Author: nina hovnanian

Newsday
Oct 3 2014

Cosmos’ Hagop Chirishian battles for a starting spot

Updated October 3, 2014 9:14 PM
By MICHAEL LEWIS. Special to Newsday

Cosmos midfielder Hagop Chirishian plays a position that includes
some of the team’s best players. So breaking into the lineup certainly
is not an easy task. When the Cosmos host the Indy Eleven at Shuart
Stadium at 8 p.m. Saturday in their quest of a North American Soccer
League playoff berth, Chirishian hopes he will be among the starting
eleven or at least among the substitutes.

You have an interesting name. Where does that come from?

My parents are from Armenia. It’s an Armenian name. It’s very common
to have that name because of my background . . . It doesn’t translate
into anything, but every person who has that same name their middle
name is usually Jack. For some people it might be hard to pronounce my
name, so I go by Jack. I don’t mind that at all.

How tough is it to break into the lineup?

It’s difficult. Everyone every day has to give 100 percent. We have a
very talented group of guys. One mistake and you might either be
starting or the next thing you know you might be on the bench. Every
day you’ve got to be consistent. Our group of guys are good, they’re
very talented. So all we [can] do is give a hard decision for our
coaches.

How much does pressure does it put on you in practice because so much
is on the line?

There is a lot of pressure, but you can’t overthink it. You just have
to go out there and do what the coaches ask you to do and everything
will fall into place for you.

When you are on the bench, how do you view the game?

Usually, first I will look as if I was in the game, what position I
will be playing. I’ll look at my opponent, try and figure out his
weaknesses and what my teammates are doing, what he’s doing well or
what’s getting past him. I’ll analyze all that stuff. At the same
time, you just have to have go out there and not overthink everything.
Everything will fall into place if you keep everything simple.

How did you join the Cosmos?

In California I did a tryout, with a team. The Ventura County Fusion
was hosting a lot of NASL and USL teams. Alecko Eskandarian was out
there. He told me to come out to the tryouts in New York. I did
another tryout in front of Gio . Then they offered me a contract.

When you were growing up was Alecko a favorite of yours?

It’s funny. When he played with Chivas USA, there was Armenian
Heritage Night. After the game he did pictures and autographs and I
ended up taking a picture with him. He probably doesn’t remember me.
There has been only a handful of Armenians in MLS. Of course, he was
one of them that I looked up to.

All Gov.com
Oct 5 2014

Turkey’s Ambassador to the United States: Who Is Serdar Kılıç?

In January 2014, the government of Turkey announced that Serdar
Kılıç, a longtime member of the country’s foreign ministry, was to be
the next ambassador to the United States, although he did not arrive
in Washington until April.

Kılıç was born March 28, 1958, in Samsun, a city in north-central
Turkey on the Black Sea. He graduated from Ankara University’s
political sciences department in 1980.

Kılıç didn’t join the Foreign Ministry right away. His first
professional job was in 1977 with Turkey’s Ministry of Tourism and
Culture. In 1982, he took a position in the private sector as a
director for EkÅ?ioÄ?lu Holding, a construction company.

Kılıç joined the Foreign Ministry in 1984 and was assigned to the
Eastern Europe and Asia Department. His first overseas posting came in
1987 when he was named third secretary in Turkey’s embassy in Kuwait.
Kılıç landed his first U.S. assignment in 1989 as assistant consul
general in Los Angeles. He returned home in 1992 as second secretary
and later first secretary in the ministry’s Gulf and Muslim Countries
Department.

In 1993, Kılıç began a fairly long period dealing with the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), initially as first secretary in
Turkey’s delegation to NATO. He returned to Ankara in 1997 as chief of
section in the ministry’s Deputy General Directorate of NATO and
Euro-Atlantic Security and Defense Affairs. In 1999, Kılıç was back in
Turkey’s NATO delegation as a counselor.

Kılıç returned to Turkey in 2003 as head of department for the Balkans
and Central Europe desk. He was named deputy director general of NATO
and Euro-Atlantic Security and Defense Affairs in 2006.

Kılıç’s first ambassadorial post came in 2008 when he was named envoy
to Lebanon. While there, he worked to increase awareness of Lebanon’s
ethnic Turkish population. He was brought home in 2010 to be secretary
general of MGK, Turkey’s National Security Council. He was sent to
Tokyo as ambassador in 2012, a post he held until being named to
Washington.

Since coming to the United States, Kılıç has had to deal with various
groups’ recognition of the Armenian Genocide of 100 years ago, in
which the Ottoman government killed about 1.5 million ethnic
Armenians. Turkey has long fought the use of the word `genocide’ for
the deaths.

Another confrontation came when Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
ErdoÄ?an was asked to return a peace award given him in 2004 by the
American Jewish Congress. The request came after ErdoÄ?an referred to
Israel’s attacks on Gaza in the summer of 2014 as genocide. He told
supporters `They kill women so that they will not give birth to
Palestinians; they kill babies so that they won’t grow up; they kill
men so they can’t defend their country.’ Kılıç acted as an
intermediary in the dispute, telling the organization that ErdoÄ?an
would return the award.

Kılıç is married and has one son. He is the uncle of ÇaÄ?atay Kılıç,
Turkey’s Sports and Youth Minister.

ARMENIA TREE PROJECT
65 Main Street
Watertown, MA 02472 USA
Tel: (617) 926-TREE
Email: [email protected]
Web:

PRESS RELEASE
October 6, 2014

ATP Anniversary to Feature Actor David Alpay and Artist Arthur Hovhannisyan

WATERTOWN, MA–The organizing committee of Armenia Tree Project’s 20th
anniversary recently announced that actor David Alpay will be featured as a
special guest at the Downtown Boston event. The celebration will be held in
the grand atrium of the John Joseph Moakley Courthouse overlooking Boston
Harbor on Saturday, November 8.

David Alpay’s debut into the world of Hollywood started with his role in
“Ararat,” directed by Atom Egoyan, which garnered international recognition.
He has starred opposite Robin Williams in “Man of the Year” and Shirley
MacLaine in “Closing the Ring.” A leading man with chameleon-like
versatility, Alpay plays Atticus Shane on “The Vampire Diaries.”

Mr. Alpay can be seen currently starring in the Lifetime Network’s new
original scripted drama, “The Lottery.” An acclaimed actor, he has been
nominated for two Gemini awards and for the prestigious Genie award
(Canada’s Oscar) for best male lead in “Ararat.” He is also an accomplished
violinist and fiddle player and tours with Tim Robbins and the Rogues
Gallery Band. His relationship with ATP began several years ago, when he was
inspired by a visit to several of the project sites in Armenia.

The 20th anniversary fundraiser is being chaired by Nina Festekjian and
Nicole Babikian Hajjar, who are coordinating a team of more than two dozen
ambassadors for the event. The organization has set an ambitious fundraising
goal of $3,000,000 in honor of this milestone.

“I feel privileged to have been entrusted with such a momentous
responsibility and to serve such an awesome organization,” notes event
co-chair Nicole Babikian Hajjar. “We’re planning a celebration that will
reflect, in its scale and nature, the scope and texture of this vibrant
organization. We want the diverse mission and the formidable work they do to
touch a whole new constituency, the ultimate goal being to pave the way for
the exponential and grassroots growth of the organization.”

The committee is planning a truly unique event, promising a few special
surprises for the evening. In addition to Mr. Alpay, the program will
feature the music of Black Sea Salsa and an art sale and live auction by
multiple award-winning painter Arthur Hovhannisyan from Armenia who has been
invited by ATP on this occasion. The sale of artwork will benefit ATP’s
programs in Armenia.

The “Land in Harmony” exhibition will open with a preview on Thursday,
November 6 at the Contemporary Art Gallery of the Armenian Museum of America
(ALMA), 65 Main Street, Watertown, MA, at 7:00 pm, followed by an ongoing
exhibit and sale on Friday, November 7 from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Art sales
will continue through the 20th anniversary celebration on November 8.

Born in Yerevan, Mr. Hovhannisyan produces distinctive and highly original
canvases that mix contemporary reality with elements of classical art. He
has participated in numerous international exhibitions, including Moscow,
New York, Singapore and the Venice Biennale. He is currently a lecturer at
the Yerevan State Academy of Fine Arts.

“Our goal is to raise further awareness of what ATP has accomplished in
improving the quality of Armenia’s environment. My vision and hope is for us
to create loyal followers that will continually support this great cause,”
emphasizes co-chair Nina Festekjian.

“A green Armenia is a healthy Armenia. This is what motivated me to get
involved,” adds Ms. Festekjian. “For us to have a prosperous Armenia we need
many things, first we need a place where we can look around and be proud. We
need to nurture its natural beauty for it to be a healthy place for families
to remain and for kids to grow.”

Since its inception in 1994, ATP has planted nearly 4.5 million trees,
established three nurseries and two environmental education centers, and has
greened villages, churches, parks, and open spaces throughout Armenia. In
the process, the organization has provided employment for hundreds of people
and provided vital resources to thousands of villagers throughout the
country.

For more information about supporting the 20th anniversary event on
Saturday, November 8, please call the ATP office at (617) 926-8733 or visit
the website

SYRIE
Des arméniens blessés dans des nouveaux tirs de roquettes à Alep

De nouvelles attaques à la roquette en Syrie ont été lancés contre le
quartier peuplé d’Arméniens d’Alep prenant pour cible des civils.

Les raids réalisés à l’aide de missiles et de roquettes artisanales,
ont été très fréquents dans le quartier peuplée d’Arméniens de Nor
Kyugh au cours des derniers jours.

Le journal arménien local, Gandzasar, a indiqué que l’une des fusées
de fortune a visé une école de la communauté arménienne. L’attaque
aurait coûté la vie à un résident arabe. Deux Arméniens, Shahe
Shahinian et Avetis Solakian, ont été blessés.

Leurs états sont signalés comme étant très graves.

dimanche 5 octobre 2014,
Stéphane (c)armenews.com

TURQUIE
La polémique entre certains intellectuels arméniens de Turquie sur
davantage de soutien à Erdogan

Un nouveau débat médiatique entre deux chroniqueurs, le
pro-gouvernemental Markar Esayan et le plus critique Rober Koptas, a
mis en évidence un fossé entre l’intelligentsia arménienne de Turquie
à propos du président Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an et du parti AKP.

Rober Koptas, rédacteur en chef d’Agos, un hebdomadaire arménien basé
à Istanbul, a écrit une critique sévère contre Markar Esayan, qui est
un chroniqueur pour le quotidien pro-gouvernemental Yeni Safak,
l’appelant « bnagalez », un terme insultant une personne qui mange
dans la cuvette d’un animal. Rober Koptas a fortement laissé entendre
que la loyauté d’Esayan pour le gouvernement faisait de lui un «
bnagalez ». Cette colonne sévère est venue comme une réponse à l’appel
de Markar Esayan à Agos, de cesser d’être un journal marginal et de
devenir une partie du nouvel ordre des médias en Turquie.

Markar Esayan a affirmé que le journal Agos représente un élément
marginal dans la petite communauté des Arméniens en Turquie,
l’assimilant au quotidien de gauche Birgün.

Arguant que 50 pour cent des Arméniens en Turquie soutient le Parti
AKP, sur la base de ses observations, Markar Esayan a exhorté Agos Ã
renoncer à son « gauchisme romantique » tout en notant que dans le
passé les Arméniens de gauche se sont alliés avec le Comité Union et
Progrès qui a orchestré « la migration forcée des Arméniens dans
l’Empire ottoman ».

Selon Rober Koptas, pour certains auteurs arméniens il est juste de
soutenir le Parti AKP inconditionnellement. Koptas a déclaré qu’il a
refusé de s’allier avec quiconque et qu’Agos ne deviendra pas l’outil
d’un pouvoir politique ou d’une communauté unique.

Révélant les sentiments du personnel d’Agos vers Markar Esayan, qui a
commencé sa carrière de journaliste dans l’hebdomadaire arménien,
Rober Koptas a déclaré que son arrogance a rendu son départ comme
désiré par les journalistes d’Agos. Rober Koptas a en outre fait
valoir que Markar Esayan a essayé d’être désigné comme parlementaire
pour le Parti AKP. Selon Koptas, malgré le nombre abondant de
personnes semblables à Markar Esayan soutenant les autorités, sa
distinction, c’est qu’il est arménien. Rober Koptas a fait valoir que,
par conséquent, le gouvernement s’attend à ce que Markar Esayan
discuter avec les « mauvais Arméniens » de temps en temps.

Une guerre de mots similaire a eu lieu entre le chroniqueur de Taraf
Hayko BaÄ?dat et le chroniqueur pro-gouvernement d’Aksam Etyen
Mahçupyan en Août. Lorsque Mahçupyan a qualifié la majorité des
intellectuels arméniens « de clowns » dans une de ses chroniques,
BaÄ?dat a écrit une réponse disant que Mahçupyan est devenu « un
bouffon de cour » justifiant les politiques d’ErdoÄ?an et de l’AKP.

« Au moins les clowns font rire les enfants, tandis que les bouffons
sont censés divertir ceux qui donnent les ordres de tuer les enfants »
a écrit BaÄ?dat se référant à la remarque de M. ErdoÄ?an qu’il avait
ordonné Ã la police de tirer sur les manifestants du parc Gezi ce qui
a coûté la vie à plusieurs adolescents.

Les deux colonnes ont été largement partagées dans les médias sociaux.

dimanche 5 octobre 2014,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

ARMENIE
Le Parlement rejette le projet de loi de l’opposition sur la situation d’urgence

L’Assemblée nationale a rejeté mercredi une proposition de
l’opposition visant à interdire au Président Serge Sarkissian
d’utiliser les forces armées de l’Arménie afin de faire respecter
l’état d’urgence si nécessaire. Les députés du Congrès National
Arménien (HAK) ont proposé des amendements correspondants à la loi qui
donne ce pouvoir au président de la république. La loi a été
promulguée en 2012, il y a quatre ans après une répression meurtrière
post-électorale à l’encontre d’un mouvement du chef du HAK Levon
Ter-Petrossian.

Dix personnes ont été tuées et plus de 100 autres blessées lorsque les
forces de sécurité ont mis fin aux protestations des partisans de
Ter-Petrossian.

Gagik Jahangirian, député du HAK et auteur principal des amendements,
a prédit mardi que la majorité pro-gouvernementale du Parlement va
bloquer l’initiative de l’opposition. Il a dit que cet acte prouve que
les actes de Robert Kotcharian étaient illégales en 2008.

Seuls 35 membres du parlement sur les 131 sièges ont voté pour
l’amendement. Le comité du Parlement sur les affaires juridiques
s’était prononcé contre eux le mois dernier. Jahangirian a nié tout
lien entre l’initiative du HAK et les manifestations
anti-gouvernementales en cours mis en scène par le HAK, le parti
Zharangutyun et le Parti Arménie prospère (BHK). Les trois forces
politiques rallieront leurs partisans à Erevan le 10 Octobre dans ce
qui pourrait être le début de leur campagne conjointe de
manifestations soutenues visant à renverser Serge Sarkissian.

Le chef de la police arménienne, Vladimir Gasparian, a prévenu le mois
dernier que les forces de sécurité n’hésiteraient pas à > répondre à toutes les actions qui seront jugées inconstitutionnelles
par les autorités. Gasparian a cité la nécessité d’éviter une
répétition de l’effusion de sang de Mars 2008. Le ministre de la
Défense Seyran Ohanian a ensuite déclaré que l’armée arménienne ne
pourrait pas intervenir pour aider le gouvernement à réprimer les
manifestations possibles qui menacent l’emprise de Serge Sarkissian
sur le pouvoir.

dimanche 5 octobre 2014,
Stéphane (c)armenews.com

MUSIQUE
La jeune violoniste virtuose Chouchane Siranossian va sortir son CD fin octobre

Hier, la jeune violoncelliste Astrig Siranossian, fille du chef
d’orchestre et musicien Alexandre Siranossian était interviewée sur
France Musique. Sa soeur ainée, Chouchane Siranossian, instrumentiste
virtuose, fait une carrière brillante comme soliste et premier violon
solo dans des orchestres prestigieux en France et à l’étranger.

Nous venons d’apprendre que Chouchane vient de publier un CD intitulé
“Time Reflexion” qui sortira le 28 octobre (en vente sur Amazon.fr).
Le programme, consacré à des pièces pour violon seul et duo de violon
de compositeurs contemporains et baroques permettra d’écouter un
répertoire qui, pour la plupart n’a jamais encore été enregistré. Pour
les pièces en duo de violon, elle à fait appel à deux célèbres
violoniste : Jean Marc Philipps Varjabedian et Rüdiger Lotter (violon
baroque).

Ce programme très original se termine par un duo émouvant : Avoun
Avoun , prière de Krikor Narégatsi, interprété avec Levon Chatikyan au
duduk.

Les Siranossian, de père en filles sont une famille formidable
amoureuse de la musique et tournés également vers la musique
arménienne et l’Arménie.

Pour en savoir plus :

Krikor Amirzayan

dimanche 5 octobre 2014,
Krikor Amirzayan (c)armenews.com

ARMENIANS HONOR USC PRESIDENT FOR CHAMPIONING USC ARMENIAN INSTITUTE

Friday, October 3rd, 2014

Charles Ghailian, Chairman of the USC Institute of Armenian Studies
Leadership Council, USC President C. L. Max Nikias, and Judge Dikran
Tevrizian, of the USC Institute of Armenian Studies Honorary Council

BEVERLY HILLS–The University of Southern California Institute of
Armenian Studies Leadership Council marked its 10th year with a gala
celebration in the presence of 600 guests and supporters, at the
Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday, September 28.

The 10th anniversary gala honored USC President C. L. Max Nikias
for championing the Institute. President Nikias, born in Cyprus, was
USC Provost when the Institute was established. “He recognized and
supported the Institute both as an idea and as a university program,
and for that we’re grateful,” said Charles Ghailian, chairman of the
Institute Leadership Council and host of the banquet.

The Gala committee, headed by Diane Cabraloff and Lori Muncherian,
raised nearly $2 million to support the Institute’s work. In addition
to generous donations by the Turpanjian Family Educational Foundation,
there were several significant commitments by others who believe in
supporting students through scholarships. The Kassabian brothers –
Garo, Jiro and Diko – established a scholarship fund in their parents’
names. International Jeweler and Collector Michael Kazanjian also
established a fund, as did Leadership Council member and Closet
World CEO Frank and Hoori Melkonian. The Tufenkian family generously
established the Richard Tufenkian Memorial Scholarship. Attorneys
Mark Geragos and Brian Kabateck directed some of the proceeds of
the AXA Insurance Settlement case in support of the Institute’s
programming fund.

Several dignitaries were present to join in honoring President Nikias.

The Carnegie Corporation’s president, Vartan Gregorian joined the
guests, as did Haigazian University’s president, Paul Haidostian, from
Beirut. Paul Ignatius, former Secretary of the Navy, and Ambassador
John Evans, who served in Armenia as ambassador, both members of
the USC Institute’s Honorary Council, were also present. Also in
attendance were Paul Krekorian, a member of Los Angeles City Council,
and Sam Simonian, founder of Yerevan’s Tumo Center.

Several members of the USC Board of Trustees were among the attendees,
including Ron Tutor, who introduced the president. President Nikias
spoke about the importance of scholarship for development, and
reiterated the importance of the Institute to the university.

The Institute falls within the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts
and Sciences. Dornsife Dean Steve Kay expanded on the Institute’s
mission, and expressed appreciation for the generous support of
donors. He acknowledged the three new appointments made in the Armenian
Studies program and repeated the College’s commitment to helping the
program grow. Professor Richard Antaramian is the inaugural holder of
the Turpanjian Chair in Contemporary Armenian Studies. Salpi Ghazarian
will head the Institute of Armenian Studies.

Professor Richard Hovannisian will work with the USC Shoah Foundation
Institute to develop the cataloging and indexing of the Armenian Film
Foundation’s collection of survivor testimonies.

The USC Color Guard officially opened the USC Institute of Armenian
Studies 10th anniversary Gala at the Beverly Hilton International
Ballroom in the presence of 600 guests

Institute Director Salpi Ghazarian addressed the audience by
acknowledging both the seriousness of their commitment to the role of
scholarship in problem solving, and the seriousness of the questions
and problems facing the Armenian nation and the Armenian state.

The evening’s program included a musical medley, generously supported
by Sara Zaruhi Chitjian, and performed by the Armenian Pops Orchestra,
led by Greg Hosharian.

The USC Institute of Armenian Studies (established 2005) supports
multidisciplinary scholarship to re-define, explore and study the
complex issues that make up the contemporary Armenian experience
— from post-Genocide to the developing Republic of Armenia to the
evolving Diaspora. The Institute encourages research, publications
and public service, and benefits from communication technologies to
link together the global academic and Armenian communities. Donations
to the USC Institute of Armenian Studies are tax-deductible.

An Attendee’s Perspective on the USC Institute of Armenian Studies
10th Anniversary Gala

BY DAVID KARAMARDIAN

The USC Institute of Armenian Studies honored university president
C.L. Max Nikias on Sunday, Sept. 28, at its tenth anniversary gala
banquet at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Raising nearly 2 million dollars
for the institute, approximately 600 guests filled the hotel’s ballroom
and dined to live performances by the Trojan marching band and Greg
Hosharian’s Armenian Pops Orchestra.

The night began with the band leading the guests into the ballroom.

Diane Cabraloff and Lori Muncherian, co-chairs of the gala banquet
committee, provided welcoming remarks to the audience, followed by
comments from Charles Ghailian, chair of the institute’s leadership
council, and Salpi Ghazarian, director of the institute.

Ghazarian, who became director last month after spending the past 15
years in Armenia, expressed her hope for the future of the institution:
“The possibilities are endless, and I’m grateful for the amazing
opportunity to try to work with you in this amazing institution,
to try to answer very difficult questions that are at the center of
global discourse.”

Steve Kay, dean of the Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences,
which houses the institute, later took the stage, praising Dr. Nikias’
support for the institute: “Dr. Nikias’ steadfast commitment to
championing USC’s Institute of Armenian Studies has been critical
to what we’ve been able to achieve the last ten years and what we’re
going to be able to achieve in the future.”

He added, “Tonight, with this momentum unfolding before our eyes, with
the tangible excitement that we can all feel and share, we celebrate
the Institute of Armenian Studies as it becomes the epicenter of
research, teaching and community outreach for a nation that so many
people around me tonight call their home.”

Following an hour break for dinner, Hosharian and his orchestra
performed a musical medley, and a video presentation featured Armenian
USC alumni dating back to the early twentieth century.

USC Board of Trustees member Ronald Tutor then introduced the final
speaker of the night, Dr. Nikias himself, who noted how humbled he
was to be honored by the institute and how proud USC is to be the
institute’s home.

He defined the Armenian community as an “unsurpassed exemplar” of
“passionate love for education” and noted the group’s resilience
in the wake of hardships: “In the refining heart of the crucible of
experience, true character and true leadership emerges. And through
the crucible, the Armenian community has emerged with the capacity
to provide significant leadership in our society.”

Dr. Nikias closed with an Armenian folk tale to inspire the crowd for
the institute’s future. “Three apples fell from heaven; one from the
story teller, one for he who listens, and one for he who understands,”
he said. “As the Institute of Armenian Studies tells the incredible
ongoing story of the Armenian people, may we all embrace these apples
and find inspiration and appreciation for many generations to come.”

Established in 2005, the institute covers all aspects of Armenian
studies with focuses on the contemporary Diaspora, the developing
Republic of Armenia, and the effects of genocide.

David Karamardian is a senior at Loyola High School in Los Angeles
and the 2014 Asbarez intern.

PRESS RELEASE
American University of Armenia
Diana Manukyan | AUA PR
Office of Communications
40 Marshal Baghramyan Ave. | Yerevan, 0019, Armenia
Tel: +374 60 612 522; Email: [email protected] |
[image: logo]

Paintings of Haroutune Armenian, President Emeritus of AUA, Featured in
New Gallery Exhibit

YEREVAN, Armenia -The Akian Art Gallery at the American University of
Armenia (AUA) is showcasing a new art exhibition titled `Colors from
Armenia and Beyond’ by Dr. Haroutune Armenian beginning October 9,
2014.

Dr. Armenian is President Emeritus of the American University of Armenia,
where he served as President for 14 years. He is Professor Emeritus of
Epidemiology at Johns Hopkins University and and Professor in Residence at
the University of California, Los Angeles. He has also served as Dean of
the Faculty of Health Sciences at the American University of Beirut.

Dr. Armenian began watercolor painting in Beirut, Lebanon in 1976, during a
time when the country was facing an increasingly violent civil war. With
his paintings, Dr. Armenian aimed to capture what few scenes of peace and
beauty were left in his homeland. He has stated that, `The most fulfilling
and peaceful was the time of expression through colors and images.’

He continued to carry his box of watercolors with him through the years,
capturing quiet moments and scenes of nature in the United States, where he
has lived since 1986, as well as depictions of his travels to countries
such as Armenia, Japan, Kuwait, Ukraine, Peru and many more.

The paintings are a reflection of the artist’s mood, feelings and emotions,
if only for a brief moment. They are recreations of what once existed – a
snapshot in time. “In most situations, I paint what I see in colors and
forms. I put those together and then it’s that instant that makes the
decision. It’s not something I plan and sit down and then decide,
`This is
what I’m going to do.’ It’s an instant of creativity. It’s the place, it’s
yourself, it’s the mood – everything has to work within that hour or two.
If it does, if you’re lucky enough to get the whole thing put together,
then you’re successful,” stated Dr. Armenian.

His artwork has been published in three books: `Colors and Words: From
Armenia and Beyond’ (2002), `Past Does Not Yet Melt Here’ (2007), and most
recently, `Life With Watercolors,’ which was published in 2014.

Dr. Armenian’s exhibit at AUA seeks to showcase his unique perspective and
tell the story of his many journeys. `In all of these paintings we
glimpse
the world through their creator’s eyes, but most of all we witness
the
serene wonder of his own interior landscape,’ says Dr. Ann Van Dijk of the
Northern Illinois University School of Art.

Proceeds from the sale of artwork will be donated to the AUA, namely to
benefit the graduate students of the AUA School of Public Health.

The exhibition will remain open until November 7, 2014. Among the guests
will be AUA faculty, staff, students and alumni, members of the AUA
community and the general public.

AUA’s Akian Art Gallery serves as a venue for artists who wish to show
their artwork to the general public. For more information on the Akian Art
Gallery, please visit .

Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private,
independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia and affiliated with the
University of California. AUA provides a global education in Armenia and
the region, offering high-quality, graduate and undergraduate studies,
encouraging civic engagement, and promoting public service and democratic
values.

The American University of Armenia is accredited by the WASC Senior
College and University Commission, 985 Atlantic Avenue, #100, Alameda, CA
94501, 510.748.9001.

HOVIK ABRAHAMYAN ET LE DIRECTEUR GENERAL DU FMI POUR L’ARMENIE DISCUTENT DE COOPERATION

RMENIE

Le Premier ministre armenien Hovik Abrahamyan a recu Menno Snel,
directeur general pour l’Armenie du Fonds monetaire international
(FMI).

Le chef du gouvernement armenien aurait fait l’eloge de la cooperation
avec le FMI, notant la mise en oeuvre reussie de programmes conjoints.

Il a presente les priorites du programme du gouvernement armenien,
en disant que le gouvernement ne devrait epargner aucun effort
pour ameliorer l’environnement economique, reduire la pauvrete et
l’economie souterraine, assurer des conditions d’egalite et de lutte
contre la corruption.

“Les reformes institutionnelles sont parmi les garanties fondamentales,
et nous allons montrer de la volonte politique pour mettre en oeuvre
les reformes,” a declare Hovik Abrahamyan.

Menno Snel, pour sa part, s’est felicite du niveau de la cooperation
entre le FMI et le gouvernement armenien, en disant que l’Armenie a
une cote elevee au conseil d’administration du FMI en raison de la
mise en oeuvre de ses projets ambitieux.

Au cours de la reunion, les deux parties ont egalement discute de la
cooperation et des questions liees a l’evolution regionale.

vendredi 3 octobre 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com