Author: Kanayan Tamar

KEN DAVITIAN TRAVELS: ARTISTS FOR PEACE, TRIP TO ARMENIA WITH HOLLYWOOD FILM PARTNERS

Thursday, June 26th, 2014

Ken Davitian’s project with Artists for Peace about racism in soccer

BY ELISE KALFAYAN

Ken Davitian, a prolific Hollywood actor with roles in many popular
TV shows and award-winning films, is in Belgium the last week of
June to complete an Artists for Peace video, then heads to Armenia
to explore film projects.

In Belgium, Davitian is performing in “The Final Game,” an original
video project / collaboration of FMS Media and Artists for Peace. “The
idea was given to us by Flora Martirosyan, the Armenian opera star,
who sang at the Gibson Amphitheatre back in 2011 in an Artists for
Peace concert,” said Davitian. “I was the MC at that concert. Now,
Artists for Peace is producing a video against racism, in honor of
Flora and her son. It draws attention to racism experienced by soccer
players around the world. It will be released on YouTube this July
6 to coincide with the championship game of the World Cup.”

After the video shoot, Davitian heads to Armenia with his producing
partner Arsen Bagdasaryan from Hollywood Film Partners to scout
locations for their green-lit motion picture “Cloud Band.” The script
was written by Orange County attorney Leo Alexander and based on
his family’s true story of losing and trying to recover a family
heirloom carpet stolen by the Turks. “It’s a romantic comedy, based
on a true story, and it mixes in the story of the genocide along the
way,” said Davitian. “A carpet woven to celebrate the merging of two
families in a marriage was stolen, and surfaces 100 years later. The
great-grandson of genocide survivors tries to recover it, encounters
resistance for the carpet’s Turkish owner, but meets an Armenian girl
during his travels and falls in love. The script has been acquired
and developed, and we are now working out logistics, including whether
we can shoot exterior locations or the whole film in Armenia.”

“Orphans of the Genocide,” a major PBS documentary which featured the
work of Armenian orphans producing hand-made rugs, including the one
given to U.S. President Calvin Coolidge, was promoted and supported
by Davitian, and he cites the work as an inspiration for his current
project. “There’s a lot of discussion about the genocide in ‘Cloud
Band,'” said Davitian. “The owner of the carpet won’t sell it to
its original owners’ descendant because he doesn’t want to admit the
facts of the genocide. The movie’s aim is to show the parties should
be talking to each other.”

Davitian will arrive one week ahead of Yerevan’s Golden Apricot Film
Festival, set for mid-July. He has plans to do a few classes there
for film students, directors and producers. His goal is to introduce
the Hollywood film industry to Armenia, and to open the doors for
collaboration. “Along with preliminary location scouting, we want to
see if there is government support for projects like “Cloud Band,”
and other projects as well. We are prepared to do at least three
major projects, all of which are close to development.”

Hollywood Film Partners has also developed a business plan and is
talking to investors about building a major film studio in Armenia that
would start by producing two films per year, then build out to eight,
along with an accompanying theme park that would attract tourists
and employ many locals. “There are all kinds of products available to
buy now in Armenia. What the country needs is to put people to work,
and give them a sense of hope,” emphasizes Davitian.

“This is show business – movies wouldn’t be made if they didn’t make
money. Such projects in Armenia are an investment opportunity for
people who have the money!”

The Golden Apricot Film Festival has gained fame and popularity in
recent years and will help Davitian and his partners determine the
potential for international and cross-cultural alliance. Davitian
hopes to bring his passion for his craft to the country and serve as
Armenia’s ambassador to Hollywood. “With the 100th Anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide upon us, now more than ever it is important that
we tell our history. The ability of feature film-making allows us to
bring several components together in depicting the tragic events that
led to the massacre of over 1.5 million Armenians.”

POLICE: ARMENIAN CAPTIVE IN AZERBAIJAN WAS INJECTED WITH PETROLEUM PRODUCTS

NEWS | 27.06.14 | 11:20

A repatriated Armenian who died several weeks after being freed by
Azerbaijan had been subjected to torture while in captivity, the
Armenian police said, citing the results of a relevant examination.

Thus, according to a report, the examination of Mamikon Khojoyan’s
body revealed signs of petroleum products and psychotropic substances
that had been injected into him.

Khojoyan, 77, died on May 20, two and a half months after being
released by Azerbaijan. The resident of the village of Verin
Karmiraghbyur in Armenia’s Tavush province was taken prisoner by
Azerbaijani troops on January 28 after apparently losing his way in
the borderland zone. The man, who suffered from a mental disorder,
however, was presented as an Armenian ‘saboteur’.

After Khojoyan’s return his family suspected that in Azerbaijan they
injected diesel fuel into him.

RUSSIA INTERESTED IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT RESOLUTION

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
June 26 2014

26 June 2014 – 7:27pm

Successful resolution of the Azerbaijani-Armenian conflict over
Nagorno-Karabakh would strengthen Russian-Azerbaijani ties and
contribute much to the implementation of Eurasian integration projects,
Russian presidential aide Sergey Glaziyev says, commenting on Russian
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s visit to Baku.

Minister Lavrov visited Azerbaijan on June 18. The official met with
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and underlined that Azerbaijan is
Russia’s strategic partner.

“Azerbaijan is our traditional and very close partner. We work together
every day. We have established successful cooperation in the spheres
of culture, trade and in the humanitarian sphere,” Glaziyev says.

“Unfortunately, Azerbaijan is not a participant in the Eurasian
economic integration. We would like the country to be a lawful member
of this integration process,” he says.

CHRISTIAN MP HAILS FREEDOM OF RELIGIOUS MINORITIES IN IRAN

Tasnim News Agency, Iran
June 26 2014

June 26, 2014 – 12:05

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – In a meeting with a member of Foreign Affairs
Commission at the French National Assembly, the representative of
Christian religious minority in Iran’s parliament evaluated the
situation of the minorities in the country as “very desirable”.

Robert Biglarian representing Armenian Christian community of southern
Iran made the comments on Wednesday during his meeting with the
vice-president of Foreign Affairs Commission at the French National
Assembly Odile Saugues.

“Religious minorities in the Islamic Republic of Iran live in full
equality with other citizens and based on the Iranian Constitution,
they (are free) to practice their own religious activities,” said
Biglarian, adding that the minorities have even their own hospitals
and schools.

During the meeting with the French lawmaker in Tehran, other
representatives of other religious minorities including Assyrian
representative Yonathan Betkolia and the representative of Armenian
Christian community of northern Iran Karen Khanlari also stated that
the minorities recognized under the Constitution enjoy a favorable
position and that the Islamic Republic of Iran supports the right
of minorities.

Under the Iranian Constitution, the recognized religious minorities
have the right to elect parliamentary representatives of their own,
while they can vote for Muslim candidates as well.

Five seats of the country’s parliament are reserved for religious
minorities. There is one Zoroastrian, one Jewish and three Christian
(two for Armenian Christian and one for Assyrians) lawmakers in the
Iranian parliament.

ARMENIA’S FORMER PM APPOINTED AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED STATES

ITAR-TASS, Russia
June 26 2014

June 26, 21:03 UTC+4 YEREVAN
Tigran Sarkisyan was Armenia’s prime minister from April 2008 to April 2014

YEREVAN, June 26. /ITAR-TASS/. Armenia’s former Prime Minister Tigran
Sarkisyan on Thursday was appointed ambassador extraordinary and
plenipotentiary to the United States, the Armenian president’s press
service said.

Tigran Sarkisyan was born to a family of journalists in Kirovakan
(now Vanadzor), the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic, on January
29, 1960. He graduated with honors from the Leningrad Financial
and Economic Institute named after N.A. Voznesensky with a degree
in economics. Sarkisyan received a postgraduate degree in his alma
mater in 1987. He is candidate of economic sciences.

In May 1990, Sarkisyan was elected deputy of the Supreme Soviet of
Armenia and chair of the Standing Commission of the Armenian Supreme
Soviet for financial, credit and budget issues in August 1990.

In 1995-1998, Sarkisyan headed the Association of Armenian Banks and
simultaneously the public Scientific Research Institute for Public
Reforms in a Transitional Period.

>From March 1998 to April 2008, Sarkisyan headed the Central Bank
of Armenia. In 2005-2007, he was simultaneously the head of the
Inter-State Bank council.

Sarkisyan was Armenia’s prime minister from April 2008 to April 2014.

He is a council member of the ruling Republic Party of Armenia.

RUSSIA RATIFIES TREATY ON MILITARY AND TECHNICAL CO-OPERATION WITH ARMENIA

ITAR-TASS, Russia
June 25, 2014 Wednesday 02:57 PM GMT+4

MOSCOW June 25

– Russia’s Federation Council upper house of parliament has ratified
an agreement between Russia and Armenia on military and technical
co-operation.

It was signed in Armenia’s capital, Yerevan, in June last year,
regulating mutual military supplies for the two countries’ armed
forces, law enforcement agencies and security services.

Under this accord, Russia and Armenia will maintain military deliveries
under contracts made by the two sides’ designated institutions without
the need for import/export licences.

FEDERATION COUNCIL APPROVES RUSSIAN-ARMENIAN AGREEMENT FOR SHIPMENTS OF GAS, PETROLEUM PRODUCTS, DIAMONDS

Interfax, Russia
June 25 2014

MOSCOW. June 25

Russia’s Federation Council has passed a law to ratify an agreement
between Russia and Armenia for cooperation in shipments of natural gas,
petroleum products and rough diamonds to Armenia.

The agreement was signed on December 2, 2013 in Yerevan and foresees
Russia organizing duty-free shipments of petroleum products, natural
gas and rough diamonds prior to Armenia accession to the Eurasian
integrated space.

The competent authorities of both countries are agreeing on volumes
and nomenclature of the republic’s domestic consumption of petroleum
products and natural gas for the coming calendar year. The two are
also confirming indicative balances.

Between economic entities of the Russian Federation and Armenia in
order to determine the order and shipment quantities diamond mining
companies in Russia rough diamond lapidary enterprises of the republic
are contracts.

Agreements are being signed between Russian and Armenian economic
entities to determine the procedures and volumes of rough diamonds that
Russian diamond producers will ship to Armenia’s lapidary enterprises.

Russia does not charge export duties on petroleum products and natural
gas for domestic consumption volumes approved as part of the indicative
balances, as well as for diamonds shipped to Armenia.

Goods shipped from Russia duty-free are prohibited from being
re-exported to third party countries.

Russia’s falling budget revenues from duty-free shipments of gas
will total roughly $180 million in 2014, while those from petroleum
products will be $150 million and from diamonds – $500,000, according
to a feasibility study for the document.

MARSEILLE : UN BUSTE DU RESISTANT MISSAK MANOUCHIAN TAGUE D’UNE CROIX GAMMEE

RTL, France
27 juin 2014

Le buste du resistant communiste Missak Manouchian a ete tague d’une
croix gammee a Marseille, provoquant l’indignation de la communaute
armenienne.

La communaute armenienne de Marseille a vivement condamne la
profanation du buste du resistant communiste Missak Manouchian installe
sur une place de la cite, qui a ete tague d’une croix gammee dans la
nuit du 25 au 26 juin, a-t-on appris ce vendredi auprès du Conseil
de coordination des organisations armeniennes de France region sud.

Indignation

“Cette croix gammee dessinee sur le buste de Missak Manouchian est
un rappel des atrocites generees par l’intolerance, la haine et le
racisme”, indique le CCAF sud dans un communique, rappelant que le
reseau Manouchian etait compose de “chretiens, juifs athees, venus
de Pologne, d’Espagne, de Bulgarie, d’Italie d’Armenie (qui) ont
sacrifie leur vie pour un monde de liberte, de paix et de fraternite”.

“Le CCAF Sud condamne fermement cette profanation qui est une atteinte
a tous ceux qui sont epris de justice et de liberte et demande aux
autorites publiques de tout mettre en oeuvre pour que les auteurs de
cet acte odieux soient recherches et condamnes”, ajoute ce texte. Le
president du CCAF Sud, Jacques Donabedian, a indique a l’AFP qu’ils
envisageait de deposer plainte dans les prochains jours.

HOSTILE RELATIONS BETWEEN PM AND BANKERS

16:20 / 26.06.2014

Hostile relations are being established between Hovik Abrahamyan and
bankers and banking system officials.

Former PM Tigran Sargsyan has created such a chain of advantages for
banks and financial structures during the years that no matter how
budget empties, the banks are becoming richer.

During these period people have become slaves of banks. But when the
government becomes the slave of banks it cannot be tolerated. While
PM Hovik Abrahamyan has started breaking this mechanism. The first
steps are already being done. The bankers are in panic and soon they
will be deprived of ‘privileges’ of eating money. So, they already
started response actions against the premier.

Our source says that materials are being ordered against the PM.

WE MUST NEVER FORGET WE HAVE UNIQUE CULTURE, SAYS ARMENIAN JAZZ SINGER

15:54 * 26.06.14

US-based popular jazz singer Tatevik Hovhannisyan, who is now
in Armenia for a concert tour, considers the Armenian culture and
language too unique to be replaced for European values.

“It is not absolutely important for us to be a European city. We must
never forget that we have a unique culture and language, so we don’t
have to be too Europeanized,” she said at a news conference in Yerevan.

The singer is going to give concerts in Armenia and the
Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) Republic. For the first time ever,
she will appear on stage in the country’s capital, Stepanakert,
Armenpress reports.

“The performance in Artsakh is the AZD Production’s initiative. I
first thought it would be hard after a six-hour trip, but I feel
enthusiastic now,” said the singer.

Hovhannisyan, who is known as the Soviet Queen of Jazz, added that she
didn’t aspire for a star’s title when leaving for the United States.

“You learn something from everyone; growth is important for me. I
departed from here as a legendary [singer]. And I started everything
from a scratch in the US; I laid the stones again. Anyone experiences
a shock when leaving a [home] country. We all have roots, so it isn’t
easy to eradicate all that,” she noted.