Actes de vandalisme sur un monument aux morts à Montréal

ICI.Radio-Canada.ca
12 nov 2017


Actes de vandalisme sur un monument aux morts à Montréal


Le graffiti a été découvert samedi matin sur un monument situé dans l'arrondissement Saint-Laurent, à Montréal. Photo : CBC News

Un monument aux morts a été vandalisé samedi dans un parc de l'arrondissement Saint-Laurent, à Montréal, un acte qui coïncidait avec le jour du Souvenir.

Radio-Canada avec CBC

Le graffiti en rouge « F – k la guerre » et « F – k l'armée » a été découvert vers 8 h 30 du matin par un voisin du parc Beaudet.

« C'est embarrassant, c'est une insulte », a commenté Berj Merdjani, dont les arrières-grands-parents ont été tués lors du génocide arménien.

Celui qui a appelé les services municipaux craignait que le graffiti soit encore sur le monument quand les citoyens arriveraient au parc afin de rendre hommage aux militaires, à 11 h.

Cependant, les cols bleus ont vite effacé le graffiti et le Service de police de la Ville de Montréal a ouvert une enquête pour retrouver les auteurs.

Exclusive: Dean Cain Reveals Why He’s Taking on the Armenian Genocide

Life Zette
Nov 6 2017
 
 
Exclusive: Dean Cain Reveals Why He’s Taking on the Armenian Genocide
 
The former Superman tells LifeZette about the documentary 'Architects of Denial' — and his numerous other projects
 
November 7, 2017
 
by Zachary Leeman | Updated 06 Nov 2017 at 8:33 AM
 
 
The Armenian Genocide is one of the least talked about yet one of the most tragic periods in history. The calculated slaughter of some 1.5 million Armenians, mostly Christian, by the Ottoman Empire during World War I is an event not officially acknowledged by the Turkish government (the modern-day state of the Ottoman Empire) — or by many in our own government.
 
It’s an event that today is discussed more than in the past, thanks to the efforts of certain people with public platforms. One of those people is “Lois & Clark” actor Dean Cain, who stars in and helped produce the documentary “Architects of Denial,” a film examining the phenomenon of the official denials by public figures of a terrible event that should never be forgotten.
 
 
Cain talked with LifeZette about the film.
 
Question: 'The Promise,' which was also about the Armenian genocide, was met with a lot of controversy and backlash. What do you expect the short-term and long-term responses to be to this film?
Answer: I hope that "Architects of Denial" educates people about a very disturbing event that unquestionably took place, just after the turn of the 20th century. It was the first genocide in the 20th century, and millions were killed — including 1.5 million Armenians, 900,000 Greeks, and 750,000 Assyrians. It was a horrible tragedy that has been denied and covered up for over 100 years.
 
That denial and covering up allows genocides to continue to this very day — in places like Syria, Iraq, and Sudan. In fact, when Adolf Hitler spoke about his "Final Solution," he said, "After all, who remembers the Armenians?"
 
We are also very hopeful — and both Montel [Williams, another producer of the documentary] and I spent time on Capitol Hill in October — that we can get [House Res. 220] passed by the U.S. Congress. [We want to] finally have the United States recognize the Armenian Genocide for what it was, a genocide, and recognize that Christians today are one of the most persecuted groups in the world.
 
Q: Are you hopeful the Turkish government will begin to acknowledge the Armenian genocide in the near future?
A: I am not very optimistic that the Turkish government will recognize [this genocide any time soon]. Many, many Turkish citizens already recognize the Armenian Genocide for what it was, but Turkish citizens are not allowed to call it a genocide — [that is] punishable by arrest and jail time or worse inside Turkey.
 
The current government, led by the authoritarian Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, seems to be headed in the opposite direction — and the relationship between the United States and Turkey and even NATO is suffering as a result.
 
Q: How did you come to be involved with this movie?
A: I became involved in "Architects of Denial" through a number of Armenian friends who asked me if I knew anything about the Armenian Genocide. I was embarrassed I did not know much. My Armenian producer friend said, "I thought you were a history major — from Princeton!" That was the jumping-off point for me. I went to a march on April 24, about 10 years ago in Los Angeles, that commemorates the start of the Armenian Genocide [April 24, 1915] — and I learned an awful lot that day, and in the days since.
 
Montel Williams and I executive-produced this film after traveling the world together doing charity work. Montel and I don't agree on everything politically, but we definitely agree on this: Genocide is wrong, and it needs to be stopped.
 
Related: Dean Cain: Much of Hollywood's Rhetoric 'Is Completely Out of Control'
 
Q: What other projects are you working on right now that fans can anticipate?
A: I'm currently involved in a large number of projects. I'm writing and producing several feature films, including "Escape to Shanghai (The Violin)" and "Little Devils," hosting "Masters of Illusion" on the CW [four seasons], starring in "Hit the Floor" on BET, and guest-hosting "The Today Show" and "Fox & Friends Weekend." I'm also starring in several feature films, including the soon-to-be-released "Gosnell" [the story of Kermit Gosnell], and recurring on "Supergirl" as her foster father.
 
Q: A recent movie of yours that's gained a bit of a cult following is the prison-based action movie "Vendetta," directed by the Soska twins. Any chance that you would re-team with them, or do a sequel?
A: I would love to work with the Soska twins again. They are extremely talented and amazing to work with! "Vendetta" needs a sequel!
 
"Architects of Denial" can be found on video on demand services now.
 
 
 
 

California Courier Online, Nov. 2, 2017

The California Courier Online, November 2, 2017
 
1 –    Commentary
        Delighted to Report That Azeri Officials
        Read My Columns and Follow My Advice
        By Harut
Sassounian
        Publisher,
The California
Courier
        www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com
2    Survivor
of Baku Pogroms
Runs
        For
Idaho’s Twin
Falls City Council 
3 –    Armenian
Genocide Film Takes Best
        Feature
Documentary Award in Glendale
4 –    Letter
to the Editor
5 –    Charles Aznavour and Sister Aida
Receive
        Wallenberg
Medal for Saving Jews in WWII
6    Kardashian Family Goes to Trademark
        War
with a Bakery Named Kardashian
7 –    Map
of Ancient Armenia
Unveiled in
        Germany
Causes Stir in Turkish Media
8 –    Armenian-American Prosecutor Held in
        U.S. Airport Because of Racial Profiling
9 –    Catholicos
Karekin II Visits AGBU Vatche
        And
Tamar Manoukian School in Pasadena
10-   Medical
Mission III to Armenia
Returns to Fresno
        By Berj Apkarian
        Honorary Armenian Republic
        Consul to Fresno
11-   AESA Nov. 11 Gala
        Banquet Will Honor
        Three Scientists
 
*******************************************
1 –    Commentary
        Delighted to Report That Azeri Officials
        Read My Columns and Follow My Advice
 
        By Harut Sassounian
        Publisher, The California Courier
        www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com
 
Back in
August 2013 I wrote a column headlined: “Baku’s
Blacklist of Artsakh Visitors Helps Armenia, Hurts Azerbaijan,” explaining the
foolishness of Azeri officials blacklisting anyone who visits Nagorno Karabagh
(Artsakh) without Azerbaijan’s
permission. I stressed that blacklisting visitors to Artsakh from around the
world was a disservice to the interests of Azerbaijan
in the first place, because the blacklist isolated Azerbaijan from the rest of the
world! In fact, the larger the number of blacklisted people — many of them
prominent individuals and high-ranking officials — the more Azerbaijan deprives itself of such
important visitors.
In my
2013 column, after quoting several famous individuals who ridiculed being
blacklisted by Azerbaijan,
I suggested that my name be also added to the blacklist since I had gone to
Artsakh and written a column about my visit. Amazingly, shortly after my
suggestion, the government of Azerbaijan
added my name to the blacklist: “Harut Sassounian, Syrian-American journalist of
Armenian descent.” Since then, I visited Artsakh again!
I must
add that many years ago, while Papa Aliyev was the President of Azerbaijan, he
invited me through intermediaries to Baku
to meet with him and discuss the Nagorno Karabagh conflict. Of course, I
declined the invitation. I even turned down Pres. Heydar Aliyev’s offer to meet
with him in a third country, such as the UK,
if I did not want to come to Azerbaijan.
I turned down that suggestion too. So, now that I am on the black list, Azerbaijan’s foreign ministry has deprived their
President of the ability to invite me to Baku!
There
are more than 700 names on the Azeri blacklist, including parliament members,
businessmen, journalists, entertainers, elected officials and other
celebrities. The latest visitor to Artsakh to be blacklisted is Anthony
Bourdain, who is the host of a world famous CNN food show. Last week, he went
to Armenia and Artsakh to do
a TV program on the Armenian cuisine in both countries, and Azerbaijan immediately declared him
persona non grata!
Bourdain’s
name was added to the blacklist “for his disrespect of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity
and sovereignty,” Hikmet Hajiyev, Azeri Foreign Ministry spokesman, told Agence
France-Presse. “Filming a food show on Azerbaijan's occupied territory is
an insult to one million Azerbaijani refugees who were forcefully expelled from
their homes,” Hajiyev added. This makes no sense. The only thing Azeri
officials were able to accomplish is prevent Bourdain from going to Azerbaijan
and prepare a CNN show on the Azeri cuisine, which would have provided a lot of
publicity for the country!
Azerbaijan’s black list has several major shortcomings:
1) So
far, there are only 700 names on the black list, whereas, over the years,
several hundred thousand tourists have visited Artsakh from around the world.
While the names of all visitors to Artsakh are not publicly known, certainly
much more than 700 visitors have gone to Artsakh! It appears that someone at Azerbaijan’s
Foreign Ministry is sleeping on the job.
2) Why
is it that of the 700 names on the black list, there is not a single citizen of
Armenia?
While the names of regular visitors from Armenia
may not be known to Azeri officials, they surely know that the President, Prime
Minister, and other high-ranking officials from the Republic of Armenia
frequently visit Artsakh and their trips are well publicized. Could it be that Azerbaijan does not consider citizens of Armenia
visiting Artsakh to be foreigners? Azerbaijan Foreign Ministry’s website
acknowledges that “Nagorno-Karabagh” is “temporarily out of the control of the Republic of Azerbaijan.” Is it possible that Azerbaijan now considers Artsakh to be
permanently “out of the control of the Republic of Azerbaijan?”
3) Very
few of the blacklisted visitors have complained about not being able to visit Azerbaijan.
On the contrary, many of them have expressed their pride that their names are
on Azerbaijan’s
black list. Even more shocking, several individuals, not seeing their names on
the black list after visiting Artsakh, have asked that they be added to the
black list because they consider being on that list a badge of honor!
To make
matters worse, in recent months Azerbaijan
has requested that other countries extradite their citizens to Baku for having visited
Artsakh. In one case, a journalist from Belarus
was shamefully arrested and sent to Azerbaijan where he was jailed for
several months! He was finally released after international pressure on Azerbaijan
and condemnation by the European Council.
This is
an abuse of power and export of Azeri oppression and intimidation to third
countries which must be ashamed for collaborating with a despotic Azeri regime!
*******************************************************************************************************
2 –    Survivor
of Baku Pogroms
Runs
        For
Idaho’s Twin
Falls City Council 
TWIN FALLS CITY,
Idaho – Armenian-American businesswoman and
community leader Liyah Babayan is running for the Twin Falls City Council, reports the Idaho
Chapter of the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
“After
serious thought, prayer and the blessing of my family, I am excited to announce
my candidacy for Twin Falls
City Council and respectfully ask for your vote this November 7th to represent
#ThePeopleFirst as your next City Councilwoman,” remarked Babayan in an
announcement to her supporters.  “I accept with grace the opportunity to
give back to the city and country that gave my family a second chance at life.”
Born in Baku, Azerbaijan,
Babayan survived the 1990 pogrom and massacre against Christian Armenians,
eventually finding refuge with her family in the US
state of Idaho,
where she has become a respected small business owner, School Board member, and
ANCA activist.
“It is a
great pleasure to see young Armenian-Americans, especially survivors of
anti-Christian pogroms in Azerbaijan,
run for public office in the United
States of America,” remarked ANCA Western
Region chair Nora Hovsepian. “Liyah’s commitment to civic engagement and
justice was best illustrated last year when she led the grassroots pressure
that compelled the withdrawing of an absurd resolution in the Idaho legislature, prompting
MagicValley.com’s February 18, 2016 headline, ‘Armenian
Lobbying Group Kills Idaho Resolution Praising Azerbaijan.’ We wish Liyah best
of luck and call on the Armenian-American community to support her noble
pursuit of representing the hardworking people of Twin Falls, Idaho
on the City Council,” continued Hovsepian.
Donations
to Babayan’s campaign can be made online. For details about her campaign, visit
www.liyahbabayan.com.
The full
text of her biography from
LiyahBabayan.com is below:
Local
small business owner Liyah Babayan is most known for her hyper-local influence
and leadership. Surviving religious persecution and ethnic killings, her family
arrived in Twin Falls
as refugees when she was ten years old. Liyah watched her educated parents
tirelessly work two full time jobs each, lowest paying, entry level to rebuild
their life in the United
States from absolutely nothing. Homelessness
and extreme poverty is a reality Liyah understands first hand, as her family
experienced both. To help her family out, Liyah started working at the age of
13 until she graduated from Twin Falls
High School.. This work
ethic became the guiding principle of her life.
Liyah
studied military and political science at Southern Oregon University and
History at College
of Southern Idaho. From a
young age she loved the hustle and free market spirit of the American Dream. An
entrepreneur at heart, at 22 years old Liyah took a leap of faith. Launching
her business Ooh La La Boutique, during the peak of the Great Recession,
cultivated her resourcefulness and smart budgeting practices. She knows the important
role small business plays in the local economy and personally understands how
government can support these leaders to succeed or slow progress with excessive
and overreaching regulations. Under Liyah’s direction, Ooh La La became a
platform for empowerment in the Magic
Valley by raising
awareness and resources for various groups. Liyah shares the value of
compassionate response throughout our community, addressing various causes dear
to her including elderly neglect, cycle of poverty, childhood food insecurity,
addiction recovery, and cultural integration of refugees.
Volunteering
on various city and civic commissions, Liyah asks the difficult questions and
takes a courageous stand on issues affecting the residents of Twin Falls. As a community leader she served
three years as our School Board of Trustee, working on budgeting, building
schools, and hiring a superintendent. Her leadership style is transparent,
bold, and accountable. As a mother, she understands parents and the concern for
their children to grow up in a safe and healthy community. Liyah delivers a
unique voice and perspective to strategic plans, policy, and decision making.
There is a huge difference between being elected and getting things done. Liyah
Babayan gets things done! Service to community is the consistent theme of her
professional career for the last ten years in the Magic Valley.
Representing ‘The People First’ is Liyah’s number one priority as she advocates
for a more transparent, inclusive, and responsible local government!
**********************************************************************************************
3 –    Armenian
Genocide Film Takes Best
        Feature
Documentary Award in Glendale
GLENDALE (Los Angeles Times) – Glendale resident Levon
Parian took home the Best Feature Documentary award for “Crows of the Desert”
at the Glendale International Film Festival, which wrapped on October 22.
The doc, set during the Armenian Genocide,
detailed Parian’s grandfather’s escape from the Ottoman Calvary and his
ultimate rescue of 1,000 Armenians.
The film was based on Parian’s book and directed
by Marta Houske.
All awards included a “Certificate of
Recognition” from the California State Legislature signed by state
Assemblywoman Laura Friedman (D-Glendale).
Best Actress and Best Actor awards went to Charlene Rose of Sherman
Oaks and
Mikael Sharafyan of Glendale for the film “The
Bride from Vegas” which also won Best Feature Film. It was directed by Artur
Levonovich Babayan.
*****************************************************************************************************
4 – Letter to the editor
        Dear
Sir:
I couldn't stop the tears bursting from my eyes
reading your Oct. 19, 2017 editorial about your high school teacher. I was so
excited really, because I had a similar history.
In Istanbul’s
"Getronagan Lycée" when I finished the "michnagark" and
couldn't continue to finish the Lycée for the same reason as you, and just
because I did not have another Ms.Balian and had to stop my education.
I cried reading your editorial because I
understood your feelings on my skin. I appreciated every line of your
editorial and I considered that you were lucky because after so many years
to see again this wonderful woman, and being able to tell your feelings
and gratitude face to face to give her a small satisfaction and much more
perhaps to you
I wish we had more Ms..Balians in our
schools (hard to believe if they exist in our days) to encourage our young
generations, and who knows, to produce other Sassounians. It was a
wonderful and beautiful story which gave me a meaningful and enormous
pleasure and I am sure also to many others who read your editorial. Thank you
very much Harut.
I am so glad you can continue your true and
difficult "baykar" for our "noble cause". Asduzo tsérke
togh mishd vrat ella.
Hayrabet Basar
Nice, France
**************************************************************************************************
5 –    Charles
Aznavour and Sister Aida Received
        Wallenberg
Medal for Saving Jews in WWII
JERUSALEMThey gave shelter to Jews and other
persecuted during the Holocaust
.
The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation
(IRWF) bestowed the “Raoul Wallenberg Medal” upon the siblings Aida and Charles
Aznavour. This prestigious award is a token of recognition to the Aznavour
family, mother Knar, father Mischa and their aforementioned daughter and son,
who during the dark days of the Nazi occupation in France, reached-out to those
persecuted by the Nazis.
The ceremony of bestowal took place on October 26,
at the Official Residence of the President of the State of Israel, Reuven
Rivlin.
The Aznavours were closely linked to the Missak
Manouchian Resistance Group and in this context they have offered shelter to
Armenians, Jews and others at their own Paris
flat, risking their own lives.
This story of solidarity and civic courage was
conveyed by Charles Aznavour to Professor Yair Auron, a
world-renowned Israeli scholar specialized in Holocaust and Genocide studies.
Among the attendants were Helene Le Gal,
Ambassador of France; Magnus Hellgren, Ambassador of Sweden and Eli Yerushalmi,
Ambassador of Israel in Armenia.
Abigail Tenembaum, IRWF Vice president of the
IRWF, conducted the ceremony. She thanked President Rivlin for hosting the
event and Professor Auron for disclosing the feats of the Aznavours during the
Nazi occupation, how they gave shelter to people persecuted by the Nazis, at
their own Paris flat,
putting the whole
story in the context
of the Foundation’s Houses of Life program.
Baruch Tenembaum, founder of the IRWF, presented
the medal to Charles Aznavour and, accompanied by Ariel Cohen Sabban, head of
DAIA (Delegación de Asociaciones Israelitas de Argentina), bestowed the medal
upon Nicolas Aznavour, on behalf of her aunt Aida.
Charles Aznavour said that he always felt very
close to the Jewish people and even knew the Jewish prayers better than the
Christian ones. He expressed that he felt deeply honored to receive the
accolade, especially in Jerusalem,
one of his favorite cities.
In a very candid tone, Aznavour raised the issue
of the Armenian Genocide, asking President Rivlin why Israel does not officially
recognize it as such.
In turn, President Rivlin said how he and his
wife Nechama admire Aznavour and even started their relationship listening to
his memorable songs. He congratulated Aznavour on this well merited recognition
and he outlined his personal commitment to the Armenian people and how he
always denounced the terrible massacre that they suffered. He said that beyond
any definition, it is clear what happened to the Armenian people and now, as
President, he is bound to speak in one voice with the government. He remarked
that “whoever saves a life saves the world entire” and the “Aznavours saved
many lives”. He prompted Aznavour to feel at home and added that as far as he’s
concerned, “Armenians are our brothers”. “I hope you feel the same”. Aznavour
nodded in agreement. President Rivlin praised the activities of the IRWF and
placed a special emphasis on the NGO’s Houses of Life program, saying that he is
hearing wondering echoes about this initiative.
In a joint statement, Eduardo Eurnekian,
Chairman of the IRWF, and Baruch Tenembaum said: “The International Raoul
Wallenberg Foundation is dedicated to preserving and divulging the legacy of
the rescuers. Our main mission is the recognition of goodness. The Aznavour
family has shown us, through their spirit of solidarity, the face of those who
opted not to stand idly by in the face of evil. Aida and Charles Aznavour were
young people during the Holocaust, but they knew very well the perils entailed
and together with their parents, they chose to lend a helping hand to those in
need. It is a great honor for our Foundation to bestow upon Aida and Charles
Aznavour, and through them to their dear parents, Knar and Mischa, the Raoul
Wallenberg Medal, precisely as a token of recognition. We deeply thank His
Excellency, President Reuven Rivlin for hosting the ceremony of bestowal of
this award.”
*************************************************************************************************
6 –    Kardashian
Family Goes to Trademark
        War
with a Bakery Named Kardashian
By
LOS ANGELES (Bravo) – When it's time to
celebrate big life events, the Kardashian family is pretty darned
loyal to Hansen's Cakes in Los
Angeles. But 
Page Six reports that they're currently battling another,
non-famous Kardashian family, who have applied to trademark the logo of their
namesake
Kardashian Bakery and Grill in Taylor,
Michigan.
The bakery specializes in pizza and other doughy
delights.
And is a go-to for Armenian and Italian
desserts.
According to The Blast, Kim Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian, and Kourtney Kardashian are legally opposing the
trademark — and have until February to explain why. The twist in the story is
that they may be related to the Michigan
family.
“Technically, my husband is related to them,”
co-owner Sandra Kardachian told Page Six.
“I don’t think they’re aware of this… My husband’s father is related to their
grandpa.”
Kardachian explained that there was "a
clerical error" when she and husband Hratch came to America from Armenia
16 years ago that resulted in their legal name here being Kardachian… but it
should really be Kardashian.
****************************************************************************************************
7 –    Map
of Ancient Armenia
Unveiled in
        Germany Causes
Stir in Turkish Media
COLOGNE, Germany (Ermenihaber) – A map displayed at a
community event in Germany
on October 21 caused a stir in the Turkish media sources.
An event named “Armenian History and Culture:
Silent Ararat” held in the Cologne Catholic Church by the Armenian Primacy of
Cologne featured a map of ancient Armenia with boundaries reaching as far as
the present-day Turkey’s Samsun to the north and Mersin in the south, covering
the present territory of the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

The map was widely shared by Turkish news outlets and slammed by users on
social media platforms with plenty of criticism toward both the Armenian
community and accusations to German official circles for authorizing the event.

To note for reference, eastern parts of Turkey (formerly the Ottoman Empire) were part
of the historical homeland of Armenians under the name Western Armenia that
emerged following the division of Greater Armenia between the Byzantine
Empire and Sassanid Persia in 387 AD.

The area was conquered by the Ottomans in the 16th century and became known as
Turkish Armenia or Ottoman Armenia. During the 19th century, the Russian Empire
conquered all of Eastern Armenia from Iran, while the Armenian population
of the Western part was affected under the Ottoman government's systematic
extermination of 1.5 million Armenians known in the history as the Armenian
Genocide.

**************************************************************************************************
8 –    Armenian-American Prosecutor Held in
        U.S. Airport Because of Racial Profiling
SAN FRANCISCO – (PanArmenian.net) –  Armenian-American prosecutor Alex Bastian,
the deputy chief of staff at the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office, was
detained in a US airport when returning from a trip to Armenia and Greece as a
result of racial profiling, Bastian revealed in an article published on the New
York Times.
"After about an hour of waiting, my
interrogator came to ask me some questions," Bastian said in the feature.
"He asked me about my trip to Armenia, whether I had attempted to sneak into Turkey or Syria
during my vacation, whether I had visited any refugee camps and whether I had
joined any groups like ISIS. These are
astoundingly ignorant questions. For one thing, I am an Armenian-American whose
family escaped the Lebanese Civil War over 35 years ago. As a descendant of the
Armenian Genocide, a genocide perpetrated by Turks, there is absolutely no
logical reason I would sneak into Turkey
from Armenia (especially
since Turkey
has blockaded that border). Furthermore, as an Armenian, I am a Christian, and
as Armenians in Syria and Iraq
have experienced, meeting with jihadist groups would have led to my kidnapping
and possible beheading.
"It wasn’t until some time into my
questioning that the officer asked what I did for a living. I told him I was a
prosecutor in the San Francisco
district attorney’s office, a fact that could have been revealed with a simple
Google search. My detention ended shortly after that information came to light.
What never came to light, however, is why they detained me in the first place.
They never gave me a straight answer, and I have very few avenues for recourse.
My detention was well within the rules."
In the article, the attorney says that the
current policy of detaining people at airports based on the way they look is
not only unconstitutional, "it also fails to make us safe."
"Racial profiling fails all of us because
we all know danger comes from people who can look like anyone," he added.
"These experiences are part of why I became
a prosecutor: to find a way to be part of the solution rather than complain
about the problem. But these experiences are taxing. I can’t change my face, I
can’t change my features, nor should I have to fly overseas in a tuxedo to make
airport authorities feel more at ease."
*****************************************************************************************************
9 –    Catholicos
Karekin II Visits AGBU Vatche
        And
Tamar Manoukian School in Pasadena
PASADENA, CA – On October 26, Catholicos  Karekin Iwho is in California for a
pontifical visit, blessed the newly completed AGBU Vatche and Tamar Manoukian
Performing Arts Center in Pasadena and the Vatche and Tamar Manoukian High
School.  Archbishop Hovnan Derderian,
Vatche and Tamar Manoukian, AGBU President Berge Setrakian, AGBU Central Board
members, other dignitaries and around 400 guests were in attendance.

Students from the Vatche and Tamar Manoukian High School
and the AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School
offered a warm welcome to the Catholicos and guests, greeting with bread and
salt and showcasing their performing skills. In his opening remarks, Berge
Setrakian reaffirmed AGBU's support for the church. "We are proud of the
history of our organization but it is a top priority for us to back the
Armenian Church," said Setrakian.

The Pontiff praised AGBU's contribution to development of Armenian education
and schools across the diaspora and thanked Vatche and Tamar Manoukian for
their generosity and philanthropy. "A nation without education is like a
body without a mind," said the Catholicos, emphasizing the significance of
Armenian schools. "We are confident that graduates of this school will
become strong pillars of the Armenian life," he added thanking the
school's trustees and teachers.

He also presented the school with a special gift, a miniature of an Armenian
cross-stone.

In 2009, Vatche and Tamar Manoukian made a landmark donation of $11 million to
the AGBU Vatche and Tamar Manoukian High School
and Performing Arts
Center in Pasadena. The two-story Performing Arts
Center has been fully
renovated and updated with modern equipment. It has a small hall with dressing
rooms and a main auditorium that could be used for various events.

*****************************************************************************************************
10-   Medical
Mission III to Armenia
Returns to Fresno
        By Berj Apkarian
        Honorary Armenian Republic
        Consul to Fresno
FRESNO – In
September, I had the pleasure of working alongside more than 37 multi-specialty
medical and dental professionals from Valley Children’s Healthcare, Kaiser
Permanente, and Community Medical Centers
for our third Medical Mission to Armenia.  I was especially happy that three residents
from dental, oral maxillofacial and pediatric programs also joined the
mission.  It is important to highlight
that 95 % of the medical mission team members are returning participants
serving on our medical mission tem for the past three years.
Once
again, with the generous support of the Fresno community and three of the major
health care institutions in the Central Valley, the mission was able to secure
and transport to Armenia major medical equipment including two laparoscopic
towers, laparoscopic surgical supplies, portable EKG and ultrasound machines,
mammography printer, portable audiometers, dental implant equipment and
supplies, surgical and general supplies, and various medications. 
The
primary focus of this year’s mission was to provide care to Armenia’s orphans, the highest
priority in terms of need.  Another
critical task was the renovating and equipping of the maternal child operating
room of the hospital in the city of Akhouryan
which is adjacent to Gyumri,
Armenia’s
second largest city. 
Upon
arrival, the teams quickly deployed out to the outlying regions of Armenia
which included Shirak, Ararat, Kodayk, and Armavir and immediately commenced
their vital work.
The
pediatric surgical team remained in Yerevan
and provided care at the local pediatric hospital.  The teams were able to provide 1,300 primary
care treatment, 220 clinical consultation and training, 100 advanced diagnostic
procedures, 15 newborn deliveries, and performed 132 surgeries.
Lectures
and educational sessions were held for Armenia’s health care providers,
caregivers, and the families of developmentally disabled orphans.  In addition the team worked with UNICEF and
visited seven schools and rehabilitation facilities, interacted with the staff,
made observations and then offered recommendations.  The team successfully improved the network of
communication between local providers and our medical mission members which
will serve as a year round resource.
Thanks
to the dedication of volunteer medical and dental professionals who worked long
hours each day, the goals of the mission were completed, but the work continues
and the vision to improve the health status of the country marches on.  There is much to be done and the need is so
great in that region.  Armenia remains isolated from its neighbors Turkey and Azerbaijan which only serve to
exacerbate the challenge.  Therefore, our
crucial role becomes even more important.
Fresno and
the greater San Joaquin Valley’s brand in Armenia have been enhanced through
the humanitarian efforts of this amazing group of selfless mission-driven
clinicians. Fresno’s
kindness has gone global and the medical mission team is yet another wonderful
demonstration of American diplomacy and values at its best. The bond cemented
by our team and the legions of grateful Armenians who were overwhelmed by the
support will forever is cemented.  The
experience has inspired many to emulate the work of the medical mission team
and participate as volunteers in helping their communities.
The
planning process for next mission has already begun.  Some of the goals include the renovation of a
surgical suite in township of Massis, procuring critical equipment for an oncology
hospital in Stepanakert so cancer patients have access to services without
traveling hours to Yerevan.  The United States is a beacon of hope
to many around the world and there is no better example of that hope in full
display then exemplified by our beloved American volunteers who represent our
community with honor.
 I could not be more proud. 
An email
from Dr. Daphne Lin, (dental resident), in a few words summarizes the impact of
the mission.
“Dear
Berj,
We have
made it back home safe and sound; I just wanted to express my gratitude again
for inviting me to be part of this trip. When we met the first time you told me
I would be a different person when I returned, as I woke up this morning and
reflected upon my experience, I couldn’t agree more. It was an extremely
humbling experience to be there, learning about the culture and treating the
undeserved. Thank you again for putting this trip together, none of it would be
possible without you. Have a great rest of the week and safe travel home!”
******************************************************************************************************
11-   AESA Nov. 11 Gala
        Banquet Will Honor
        Three Scientists
GLENDALE   – The Armenian Engineers & Scientists of
America
will host a Gala on November 11, 7 p.m. at the ASLA Banquet Hall, 117 S. Louise St., Glendale.
The
banquet will honor three Armenian scientists for their achievements.
The
Victor Hambartsumyan Award will be presented to Prof. Ashot Chilingarian, the
Director of  the Cosmic Ray Division at
the Yerevan Physics Institute.
The Service
Award will be presented to Areg Gharabgian, Advisor to the Minister of Nature
Protection of Armenia, and a longtime AESA member, and co-founder of Green
Armenia.
The
Co-founder and CRO of IntelinAir, Inc, Al Elsaian will be recognized as the
Person of the Year.
Donation
for the event is $100 per person, and $75 for students.
Tickets
can be obtained at
www.itsmyseat.com/AESA.
*****************************************************************************************************
California Courier Online provides viewers of
the Armenian News News Service with a few of the articles in this week's issue of The
California Courier.  Letters to the
editor are encouraged through our e-mail address, . However,
authors are requested to provide their names, addresses, and/or telephone
numbers to verify identity, if any question arises. California Courier
subscribers are requested not to use this service to change, or modify mailing
addresses. Those changes can be made through our e-mail,
[email protected], or by
phone, (81
8) 409-0949.
******************************************************************************************************

Spendiaryan’s museum presents new interactive programs

Today is Alexander Spendaryan’s birthday. Traditionally, the composer’s home-museum staff, members of the Opera and Ballet National Academic Theater, the students of Spendiaryan Music School, composers, musicians and composer’s fans gather at his tomb at the Opera House to pay tribute, and events are organized at the home-museum after A. Spendaryan. Two interactive educational programs were presented today.

“The 21st century generation visits the museum today. The use of modern technologies is aimed at making educational and cognitive programs more exciting and perceptible to them,” said Marine Otaryan, head of the museum.

The events will continue and will be dedicated to the 50-year-old home-museum, which opened on 25 November, 1967.

The museum cooperates with the Charents Museum of Art and Literature and Spendiaryan’s fund studying, digitizing, will help to unify and understand what inheritance is in the archives.

Marine Otaryan said that the culture of visiting museums had changed. And in order to keep their hands on the pulse of time, they organize various events, concerts, presentations. And after the reconstruction of the museum, the area of the hall helps to have a new audience and provides with a great deal of visitors.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan: The Nagorno-Karabakh problem is a bloody wound both for us, and for Azerbaijan

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who left for Azerbaijan on October 30, gave an interview to the Turkish service of Trend news agency.

Turkish Superhaber, referring to the interview, mentioned that Erdogan, speaking of numerous issues, also had spoken about the Karabakh conflict.

Responding to an Azerbaijani journalist’s question on the Karabakh conflict, he particularly said:

“The Nagorno-Karabakh problem is a bloody wound both for us, and for Azerbaijan. As long as Armenia does not put an end to occupation of Azerbaijani lands, this problem will not be solved. The occupation must be stopped immediately on the basis of the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and inviolability of the borders of Azerbaijan. We condemn Armenia’s provocations, targeting the peaceful population. Such attitudes will never help to establish peace in the region. And the Minsk Group, as well as the international community should work more actively to settle the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. We will continue to stand by Azerbaijan in any issue.”

To remind, Erdogan will participate in the opening ceremony of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway in Azerbaijan.

ermenihaber.am

Vigen Sargsyan speaks about Nation-Army, Ditaket, Es Em programs

On October 28, Armenian Defense Minister Vigen Sargsyan, accompanied by General-Lieutenant Levon Mnatsakanyan, NKR Defense Minister, Commander of the Defense Army, met with newly appointed officers in one of the military units. Vigen Sargsyan spoke about the conceptual changes taking place in the defense system, and in the field of defense, gave explanations to the Nation-ArmyDitaketet, and Es Em programs, as well as the law on Military Service and Servicemen’s Status, assuring that all changes have one ultimate goal: to strengthen our defense capacity, to improve the mechanisms of oppressing the adversary and to increase the level of legal and social protection of servicemen.

 

In the end, the RA Minister of Defense responded to the questions of the meeting participants, the RA MoD reports.

RFE/RL Armenian Report – 10/23/2017

                                        Monday, 

Sarkisian Said To Stay On As Party Leader


 . Karlen Aslanian


Armenia - President Serzh Sarkisian addresses the Sixth
Armenia-Diaspora Conference in Yerevan, 18Sep2017.

President Serzh Sarkisian will continue to lead the ruling Republican
Party of Armenia (HHK) after serving out his second and final term in
April, the chief HHK spokesman said over the weekend.

"The Republicans have one leader and that is Serzh Sarkisian, and
Serzh Sarkisian will remain our leader after 2018," Eduard Sharmazanov
told RFE/RL's Armenian service (Azatutyun.am). "In what capacity?
Where? The president will discuss that with the party # and we will
present [a decision] after April."

Sarkisian himself has declined to shed light on his precise political
plans so far. In a televised interview aired in July, he claimed that
"it doesn't matter" who will be Armenia's next prime minister because
the country will become a parliamentary republic immediately after the
end of his presidency. Sarkisian would not say whether he will replace
Prime Minister Karen Karapetian. But he did praise the latter's track
record.

Sharmazanov was also vague on that score, saying only that the switch
to the parliament system of government will end one-man rule in
Armenia. "In accordance with the constitutional reform, power in the
country will be concentrated in the hands of those political forces
that have a majority [in parliament.]

The HHK won 58 seats in Armenia's 105-member parliament elected in
April. Shortly after those elections it struck a new power-sharing
deal with the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, which won 7
parliament seats.

Sharmazanov described Sarkisian's decade-long rule has been a success,
saying that the president has improved the conduct of elections and
human rights protection, boosted the country's security and maintained
stability." But he was evasive about economic consequences of
Sarkisian's presidency which Armenian opposition groups consider
highly negative.



Karabakh Warns Baku After `Azeri Shelling'


Nagorno-Karabakh - A photograph of what the Karabakh Armenian army
described as fragments of an Israeli-made anti-tank missile fired by
Azerbaijani forces towards its on frontline positions, 23Oct2017.

Nagorno-Karabakh's Armenian-backed military threatened "painful"
retaliation on Monday as it accused Azerbaijani forces of shelling its
frontline positions for the first time in two months.

The Defense Army claimed that they fired five mortar shells and one
anti-tank rocket in northeastern Karabakh on Sunday. It released video
footage purportedly showing two such shells exploding in a field and
the Israeli-made Spike rocket flying over a Karabakh military facility
and hitting the ground.

In a statement, the Karabakh army warned that it will retaliate in a
"disproportionate and quite painful" fashion if the Azerbaijani side
continues such "deliberate provocations."

Another statement issued by it later in the day said Azerbaijani
forces fired another Spike rocket at a different section of "the line
of contact" around Karabakh on Monday afternoon. It said Karabakh
Armenian troops again did not shoot back "in order not to deepen
tension" on the frontlines.

The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry dismissed the first Karabakh
statement as "slander." It said that the Armenians themselves resorted
to a "provocation" by killing an Azerbaijani soldier on Sunday. The
ministry did not specify the frontline section where the soldier,
identified as Jabbar Zeynalov, died.

The truce violations were reported one week after a meeting of
Armenia's and Azerbaijan's presidents held in Geneva. In a joint
statement issued there, their foreign ministers and international
mediators said Serzh Sarkisian and Ilham Aliyev "agreed to take
measures to intensify the negotiation process and to take additional
steps to reduce tensions on the Line of Contact."

Just three days after the Geneva summit, an Armenian soldier was
killed in Karabakh by Azerbaijani sniper fire. Armenia's ruling party
responded by accusing Baku of "trying to walk away" from the
understandings reached in Geneva. Still, Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandian made clear on Friday that Yerevan will not avoid further
talks with Baku.

The joint statement released in Genevan said the U.S., Russian and
French mediators co-chairing the OSCE Minsk Group will soon hold
follow-up "working sessions" with Nalbandian and Azerbaijani Foreign
Minister Elmar Mammadyarov.



Babayan Friend Admits Link To Confiscated Weapon


 . Karlen Aslanian


Armenia -- Samvel Babayan (R), Nagorno-Karabakh's former top military
commander, stands trial in Yerevan, 23Oct2017.

A longtime friend of Samvel Babayan insisted on Monday that he, rather
than the retired army general linked to an Armenian opposition group,
was behind the illegal acquisition of a sophisticated rocket system
that led to their arrest in March.

Babayan, who was Nagorno-Karabakh's top military commander from
1993-1993, was arrested after Armenia's National Security Service
(NSS) claimed to have confiscated the surface-to-air Igla system. The
arrest came about two weeks before Armenia's parliamentary elections.

Babayan was unofficially affiliated with the ORO alliance led by
former Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian and two other opposition
politicians. ORO condemned the criminal case as politically motivated.

Babayan, his comrade-in-arms Sanasar Gabrielian, and five other men
went on trial in July. The once powerful general has repeatedly denied
prosecutors' claims that he promised other suspects to pay $50,000 for
the delivery of the weapon.

Gabrielian also denied any connection with the weapon until now. But
he said at the latest court hearing in their trial that it was he who
commissioned the confiscated Igla. He claimed that he wanted to donate
the launcher along with its shoulder-fired rockets to
Nagorno-Karabakh's army.

Gabrielian insisted that Babayan was not involved in that in any
way. He said he only showed the general a photograph of the acquired
Igla system because the latter "knows everything" about
weapons. Babayan, he went on, told him that the rocket launcher lacks
some components and is therefore not usable in its current form before
advising him to hide it in a Karabakh village.

Babayan did not deny this version of events at the court hearing. He
said only that he warned Gabrielian that the Igla acquisition was
illegal.

Another defendant, Armen Poghosian, suggested in his pre-trial
testimony that Babayan is most probably the one who ordered the
weapon. Petrosian renounced that claim in the courtroom on Monday,
however.

The NSS said in July the Igla system was transported to Karabakh and
hidden near a local village after it was delivered by an Armenian
national who was arrested in Georgia later in March. The security
agency never clarified, however, why the former Karabakh army chief
sought to get hold of the rockets designed to shoot down planes and
helicopters.



Babayan Friend Admits Link To Confiscated Weapon


 . Karlen Aslanian


Armenia -- Samvel Babayan (R), Nagorno-Karabakh's former top military
commander, stands trial in Yerevan, 23Oct2017.


A longtime friend of Samvel Babayan insisted on Monday that he, rather
than the retired army general linked to an Armenian opposition group,
was behind the illegal acquisition of a sophisticated rocket system
that led to their arrest in March.

Babayan, who was Nagorno-Karabakh's top military commander from
1993-1993, was arrested after Armenia's National Security Service
(NSS) claimed to have confiscated the surface-to-air Igla system. The
arrest came about two weeks before Armenia's parliamentary elections.

Babayan was unofficially affiliated with the ORO alliance led by
former Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian and two other opposition
politicians. ORO condemned the criminal case as politically motivated.

Babayan, his comrade-in-arms Sanasar Gabrielian, and five other men
went on trial in July. The once powerful general has repeatedly denied
prosecutors' claims that he promised other suspects to pay $50,000 for
the delivery of the weapon.

Gabrielian also denied any connection with the weapon until now. But
he said at the latest court hearing in their trial that it was he who
commissioned the confiscated Igla. He claimed that he wanted to donate
the launcher along with its shoulder-fired rockets to
Nagorno-Karabakh's army.

Gabrielian insisted that Babayan was not involved in that in any
way. He said he only showed the general a photograph of the acquired
Igla system because the latter "knows everything" about
weapons. Babayan, he went on, told him that the rocket launcher lacks
some components and is therefore not usable in its current form before
advising him to hide it in a Karabakh village.

Babayan did not deny this version of events at the court hearing. He
said only that he warned Gabrielian that the Igla acquisition was
illegal.

Another defendant, Armen Poghosian, suggested in his pre-trial
testimony that Babayan is most probably the one who ordered the
weapon. Petrosian renounced that claim in the courtroom on Monday,
however.

The NSS said in July the Igla system was transported to Karabakh and
hidden near a local village after it was delivered by an Armenian
national who was arrested in Georgia later in March. The security
agency never clarified, however, why the former Karabakh army chief
sought to get hold of the rockets designed to shoot down planes and
helicopters.



Press Review


Saturday, October 21)

"Zhoghovurd" comments on statements that were made by Poland's Foreign
Minister Witold Waszczykowski during his visit to Armenia on
Friday. Waszczykowski said after talks with Armenian Foreign Minister
Edward Nalbandian that he is visiting Yerevan not only in his capacity
as Poland's top diplomat but also as a representative of the European
Union and NATO. He also said that Armenia and other countries involved
in the EU's Eastern Partnership program should be eligible for
eventual membership in the EU. The paper says that Russia "will fight
against that prospect with all possible means." "As a result, Armenia
will once again find itself at the center of a clash between big
powers," it speculates with alarm.

"Zhamanak" is also intrigued by Waszczykowski's reference to EU
membership. The paper says that this statement is much more important
than even a recent Armenian opposition motion aimed at ensuring
Armenia's exit from the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU).

"Aravot" says that "pro-government circles" that normally justify any
government initiative are quite critical of a government bill aimed at
combating domestic violence in Armenia. "Is that the worst ever bill
drafted by the government?" the paper asks in an editorial. "Of course
not. We can presume that those people were allowed by higher echelons
to speak out against the bill or that such a behavior is actually
encouraged # Why the authorities are allowing the strong criticism of
the bill is hard to tell." The paper also makes the point that the
bill, if passed by the parliament, will hardly make a difference
unless it is genuinely backed by many Armenians.

(Tigran Avetisian)


Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2017 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
www.rferl.org

Azerbaijani press: Azerbaijani FM: Armenia’s purposeful, biased ignorance deceives Armenians, diaspora

By Azernews


By Rashid Shirinov

Armenian leadership would better read the UN Security Council’s resolutions on the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, said Hikmat Hajiyev, spokesman for Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry.

He made the remark when commenting on the remarks made by Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian during the 4th European Armenian Convention.

"It would be better for Armenian foreign minister not to repeat his nonsense thoughts and at least try to behave as a professional," Hajiyev told Trend.

“In its resolutions, the UN Security Council condemns the occupation of Azerbaijani lands, confirms Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and inviolability of borders and demands the immediate, absolute and unconditional withdrawal of the occupation forces,” he said. “At the same time, these resolutions once again reiterate that Nagorno-Karabakh is an integral part of Azerbaijan.”

"Regretfully, alongside with creating negative experience for the negotiations, this purposeful and biased ignorance by the Armenian side deceives Armenian citizens, as well as Armenian diaspora," added Hajiyev.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.

URL: 

Sports: Armenian team has long been finished: Int’l media reaction to 1-6 loss to Poland

PanArmenian, Armenia
Oct 6 2017
Armenian team has long been finished: Int’l media reaction to 1-6 loss to Poland

Poland beat Armenia 6-1 and put itself on the verge of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup on Thursday, October 5, leaving Armenia with virtually no chance of qualifying for the competition.

Hovhannes Hambardzumyan headed home for Armenia six minutes before halftime to reduce the lead to 3-1, but the final score leaves no room for words.

The international media extensively covered the event and, to be honest, gave an expected unfavorable assessment of the Armenian team’s playing technique.

“By and large, the Armenian team has been finished for a long time. Three defeats at the start immediately threw the team out of the contenders for getting into the finals of the 2018 World Cup, then there was a small splash in the form of two wins from Kazakhstan and Montenegro, but as it turned out, it was a temporary occurrence. Artur Petrosyan’s wards suit against Poland after three consecutive defeats, Denmark (4: 1), Romania (1: 0) and Montenegro (4: 1) were stronger,” The Quebec Times said in a feature analyzing the results of the match.

Even forecasts prior to the game suggested that Armenia has already been mathematically eliminated from making the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

“Artur Petrosyan’s men have not won in three consecutive games, most recently coming off a 4-1 loss against Denmark. Armenia’s last clash with Poland ended in a 2-1 loss and this game should not be much different as Poland look to continue its dominance," Futnsoccer said in a review ahead of the game.

The host’s mistakes went under heavy scrutiny after Poland were gifted an indirect free kick from eight metres after Armenia defender Taron Voskanyan passed the ball back to goalkeeper Grigor Meliksetyan who picked it up.

“Armenia's seventh defeat in their ninth qualifying game leaves them only above Kazakhstan in the group while Poland can guarantee themselves a place at next year's World Cup finals with a victory over Montenegro on Sunday,” The Daily Mail says.

To put it mildly, international media outlets weren’t really impressed with Armenia’s performance, pretty much like everyone else behind the screens.

Their attention was instead focused on Robert Lewandowski becoming Poland's all-time leading scorer with 50 goals after netting a victorious hat-trick on Thursday.

"Not even the whole of Armenia could get in the way of Lewandowski and his record," DreamTeam FC says.

Following the match, several of the Armenian players apologised to fans for the defeat.

The Associated Press, The Guardian, ESPN FC, The Sun, The News & Observer, The Irish News, The Mirror, Reuters and dozens of other media outlets covered the match.

San Lazzaro, trecento anni di cultura armena

la Nuova di Venezia– Italia
20 set 2017


Prima fu lebbrosario, poi l’abbandono. Sbocciò in tutta la sua bellezza con Mechitar nel 1717, oggi i monaci tramandano il messaggio del fondatore di Vera Mantengoli

VENEZIA. L’Isola degli Armeni festeggia i suoi primi trecento anni. Èra infatti l’8 settembre 1717 quando il monaco Mechitar, dopo essersi guadagnato la stima del futuro doge Alvise Mocenigo, ricevette in concessione l’isola di San Lazzaro, usata in passato come lebbrosario e poi abbandonata. Sono passati 300 anni e l’isola non ha mai perso il ruolo di punto di riferimento della cultura armena grazie ai monaci mechitaristi, che da secoli tramandano il messaggio del fondatore.


Prima degli armeni. Le notizie che si hanno dell’Isola di San Lazzaro risalgono all’810, quando è sede dell’ordine dei benedettini. Nel 1182 si edifica un ospizio per pellegrini e una chiesa dedicata a San Leone Magno.

Un secolo dopo, nel 1262, il Senato decide di farci un lebbrosario che rimane fino al 1348 quando si iniziano dei lavori di restauro e l’isola passa sotto la giurisdizione di San Pietro di Castello.

Diminuiti i lebbrosi, l’isola diventa un luogo per accogliere i poveri. Per qualche decennio, dal 1645 al 1678, l’isola viene occupata dai domenicani che fuggono da Creta occupata dai turchi. Per un periodo qui si fabbricano armi per sostenere la guerra in Morea.

Dal 1696 è usata per coltivare orti, ma lentamente viene abbandonata, per poi sbocciare in tutta la sua bellezza con l’arrivo di Mechitar.


La visione di Mechitar. Una breve apparizione della Vergine Maria, della quale si festeggia la Natività, irrompe nella vita del sedicenne Mechitar, orientandone il successivo percorso.

Negli anni il sogno di un ordine monastico dedito all’elevazione spirituale e culturale del popolo armeno porta Mechitar, nato nel 1676 a Sabaste degli Armeni, a fuggire dall’Anatolia alla Morea, per poi trovare rifugio a Venezia.

Il monaco fonda la sua congregazione a Costantinopoli nel 1700, ma poi fugge arrivando a Modone, nella Morea greca governata dalla Serenissima. Nel 1712 la flotta ottomana sbarca nella penisola, costringendo Mechitar e i suoi monaci a fuggire a Venezia, dove c’è già una consolidata comunità di armeni a San Martino, in prevalenza mercanti. Essendoci troppe congregazioni religiose a Venezia, un ne decreto vietava l’ammissione di nuove, ma non nelle isole.

Quando Mechitar approda a San Lazzaro ci sono soltanto una chiesetta e un edificio in rovina con qualche stanza, avvolta da sterpaglie. Un rudere, ma per chi come lui ha vagato senza trovare pace, quel fazzoletto di terra è finalmente una casa dove mettere radici.

Grande sognatore, ma provvisto anche di senso pratico, il monaco si rimbocca le maniche e comincia a progettare il monastero. La struttura odierna è ancora quella progettato da Mechitar, rinforzata nelle rive una quindicina di anni fa.

Il regno della cultura. L’isola, settemila metri quadrati di terra, si trova di fronte al Lido (vaporetto 20, fermata dopo San Servolo) ed è composta da un monastero con chiostro e da un giardino ricco di alberi, ulivi, melograni e i celebri roseti per la marmellata di rose realizzata dai monaci.


Le pareti sono coperte da scaffali con 170 mila libri, senza contare la biblioteca speciale finanziata dal benefattore Boghos Ispenian che custodisce 4500 preziosi manoscritti, come Il libro del Venerdì del 1512 e il lavoro di una vita del monaco, il primo dizionario della lingua armena classica, pubblicato pochi giorni dopo la sua morte nel 1749.

L’isola, come dimostrano le decine di lynotipe ancora esposte e utilizzate dal 1789 al 1989, fu sede di una straordinaria stamperia poliglotta in grado di pubblicare in 36 lingue.

Una targa nel cortile ricorda la permanenza nel 1816 di Lord Byron che s’innamorò della cultura armena. Proprio nella stanza di Byron oggi il monastero custodisce una vera e rara mummia, donata nel 1825, rivestita di una reticella ricamata con perline policrome in pasta vitrea.

Nelle sale, una affrescata dal Tiepolo e molte con quadri di Pietro Novelli, sono esposti le più svariate testimonianze e donazioni: dai dipinti del più famoso pittore armeno Ivan Aivazovsky al busto del salvatore delle canzoni tradizionali armene Komitas Vardapet. In alcune teche anche molti scritti del 1915/16.

Nel corso del genocidio morirono sette monaci mechitaristi. «La biblioteca è l’esempio dell’importanza della stampa per Mechitar e per i monaci», spiega Alberto Peratoner, docente della Facoltà teologica del Triveneto e amico della comunità armena, «si vede la cura minuziosa ed estetica del testo, la qualità delle incisioni, la scelta della carta, il risultato era un prodotto di altissima qualità».

Missione: volare. Oggi quelle radici continuano a dare i frutti che Mechitar piantò 300 anni fa. «Continuiamo a essere un ponte tra l’Armenia e la cultura occidentale per poter avere la possibilità di volare, come diceva il fondatore», spiega Padre Serafino, priore dell’isola.

«Mechitar diceva che bisogna avere due ali: una è la Bibbia, la religione e l’altra è la cultura e la scienza».