Author: Maral Takmazian

Music: Armenia’s Sergey Smbatyan to conduct Roma Tre Orchestra at Italian music festival

Maral Takmazian
Panorama, Armenia
Culture 14:36 11/07/2018 Armenia

Internationally acclaimed Armenian conductor Sergey Smbatyan, the artistic director and principal conductor of the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra, is to conduct the Roma Tre Orchestra today at a concert organized as part of the first edition of “In Musica” Roma International Music Festival and Piano Competition taking place in Italy from 9 to 17 July.

Moscow-based Armenian violinist Haik Kazazyan and accomplished clarinetist Shirley Brill will perform as soloists at the concert, the symphony orchestra’s press service told Panorama.am.

The audience will be treated to music of Ludwig van Beethoven and contemporary Maltese composer Alexey Shor.

Teatro Argentina, one of the oldest opera houses in Rome (founded in 1732) is set to host the concert, the source said.

The Italian international music festival and piano competition is organized by the European Foundation for Support of Culture.

The event is aimed at presenting world-famous musicians and revealing new talents in classical music. 

Terry George, Joe Berlinger, Eric Esrailian Welcome Smithsonian Screening of Genocide Films

Maral Takmazian
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Showings of The Promise and Intent to Destroy Signal Ankara’s Weakening Grip over U.S. Policy on the Armenian Genocide; Mark Progress toward Federalizing American Remembrance of this Crime

WASHINGTON—In a sign of Turkey’s diminishing capacity to enforce its longstanding Armenian Genocide gag-rule across the U.S. government, the Smithsonian – America’s leading cultural and historical institution – screened two high profile films about this crime – The Promise and its companion documentary Intent to Destroy – as part of this summer’s landmark Folklife Festival on the National Mall.

“In the Smithsonian Folklife Festival’s showing of The Promise we see the power of art to break down barriers – including the wall that the U.S. government has, for far too long, erected against honest remembrance of the Armenian Genocide,” said Oscar winner Terry George, director of The Promise. “With this screening – at America’s premier cultural celebration – we’re beginning to see that wall crumble. That’s a good thing. And I’m proud to have been part of it.”

“It’s a thrill to see my documentary, Intent to Destroy, and also Terry George’s The Promise screened at the Smithsonian’s Folklife Festival – particularly given the long and troubling record of the U.S. government’s lack of recognition of the Armenian Genocide, including pressuring Hollywood to block the production of movies about this human rights atrocity – dating back to the 1930s and Forty Days of Musa Dagh,” said Joe Berlinger, Oscar nominated director of Intent to Destroy. “It’s in the light of this history that I attach particular value to the Smithsonian’s principled leadership on this issue. I am hopeful that this progress will contribute to the U.S. government officially recognizing the Armenian Genocide so that all Americans can officially condemn and properly commemorate this crime against all humanity.”

“We join with human rights advocates, humanitarians, Armenians, and friends of Armenia from around the world in thanking the Smithsonian Institution for taking an unprecedented step and including The Promise and Intent to Destroy in this year’s Folklife Festival,” said Eric Esrailian, producer of both films. “We are honored to see these two films – each a powerful work of art in its own right – play such a meaningful role in our progress toward the full federalization of American remembrance of the Armenian Genocide.”

The Promise was shown on Friday, June 29th and Intent to Destroy was screened on Thursday, July 5th, both as part of the Smithsonian Folklife FestivalArmenia: Creating Home program’s Cultures of Survival series. Among the themes explored by Cultures of Survival – through narrative sessions, presentations, and film – is the central role of culture in helping people survive and thrive through and beyond genocide, war crimes, and other violence. Sessions include: “Armenians in America,” “Making Meaning: Economic and Healing Power of Craft,” “Giving Voice: Language and Cultural Survival,” “Sounding Memory: Music & Migration,” and “Tastes of Home: Food Enterprises.”

The 2018 Folklife Festival annually draws millions of on-site and on-line visitors to the National Mall.  The screenings were prominently presented in the Festival’s online and print materials.

The Promise and Intent to Destroy were made possible through the generosity of the late Kirk Kerkorian, the leadership of producer Eric Esrailian, and their talented cast, crews, and supporters around the world.

The ANCA Endowment’s #KeepThePromise initiative serves as a major sponsor of the 2018 Smithsonian Folklife Festival.

Azerbaijani Press: Deployment of Armenia’s internal troops in Azerbaijani territories is military adventure

Maral Takmazian
AzerNews, Azerbaijan
July 5 2018
4 July 2018 17:56 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

Deployment of the internal troops of Armenia in the occupied Azerbaijani territories is a military adventure and serves to aggravate the situation, Hikmat Hajiyev, Spokesman for the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, said on July 4.

“In violation of international law, most of the personnel and equipment of the Armenian Armed Forces are concentrated in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. Deployment of internal troops in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan is a clear indicator of the deplorable situation of the Armenian army and serious problems in its personnel,” Hajiyev said.

He added that at the same time, the populist leadership of Armenia, which has faced with serious difficulties in solving the country’s social and economic problems, is trying to manipulate public opinion and maintain its rating by escalating such tensions and military rhetoric.

“Instead of withdrawing its troops from the occupied Azerbaijani territories, Armenia is deploying internal troops in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, which once again openly demonstrates that Armenia is an aggressor country and Yerevan is not interested in the settlement of the conflict through negotiations,” the spokesman stressed.

He added that the responsibility for the situation lies entirely with Armenia.

Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war that ended with signing of a fragile ceasefire in 1994. Since the war, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan’s territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities.

While the OSCE Minsk Group acted as the only mediator in resolution of the conflict, the occupation of the territory of the sovereign state with its internationally recognized boundaries has been left out of due attention of the international community for years.

Until now, Armenia ignores four UN Security Council resolutions on immediate withdrawal from the occupied territory of Azerbaijan, thus keeping tension high in the region.