Author: Kanayan Tamar

CHRIS BOHJALIAN TO PRESENT AT THE CELEBRATION OF AUTHORS EVENT IN USA

ARMENPRESS
9 October, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 9, ARMENPRESS: Bohjalian, author of 15 books
including “Midwives,” an Oprah’s Book Club pick, and “The Sandcastle
Girls,” his latest novel set during the Armenian Genocide of 1915,
will participate in this year’s A Celebration of Authors event at
Worcester Public Library. Armenpress report referring to News Telegram
that also appearing will be Leah Hager Cohen, author of several works
including her novel “The Grief of Others” and a member of the faculty
at the College of the Holy Cross; and Elinor Lipman, author of short
stories, essays, poetry, fiction and her most recent book, a humorous
take on our techno-obsessed culture, “Tweet Land of Liberty.” The
event is a fundraiser for the Worcester Public Library Foundation,
whose programs and services benefit the library.

Bohjalian grew up in Westchester County, New York, and now lives in
Vermont. In the interview with News Telegram he told about his first
speaking engagement in Worcester, which was at the Tatnuck Bookseller
& Sons back in the 1990s and hosted by the store’s former owners,
Larry and Gloria Abramoff.

Because Bohjalian had yet to establish his reputation as a writer,
a crowd was not expected – but that didn’t take into account the
fact that Worcester is a city with a considerable and close-knit
Armenian community.

“They had put out only about 15 chairs because they thought that was
all that would show up for this guy from Vermont that no one had heard
of,” Bohjalian said. “Well, because my name is Armenian there must have
been 70 people there, maybe more, and Larry was bring out more and more
and more chairs,” as the Armenian community came out to support a total
stranger whose last name ends in i-a-n. “It was glorious,” he said.

Armenpress reports that Bohjalian’s breakthrough, “Midwives,” would
shortly follow and he was a literary stranger no more after the phone
rang one day and it was Oprah telling him how much she liked his book.

The result was instant, high-profile bestseller status. He has received
many awards since, including the New England Society Book Award for
“The Night Strangers.”

His latest novel, “The Sandcastle Girls,” finds the Armenian theme
resurgent after many years, since even before the Tatnuck Bookseller
metaphorical group hug. Published in July 2012, it is not his first
novel concerning his personal heritage, but it likely is the only one
you will ever read. It was 1993 when he made his first exploration of
the Armenian Genocide, the systematic extermination of the Armenian
minority within the Ottoman Empire, in what is now Turkey from 1915 to
1923. Bohjalian said that, even as he wrote, he knew it was a deeply
troubled manuscript. “That novel was a train wreck,” he said. It
was never published and the manuscript now is in the archives of his
alma mater, Amherst College. “If you are a scholar or a masochist,
you can go read it,” he said.

Bohjalian was asked why almost 20 years later, he was prompted to
revisit the theme.

“First of all because the story is so important,” he said. “There
is a direct link between the Armenian Genocide and the Holocaust,
the Cambodian Killing Fields, Serbia, Rwanda, Darfur. Secondly,
the story is, as my narrator puts it ‘the slaughter you know next to
nothing about.’ America does not know this story because Turkey and
its allies continue to deny it. It’s not taught in schools.”

Thirdly, he began spending a lot of time with his father, whose health
had been deteriorating, looking through old family photographs, when a
good friend, Khatchig Mouradian, editor of Armenian Weekly, encouraged
him to try an exploration of his ethnic roots again. So he did, and
says he learned an immense amount in the process that enlivened the
few facts he had going into it. Though both his grandparents on his
father’s side were genocide survivors, he knew very little about what
they experienced in 1915.

“Like the grandchild of survivors, if somebody’s half Armenian,
you certainly know so many of the basics of the Armenian genocide,”
he said. “What I was doing with this novel was creating characters
that I cared about and that I hoped my readers would care about and
would bring the story to life.”

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FIRST BICYCLE PATH TO BE OPENED IN YEREVAN

ARMENPRESS
9 October, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 9, ARMENPRESS: “Kanachastan” NGO and the Yerevan
municipality organize the opening of the first bicycle path in
Yerevan. As Armenpress was informed from “Kanachastan” public
organization, that works concerning the signs, markings, as well as
the installation of bicycle parking will be completed on October 10.

Thanks to the initiative of the public organization and Mayor Taron
Margaryan a fresh starts was given to new infrastructure investment
and development in Armenian transport. The first bicycle path in
Yerevan is passing through the Circle (Oghakadzev) Park reaching the
Park near the monument of General Andranik.

The opening ceremony will be launched by the live music of The Nooz
Band jazz band.

“Kanachastan” NGO has noted that in many urban areas of the world
bicycle is a common means of transportation. It is ecologically
clean, healthy and helps to stay fit. Amsterdam is the world’s best
city accommodated for the cyclists. In the U.S., the Bicycling.com
published the list of cities with at least 100 thousand population
that provide the best conditions cycling. These include bicycle lanes,
parking lots, bike rentals and repair shops. The list is topped by the
cities such as Chicago, San Francisco, New York, Denver etc. While in
many cities around the world the bicycle is a ubiquitous and ordinary
way of travelling, in Armenia there is yet the need to develop a
bicycle culture. Yerevan is Armenia’s most densely populated city.

Congested traffic and transportation does not meet the public need.

The situation could be amended if people realized the potential of
integrating the bicycle into the transport system.

For the insight, Kanachastan looked into the public opinion by
conducting a survey in all the 12 communities of the city. Of 124
randomly selected respondents the majority (72%) could ride a bike
on amateur level but only few (14.5%) owned a bike. The respondents
mentioned the main factors inhibiting the use of bicycle in the city,
such as lack of bike lanes (73%), intolerance of drivers (43%),
lack of bike parking stations (40%). They mentioned also advantages
that the bicycle has over other means of transport, namely it being
a healthy choice (72%) and ecologically clean (55%):

The interest in cycling has increased in the recent years in Armenia
due to the rise of environmental and healthy lifestyle activism
initiated by the youth. “Hetsaniv +” (Bike+) is an non-profit
eco-organization that takes steps for solving the above-mentioned
issues first of all by teaching how to ride, use and take care of
a bicycle.

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YEREVAN STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS TO LAUNCH PAN-ARMENIAN STUDENTS MOVEMENT “ARMENIA IN EUROPE”

arminfo
Tuesday, October 9, 11:34

Students of the Yerevan State University (YSU) are launching a Pan-
Armenian Students Movement “Armenia in Europe,” says a statement by
YSU students.

The movement initiators highly appreciate the current level of European
integration, simultaneously expressing concern over the geopolitical
processes and challenges to stability and security of the country. They
say that the Movement aims to meet the above challenges.

“Being committed to the European system of values, realizing the role
of the youth in creation of the country’s future and basing on the
necessity of Armenia’s integration into Europe and development of real
democracy, we decided to create a movement ‘Armenia in Europe.’ We
urge all the youth organizations who believe in the European future
of Armenia and are ready to fight for that goal to join our initiative
and efficiently implement our common goals,” the statement reads.

Arthur Ghazinyan, Director of the YSU Center for European Studies,
told ArmInfo that Movement initiators will announce a press conference
on October 11 to introduce specific programs and an action plan.

EVERY YEAR 70 CASES OF PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGY REVEALED IN ARMENIA

arminfo
Tuesday, October 9, 17:10

Preventive care is the best method of early diagnostics of cancer,
Gagik Bazikyan, Deputy Director of the National Oncology Center,
Health Ministry of Armenia, told media, Tuesday.

He said that breast and uterine cancer are the most common cancer
among women and lung cancer and gastro-intestinal cancer are the most
common cases among men in Armenia.

“In addition, prostate cancer cases have been growing in the country
over the last years,” Bazikyan said. The share of men in total oncology
cases in the country is 48%, the share of women being 52%. In addition,
70 new cases of pediatric oncology are registered in Armenia every
year, Bazikyan said. He said that air pollution, stresses, hormonal
imbalance, and genetically modified products cause cancer.

A range of events will be held in the country in October to promote
preventive care and early diagnostics of cancer.

BAKO SAHAKYAN VISITED “GYURJYAN” INSTITUTE OF APPLIED ARTS

ARMENPRESS
9 October, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 9, ARMENPRESS: Artsakh Republic President Bako
Sahakyan visited “Gyurjyan” institute of applied arts and partook at
the ceremony of opening art exhibition of its students on October 9.

As Armenpress was informed from NKR presidential press service
the President considered important holding such exhibitions, which
would allow educing talented painters and develop their professional
capabilities.

The President was accompanied by Primate of the Artsakh Diocese
of the Armenian Apostolic Church Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan and
other officials.

HARUT SASSOUNIAN: ARMENIA’S GOVERNMENT HAS TO PROTEST AGAINST INJUSTICE COMMITTED AGAINST OUR NATION

Panorama.am
09/10/2012

Harut Sassounian, the publisher of The California Courier newspaper,
addressing the Armenian Genocide at a news conference, said he has
a special approach to the issue. According to him, Armenia does not
have to proceed with the efforts towards demanding the recognition
of the crime.

“We all the time speak about pursuing the international recognition of
the Genocide but I don’t think it makes sense. The Armenian Genocide
has already become widely acknowledged,” he said, enumerating the
countries, including the international organizations which have
recognized the tragedy.

“We know that the Genocide has taken place; the world is aware of
the fact. We cannot make the Turks recognize it by either force or
documents, so let them do whatever they like.

“This is probably a global expression, but Armenia’s government has to
pursue its steps, protesting against the injustice committed against
our nation,” he said, stressing the need of involving Diaspora’s
potential in demanding compensation from the powerful neighbor.

GEORGIA PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS NOT FREE OR FAIR, MP SAYS

PanARMENIAN.Net
October 9, 2012 – 16:47 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Georgian parliamentary winner Bidzina Ivanishvili’s
troubling remark about Armenians came as a result of political
inexperience, according to Javakhk political union chair, MP Shirak
Torosyan.

Earlier, in an interview to Russian magazine New Times, Ivanishvili
wondered why ethnic Armenians lived in Georgia when “their own
homeland is next door.” Mr. Ivanishvili then released a statement
saying he had been quoted out of context and meant to praise the
“special gift of the Armenians and the Jews to be citizens of the
world and succeed everywhere they live.”

Commenting on parliamentary polls in Georgia, Mr. Torosyan noted that
according to Javakhk sources, a number of frauds were reported.

“Georgia saw a civilized transfer of power; nevertheless, the elections
can’t be called free and fair,” the MP said.

RESTORATION OF JUSTICE INSTEAD OF RECOGNITION HAROUT SASSOUNIAN SUGGESTS NEW WORDING
Alisa Gevorgyan

“Radiolur”
16:05 09.10.2012

“Restoration of justice instead of international recognition of the
Armenian Genocide.” Harout Sassounian, publisher of the California
Courier, suggests changing the wording and emphasizes ahead of
the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. According to him,
“recognition” is already an old term, the fact of the Armenian genocide
is an irrefutable fact for the world. However, Turkey cannot be forced
to accept its history. Therefore, the struggle of Armenians should
now concentrate on the restoration of justice.

“Armenia is conducting a generally normal foreign policy. We have had
neither great achievements, nor serious failures,” Harout Sassounian
told reporters today. Assessing the strong and weak sides of the
Armenian foreign policy, the publisher said: “In this sphere the
state had to start everything over and has been trying to improve
the situation, but what we lack in the sphere is courage.”

Harout Sassounian suggests the Armenian authorities to direct the
steps against the terrible injustice against the Armenian people in
1915-1923. According to him, Armenia cannot pose territorial claims
on Turkey, but the Diaspora can.

Editor of the California Courier suggests a new format to reinforce
the Armenia-Diaspora ties and to make the joint actions more
effective. He suggests forming a new parliament comprised of
Diaspora representatives, which will represent the interest of
world-spread Armenians. This body can considerably reinforce the
Armenia-Artsakh-Diaspora trinity, Sassounian says.

Touching upon the Artsakh issue and the situation created as a result
of the transfer of Ramil Safarov, the publisher said “the Armenian
side is demonstrating a somewhat wrong attitude instead of making
use of the situation.”

According to him, Armenia should make it clear to the world that
the freedom-loving people cannot live in a country, which honors
axe-murderers. However, the most challenging problems Armenians face
today, is the physical survival of Syrian Armenians.

ARMENIA ACCUSES HUNGARY OF COMPLICATING THE SITUATION OVER NAGORNO KARABAKH

armradio.am
12:42 09.10.2012

Serzh Sargsyan in an interview with the Hungarian ATV Company Armenian
president Serzh Sargsyan referred to Armenian-Hungarian relations,
settlement of the Karabakh issue and Ramil Safarov’s transfer.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan again accused Hungary of complicating
the search for peace in the protracted conflict over Karabakh by
handing over a confessed axe-killer of an Armenian to Azerbaijan
several weeks ago.

In an exclusive interview with the Hungarian ATV channel aired at the
weekend Sargsyan, at the same time, made clear that the responsibility
for the bad decision rests entirely with Hungarian government officials
and that his countrymen should not blame ordinary Hungarians for that.

“The decision of the Hungarian government not only jeopardized the
Armenian-Hungarian relations, which is regretful, but also led to
problems in the European Union’s Eastern policy and Armenia’s peace
talks with Azerbaijan, and, therefore, put the stability of the region
at risk,” Sargsyan said.

“But I would not like the Armenian people to turn their back on the
Hungarians because of the Hungarian government that turned its back
on Armenia,” the Armenian President added.

The Armenian President noted that he does not see an aspiration to
solve the Karabakh conflict in Azerbaijan’s policy and added that
Armenia is doing its best to reach that objective. The President
stressed that in case of Azerbaijan’s possible military aggression
against Karabakh, Armenia will support the citizens of Artsakh.

ACTOR MIKAYEL POGHOSYAN WINS BEST ACTOR AWARD AT ROMANIA FILM FEST

Panorama.am
09/10/2012

Armenian actor Mikayel Poghosyan won the Best Actor Award for playing
the main role in If Only Everyone film at the 8th Romania International
Film Festival in Bucharest, the actor told Panorama.am, adding that 9
films – those from Greece, Germany, Russia, Azerbaijan and Bulgaria –
were featured in the festival’s contest program.

We will mention that If Only Everyone film has been awarded many
prizes at film festivals. If Only Everyone, by Natalia Belyauskene,
won the Golden Apricot in the best Armenian Fiction Film category at
the 9th Golden Apricot International Film Festival.

The film is now featured in Pousan International Film Festival,
the actor said.

If Only Everyone film is dedicated to the 20th anniversary of Armenia’s
independence and the formation of the Armenian Armed Forces.

The film is about a woman, half-Armenian, half Russian, a daughter
of a freedom fighter who was killed in the Artsakh liberation war. 20
years later, Sasha came to Armenia in search of her father’s grave.

She wanted to plant a birch there. Sasha got acquainted with her
father’s combat friends who helped her carry out her mission.