Author: Maral Takmazian

Azerbaijani Press: Azerbaijan slams Michigan Senate`s resolution recognizing Armenia-created separatist regime in its occupied lands

Maral Takmazian
AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Sept 30 2017
Azerbaijan slams Michigan Senate`s resolution recognizing Armenia-created separatist regime in its occupied lands
29.09.2017 [17:25]

Baku, September 29, AZERTAC

Azerbaijan`s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has denounced a resolution by the Senate of Michigan, US, which recognizes a separatist regime created by the Armenian armed forces in Azerbaijan`s occupied territories. “The US foreign policy is set by the federal government, which, in line with its international commitments, recognizes and supports the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan within its internationally recognized borders,” said the ministry`s spokesperson Hikmat Hajiyev.

He mentioned that the US Government expressed this attitude in the final statement adopted during the meeting among the GUAM Foreign Ministers Council and the US held on the sidelines of the 72th session of the UN General Assembly on September 22.

“The statement reaffirmed the US`s commitment to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the GUAM member countries in accordance with the Helsinki Final Act. The statement also expressed concern over the threats of the use of force against the GUAM member states,” he said. “Instead of contributing to the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict through substantial negotiations mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs and the promotion of sustainable peace in the region, the Armenian lobby in Armenia and in the US and certain persons influenced by the Armenian lobby continue to be ridiculously engaged with such unnecessary activities,” Hajiyev added.

Sports: Female Armenian referees appointed for Kazakhstan-Wales match

Maral Takmazian
PanArmenian, Armenia
Sept 13 2017
Female Armenian referees appointed for Kazakhstan-Wales match

Ruzanna Petrosyan from Armenia was appointed the main referee of the qualifying match between the national teams of Kazakhstan and Wales at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Assisting her will be two more judges from Armenia – Hasmik Gharibyan and Liana Grigoryan – as well as Kristina Yanushkevich from Kazakhstan, Rusarminfo reports.

Kazakhstan vs. Wales match will take place on September 17 at Astana Arena.



The Benevolent Armenian

Maral Takmazian
Times of India
Sept 9 2017

On what would have been his 171st birth day, La Martiniere School has collabo rated with the Indo-Armenian Friend ship NGO to remember Paul Chater, the ‘Grand Old Man of Hong Kong’.

This pioneering Kolkata Armenian might only be known to the school’s alumni and the people of Hong Kong, but his legacy continues to support millions through his philanthropic work and business acumen. Born in Kolkata on September 8, 1846, Sir Paul studied as a foundationer at Claude Martin’s school and left as a qualified surveyor, a minor achievement that would, quite literally , build the foundations for Asia’s business hub.

Seen floating in a small dinghy out in the waters off Hong Kong, many thought he was out fishing as usual, but there was no bait at the end of his fishing line; there was a crude depth gauge. Over the course of months, he was measuring the depth of the waters. This data would lead him to carry out one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in Asia: the expansion of Hong Kong by an estimated 57 acres using 3.5 million tonnes of earth, thus increas ing the overall size of the island. This project led to the foundation of one of his many companies, Hongkong Land.

On Friday, at La Martiniere, a number of dignitaries assembled to unveil a bronze bust of Sir Paul, to be located between the Martin and Chater buildings at the school. The Bishop of Kolkata, the Right Reverend Ashoke Biswas, the Armenian Ambassador to India, Armen Armen Martirosyan and the secretary of La Martiniere, Supriyo Dhar, as well as Sir Paul’s biographer Liz Chater and National Coordinator of the Indo-Armenian Friendship NGO Karen Mkrtchyan, will be present. “The unveiling of the bust is the product of a long-held ambition to remember and recognise a man who is arguably Kolkata’s most important Armenian,” says Mkrtchyan, an Armenian from Armenia but who studied at the Armenian College in Kolkata and, before that, at La Martiniere.

In a sign of the growing links between the two nations, an Indian artist has been commissioned to sculpt the bust. Originally from Odisha, Kantikishore Moharana has represented India on various international platforms, including twice at the International Sculptors’ Symposium in Nagorno Kharabagh. The bronze bust took him a month to make.   

  Sonia John, who was both a foundationer and a member of the board at La Martiniere, says: “Sir Paul Chater left a very generous donation for the poor Armenians of Kolkata. His donation has allowed many Armenians to study at La Martiniere, including myself. It is because of these donations that he is still revered at La Martiniere, which was saved from certain closure due to his benevolence.”

Dhar holds Sir Paul in equally high regard “The school was in a very grave financial situation and its future looked uncertain. If it hadn’t been for Sir Paul’s generous donation, I am not sure the school would be here today.”   

  Sir Paul owned, or had a stake in, over 20 businesses in Hong Kong, including many utilities. He held a number of senior government posts -treasurer and chairman of the Queen Victoria Jubilee Committee, member of the governor’s executive council, consul for Siam in Hong Kong and chairman of the Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Committee.He had a great interest in sports too -he was the longest serving chairman of the board of stewards of the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club (1892-1926). For his achievements, he was awarded the Legion d’honneur by France and made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George by the British. The myriad of business interests allowed him to donate Rs 11 lakh (its equivalent today would be tens of crores) in the early part of the 20th century to his alma mater when it was on the verge of collapse.

Both Hong Kong and La Martiniere are thriving today, thanks to major interventions by Sir Paul.Hong Kong is the financial trading hub of Asia while La Martiniere is one of the city’s top private schools.

“It is a wonderful thing that La Martiniere and Indo-Armenian NGO have done. Sir Paul should have more recognition than he currently gets, and I hope this permanent statue will go some way to helping that happen,” says Liz Chater, Sir Paul’s distant relative and a genealogist currently working on a biography of Sir Paul.

Sir Paul’s legacy is visible elsewhere in the city too: the `Sir Catchick Paul Chater Home for the Elderly’ is in the same compound as St Gregory’s Chapel near Park Circus, the rear gate of which leads into the Armenian section of the AJC Bose Road cemetery , where many famous Armenians are buried including some of Sir Paul’s relatives; one of the companies he founded is still trading here in Kolkata -Jardine Henderson; and two plaques honour his memory at the Armenian Church in Burrabazaar.His palatial mansion in Hong Kong `Marble Hall’ accidently burnt down but his final resting place there remains, as does Chater Road and Chater Garden, constant reminders of a Kolkata boy .

The author is an Armenian and a distant relative of Sir Paul Chater . He works as a historian, is a Kolkata heritage enthusiast and conducts heritage walks and tours in the city.

(Anthony Khatchaturian)

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Lord Ara Darzi Joins Aurora Prize Selection Committee

Maral Takmazian
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Lord Ara Darzi

YEREVAN—Lord Ara Darzi has been appointed to the Aurora Prize Selection Committee, the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative reported.

The Selection Committee is comprised of a select group of humanitarians, human right activists and former heads of state, and is chaired by Academy-award winning actor and director, and a humanitarian in his own right, George Clooney.

Professor Darzi is Director of the Institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial College London. He also holds the Paul Hamlyn Chair of Surgery at Imperial College London, and the Institute of Cancer Research and is Executive Chair of the World Innovation Summit for Health in Qatar. He is a Consultant Surgeon at Imperial College Hospital NHS Trust and the Royal Marsden NHS Trust.  In 2002, he was knighted for his services in medicine and surgery, and was introduced to the United Kingdom’s House of Lords as Professor the Lord Darzi of Denham in 2007. He has been a member of the Privy Council since June 2009 and was awarded the Order of Merit in January 2016.

Vartan Gregorian, Co-Founder of the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative and President of Carnegie Corporation of New York, welcomed Lord Darzi. “We are delighted to have Lord Darzi join our selection committee. He is a man of great integrity, distinction, and tremendous accomplishments who has dedicated his life and career to doing good,” he said. “The selection process and the Aurora Gratitude in Action movement will greatly benefit from Lord Darzi’s experience and knowledge. He understands the value of good public policy and has invested his energies in providing for the common good.”

“I am extremely excited and deeply touched. I look forward to the great responsibility and opportunity I will have as a part of the Aurora Prize Selection Committee to celebrate the work of brave and committed humanitarians,” said Lord Darzi. “I am looking forward to receiving the nominations for the 2018 Aurora Prize and learning about the inspiring stories of modern day heroes and changemakers.”

Lord Darzi’s family has had experience with life-saving heroes. His family was from the northeastern city of Erzurum, Turkey. His father’s grandfather and his sons were executed by Ottoman forces during the Genocide. Lord Darzi’s paternal grandmother and great grandmother were the family’s only survivors. “They walked barefoot for weeks from Erzurum to northern Iraq and ended up in Mosul in Iraq, thanks to the help of a friend of my father’s grandfather,” explained Lord Darzi to Aurora’s 100 LIVES project. “So, I understand personally the significance of ‘gratitude in action’. This is a very meaningful way for me to publicly advocate for the need to recognize humanitarian kindness and generosity everywhere.”

Lord Darzi joins current Aurora Prize Selection Committee members including Nobel Laureates Oscar Arias, Shirin Ebadi and Leymah Gbowee; former president of Ireland Mary Robinson; former president of Mexico Ernesto Zedillo; human rights activist Hina Jilani; President Emeritus of the International Crisis Group and former foreign minister of Australia, Gareth Evans; Vartan Gregorian; and Academy Award-winning actor and humanitarian George Clooney.

The nomination period for the 2018 Aurora Prize is still open. Anyone can nominate a candidate who they believe has risked their life, health, freedom, reputation or livelihood to make an exceptional impact on preserving human life and advancing humanitarian causes. A description of the Prize criteria and selection process can be found here. Nominations for the 2018 Aurora Prize will close on September 8, 2017.

The finalists will be announced in Armenia on April 24, 2018, when the world commemorates the Genocide of Armenians in 1915.  The Aurora Prize was established on behalf of the survivors of the Armenian Genocide and in gratitude to their saviors.

The $1 million Aurora Prize will be awarded for the third time on June 10, 2018 in Armenia. The laureate is invited to share $1million with organizations which inspire their work. The award ceremony is a culmination of the weekend of special events that will take place on June 8-10, 2018. Pre-eminent humanitarians, academics, philanthropists, human rights defenders, government officials, journalists and business leaders from around the world will gather for the purpose of galvanizing action to address today’s most pressing humanitarian challenges and to celebrate the best of humanity.

Music/Education: Third-Generation Armenian-American Uses Song to Help Teach Armenian

Maral Takmazian
The Armenian Weekly
Aug 29 2017

By Contributor on

LOS ANGELES—Dr. Karenn Chutjian Presti, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Herb Alpert School faculty member who teaches Italian, German, French, Spanish, and English lyric diction and introduction to Armenian Music, is raising her own young children in four languages.

Dr. Karenn Chutjian Presti, UCLA Herb Alpert School faculty member who teaches Italian, German, French, Spanish, and English lyric diction and introduction to Armenian Music, is raising her own young children in four languages

She credits her success largely to song. “A large part of each day is dedicated to language exposure through song, play, and literature. Songs are especially effective in teaching vocabulary and pronunciation, so I developed the translations in My First Armenian Songbook to serve as a cross-cultural bridge and learning tool for children growing up with English and Armenian.” When asked which language is her children’s strongest, she laughs, “They prefer Armenian. It’s probably because I talk too much.”

“We took a minimalistic approach with just piano and voice so that the Armenian lyrics stayed clear and pure, but the accompaniment consisted of musically interesting arrangements,” explains Stephanie Chutjian Betjemann, who is the singer in the songbook’s accompanying Armenian-language CD, with her sister’s collaboration on the piano.

The songs, translated by Chutjian Presti, stem from American, English, Armenian, and German traditions, with the inclusion of several original songs composed by the pianist

The songs, translated by Chutjian Presti, stem from American, English, Armenian, and German traditions, with the inclusion of several original songs composed by the pianist. Each song is printed in Armenian and English, and is decorated in full-page color illustrations by British artist Alastair Sadler. Transliteration of the songs is also included.

My First Armenian Songbook is sold at Sardarabad Bookstore, Abril Books, Berj Stationery, and Amazon. Promotional videos and musical samples from My First Armenian Songbook are available at

Sports: Maksim Manukyan Becomes World Greco-Roman Wrestling (80 kg) Champion

Maral Takmazian
The Armenian Weekly

Aug 22 2017

By Weekly Staff on  

PARIS (A.W.)—Armenia’s Maksim Manukyan became the world Greco-Roman Wrestling champion (80 kg) after beating Belarusian Radik Koulin 5-2 at the World Wrestling Championship in Paris on Aug. 22.

Armenia’s Maksim Manukyan (Photo: Artur Aleksanyan/Facebook)

Manukyan’s gold medal win comes one day after his Armenian teammate and reigning Olympic champion Artur Aleksanyan became the world Greco-Roman Wrestling champion in the 98 kg category after beating Russia’s Musa Yevloyev 3-1 by decision on Aug. 21.

Manukyan competed at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games, taking the 16th spot out of 21. He was eliminated from medal contention by Hungary’s Viktor Lorincz.

President Sargsyan offers condolences to King of Spain over Barcelona terror attack

Maral Takmazian
Panorama, Armenia

Aug 18 2017

President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan sent a letter of condolences to King Felipe VI of Spain on the terrorist attack in Barcelona that claimed dozens of innocent lives and left many injured.

“At this grave moment of sorrow and loss, I express my heartfelt condolences and support to you, the friendly people of Spain and the victims’ relatives. I wish you all strength and fortitude and swift recovery to the injured.

Such inhumane actions once again reaffirm our conviction that the international community should oppose a unified and committed struggle against the evil of terrorism and all forms of violence,” the President’s message reads.

Illinois Rep. Krishnamoorthi Joins Armenian Caucus

Maral Takmazian

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date:

Contact: Danielle Saroyan

Telephone: (202) 393-3434

Web: www.aaainc.org

 

ILLINOIS CONGRESSMAN RAJA
KRISHNAMOORTHI JOINS GROWING ARMENIAN CAUCUS

 

WASHINGTON,
D.C. – The Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) announced that Freshman
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) joined the Congressional Caucus on
Armenian Issues, supporting United States-Armenia relations. Congressman
Krishnamoorthi of Illinois’ 8th District currently serves on the House
Committee on Education and the Workforce and the House Committee on Oversight
and Government Reform.

           

As part of the Terjenian-Thomas Assembly Internship
Program, Hugh Rabjohns, who attends Texas Christian University and grew up in
Wilmette, Illinois, interned in Congressman Krishnamoorthi’s office this summer
in Washington, D.C.

 

“It is an honor to have Congressman
Krishnamoorthi join the Armenian Caucus. His broad view of the world and
respect for history uniquely equips him to play a leading role,”
Illinois-based Assembly Board Member Oscar Tatosian said. “His
entrepreneurial spirit is the kind of friend Armenia needs,” he added.

 

Rep. Krishnamoorthi attended the Armenian Genocide
Commemoration this past April on Capitol Hill and signed a bipartisan letter to
President Donald Trump urging him to reaffirm the Armenian Genocide. The
Congressman also issued the following statement commemorating the Genocide:
“Today, on the 102nd anniversary of the beginning of the Armenian
Genocide, we recognize the murder of 1.5 million Armenian men women, and
children in the years that followed under the direction of the Ottoman Empire.
Despite the truth of this history and the magnitude of these crimes, our
government remains one of only three in the world not to recognize the genocide
committed against the Armenian people. To deny the Armenian Genocide is to deny
the humanity of its victims and the demands of our own.”

 

In June, Rep. Krishnamoorthi wrote an op-ed in The
Hill titled “Did Turkey’s payments to Michael Flynn delay our military
operations against ISIS?” where he explained: “Press and public
attention have been focused largely on the Trump administration’s relationship
with Russia, and there is much to be learned. Questions regarding Turkey,
however, reveal most clearly how personal considerations may have overridden
our national interests.”

 

Earlier this year, the Assembly highlighted Turkey’s
attempts to gain surreptitious influence over U.S. officials and media to the
detriment of U.S. national security, and urged the Senate and House
Intelligence Committees to investigate the matter.

 

The Assembly’s letter to the Senate Intelligence
Chairman Richard Burr (R-NC), Vice Chairman Mark Warner (D-VA), House
Intelligence Chairman David Nunes (R-CA), and Ranking Member Adam Schiff (D-CA)
read in part: “We are writing to urge your thorough investigation of
President Erdogan’s Turkey in an expanded review of foreign governments and
their activities that compromise America’s democratic institutions to allow
massive human rights violations and work against the United States in ways that
are totally out of legal or diplomatic bounds.”

 

Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of
America is the largest Washington-based nationwide organization promoting
public understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a
non-partisan, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.

 

###

 

NR#
2017-059

 

Photo Caption 1: Rep.
Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) with Armenian Assembly intern Hugh Rabjohns

 

Photo Caption 2: House
Foreign Affairs Chairman Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), Armenian Assembly Utah State
Chair Narine Sarkissian, and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) at the 102nd
Armenian Genocide Commemoration on Capitol Hill

 

Available here:


Krishnamoorthi.JPG
JPEG image


Utah State Chair Narine Sarkissian.JPG
JPEG image

«Qui gli stessi “Orizzonti” dell’Armenia»

Maral Takmazian
Il Giornale di Vicenza– Italia
12 ago 2017

<img data-format=”16×9″ src=””/image/policy:1.5891821:1502497931/image.jpg?f=16×9&h=334&w=597&$p$f$h$w=ee82183″ alt=”La scrittrice di origini armene Antonia Arslan” title=”La scrittrice di origini armene Antonia Arslan” />

La scrittrice di origini armene Antonia Arslan
Tutto Schermo

L’Altopiano le ricorda la sua Armenia. La scrittrice padovana di origini armene Antonia Arslan, andata in scena al teatro Millepini con lo spettacolo “Dessaran – Orizzonti”, ritorna volentieri sull’Altopiano, un luogo che le parla di casa. Quell’Armenia sempre presente nei suoi pensieri e nei suoi scritti. Terra montuosa teatro di numerosi conflitti e dove, tra il 1915 e 1916, l’Impero Ottomano attuò un genocidio da 1,5 milioni di morti, innescando una diaspora arrivata anche in Italia.

«Asiago è una città splendida – afferma Antonia Arslan –. mi ricorda la montagna armena coi suoi altipiani. Sono entrambe terre che hanno qualcosa di magico». Arslan è stata più volte ospite ad Asiago. «Ricordo una serata molto piacevole del Rotary club Altopiano nella quale conobbi Nereo Sartori, impegnato in Armenia per la realizzazione di un ospedale. In un’altra occasione venni invitata dall’allora presidente Franco Gollin dove mi annunciarono il finanziamento di un ambulatorio medico ad Arpeni, piccolo paese nel nord ovest dell’Armenia».

L’Armenia per Arslan è diventata quasi una missione. (…)

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Iran to Return 629-Year-Old Bell to Akhtamar

Maral Takmazian
Asbarez

Aug 10 2017

The 629-year-old bell will be returned to Holy Cross Church in Akhtamar

TEHRAN—Iranian officials have said that they will return a 629-year-old bell, which belonged to an Armenian church in Van, to the Holy Cross Church in Akhtamar.

The bell was given to St. Mary’s Armenian Church in July of 1377 and was taken to Iran under unknowns circumstances. It has been on display at the Anthropology museum in the north-western city of Urumieh, reported AmedToday.org news agency.

“We have begun a policy of returning all historical monuments and artifacts in Iran to their countries of origin in compliance with all necessary legal procedures,” said Mirhadi Kareseyyed-Romiani, Vice-President of the Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Authority.

The Iranian official said this policy aims to demonstrate to the world the true nature of Iran as friendly country that prioritizes good neighborly relations and respect for humanity and history.