Author: nina hovnanian

‘NIGHT OVER ERZINGA’ IS AN ARMENIAN EXPERIENCE BROUGHT TO LIFE ON STAGE
Leslie Katz

San Francisco Examiner
Sept 22 2011
CA

Adriana Sevahn Nichols subtly and poetically draws from her own life
in a “Night Over Erzinga,” a heartfelt world premiere presented by
Golden Thread Productions.

The Bay Area troupe, whose mission is to give voice to Middle Eastern
artists, commissioned the play with New York’s Lark Play Development
Center and Chicago’s Silk Road Theatre Project.

In its first outing, the groups’ Middle East America new plays
initiative proves a success.

Deftly mixing history with personal stories, “Night Over Erzinga”
follows several generations of an Armenian-American family (based on
the writer’s ancestors) with the main focus on one couple, Ardavazdt
and Alice Oghidanian.

In 1913, young Ardavazdt comes to the U.S. after his family in Armenia
is visited by a brutal Turk on a quest to enlist men of age. He meets
Alice, also Armenian, and they work hard in their new homeland to
raise their young daughter Aghavni.

Flash forward to 1960s New York, where the grown-up Aghavni, who calls
herself Ava, falls in love with Bienvenido, a charismatic singer from
the Dominican Republic – but their life together bears deep scars
from the past, that go back as far as the Armenian genocide after
World War I.

Nichols’ clever script (in which the actors portray multiple roles)
mixes chronological and flashback action as it moves the story along
in an appealing, straightforward manner.

Director Hafiz Karmali keeps the versatile group – headed by Brian
Trybom as young Ardavazdt and romantic Benny, and Juliet Tanner as
young Alice and Ava – on track.

Neva Marie Hutchinson whose primary role is the older Alice, who loses
her mind, and Terry Lamb as the older Ardavazdt, also are excellent.

They vividly bring to light the struggles of immigrants lives’ and how
their choices resonate for their first-generation American children.

Original music by Penka Kouneva enriches the show’s detailed attention
to Armenian traditions. (“Erzinga” refers to the name of a region in
Western Armenia).

On the other hand, a clunky set design of a moving wall and doors,
and basic table-and-chair interior, add little to the proceedings.

Still, it’s the heart of the human experience that drives “Night
Over Erzinga,” a story familiar not just to Armenians, but to so many
foreigners who journeyed to America in search of a better life.

ARMENIAN BOXING TEAM LEAVES FOR BAKU

Panorama
Sept 22 2011
Armenia

Armenian national boxing team leaves for Baku on September 22 to
participate in the World Boxing Championship. Our team includes
Hovhannes Danielyan (49kg, Yerevan), Derenik Gijlaryan (52kg,
Etchmiatsin), Hovhannes Bachkov (56kg, Gyumri), Vladimir Sarukhanyan
(60kg. Gyumri), Hrach Djavakhyan (64kg, Vanadzor), Samvel Matevosyan
(69kg, Vanadzor), Andranik Hakobyan (75kg, Etchmiatsin), Artur
Khachatryan (81kg, Vanadzor) and Armen Simonyan (81kg, Abovyan).

The press service of Armenian National Olympic Committee informs the
coaches are Rafael Mehrabyan, Karen Aghamalyan and Mekhak Ghazaryan.

Our team will be struggling not only for medals, but for Olympic
qualifications.

OSCE MG CO-CHAIRS DISCUSS NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT RESOLUTION WITH ARMENIAN FM

Trend
Sept 22 2011
Azerbaijan

Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group discussed process of resolution
of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with the Armenian Foreign Minister
Edward Nalbandian, Mediamax reported.

Nalbandian met with the Russian and U.S. co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk
Group Igor Popov and Robert Bradtke, as well as OSCE Chairman-in-Office
Personal Representative Andrzej Kasprzyk in New York.

The sides discussed fulfillment of agreements on the mechanism
of investigation of incidents at the contact line, reached at a
trilateral meeting of the Armenian, Azerbaijani and Russian presidents
in Astrakhan in October 2010.

As a result of the talks between the presidents of Azerbaijan,
Russia and Armenia Ilham Aliyev, Dmitry Medvedev and Serzh Sargsyan
in Astrakhan, the sides of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict – Azerbaijan
and Armenia signed the declaration on Oct. 27, 2010. It provides for
the return of prisoners of war. It is of humanitarian nature.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the United
States – are currently holding the peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding
regions.

ARMENIA NEVER PURCHASED NONFUNCTIONAL WEAPONRY – MOD

news.am
Sept 22 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – Press secretary of Armenian Minister of Defense David
Karapetyan commented on information published in the media that
Armenia purchased nonfunctional weaponry from Moldova.

“Purchase of weaponry and military equipment for Armenian army
is carried out under relevant norms and regulations of Armenian
Constitution and International law. For national security reasons
information on quantity and variety of armament as well as details
about the seller are not subject for publication,” said Karapetyan.

“I can only assure you that ever since its independence Armenia did
not purchase nonfunctional weaponry.”

ARMENIA HAS ALL OPPORTUNITIES TO ACHIEVE EUROPEAN QUALITY OF LIFE DURING NEXT 20 YEARS – PRESIDENT

news.am
Sept 22 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – Armenia has all opportunities with its social-economical
indexes to achieve middle European quality of life during the next
20 years, Armenia President Serzh Sargsyan told Russian TV channel
Russia-24 on the 20 years of Armenian independence.

The president added that the reforms, which are currently implemented,
should be applied persistently. Armenia’s current budget is 10 times
more compared to pre-independent period.

“We believe now is the time to strengthen our state, improve our
social-economic indexes and well-being of our nation,” Sargsyan stated.

The president stressed Armenia is able to develop faster than it
does currently. It is not a secret that the world crisis also hit
Armenia, however, Armenia has overcome it since last year and has
even registered about 2% of GDP growth, Sargsyan noted.

Armenia has registered 5% growth in economy, over 12% in industry,
15% in agriculture and 7% in services sector for the past eight months.

Armenia’s economy has adapted to the maximum. It still develops and
registers good activity indexes, the president concluded.

AZERBAIJAN DIDN’T LEAD THE OSCE MISSION TO ITS FRONT LINES

Panorama
Sept 22 2011
Armenia

On September 22, according to the earlier agreement with the
authorities of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, the OSCE Mission
held scheduled monitoring of the NKR and Azerbaijani armed forces’
contact-line, in the Hadrut direction, NKR MFA press service reported.

>From the positions of the NKR Defense Army, the monitoring was held
by Coordinator of the OSCE Office Imre Palatinus (Hungary) and Field
Assistant of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office
Antal Herdich (Hungary).

On the opposite side of the contact-line, the monitoring group
comprised, Field Assistants of the Personal Representative of the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office Christo Christov (Bulgaria) and Marius Puodziunas
(Lithuania).

No violation of the cease-fire regime was fixed during the monitoring.

But, the Azerbaijani party didn’t lead the OSCE Mission to its front
lines, to the earlier agreed site, as a result of which the OSCE
monitoring groups had to hold the monitoring from a more distant site.

On the Karabakh side, the monitoring group was accompanied by
representatives of the NKR Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defense.

ARMENIA’S INDEPENDENCE GUARANTEED SECURITY OF KARABAKH AND ITS PEOPLE – POLITICAL ANALYST

news.am
Sept 22 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – Armenia’s independence gave many things, and, first and
foremost, it guaranteed the security of Karabakh (Artsakh) and its
people, political analyst Stepan Grigoryan stated during a press
conference on Thursday.

“It is true that the Karabakh issue is not resolved in the global
sense, yet it is very important that Karabakh is protected today. If
Armenia had not chosen the road to independence, not created its army,
and if the people of Artsakh had not stood up, it is evident that
Karabakh would have been devoid of its Armenian population. Armenia’s
independence secured Artsakh’s existence. In addition, independence
enabled the Armenian people to easily voice in international platforms
the [Armenian] Genocide’s recognition and the Nagorno-Karabakh issues.

And the third thing Independence gave was that the state-building
process began, where it was specified that Armenia had to become a
country of democracy, free speech, and multi-party [system],” the
political analyst underlined.

Also reflecting on the shortfalls of the 20 years of Armenia’s
independence, Grigoryan noted: “Not everyone feels the advantage
of independence. Majority of the public believes power is a good
means for making money and advancing business. And the other issue
is the separation of power. The parliament must be separate from the
government. And third, are all Armenian citizens equal before the law?

There is an incorrect view that people are emigrating because of bad
social conditions. The real reason, however, is inequality before
the law.”

REPUBLICAN HOUSE MEMBERS DOLD, DENHAM AND GARDNER URGE FRESHMAN COLLEAGUES TO COSPONSOR ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION

AZG DAILY
23-09-2011

Armenian Genocide Resolution lead sponsor Robert Dold (R-IL) was
joined by fellow House Republican freshmen Jeff Denham (R-CA) and
Cory Gardner (R-CO) in calling on their colleagues to cosponsor this
key human rights measure, reported the Armenian National Committee
of America (ANCA).

In a letter sent to first-term House Republicans earlier September 21,
the Reps. Dold, Denham and Gardner explained, “As new members of the
112th Congress, we were elected here to not only get our country back
on track, but to change the status quo. The failure of the United
States Government to officially recognize the Armenian Genocide is
a shame. It is time for the United States government to officially
join with the voices of our constituents and those across the world,
to stand against the continual denial of the Armenian Genocide.”

“We would like to thank Representatives Dold, Denham and Gardner
for taking the lead and calling on their freshman colleagues to
stand up to Turkey’s gag rule on America’s proper affirmation
of the Armenian Genocide,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram
Hamparian. “U.S. complicity in Turkey’s Genocide denial must end once
and for all.”

Spearheaded by Representatives Dold and Adam Schiff (D-CA), the
Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.304) has over 80 cosponsors. The
legislation calls on the President to properly characterize the murder
of 1.5 million Armenians from 1915-1923 as genocide and for U.S.

foreign policy to appropriately reflect the consequences of the
failure to realize a just resolution of this crime. As Senator,
President Obama had pledged to recognize the Armenian Genocide –
a pledge he has yet to fulfill.

MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON DENIES ARMS PURCHASE FROM MOLDOVA

Tert.am
22:58 22.09.11

Spokesperson for Armenia’s Defense Ministry has dismissed a report
that Armenia bought hardware from Moldova that is not fit for use.

“The acquisition and purchase of arms and military equipment for the
needs of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia is implemented
within RA’s legislation and international norms and obligations,”
said Davit Karapetyan.

It comes after Moldovan news agency OMEGA reported that Armenia
acquired 60 tones of armament from Moldova under a fake Latvian
company last week.

“Based on the interests of national security details related to
the scale, the types and the seller of the arms is not subject for
publication,” Davit Karapetyan added.

“I can only say that since its independence, the Republic of Armenia
has never bought arms that are unfit for use,” Karapetyan added.

COMMENTARY: CELEBRATING 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF ARMENIA’S INDEPENDENCE
By Edmond Y. Azadian

September 22, 2011 by Editor

The republic of Armenia is 20 years old. It seems that there is nothing
unusual about this anniversary, but seen through the perspective of
our turbulent past, the anniversary becomes very significant with
historic ramifications.

At the turn of the 20th century, a historic opportunity was created
for an independent republic, squeezed on a tiny portion of historic
Armenia. The republic was short-lived, but it was a rare opportunity
for self-rule after 600 years of foreign domination.

Political and historic events limited the life of the republic to
only two years, after which Armenia was absorbed into the totalitarian
structure of the emerging Soviet Empire.

Although ham-strung with constricted sovereignty and subject to
authoritative harsh rule, Armenia survived – indeed thrived – in
its second incarnation, with tremendous achievements in science,
technology, education and the arts.

The third republic emerged after the collapse of the Soviet Union,
at a most trying time, as a border war was raging with Azerbaijan
and an earthquake had devastated one-third of the country.

On September 21, 1991, independence came to a gloomy Armenia. It was
rather forced by the political circumstances, similar to the previous
two republics.

Armenians at home and abroad welcomed independence with trepidation,
as the specter of a Turkish threat was looming across the border.

Fortunately, Armenia won the war at the cost of 7,000 casualties. The
ensuing and continuing no-war- and-no-peace status has hampered the
country’s economic growth, coupled with the blockade by Turkey and
Azerbaijan.

The days of power outages, freezing cold and lack of running water
are already history, but the economic strangulation by Turkey is
still taking its toll.

The government is trying to put a brave face over the country with
pomp and circumstance. Fireworks and a military parade are intended
to boost the morale of the populace, who do not have much to cheer.

There are mixed feelings in the country, with the realization of
the dream for an independent Armenia, counterbalanced by the severe
economic crisis, which is contributing to the depopulation of Armenia.

The diaspora is gearing up to celebrate the 20th anniversary of
independence with a sense of history rather than the goals achieved
in this time span. The economic hardships are at best academic for
the Diaspora Armenians, while people in Armenia are at the receiving
end of that crisis.

Armenians are also encouraged by the fact that while the first republic
survived for only two years the third republic has already been around
10 times longer.

By the end of two years, Armenians around the world were at a
psychological threshold waiting to see if the new republic could or
would survive beyond that threshold. Now that moment is history too.

During the last 20 years, Diaspora Armenians got more and more
involved with the life of the homeland, sharing the good and the bad
days. Perhaps that is the reason President Serge Sargisian is flying
to the US to celebrate the 20th anniversary of independence with the
largest Armenian community abroad, although there are some rumblings
in California, trying to politicize the occasion.

Armenia is the best chance for the survival of the Armenians in the
world. The leadership may give some cause for concern, but the historic
significance of the occasion must bind all the Armenians together.

Criticizing authorities for every ill has become the favorite sport
for almost all the political parties and the press. But the blame-game
can last only until we realize that every Armenian and every group
has to carry his or her weight.

The diaspora has to do a lot of political legwork internationally to
ease the blockade and allow the homeland to breathe easier.

Armenia is doing its share and should war break out, the country
has the military hardware and technology “to impose peace,” as
the president reassures us. Therefore, let us join with the people
in Armenia to celebrate this historic moment and look forward to
happier times.