Author: nina hovnanian

Examiner.com
Oct 12 2012

Italy overcomes Armenia in World Cup qualifier

By: J.L. Herrera

Italy overcomes Armenia 3-1, without Mario Balotelli, but are still
not convincing the Azzurri fans that they have a solid squad.

The Italians were playing in Armenia and were heavily favored;
however, the game was properly balanced with stats. Both teams had 10
shots on goal with 50% ball possession.

The Azzurri had a last minute cancellation by Mario Balotelli due to a
flue. In any case, the Italian squad did not convince many with their
performance, despite the victory.

The Azzurri scored first with Andrea Pirlo, a penalty at the 11th
minute, and looked like they were going to dominate the match. Armenia
put a halt to that when they tied the game at the 27th minute and kept
playing hard against the Italians.

Daniele De Rossi scored in the 64th minute, which gave the Italians a
breather. They maintained the lead with some scary moments.

The last goal was a bonus that came from a free kick by De Rossi, and
Argentine-born striker Pablo Daniel Osvaldo caught it with a header
into the net.

Italy is now in first place with 7 points of Group 2 of the UEFA World
Cup Qualifier. Armenia will settle at fourth place.

Football Italia
Oct 12 2012

Azzurri conquer Armenia

By Football Italia staff

Italy survived a scare and some defensive howlers to secure a 3-1
World Cup qualifying victory in Armenia. The Azzurri now have seven
points from three games on the road to Brazil 2014, as Daniele De
Rossi and Pablo Daniel Osvaldo put their recent Roma troubles behind
them.

Mario Balotelli was only fit for the bench due to a cold, while Angelo
Ogbonna pulled out injured, so Sebastian Giovinco started in Yeravan
with Roma striker Pablo Daniel Osvaldo. It was a friendly atmosphere
in this World Cup qualifier for Group B, which marked the return of
Domenico Criscito after he was cleared of all wrongdoing in the
betting scandal.

After just five minutes Andrea Pirlo curled one of his trademark free
kicks, but 38-year-old Roman Berezovski flew to palm it out of the top
corner in a splendid save. Riccardo Montolivo went clear down the
right and rolled across for Claudio Marchisio, but it was somewhere
between an assist and a shot that achieved neither.

Criscito surged along the left to the by-line and pulled back for
Montolivo, whose first attempt on a backheel from four yards was well
parried by Berezovski, but the follow-up struck Hrayr Mkoyan on the
arm for a penalty. It might’ve seemed a little harsh, as it was ball
to hand from point-blank range, but was within the rules. Pirlo slowly
rolled the spot-kick to send Berezovski the wrong way and give Italy
the lead.

Curiously, this was the first penalty Italy have scored since the 2010
World Cup against New Zealand, ending a 30-game spot-kick-less streak.

Leonardo Bonucci was booked for clearly holding back Henrik Mkhitaryan
by the jersey on the edge of the box in a very risky challenge, as the
Juventus man was beaten for pace. Gigi Buffon fingertipped that free
kick from Aras Ozibilis over the crossbar.

Italy were flagged offside repeatedly – not always accurately – while
there was a huge risk on 23 minutes. Bonucci gave away a corner, from
which a cross was floated into the six-yard box and cleared by Daniele
De Rossi before anyone could tap in.

Pirlo’s inspired pass over the top could not be volleyed by Bonucci
because he was being held back by the shoulder. His penalty appeals
were waved away.

Just 30 seconds later Armenia equalised in controversial
circumstances. Christian Maggio clashed heads with Davit Manoyan and
the referee put the whistle to his lips, but did not blow, allowing
play to continue. Mkhitaryan surged forward past Andrea Barzagli and
placed an angled drive across Buffon’s outstretched hand into the far
bottom corner. Cesare Prandelli was furious, especially as Maggio
needed treatment for some time after the goal. The rules do suggest
that a head injury should see play halted.

There were more protests on 32 minutes, as a free kick was awarded
just outside the area for a Mkoyan handling offence. It was the same
player who gave away the penalty, but he did not receive a second
yellow card.

The free kick was wasted, as Pirlo dummied and Giovinco curled it
weakly into the goalkeeper’s arms. Ozbilis went on the rapid
counter-attack, though Buffon easily smothered his daisy-cutter. A set
play was cleared to just inside the area, where Giovinco fired inches
over the bar.

Robert Arzumanyan’s long-range strike was well held and another
incorrect offside flag stopped a promising Montolivo opportunity.
Montolivo did go through on the stroke of half-time from a Pirlo
through ball, but pulled the angled drive well off target. Giovinco
let the tension get to him and was booked for dissent, having just
fouled Valeri Aleksanyan.

Armenia came out fighting for the second half and Artur Edigaryan was
given far too much space to get his shot away, deflected over the bar
by a Criscito sliding block. Giovinco went very close when he gathered
a loose ball in the box and dribbled past his marker, but the rising
strike from six yards could only clip the crossbar.

Mkhitaryan was also dangerous on the counter with an angled drive that
flashed across the face of goal. There were further protests for a
handling offence from a Pirlo free kick, but this time Mkoyan nodded
it on to his arm, so that was to be considered involuntary.

Buffon needed a sensational reaction save on 56 minutes. Mkhitaryan
burst forward on the counter down the right and pulled back for
Manoyan’s fine volley, but the Italy goalkeeper flew to palm it round
the upright.

Ozibilis squirmed between two defenders down the left and his shot
bounced off Buffon’s chest before getting it back under control.
Stephan El Shaarawy replaced a disappointing Giovinco, who needed ice
on his swollen ankle after an early knock, and Criscito’s angled drive
skimmed the far post.

Italy restored their advantage with a bit of luck, as Pirlo curled a
trademark cross into the six-yard box where De Rossi’s diving header
went in off the underside of the crossbar. The Roma midfielder
celebrated wildly, having been dropped by Zdenek Zeman at club level
last week.

Moments later Osvaldo sparked a counter-attack, spread by Montolivo
for El Shaarawy’s shot deflected by a sliding tackle that looped it up
into the air and forced Berezovski to fingertip out from under the
bar. Pirlo was rested in favour of Emanuele Giaccherini for the final
15 minutes.

Armenia somehow failed to score moments later, as Bonucci horribly
gave away possession in the box when robbed by Mkhitaryan and the
pull-back found Yura Movsisyan to fire from six yards, but a crucial
sliding tackle from Maggio was decisive to turn it wide. Giaccherini
should’ve made it 3-1, but slipped as he got back on to a Claudio
Marchisio roll across and ballooned off target.

Maggio flew past his marker down the right and pulled back for El
Shaarawy, whose shot was charged down almost by accident by Arzumanyan
on the line, then Osvaldo’s follow-up was also blocked.

The move continued for a De Rossi free kick, which saw Italy add a
third goal to their tally. It was curled on to the head of Osvaldo
from the penalty spot and twisted into the far top corner with
Berezovski stranded. Like De Rossi, Osvaldo was dropped by Zeman at
Roma last week.

Antonio Candreva was the final substitute, making his return to the
Italy squad after three years.

Armenia 1-3 Italy

Scorers: Pirlo pen 12 (I), Mkhitaryan 28 (A), De Rossi 64 (I), Osvaldo 81 (I)

Armenia: Berezovski; Aleksanyan, Mkoyan, Arzumanyan, Artak Edigaryan;
Ozbiliz, Lazarian, Artur Edigaryan (Manucharyan 65), Manoyan
(Sarkisov 77); Mkhitaryan, Movsisyan

Italy: Buffon; Maggio, Barzagli, Bonucci, Criscito; De Rossi, Pirlo
(Giaccherini 74), Marchisio; Montolivo (Candreva 87); Osvaldo,
Giovinco (El Shaarawy 60)

Ref: Strahonja (CRO)

Salisbury Post, North Carolina
Oct 12 2012

Werfel’s classic novel vividly portrays Armenian Genocide

“The Forty Days of Musa Dagh,” by Franz Werfel; translated by Geoffrey
Dunlop (1934) and James Reidel (2012). Godine, 936 pp. $22.95.

By Deal Safrit, For the Salisbury Post

Although 2015 will be the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide,
2012 is turning out to be the year of awareness about “the slaughter
you know next to nothing about.”

“The Sandcastle Girls” by Chris Bohjalian has awakened the popular
imagination about this genocide that left over 1.5 million Armenians
dead and that the Turkish government to this day pretends never
happened. In New York, the New York Theatre Workshop is staging a new
play, “Red Dog Howls,” on the genocide, with production scheduled to
remain through Oct. 24. The paperback release of the exceptional
non-fiction account of surviving the forced exodus of the Armenian
people, “The Knock at the Door” by Margaret Ajemi Ahnert, occurred
this fall. And recently, boutique publisher David R. Godine issued a
more fully restored and newly translated edition of the 1933 classic
of Armenian resistance, “The Forty Days of Musa Dagh” by Franz Werfel.

In “The Forty Days of Musa Dagh,” Gabriel Bagradian, his French wife
Juliette and their son Stephan have returned to Gabriel’s ancestral
village of Yoghonoluk after many years in Paris due to the death of
his brother, the last Bagradian of his line. It is not a move that was
planned, but after a time the family settles in and decides to stay in
place for an indefinite interim, bringing as many trappings as
possible of their European civilization with them. Though it is not
Paris, Juliette becomes the big queen fish in a relatively small pond
and finds her adjustment somewhat easier than expected; Stephan
likewise adapts once he reaches the conclusion that he must dress and
act more like his Armenian friends and neighbors instead of like the
Paris boy he was. At the time, all appears calm in the Ottoman Empire,
yet, as world war breaks out, and Turkey aligns itself with
Austria-Germany, the future does not look bright for a return to
Paris, and there begin rumblings between the Muslim Turks and the
Christian Armenians.

As the ethnic conflict heats up, the Turks begin their effort to
cleanse the empire of the Armenians; Bagradian initially feels
relatively safe and secure due to the influence of this family’s name
and power, and also the fact that his wife is French. But, as is now
common knowledge, it was exactly the well-known and the powerful among
the Armenians who became the first targets. The forced exile of the
Armenians begins, though in many respects it is a sham exile, as the
Armenians are driven from their land with little in the way of
possessions or provisions, are relentlessly marched into Syria, and if
not shot or beaten to death by their protectors, they are pushed to
the point of collapse and death in their tracks. Whereas thousands may
begin an exodus, a bare handful may survive at the end.

Eventually, the decree comes to Yoghonoluk and the six other small
villages within the shadow of Musa Dagh, the formidable mountain that
stands over them all. Gabriel and a few other leaders organize a
secret resistance, and they begin surreptitiously fortifying Musa Dagh
and transporting what arms and provisions the villages possess to the
mountain. The evening prior to the morning of the seven-village exile,
approximately 5,000 villagers abandon their homes for the mountain,
leaving but hundreds of Armenians to be marched into the desert. Of
those who choose exile, virtually none survive.

The bulk of Franz Werfel’s book details the 40 days of resistance by
this brave group of Armenians, who fight off repeated attacks by far
superior Turkish forces through insightful mechanisms of defense and
pure and simple guts and courage. Not only must the Armenians battle
the Turks – they must also fight through their lack of armaments, the
rationing and eventual depletion of their food supply, their own
naysayers and a few traitors among themselves, as well as those among
them resentful of the command structure and, eventually, a major fire
within their compound.

The reader will be constantly on edge, as there is always present the
formula for disaster and defeat, and the suspense can sometimes be
terrifying. There is never a moment, once the Armenians are encamped
on Musa Dagh, where the reader will feel that “all is well.” The only
consistent sensation readers might acquire as they move through the
story is that, at least on Musa Dagh, they and the characters of the
novel are still alive, whereas had they had marched off into exile,
they would now be dead.

Franz Werfel did an amazing amount of rigorous research prior to
writing “The Forty Days of Musa Dagh,” and the novel is relatively
accurate is its depiction of all that actually happened. Obviously,
the characters are created by Werfel, though for the most part they
are based on real people of the resistance. For instance, Gabriel
Bagradian was patterned somewhat after the leader of the resistance,
Moses Derkalousdian, who later would live out the remainder of his
life in Lebanon, dying at age 99 in 1986. Werfel wrote of seven
villages comprising the resistance, whereas there were only six; the
seventh actually chose the path of exile and death. And, instead of 40
days, the resistance held Musa Dagh for 53; Werfel chose 40 days
because that was the length of the biblical flood and perhaps also
because the English translation of Musa Dagh is Mountain of Moses.

The novel reads extremely well, and that is a good thing as it is 900
pages long; it is that long if you choose to read the preface and the
translator’s note, which I suggest. The fact that the novel casts
light on the only successful resistance attempt to the genocide is
important; there were three other attempts across the empire, but two
ended in total massacres and one mostly so. Also, the fact the
genocide, and the novel, preceded the Holocaust and that Werfel sensed
what was pending in Germany and actually rewrote part of the novel in
the hope of giving a warning, add to the importance of this work. So,
pick up “The Forty Days of Musa Dagh” for the cold days of winter, as
it will be able to keep you company for several days, or weeks, and
leave you with some food for thought.

Review’s note: Sometimes we see one side of the story but not the
other. Although there can be no denying the Armenian Genocide despite
what the Turkish government might say, and it certainly was a horrible
and unforgivable event, the Armenians at not scot-free in the atrocity
department. Within the former Soviet Union, there is an area where the
Armenians forced out the Muslim Azeri population, with much death and
deportation. This area is known as the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, an
entity not recognized by any government. The events there have
happened over the past 25 years, and to this day the Armenians and the
Azeri still face off against each other in trenches.

PRESS RELEASE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 686-0710
Fax: (212) 779-3558
Web:
Email: [email protected]

Remembering Archbishop Torkom Manoogian

With deep sorrow, the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of
America mourns the passing of His Beatitude Archbishop Torkom
Manoogian, the 96th Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem.

Patriarch Torkom passed away in the early morning hours of October 12,
2012, at age 93. He will be interred in Jerusalem, at the Patriarchal
Cemetery, on Monday, October 22.

Prior to his election as Patriarch of Jerusalem, Archbishop Torkom
served for a quarter-century as Primate of the Eastern Diocese. To
thousands of people across this country-not only in our parishes, but
in the surrounding society-he was the vigorous, compassionate, always
impressive face of the Armenian Church of America. He was also the
beautiful, poetic voice of our people, advocating in a principled and
forceful way for our concerns and aspirations, while embodying the
great Armenian civilization that had bestowed works of profound art
and spirituality on world culture.

I have asked the parishes of the Eastern Diocese to conduct a requiem
service in the Patriarch’s memory on Sunday, October 14. Please
consider joining our faithful in prayer at that time.

A biographical sketch () of Archbishop Torkom
Manoogian’s life and ministry and a brief memorial video
() are available on the Diocesan website.

As we mourn his passing, we are consoled in the knowledge that
Archbishop Torkom’s gentle soul has found rest and peace in the
welcoming arms of our Risen Lord, whom he loved and served with such
distinction in life.

With prayers,

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian
Primate
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016

ARMENIA: PACE RAPPORTEUR CONCERNED ABOUT LIFTING OF THE PARLIAMENTARY IMMUNITY ON CONTROVERSIAL CRIMINAL CHARGES OF FORMER FOREIGN MINISTER OSKANIAN

Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE)
Oct 11 2012

STRASBOURG, France

The following information was released by the Parliamentary Assembly
of the Council of Europe (PACE):

Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) rapporteur for the
monitoring of Armenia, Axel Fischer (Germany EPP/CD), today expressed
his concern about the lifting of the parliamentary immunity of former
Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian, on controversial criminal charges,
by the National Assembly.

This is especially worrying in the light of persistent allegations
that political motives have played a role in the charges that are
levied against him, emphasised Mr Fischer.

If substantiated, these allegations would mean a step backwards from
the positive trend with regard to political normalisation that we have
witnessed over the last year and a half. I have therefore written
to the Speaker of the National Assembly asking him to clarify the
charges, as well as the basis on which the parliament agreed to lift
Mr Oskanians immunity, the rapporteur concluded.

YEREVAN COURT TO HEAR LAWSUIT AGAINST RUBEN HAYRAPETYAN

06:02 pm | Today | Social

The Court of General Jurisdiction of Yerevan’s Avan and Nor Nork
districts is to hear on November 6 the claim filed by citizen Hranush
Kharatyan against businessman Ruben Hayrapetyan.

The plaintiff is seeking compensation for the damage caused to her
honor, dignity and business reputation.

Similar lawsuits against the businessman millionare have been filed
Karekin Chukaszyan and David Sanasaryan, “Pastinfo” news agency
reports.

NEW WEB-SITE IN WESTERN ARMENIAN

15:35 – 12.10.2012

On September 21st, the Independence day of Armenia, media
field became richer with one more web-site, called “Yeraguyn”
(), which works for Western Armenians and
presents news of Armenia and the Diaspora.

Authors of the initiation are Khazhak Mkrtichyan, Nairi Mkrtichyan
and Narine Tumanyan.

Yerkir.am’s staff congratulates the birth of “Yeraguyn” and wishes
success and prolific creative work.

ARMENIAN PATRIARCH OF JERUSALEM PASSES AWAY

news.am
October 12, 2012 | 14:12

ETCHMIADZIN. – The Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II has learned
Friday that Archbishop Torkom Manoogian, the Armenian Patriarch of
Jerusalem, has passed away at the age of 93 and after a long illness,
Information System of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin informs.

Archbishop Manoogian was born in 1919 in a refugee camp near the
desert town of Baquba, north of Baghdad, Iraq.

His Beatitude played a vital role in the promotion of international
ecumenical relations. He served on the Board of the National Council
of Churches of Christ in the United States, and was Chairman of the
Board of “Religion in American Life.” Also, he was a member of the
Board of Directors of the “Appeal of Conscience Foundation.”

Archbishop Torkom Manoogian had published some twenty books and
monographs, and he was considered a foremost expert and lecturer on
the Armenian composer, Komitas.

AZERBAIJAN’S ARGUMENTS SUBMITTED TO UN DEVOID LOGIC
By Armen Nazaryan

news.am
October 12, 2012 | 12:17

YEREVAN. – Azerbaijan attempts to delude the international community
at the United Nations (UN). In this way, the Azerbaijani authorities
wish to establish foundations toward moving the Nagorno-Karabakh peace
process to other platforms and to evade their commitments toward the
resolution of the matter.

But such modus operandi rather “harms,” instead of benefiting,
official Baku. Everytime when Azerbaijan makes statements on the
Karabakh issue at the UN, it enables the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
(NKR) MFA to present its positions with a reply letter.

And recently, Armenia’s representative at the UN disseminated NKR
MFA’s response to the letters by the Azerbaijan’s representative to
the UN, and which were aboiut the NKR presidential elections held
on July 19. The NKR MFA’s statement stresses that “the formation
of state agencies based on free and transparent expression of will
has become an integral part of the Republic’s political culture,”
the international observers’ high rating given to these elections
is presented, and it is demonstrated that the Azerbaijani side’s
arguments submitted to the UN devoid any logic.

So, the more Azerbaijan tries to use the UN platform to spread
anti-Armenian propaganda, the documents expressing NKR’s official
positions will be circulated that much more at the United Nations.

12-YEAR-OLD YEREVAN RESIDENT SENDS LETTER TO CAPITAL’S MAYOR

12.10.12

A 12-year-old Yerevan resident Siranush, with disability, has sent a
letter to Yerevan mayor Taron Margaryan telling about her problems of
moving in the capital and voicing hope that the municipal authorities
of Yerevan will undertake steps for eliminating the difficulties.

Telling about herself, Siranush wrote that she likes to stroll, visit
different interesting places, cultural and arts centers. “I am an
Armenian, and I love my Yerevan. It is so beautiful and new to me. I
dream of strolling in Yerevan streets, visit parks and gardens…But
unfortunately, it is very difficult for me as I am on a wheelchair
and cannot move on my own,” the letter reads.

In her message the little girl says her mother is trying to take
her to all the places but it is rather difficult in Yerevan as the
streets are not accommodated for moving on wheelchairs.

The girl says she saddens that while building something the local
authorities forget about her, and many like her, and while creating
beautiful things forget to eliminate the impediments for them to see
those things.

“It is very offensive that the streets which have slopeways are
barricaded with cars and my mother is forced to lift the wheelchair. I
do not make use of city transport as it is not accommodated for
wheelchairs, only few taxis agree to take me, as my wheelchair does
not fit in their boot. Me and people like me face various problems in
our city, but we love our Yerevan and we are its children expecting
for our city to love and take care of us,” Siranush concluded.