Author: Tambiyan Samvel

The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs will visit Stepanakert for talks with Artsakh President Bako Sahakyan and Foreign Minister Karen Mirzoyan, Spokesman for the NKR President David Babayan has said.

Speaking to Artsakhpress, Babayan said the border issues and the ceasefire violations would be in the spotlight.

“Naturally, reference will be made to the overall negotiation process and the regional developments. The issue of implementing a mechanism of investigation of border incidents will also be raised,” he said.

The Spokesman added that during meetings with the mediators official Stepanakert makes different proposals, which Baku turns down. He said Stepanakert has offers to make at the forthcoming meeting, but added that the Co-Chairs should first of all try to bring Azerbaijan to the constructive field.

David Babayan stressed the importance of a meeting between the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan. “This will be an important mechanism for maintaining peace and stability,” he said.

The Co-Chairs are expected to arrive in Armenia on October 26 to meet with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian.

Books on Armenian Genocide published in 2015 were presented within the framework of the Frankfurt Book Fair 2016.

The event was attended by Armenia’s Deputy Minister of Culture Nerses Ter-Vardanyan, Armenian Ambassador to Germany Ashot Smbatyan, book critics, journalists and representatives of the Armenian community.

The books presented at the fair include: Rofl Hosfeld’s “Death in the desert: the Armenian Genocide,” “The Armenian Genocide as Reflected in the German-language Daily Press 1912-1922” by Yetvart Ficiciyan, “Loss and Legacy: Armenian Genocide Survivors Recollect” by Mihran Dabag and Kristin Platt, “The Armenian Genocide – according to unpublished documents from the Vatican Secret Archive on the greatest crime of World War I” by Michael Hesemann and Jürgen Gottschlich’s “Genocide complicity: Germany’s role in the Armenian Genocide.”

Armenia’s Ambassador to the US, ex-Prime minister Tigran Sargsyan will chair the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission, the executive body of the Eurasian Economic Union. He will succeed Victor Khristenko and will assume the post from February 1, 2016.

The issue was discussed at the sitting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council today. The leaders of EEU member countries met in Astana to discuss the urgent issues on EEU agenda and the development perspectives.

The Republic of Armenia awarded former Canadian MP Jim Karygiannis for his contributions to strengthening Canada-Armenia relations and the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, Horizon Weekly reports.

On September 18, Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to Canada Armen Yeganian handed the Mkhitar Gosh medal award to Mr. Karygiannis during the Armenian Independence Day celebration in Toronto.

The Mkhitar Gosh Medal rewards exceptional achievements in the political-social spheres, as well as outstanding efforts in the fields of diplomacy, law, and political science.

Jim Karygiannis served in the Canadian House of Commons as a Liberal MP from 1988 to 2014. He was elected to Toronto City Council on October 27, 2014.

For his work with a number of communities, Jim has received recognition, including being awarded:

• ‘The Mkhitar Gosh Medal’ from the Government of The Republic of Armenia for his substantial input in international recognition of the Armenian Genocide;
• The ‘25 Year of Karabakh Movement’ Gold Medal by the Government of The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic as the first Canadian to visit the Republic in 2012 to observe the Presidential Elections; and,
• The decoration of the ‘Officer’s Gold Cross of the Order of Phoenix’ by the Hellenic Republic in recognition of his many public service contributions.

Jim Karygiannis was born in Athens, Greece in 1955.  He immigrated to Canada with his family in 1966.

Armenia held Denmark to a goalless draw in a Euro-2016 qualifier held at Vazgen Sargsyan Stadium in Yerevan.

The visitors started on the front foot and forced Armenian goalkeeper Gevorg Kasparov into a good save after just two minutes when Riza Durmisi fired at goal from distance.

However, they missed the creative influence of injured midfielder Christian Eriksen as they struggled to create genuine openings, and Armenia gradually took control as Gevorg Ghazaryan headed wide and Lars Jacobsen blocked Marcos Pizzelli’s effort in a quiet first half.

The hosts continued in the same vein after the restart and managed to test Kasper Schmeichel with long-range strikes when the Leicester City goalkeeper held Robert Arzumanyan’s 25-yarder, before Pizzelli’s effort from a similar distance had the same result.

Armenia had the best opportunity of the game when Ruslan Koryan slipped Yura Movsisyan through on goal, but the striker could only fire into the side-netting with just Schmeichel to beat.

Nicklas Bendtner tested Gevorg Kasparov with a low drive in a rare effort for Denmark, but the game failed to spark into life and both sides had to settle for a single point.

 

 

 

Giuseppe Verdi’s Requiem will be performed at the Revival Square of Stepanakert on September 1 in memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide and those, who lost their lives in the Atsakh war.

Artistic director of the concert, world-famous opera singer Lyubov Kazarnavskaya says the choice should not surprise and worry anyone.

“The undefeatable spirit of the Armenian people and culture, the revival and development of the nation – this is what the Requiem is about. This not the march of Verdi’s mourning march on the Armenian soil, this is the height of the human spirit,” Kazarnovskaya told reporters in Yerevan.

“Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. These are the most important words in the lyrics of the Requiem. We’ll try to sing about that eternal light,” conductor Anatoly Levin said.

The guests have said on many occasions they don’t worry about being included in Azerbaijan’s “black list” because of the visit Nagorno Karabakh.

When speaking about Armenia, Lyubov Kazarnovskaya uses the words “great” and “beloved.”

“I’ve grown up here. My father served here, I attended the school after Chekhov and lived at 32, Abovyan Street. This is the reason why I’m familiar with the Armenian culture praised by Komitas,” she said.

The concert of September 1 will feature musicians not only from Russia, but also Serbia and Italy.

Angela Sarafyan will play the wife of Oscar Issac’s character in the upcoming Armenian Genocide-themed film, “The Promise,” reports.

After wrapping Jonathan Nolan’s upcoming HBO series “Westworld,” Angela Sarafyan has been cast as Oscar Isaac’s wife in the epic love story “The Promise.”

Oscar-winning filmmaker Terry George (“Hotel Rwanda”) will direct from a script he co-wrote with Robin Swicord (“Memoirs of a Geisha”).

Set during the last days of the Ottoman Empire, “The Promise” deals with the Armenian Genocide of 1915. Isaac stars alongside Christian Bale and Charlotte Le Bon, the latter of whom serves as the center of a love triangle.

Sarafyan has closed a deal to play Isaac’s wife from an arranged marriage.

Mike Medavoy (“Black Swan”) is producing “The Promise” with Eric Esrailian, Ralph Winter (“X-Men”) and William Horberg (Milk”). Production is slated to start this fall in Southern Europe, including Portugal and the Canary Islands.

Sarafyan recently appeared on “American Horror Story” and in Max Landis’ directorial debut “Me Him Her.” She also played Marion Cotillard’s sister in James Gray’s “The Immigrant” and Lucas Till’s love interest in “Paranoia.”

Sarafyan, who plays Clementine Pennyfeather on “Westworld,” recently wrapped the indie movie “Mercury Plains” with Scott Eastwood. She’s represented by Innovative Artists, Primary Wave Entertainment and Hansen Jacobson.

By Assadour Guzelian

Organised by the Armenian Institute of London an exceptional concert was given at the Wigmore Hall on 12 July 2015 dedicated to the Centenary of the Armenian Genocide, with the participation of Internationally renowned musicians Levon Chilingirian (violin), Sergey Khachateryan (violin), Alexander Chaushian (cello), Kim Kashkashian (viola), Sergey Babayan (piano), Lusine Khachateryan (piano), Vahan Martirossian (piano), Steven Isserlis (cello) and Yevgeny Sudbin (piano).

The programme included works by Komitas, Alexander Harutiunian, Arno Babajanian and Robert Schumann.

Music played was perfect technically and extremely moving emotionally. This was not an ordinary concert given for an ordinary music loving audience, but it was a concert dedicated to the sacred memory of one and half million Armenian men, women and children perished during the first genocide of the 20^th Century planned and executed by the Ottoman Turkish Government during the WWI.

President Serzh Sargsyan visited today the French Embassy in Armenia on the occasion of French National Day. The Armenian president congratulated Ambassador Jean-Francois Charpentier, the embassy staff and, in the person of them, the entire people of France.

On the occasion of the holiday, Serzh Sargsyan has also sent a congratulatory message to President Francois Hollande of the French Republic.

Congratulatory Message of President Serzh Sargsyan to President Francois Hollande of the French Republic on French National Day

Distinguished Mr. President,

I cordially congratulate you and the friendly people of France on the occasion of French National Day, wishing your country further progress, prosperity and continued strengthening of its international positions.

I reaffirm my personal devotion to the Armenian-French ages-old friendship and to the special relationship that exists between our countries.

I express my satisfaction with the high-level political dialogue between Armenia and France, the striking illustration of which have been our regular meetings held in the recent period.

I highly value your participation in the commemorative ceremony to mark the Armenian Genocide Centennial held on April 24 in Yerevan, which once again stressed your country’s and your personal loyalty to universal values, particularly to the international struggle aimed at the prevention of that gravest crime against humanity.

Armenia attaches great importance to France’s involvement in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process and greatly appreciates the co-chairs’ consistent efforts to ensure peace and stability in our region.

I strongly believe that we will continue concerted efforts to reinforce and deepen ties between Armenia and France both in bilateral and multilateral formats for the benefit of our peoples.

Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.