Author: Meline Chalian

Members of the Ministry of Defense and the Parliament of Armenia laid flowers in memory of the victims of the terrorist attack on October 27 in NAA

Meline Chalian 
ARMINFO News Agency, Armenia
 Friday


Members of the Ministry of Defense and the Parliament of Armenia laid
flowers in memory of the victims of the terrorist attack on October 27
in National Assembly of Armenia

Yerevan October 27

Ani Mshetsyan. On the 18th anniversary of the terrorist attack in the
Armenian Parliament on October 27, 1999, Armenian officials,
servicemen, and members of the Artsakh war visited the Yerablur
pantheon to pay homage to the memory of Sparapet Vazgen Sargsyan.
Among the officials who visited the pantheon were Armenian Deputy
Defense Ministers Artak Zakaryan and Artak Davtyan, Armenian Defense
Minister Vigen Sargsyan, General Manvel Grigoryan, representatives of
the Yerkrapah Volunteer Union, Vazgen Sargsyan's brother Armen
Sargsyan, former Syunik Governor Surik Khachatryan, as well as
representatives of the Ministry of Emergency Situations and etc.

In an interview with journalists, Manvel Grigoryan noted that new
Vazgen Sargsyan and Karen Demirchyan are still to be born in Armenia.

On October 27, the deputies of the National Assembly of Armenia paid a
minute of silence to the memory of the victims of the terrorist act
and laid flowers in the yard of the Parliament to the monument of
eternity. At the meeting with journalists, Babloyan noted that he does
not connect the events that took place on October 27 with the impulses
coming from outside and with politics. In particular, he said: "Of
course, many people try to find political implication in the terrorist
act, but I am convinced that it is not there." What happened is the
tragedy of all of us. Today is a day of remembrance that should always
remind us of what is necessary be tolerant and respect all that we
have created over the centuries, and today we have created a state
that we can build correctly. "

According to Ara Babloyan, it is natural that in such situations,
society always believes that reality will never be revealed. "The
people who committed this were exposed," the speaker said.

As for what would happen in the country, if the tragedy occurred on
October 27, the speaker said: "The government can only develop to the
degree that people trust it, and in this regard, I do not think there
is a huge difference. there is a slow but very clear progress, and
this is connected with various factors, and I still do not think that
in this case we would have a qualitatively different Armenia, "
Babloyan said.

Film: Americana hosts private screening of Armenian Genocide documentary

Meline Chalian
PanArmenian, Armenia
Oct 28 2017
– 12:47 AMT
Americana hosts private screening of Armenian Genocide documentary

Despite controversy over mall officials initially refusing to display an advertisement for the Armenian Genocide documentary “Architects of Denial”, local officials and others joined one of the film’s producers for a private screening at the Americana at Brand this week, Glendale News-Press reports.

The documentary uses expert testimony and survivor experiences to explore genocides throughout history and how continued denial of the Armenian Genocide contributes to future atrocities.

President Donald Trump and past U.S. presidents have failed to recognize the massacre — where roughly 1.5 million Armenians were killed more than a century ago by Ottoman Turks — as a genocide.

The screening was organized by the Glendale chapter of the Armenian National Committee of America, which in August, had a proposed billboard ad for the film rejected by Caruso management for being “too political,” based on subject matter.

After a backlash, Americana officials reversed their decision.

The film is produced by actor Dean Cain and television host Montel Williams, the latter of whom spoke before the film started to the more than 200 audience members packed into a screening room at Pacific Theatres.

Williams said he was “embarrassed” to admit that when he was asked to participate in the project, he had not heard of the Armenian Genocide, and the film should be used as an education tool in schools.

“The Armenian Genocide and its denial for over 100 years is, I think, solely the reason why the world ignores the other genocides that have continued to take place, [and] those that are taking place right now that we hear about and read about and we hear whispers of because the world’s not talking,” he said.

Williams said all the money generated from movie sales will be donated to “Armenian causes” such as the Armenian National Committee of America.

Also in attendance were members of the Glendale City Council, state Assemblywoman Laura Friedman (D-Glendale) and state Sen. Anthony Portantino (D-La Cañada Flintridge).

Portantino, who joined the effort early to get the Americana to reverse its original rejection of the film’s advertisement, spoke briefly after the screening.

“It is tragic that we don’t have recognition when it’s appropriate,” Portantino said, according to a statement. “The role of the activist is to make government officials do better … so let’s continue to fight for recognition [of the Armenian Genocide] and to do the right thing.”

Two Australian Lawmakers Call Out Azerbaijan

Meline Chalian
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The Hon. David Feeney (ALP) on the left and Government MP, John Alexander (Liberal) on the right (Photo: ANC-AU)

CANBERRA, Australia – Following meetings with the Armenian National Committee of Australia’s (ANC-AU) largest ever Advocacy Week delegation, two Members of Federal Parliament rose in the House of Representatives on Thursday to condemn Azerbaijan for failing peace in Nagorno Karabakh.

Opposition MP, the Hon. David Feeney (ALP) blasted government Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, who after a recent visit to Azerbaijan spoke in favor of the oil-dictatorship’s “territorial integrity” when referring to Artsakh. His speech also exposed the Azerbaijani Laundromat saga, which has revealed the “cash for favorable coverage” campaign being run by the Aliyev regime in Western countries.

Government MP, John Alexander (Liberal) followed Feeney, exposing the fact that the Republic of Artsakh is ready for extra monitoring to promote peace in their region, but Azerbaijan was not.

Feeney, who is the Member for Batman in Victoria, said: “In recent weeks leaked data has revealed that Azerbaijan’s ruling elite operated a secret $2.9 billion scheme to launder money and pay prominent Europeans, including journalists and politicians.”

“This unfolding scandal shows that the Azerbaijani leadership, already accused by Amnesty International and other NGOs of serial human rights abuses, systemic corruptions and rigging elections, made more than 16,000 covert payments from 2012 to 2014 through a network of opaque British companies.”

“Investigations led by the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project have revealed that these illicit payments, using reputable banks and secret companies, aimed to buy political influence and launder Azerbaijan’s international image. Just this week, the ASIO annual report warned that foreign governments have been attempting to shape the opinions of the public and the media in covert influence operations.

Snapshots from Advocacy Week in Australia (Photo: ANC-AU)

Turning to Fierravanti-Wells’s contribution to this issue, Feeney added: “New South Wales Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells visited Azerbaijan recently. Upon her return she stated on the public record, ‘Australia is a forthright supporter of Azerbaijan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and strongly supports Azerbaijan’s position on Nagorno-Karabakh.'”

“This bold statement rewrites Australian foreign policy and disregards Australia’s longstanding support of the OSCE Minsk Group peace efforts for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict based on the principles of equal rights and the self-determination of people. I urge the senator to not give in to caviar diplomacy.”

Alexander, who is the Member for Bennelong, told the House of Representatives: “On 17 October the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe called for a meeting with the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan to discuss the de-escalation of tensions on the border of the still unrecognized Armenian-populated Republic of Artsakh, previously known as Nagorno-Karabakh.”

“Since the ceasefire between the two countries in 1994, the OSCE has been responsible for promoting negotiations, ceasefire monitoring and conflict resolution.”

He explained: “Three immediate priorities for the de-escalation of tensions have been proposed. The first is the removal of snipers along the line of contact, the second is the increase in the number of OSCE monitors in the region and the third is the establishing of gunfire locator systems as an investigative measurement to determine which side is responsible for future ceasefire violations.”

“These suggestions apply to both sides of the conflict. Armenia is ready to accept the OSCE recommendations; Azerbaijan is not. OSCE suggested that confidence- and security-building measures are a prerequisite for not only the advancement of negotiations but also the stabilization of the region through deterring future aggression.”

“As an OSCE Partner for Co-operation, Australia has a role to play.”

The two speeches completed a week of advocacy for the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU), where issues including justice for the Armenian Genocide, Artsakh’s rights for self-determination and more local community issues, including refugee resettlement, were discussed with over 30 legislators and bureaucrats.

“We thank Mr. Feeney and Mr. Alexander for their statements,” said ANC-AU Managing Director, Vache Kahramanian. “It is a groundbreaking day for Artsakh advocacy in Australia when two politicians from the country’s two major parties rise consecutively to condemn an aggressive and corrupt Azeri regime, while promoting the rights to self-determination that will bring peace and protect the Armenians of the Nagorno Karabakh region.”

On the evening of Tuesday 17th October, a special screening of the Armenian Genocide-era Hollywood epic, The Promise took place at the Australian Parliament House (click here to read report).

The 11-strong ANC-AU delegation was joined by ANC America Communications Director, Elizabeth Chouldjian, who is the organization’s guest speaker at its Annual Banquet on Friday, 20th October.

Watch video of Feeney statement by clicking here.

Watch video of Alexander statement by clicking here.

Azerbaijani oress: Azerbaijani MP accuses Yerevan of manipulating fate of Syrian Armenians

Meline Chalian
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The autumn session of the OSCEParliamentary Assembly under the theme “Security in the OSCE Area: New Challenges, New Tasks” kicked off in Andorra on Oct. 3,APA reported.

 

The OSCE PA autumn session began with the Mediterranean Forum where issues of support for cooperation and security in the sea basin were discussed.

 

Addressing the forum, the head of Armenia’s delegation to the OSCE PA stated that over 100,000 become refugees in the wake of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

 

The delegation head emphasized that Armenia accepted more than 20,000 Armenian refugees from Syria, asking the OSCE PA for support to his country.

 

The deputy head of the Azerbaijani delegation to the OSCE PA, Tahir Mirkishili, said that said that while the most serious problems in the OSCEregion are refugees and conflicts, the countries should be responsive and sincere in addressing these problems.

 

“If the Armenian government had been responsible 30 years ago and not invaded Azerbaijani territory, we would not be talking about the more than a million refugees in Azerbaijan and 100,000 refugees in Armenia,” Mirkishili said.

 

He also accused Yerevan of manipulating the fate of Syrian Armenians. “The manipulation of the fate of Syrian Armenians is inadmissible,” Mirkishili stressed.

 

“The head of Armenia’s delegation talked about 20,000 refugees transferred to Armenia from Syria. But he did not specify why those refugees coming from Syria have been placed in Azerbaijan’s occupied territories by the Armenian leadership. It wrong of you to manipulate their fate,” he added.

 

Mirkishili noted that it is important to eliminate the consequences of a problem before making an effort to resolve it.

 

“If we want problems resolved, countries must stop occupying each other’s territory and respect each other’s territorial integrity,” he said.

Film: My roots are in Iranian and Armenian cultures: “Yeva” director

Meline Chalian
Tehran Times, Iran
Oct 2 2017
October 2, 2017

TEHRAN – Iranian-Armenian filmmaker Anahid Abad, whose latest drama “Yeva” has been selected to represent Armenia at the Oscars, has said that she has her roots in the cultures of both countries.

She made the remarks in an interview with the Persian service of ISNA on Monday after the co-production by Iran and Armenia was submitted to the 90th Academy Awards in the best foreign-language film category.
  
“I’m really happy that this film has been chosen for the Oscars, because it is a joint production of Iran and Armenia,” Abad said and added, “Due to my dual nationality, I have my roots in the cultures of both Iran and Armenia and I really love both of them.”

She said that she has learned cinema in working with some prominent Iranian filmmakers as an assistant director, but “Yeva” as her directorial debut, which has been made in Armenia, directly represents the history and culture of the country.

“Yeva” has been co-produced by Iran’s Farabi Cinema Foundation and the National Cinema Center of Armenia.

The film tells the story of Yeva, a young woman who escapes her influential in-laws with her daughter Nareh after her husband’s tragic death, and takes refuge in one of the villages of Karabakh, Armenia.

The film is currently on screen in several Armenian cities.

Photo: Anahid Abad, the director of Armenia’s submission to the Oscars “Yeva”, attends the 35th Fajr International Film Festival at Tehran’s Charsu Cineplex on April 26, 2017. (FIFF/Yasaman Zohurtalab)
 
ABU/MMS/YAW

Azerbaijani press: Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry puts 3 US Congressmen to list of undesirable people

Meline Chalian
19:41 (UTC+04:00)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 22

Trend:

Members of the US House of Representatives David Valadao, Frank Pallone and Tulsi Gabbard have been added to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry's list of undesirable persons, Hikmat Hajiyev, spokesman for the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, told Trend Sept. 22.

Valadao, Pallone and Gabbard illegally visited the Azerbaijani territories occupied by the Armenian armed forces, grossly violating the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan, as well as its “Law on exit from the country, entry into the country, and passports” and “Law on the State Border of Azerbaijan”.

Hajiyev said that by this illegal visit, the members of the House of Representatives, violating the norms and principles of international law and the Helsinki Final Act, justify and support the occupation of Azerbaijani territories by Armenia, the bloody ethnic cleansing of more than a million Azerbaijani civilians in the occupied territories, and aggressive separatism.

“Unfortunately, by such illegal and biased behavior, these individuals taint the image of the US Congress in the eyes of the Azerbaijani and international public,” he added.

“These acts, committed jointly with Armenia and the Armenian lobby, nullify the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group – which includes the US – aimed at ensuring sustainable peace in the region and resolving the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,” Hajiyev said.

“By their actions these individuals have repeatedly proved that they are under the influence of the Armenian lobby operating in the US, in particular, under the financial influence of such a radical and racist organization as the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA),” he added.

“Relevant ethical committees of the Congress must investigate the financial conditions whereby these visits have been made.”

“We also call on other members of the House of Representatives who are guided by spiritual and moral values, the rule of law at the national and international level, and their voters,” Hajiyev said. “We urge to correctly assess and condemn the acts of Valadao, Pallone and Gabbard.”

Զինծառայությունը կոփում է Հայաստանի քաղաքացու մի նոր տեսակ. Սարսգայնը Սարդարապատում

Meline Chalian
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Հանրապետության Նախագահ, զինված ուժերի գերագույն գլխավոր հրամանատար Սերժ Սարգսյանն այսօր երկրի բարձրագույն ղեկավարության հետ Սարդարապատի հուշահամալիրում մասնակցել է ռազմաուսումնական հաստատությունների 2016-2017 ուսումնական տարվա շրջանավարտների ավարտական հանդիսավոր միջոցառմանը:


Ինչպես հայտնում են ՀՀ նախագահի ամուլի ծառայությունից, նախագահը ողջունել է արարողության մասնակիցներին, շնորհավորել ռազմաուսումնական հաստատությունների 2017թ. շրջանավարտներին ավարտական արարողության կապակցությամբ եւ մաղթել բարի ծառայություն ու մեծ հաջողություններ:


ՀՀ ՊՆ հրամանով թվով 279 շրջանավարտների շնորհվել է առաջին սպայական «Լեյտենանտ»-ի կոչում: Միջոցառման շրջանակներում ռազմաուսումնական հաստատությունների շրջանավարտները ստացել են իրենց ավարտական փաստաթղթերը եւ դաշույնները, որոնք նրանց հանձնել են Հանրապետության Նախագահը եւ ԱԱԽ անդամները: Հանրապետության Նախագահն արարողության կապակցությամբ հանդես է եկել ելույթով:


Միջոցառումն ավարտվել է մարտական դրոշներին շրջանավարտների հրաժեշտի արարողությամբ եւ հանդիսավոր քայլերթով:


Միջոցառմանը Սերժ Սարգսյանը հանդես է եկել ելույթով, որում մասնավորապես ասվում է.


«Սրտանց շնորհավորում եմ ձեզ ձեր կյանքի այս կարեւոր փուլն ամփոփելու կապակցությամբ: Դուք հաջողությամբ ավարտեցիք ուսումը եւ այստեղից կմեկնեք ծառայության՝ ձեր նվիրական առաքելությունն իրականացնելու նպատակով:


Դուք լինելու եք առաջնագծում, զորամասերում, շտաբներում, թիկունքում: Որտեղ էլ որ լինեք, լինելու եք հրամանատարներ, որոնց խոսքին հետեւելու են մեր քաջարի զինվորները:


Կասկած չունեմ, որ դուք առաջին հերթին լինելու եք խստապահանջ ինքներդ ձեր նկատմամբ: Եվ հենց դրա շնորհիվ ձեզ իրավունք եք վերապահելու լինել պահանջկոտ նաեւ ձեր ենթակաների նկատմամբ:


Դուք նրանց առաջնորդելու եք ձեր օրինակով, ձեր բարոյական կերպարով: Դուք նրանց համար դառնալու եք ընտանիք, ավագ եղբայր, խորհրդատու:


Վստահ եմ, որ հենց այդպիսի ավագ եղբայրներ եւ փորձառու խորհրդատուներ դուք պիտի գտնեք ձեր վերադասների մեջ: Նրանք արդեն անցել են այդ նույն ճանապարհով: Նրանք պետք է օգնեն ձեզ՝ խուսափելու իրենց կատարած սխալներից, պետք է ապավեն եւ հենարան դառնան ձեզ:


Հենց այդպիսի մի մեծ ընտանիք է Հայոց բանակը: Հենց այդպիսի մի մեծ ընտանիք է մեր ողջ երկիրը: Պատմահայր Մովսես Խորենացին ասում էր, թե «մենք փոքր ածու ենք»: Այո՛, մենք փոքր ածու ենք, թեպետ սակավաթիվ, բայց զորեղ այն միասնությամբ, որը բնորոշ է ամուր ազգին, ամուր ընտանիքին:


Մենք պետք է հիշենք, որ «ազգ» բառի առաջնային իմաստը հայերենում ընտանիքն ու գերդաստանն է: Ձեր ծառայության նպատակը ձեր ընտանիքի, ձեր գերդաստանի, ձեր ազգի անվտանգությունը եւ խաղաղությունը երաշխավորելն է:


Հարգելի՛ զինվորականներ,


«Մեկը՝ բոլորի եւ բոլորը՝ մեկի համար» կարգախոսը դրվեց մեր բանակի հիմքում: Եվ այդ բանակը դարձավ ժողովրդական բանակ, որը միավորեց շինականին եւ գրողին, վարորդին եւ ծրագրավորողին, ոսկերչին եւ երաժշտին: Այդ համաժողովրդական ջանքն էր, որ պաշտպանեց Արցախ աշխարհը եւ այսօր էլ շարունակում է երաշխավորել նրա անվտանգությունը:


Զինվորական ծառայությունը կոփում է Հայաստանի քաղաքացու մի նոր տեսակ. դա իր հողի վրա ամուր կանգնած, իր ուժերի մեջ վստահ, իր զինակիցներին սատարող, իր թիկունքի ամրությանը չկասկածող տեսակն է: Այդ տեսակը դաստիարակում են ընտանիքում ձեր ծնողները, եւ հենց այդ նույն դաստիարակությունը դուք տալու եք ձեր զավակներին: Այդ տեսակը կրթություն է ստանում մեր դպրոցներում՝ ուսուցիչներից սովորելով զատել լավը վատից, բարին՝ չարից, արդարը՝ անարդարից:


Այդ դրական արժեքների եւ ազատության վրա ենք մենք կառուցում մեր երկիրը, պաշտպանում մեր դատը եւ մեր հողը: Դրա շնորհիվ է, որ մենք հաղթել ենք ռազմի դաշտում եւ ամուր ենք մեր դիրքերում: Դուք, հարգելի՛ զինվորականներ, այդ դիրքերի առաջամարտիկներն եք, սահմանապահ ու դիրքապահ պաշտպաններն եք:


Հայաստանի Հանրապետության զինված ուժերի սպայակույտը հայ մտավորականության, մեր ժողովրդի սերուցքի մի նոր տեսակ է: Այդ տեսակի առաջացումը հնարավոր էր Հայաստանի անկախ պետության շնորհիվ: Եվ մեր պետությունն ամեն ինչ անելու է իր փառապանծ զինվորական զավակների խնդիրները լուծելու համար:


Այստեղ, ուր թեւածում է Սարդարապատի հերոսների ոգին, մենք բոլորս պետք է գիտակցենք պատմական պատասխանատվության այն բեռը, որ ստանձնում ենք մեր ուսերին: Դա ոչ միայն այսօրվա Հայաստանի անվտանգությունն է, այլեւ մեր պետականության հարատեւությունն ապահովելու պատասխանատվությունը:


Սիրելի՛ շրջանավարտներ,


Հարգելի՛ զինվորականներ,


Կրկին շնորհավորում եմ ձեզ: Մաղթում եմ բոլորիդ բարի ծառայություն եւ մեծ հաջողություններ: Դրանք, անկասկած, լինելու են մեր ողջ ժողովրդի հաջողությունները»:

Hollywood Prepares for Aznavour’s Walk of Fame Star Unveiling

Meline Chalian
Asbarez Armenian News

Aug 22 2017


A worker lays concrete ahead of placing Charles Aznavour’s star

HOLLYWOOD—Preparations were under way Monday for the unveiling ceremony of a Walk of Fame star dedicated legendary French-Armenian entertainer Charles Aznavour.

Agence France-Presse chronicled the preparations, with workers laying concrete and placing the star ahead of Thursday’s ceremony, which will take place at 11:30 a.m. at 6225 Hollywood Boulevard next to the historic Pantages Theatre..

The outline of Aznavour’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Aznavour was nominated by California Senate Pro Tem Kevin deLeon who will be attending the and speaking at the event.

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce announced earlier that the Aznavour would be honored with the 2,618th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in a solemn ceremony scheduled for Thursday, August 24, 2017 at 11:30 a.m. PDT. The star will be dedicated in the category of Live Performance.

“Charles Aznavour is a popular entertainer known around the world and loved by millions of fans across generations,” stated Ana Martinez, Producer of the Walk of Fame ceremonies. “We are thrilled, as we know the people of his homeland France are to see his star dedicated on our historic Walk of Fame.”

Helping Emcee and Hollywood Chamber President/CEO Leron Gubler to unveil the star will be guest speakers California State Senate President pro Tem Kevin de León and director Peter Bogdanovich.

Technology: Google announces voice support for 30 new languages

Meline Chalian
GSMArena.com

Aug 14 2017


Yordan

Google Online services

Google invests a lot in its voice neural machine learning and now announced that it added support for 30 new languages. It has a thousand-year old Georgian, two of the biggest African languages and plethora of Indian languages.

To incorporate all languages, Google worked with natives and collected speech samples. Using the specific sounds and words, the machines trained themselves to understand and improve accuracy when exposed to more examples over time.

The new languages are available in Cloud Speech API. Soon they will start appearing across Google apps like Google Translate and Gboard keyboard. To use them, the Voice Search feature must be enabled.

Here’s the full list of newly supported languages:

Amharic (Ethiopia), Armenian (Armenia), Azerbaijani (Azerbaijani), Bengali (Bangladesh, India), English (Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania), Georgian (Georgia), Gujarati (India), Javanese (Indonesia), Kannada (India), Khmer (Cambodian), Lao (Laos), Latvian (Latvia), Malayalam (India), Marathi (India), Nepali (Nepal), Sinhala (Sri Lanka), Sundanese (Indonesia), Swahili (Tanzania, Kenya), Tamil (India, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Malaysia), Telugu (India), Urdu (Pakistan, India).