
semaine prochaine afin de présenter le timbre dans les deux pays
simultanément.

Il dépeindra l’institut éducatif arménien bien connu mais fermé,
Melkonian à Nicosie. L’école à l’origine a fonctionné comme un
orphelinat pour les enfants qui ont survécu au génocide et ont réussi
à se rendre à Chypre.

L’événement à Chypre sera également suivi par le président de
l’Assemblée arménienne Galust Sahakian, qui doit se rendre à Chypre.

dimanche 5 avril 2015,
Stéphane (c)armenews.com

Communiqué
4ème Congrès National des Arméniens Occidentaux

Le 4e Congrès des Arméniens Occidentaux a eu lieu à Paris, les 28 et
29 mars 2015. Ont participés à ce Congrès : des députés, des délégués
d’associations patriotiques arméniennes, des personnalités de la
diaspora, des observateurs de partis politiques arméniens et des
invit̩s de diff̩rents pays РArgentine, Canada, Etats-Unis, France,
Allemagne, Suisse, Autriche, Russie, Arménie, Géorgie, Syrie, Liban,
Kurdistan Irakien, Jérusalem.

Le président du CNAO (Congrès National des Arméniens Occidentaux),
Souren Seraydarian, a prononcé le discours d’ouverture du congrès. Par
la suite ont pris la parole successivement : Shirag Torossyan Рd̩put̩
à l’Assemblée Nationale d’Arménie, Shant Tchintchinian – député au
Parlement du Liban, Rustam Boghosian Рmembre du Parlement de G̩orgie,
Ali Halo et Yervant Eminian – membres du Parlement du Kurdistan
Irakien, Mikail Aslan Рrepr̩sentant de la communaut̩ Zaza du Dersim,
le pasteur Ren̩ L̩onian Рde Paris, Raffi Hovanissian qui fut le
premier ministre des affaires étrangères d’Arménie, aujourd’hui député
à l’Assemblée Nationale et d’autres.

A propos des droits et revendications historiques, politiques et
juridiques des Arméniens Occidentaux, se sont exprimés tour à tour :
Sevak Artsruni – le secrétaire générale du CNAO, Vahan Melikyan –
membre du Conseil du CNAO, Levon Gevorkyan et Yeghishe Guiragossyan –
sp̩cialistes du droit international, ainsi que Karen Mikaelian Рvice
président du CNAO.

Le Congrès a adopté le texte d’un mémorandum adressé au peuple et au
gouvernement de la République Turque, afin d’établir un dialogue
constructif et obtenir, par les voies légales, les réparations dues
aux Arméniens Occidentaux et rétablir leurs droits, jusque là bafoués.

Le Congrès a examiné les futures stratégies et tactiques à adopter du
CNAO, pour la défense des droits inaliénables des Arméniens
Occidentaux afin d’obtenir les réparations pour tous les préjudices
moraux, humains et matériels qu’ils ont subi et procéder à leur retour
vers la patrie ancestrale.

Le but prioritaire du >
est de promouvoir toute activité en vue de défendre les intérêts et
les droits des Arméniens occidentaux, héritiers des ex citoyens de
l’empire ottoman, contribuer au développement de la culture arménienne
dont la langue et la littérature, ainsi qu’à la sauvegarde et à la
défense des droits historiques arméniens, apporter une réflexion sur
l’avancement de la paix par des moyens pacifiques dans des zones de
conflits à travers des colloques ou des rencontres.

dimanche 5 avril 2015,
Jean Eckian (c)armenews.com

TURQUIE
Une commémoration du génocide des Arméniens aura lieu à Diyarbakir

Un événement commémorant le génocide arménien aura lieu à Diyarbakir
le 24 Avril. La commémoration aura lieu à l’église arménienne Surp
Giragos rapporte le journal Armenian Weekly.

“Diyarbakir est l’endroit où- cent ans après le génocide les
petits-enfants des Arméniens islamisés de force ont montré le courage
et la détermination afin de révéler leurs véritables racines. Tout
cela s’est passé après la reconstruction de l’église Surp Giragos, et
a été encouragé par les cours de langue arménienne organisés et des
voyages en Arménie, ” a déclaré Raffi Bedrosyan, un ingénieur civil de
Toronto et pianiste lors de concert à l’hebdomadaire arménien.
Bedrosyan donnera un concert d’oeuvres de compositeurs arméniens lors
de l’événement de commémoration.

“Cela signifie beaucoup pour moi de célébrer, et non commémorer, la
renaissance de ces nouveaux Arméniens avec un concert là où tout le
mouvement a commencé ; dans la belle église de Surp Giragos “, a
déclaré Bedrosyan.

Bedrosyan a également participé à l’organisation du projet de
reconstruction de l’Eglise Surp Giragos et dans la promotion de
l’importance de ce projet historique dans le monde entier. En
Septembre 2012, il a donné le premier concert de piano dans l’Eglise
Surp Giragos depuis 1915.

“Diyarbakir est l’un des sites les plus sanglants du génocide
arménien. Environ 97 pour cent de la population arménienne de la
province a disparu en 1915, donc cela signifie beaucoup pour moi
d’être là pour commémorer les victimes du génocide avec la musique de
Komitas et [Aram] Khatchatourian “, a déclaré Bedrosyan.

dimanche 5 avril 2015,
Stéphane (c)armenews.com