Author: Yeghisabet Arthur

Chess: Levon Aronian Norway Chess R1 game ends in a draw

Yeghisabet Arthur
PanArmenian
June 6 2017
June 7, 2017 – 12:12 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The round 1 match between Armenia’s Levon Aronian and Fabiano Caruana of the United States ended in a draw at the Altibox Norway Chess tournament.

Hikaru Nakamura (U.S.) was the only winner on Tuesday, June 6, defeating Dutch grandmaster Anish Giri.

Magnus Carlsen vs Wesley So, Vladimir Kramnik vs Sergey Karjakin, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave vs Viswanathan Anand all ended in draws.

The first six rounds of the tournament are held in the Norwegian town of Stavanger.

Film: ‘The Ottoman Lieutenant’ loses box office war

Yeghisabet Arthur
Al Monitor

Author: Riada Asimovic Akyol

Posted  

 

With its story of a love triangle between a strong-minded American nurse, a rugged Ottoman soldier and a zealous American doctor, it would be easy to classify “The Ottoman Lieutenant” as a classical romance set in a picturesque Anatolian town at the dawn of World War I. Yet the film, which takes place in the Turkish city of Van — a scene of bloodshed between Turks and Armenians — has been the cause of​ wide controversy both in the West and Turkey.

Despite the attention it has received in the media due to its subject matter, the film has not done well at the local box office, totaling 41,578 viewers so far.

The Turkish-American co-production, directed by Joseph Ruben and written by Jeff Stockwell, stars Academy Award-winning actor Ben Kingsley, Josh Hartnett, Hera Hilmar and Michiel Huisman along with Turkish actors Haluk Bilginer and Selcuk Yontem.

Set in Turkey’s eastern province of Van in 1914, it’s a love story between American nurse Lillie (Hera Hilmar) and a Turkish lieutenant, Ismail Veli (Michiel Huisman). American doctor Jude (Josh Hartnett), the reason Lillie came to Van’s hospital in the first place, is also in love with her. The tense triangle comes across in several scenes such as the two men’s fistfight at the hospital over Lillie’s honor and an angry clash of words over ethics as Jude accuses the Ottoman Empire of being an accomplice to the killing of “Christians” by doing nothing to protect them.

Subtle political messages are abundant in the film. When asked to stop the Armenians’ rebellion against the Ottoman Empire by his superior, Col. Halil (played by Haluk Bilginer), Veli asks, “How are we to know who are rebels and who are villagers?” Halil replies, “The rebels are the ones firing at you.”

According to one of the film’s Turkish producers, Yusuf Esenkal, in an April 15 interview with the state-run Anatolia News Agency, the film could be called the first Turkish film in Hollywood. He described the film as classic love story, saying, “There is a common pain — and that pain is war.” Stephen Brown, one of the film’s producers who will work with Esenkal on another film about the medieval poet Rumi, said he wanted to give an objective account of the common suffering of both Turks and Armenians. “We wanted to show the audience what happened during World War I in Eastern Anatolia, a subject that has not been handled before,” he said.

Its reception in the West has been marked by controversy, and terms like “revisionist” and “denialist” have been thrown around. “The Ottoman Lieutenant” was compared to “The Promise,” another recently released film on a similar topic but told from the opposite perspective. “Battle over 2 Films Reflects Turkey’s Quest to Control a Bitter History,” reported The New York Times. The Hollywood Reporter saw the two films as a “battle over the Armenian genocide.”

Back in Turkey, reactions have been mixed. Pro-government newspapers have shown unwavering support of the film, which presents the Armenian “deportation” as reasonable and necessary.

Serdar Akbiyik from the pro-government Star daily describes “The Ottoman Lieutenant” as a love and action film set in the time of “Armenian deportation,” but without pretensions of broad statements regarding historical events. He explains 1915 Turkey as follows: “Think of a country stabbed in the back by a minority that for hundreds of years was considered brotherly — eating, drinking together. … This minority and enemy armies would slaughter the people of the region, and then when the wind turned would pay the price for what they had done, and 100 years later still try to take revenge.”

Ali Saydam from pro-government Yeni Safak took a similar position in his column. Calling the movie a truly professional work, he said that it highlights “the official Turkish understanding of history” on an international scale through cinema. Saydam also emphasized the aggressive political outrage of Armenian lobby groups prior to and during the film’s release in the United States.

Respected Turkish film critic Atilla Dorsay said he found the film “impartial and honest, without maligning any particular camp and leaving little room for objection” but “pretty close to our national views.” However, he expressed astonishment that the famous church on Akdamar Island in Lake Van was briefly mentioned in passing and its beautiful murals were not shown. According to Dorsay, it could have been a powerful message, particularly for Western viewers, to show them and say, “Even in those complicated times, we saved these treasures.”

Other Turkish critics found the film too faithful to the Turkish narrative. Senay Aydemir from the leftist Gazete Duvar panned the film from both political and cinematic angles. Aydemir, who doesn’t shy from using the word “genocide” to describe the events of 1915, slammed the film as devoid of feelings, consistency and narrative tempo. Aydemir cynically described a scene in which Veli saves 20 Armenians from another “evil-hearted” Ottoman lieutenant and lambasted the film’s light tone and thin plot that completely omits historical points of interest, such as the political context that led to the Ottoman Empire’s decision to deport the Armenians. He also criticized the film’s blaming of the Russians for provoking Turkish-Armenian enmity, ignoring the roles played by Germany and the UK.

The plot and actors’ performance also got a dose of Turkish criticism: Hurriyet’s Ugur Vardan described the story as weak and not believable. He called the performance of Hera Hilmar “expressionless” and Josh Hartnett’s “mediocre.” Burak Goral of the secularist Sozcu mocked the censoring of kissing scenes in the version of the film shown in Turkish theaters: “As if an Ottoman lieutenant’s kiss on the mouth of a beloved Christian woman would spoil our Turkishness or our faith!”

Clearly, the film hasn’t found much acclaim in the box office or among critics. Yet it may still be valuable as a depiction of the common Turkish perspective on the deadly Armenian “deportation,” defined by many in the West as genocide.

BAKU: OSCE to monitor contact line of Azerbaijani, Armenian troops

Yeghisabet Arthur
APA, Azerbaijan

The OSCE is expected to monitor the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops on May 25, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry told APA on May 24.

 

The monitoring will be held under the mandate of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Personal Representative in Azerbaijan’s Tartar district, the ministry said.

 

On the Azerbaijani side, the monitoring will be carried out by field assistants of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Personal Representative Ghenadie Petrica and Martin Schuster.

 

On the Azerbaijani territories occupied and controlled by Armenian armed forces, the monitoring will be held by field assistants of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Personal Representative Mihail Olaru and Simon Tiller.  

First Aurora Prize laureate Marguerite Barankitse is in Armenia

Yeghisabet Arthur

Ahead of 2017 Aurora Prize Events the first Aurora Prize Laureate Marguerite Barankitse pays a special visit to Armenia. She will meet with communities, cultural and religious leaders in Armenia and Artsakh and will present her mission and the impact of the 2016 Aurora Prize.

“After one year I am extremely happy to visit Armenia again and this time I have more stories to tell. I have brought to Armenia the message of all those happy children and young people who has shelter or better education thanks to the Aurora Prize. Now they can dream more,” said Marguerite Barankitse, 2016 Aurora Prize Laureate. “I look forward to meeting young people of Armenia and Artsakh and everyone who will open their doors and hearts to me.”

On May 20 Marguerite Barankitse visited Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute where a special exhibition is opened dedicated to Aurora Mardiganian, the inspirational woman behind the Aurora Prize. Mrs. Barankitse left a note in the Memory Book of Honorable Guests and laid flowers at the Armenian Genocide Memorial. At the end of the visit the First Aurora Prize Laureate planted a tree in the Memory Alley of Tsitsernakaberd complex in memoriam of the Armenian Genocide victims.

“The mission and idea behind the Aurora Prize is very important to us and we felt the need to invite the Aurora Prize Laureates to have their symbolic presence at Tsitsernakaberd Complex planting a tree every year. It will become a continuous tradition both for Armenia and Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex,” said Hayk Demoyan, director of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute.

From Yerevan Maggy will travel to the south of Armenia where she will visit the medieval Tatev monastery complex. In Goris she will meet local NGO representatives, cultural leaders and students. She will also visit Axel Bakunts house-museum. Later Marguerite Barankitse will take a trip to Artsakh where in Shushi she will visit St. Ghazanchetsots church, Upper mosque, and Naregatsi Art Center where a cultural performance will be set and she will meet with local community.

In Stepanakert Marguerite Barankitse will meet the students of Artsakh State University, will visit War Martyrs Museum. Later she will go to Gandzasar monastery.

Marguerite will also pay a visit to Gyumri where she will go to the Armeian Catholic Church and “Trchunyan” orphanage. In Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin Marguerite Barankitse will meet His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians and will present her work and the impact of the 2016 Aurora Prize. Maggy will also meet with the representatives of «Altitude 5165» humanitarian organization in Etchmiadzin.

From May 26 with hundreds of other guests Marguerite will attend Aurora Prize Events in Yerevan and Dilijan. The events will culminate with the 2017 Aurora Prize Award Ceremony on May 28 in Yerevan.

Marguerite Barankitse, the founder of Maison Shalom and REMA hospital, received the Aurora Prize on April 24, 2016, for the exceptional impact of her actions on preserving lives during the years of civil war in Burundi. To date, she has saved 30 thousand children and offered them shelter and care.

A Toronto-Armenian Tradition with New Surprises and Old Friends

Yeghisabet Arthur
The Armenian Weekly

By Contributor on in Canada,

TORONTO, Canada (A.W.)—Music, dance, food, and language are just some of the elements that keep a culture alive. Living in the diaspora, we cling to these elements to foster and cultivate traditions and to help connect us to the homeland.  If the essence of culture lies in its interpretations, values, and perspectives, then the essence of the Toronto-Armenian community lies in the Toronto A.C.C. Summerfest.

Music, dance, food, and language are just some of the elements that keep a culture alive. (Photo: Shantimix Productions)

Over the past 21 years, the Toronto A.C.C. Summerfest has successfully become a manifestation of the Armenian Diaspora in Toronto. The festival exists and continues to thrive by connecting its audience to the homeland through current music, dance, cuisine, and language.

A tradition rooted in the Armenian community of Toronto, Summerfest provides its patrons with one of the best Armenian cultural festivals in North America. Over the past 20 years, the festival has evolved from its humble beginnings and has become a musical hot-spot piquing the interest of the biggest names in the Armenian music industry. Over the years, the coveted Summerfest stage has welcomed stars like Harout Pamboukjian, Paul Baghdadlian, Adis Harmandian, Aram Asatryan, Armenchik, Andy, Tata, Razmik Amyan, Martin Mkrtchyan, Nune, Aida Sargsyan, Silva Hakobyan, and Arman Hovhannisyan to name a few.

As the festival enters its third decade, it brings with it long-time Summerfest favorites like Adis Harmandian, Armenchik, and Joseph Krikorian who have witnessed the growth of the festival over the years; new friends like Martin Mkrtchyan, who has quickly become a crowd-favorite; entertainment for children like Joelle; members of the Toronto-Armenian community like Harout Bedrossian, Liquid Trio Band, Holy Trinity’s Sassoun Dance Ensemble, and Hamazkayin’s Erepuni Dance Ensemble; and for the first time ever to the Summerfest stage, the international pop-star who needs no introduction: Sirusho.

Over the past 21 years, the Toronto A.C.C. Summerfest has successfully become a manifestation of the Armenian diaspora in Toronto. (Photo: Shantimix Productions)

Keeping in mind families, Summerfest caters to children as well, not just with their own entertainer, but with endless activities open all weekend with the help of the Homenetmen scouts, and a petting zoo open on Sunday, July 9.

The Toronto A.C.C. Summerfest is just as much a showcase of Armenian culture to the Greater Toronto community, as it is a celebration of Armenian businesses making their mark in the Toronto Community. Local eateries like Lara’s Restaurant and Arz Fine Foods offer festivalgoers with a selection of dishes for both the grab-and-goers looking for a quick bite before running to the dance floor and the sit-and-eaters who like to enjoy their dishes while they take in the ambiance. Coffee, desserts, ice cream, and confectionery are also available for those of us who need that quick energy boost or need to cater to that sweet tooth.

Local eateries like Lara’s Restaurant and Arz Fine Foods offer festivalgoers with a selection of dishes. (Photo: Shantimix Productions)

Moreover, the A.C.C. Yearbook and the newly-built Armenian Business Directory  offer patrons with a glimpse of the Toronto-Armenian Community’s yearly projects and endeavors, as well as an exhaustive list of Armenian businesses in all sectors right under their fingertips.

Perhaps one of the most convenient features of the festival is the Radisson Hotel Toronto East that is right next door and allows festivalgoers to be near all the excitement without having to worry about transportation. In honor of the festival, Radisson is offering a special room rate to all patrons who mention “Summerfest” upon booking—only available until June 7.

A.C.C. Summerfest 2017

For anyone looking for a jam-packed and fun-filled weekend activity with friends and family this summer that offers great food, cool prizes, ample activities and live entertainment all under one roof, the Toronto A.C.C. Summerfest is definitely the place to be. This year, the festival will be held on July 7, 8, and 9, on the grounds of the Armenian Youth Center in Toronto. For more information and to keep up with the latest announcements on all things Summerfest, be sure to follow @accsummerfest on Facebook, Twitter, and .

Republican Party claims victory in Yerevan City Council election

Yeghisabet Arthur

According to preliminary results, the Republican Party of Armenia claimed victory in the Yerevan City Council election.

With bulletins from 474 polling stations processed, the Republican Party has recieved71.25% of the votes, YelkBloc and Yerkir Tsirany Party  have collected 21% and 7.75% respectively.

345,226 citizens or 40.99% of eligible voters participated in the election.

OSCE monitors Atsakh-Azerbaijan line of contact: No ceasefire violation reported

Yeghisabet Arthur

On May 4, 2017, in accordance with the arrangement reached with the authorities of the Republic of Artsakh, the OSCE Mission conducted a planned monitoring of the Line of Contact between the armed forces of Artsakh and Azerbaijan, in the direction of the Askeran region, south-east of Akna.

From the positions of the Defense Army of the Republic of Artsakh, the monitoring was conducted by Field Assistant to the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Mihail Olaru (Moldova) and Personal Assistant to the CiO Personal Representative Simon Tiller (Great Britain).

From the opposite side of the Line of Contact, the monitoring was conducted by Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, his Field Assistant Ghenadie Petrica (Moldova), and staff member of his Office Martin Schuster (Germany).

The monitoring passed in accordance with the agreed schedule. No violation of the cease-fire regime was registered.

From the Artsakh side, the monitoring mission was accompanied by representatives of the Republic of Artsakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Defense.

Pegasus Airlines to offer low-cost flights between Yerevan and Istanbul from June 1

Yeghisabet Arthur

The Pegasus Airlines will start low-cost flights to Zvartnots Airport from June 1, 2017, Press Service of the Armenia International Airports CJSC informs.

The airline will operate three weekly flights to Zvartnots International Airport from Istanbul. The flights will be operated on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

This airline currently operates flights to almost all European countries from Istanbul. Pegasus is one of the most active airlines in the region.

Prosecutor General’s Office calls St. Petersburg metro blast ‘terror attack’

Yeghisabet Arthur

The Russian Prosecutor-General’s office will look into all circumstances of Monday afternoon’s blast on a St. Petersburg metro train, including security measures, PGO spokesman Aleksandr Kurennoi told the Vesti-24 television news channel, TASS reports.

“We offer our condolences to the families of those killed and all those affected,” Kurennoi said, adding that the investigative authorities were already probing into the explosion, but the prosecutors would examine absolutely all aspects of the affair.

“We will do our utmost to clear up the factors that made the terrorist attack possible to rule out such cases in the future,” he said.

St. Petersburg’s prosecutor Sergey Litvinenko is coordinating law enforcers’ activities on site.

About 10 people have been killed in an explosion between two underground stations in St Petersburg.

The head of Russia’s National Anti-Terrorist Committee said the blast hit the train between Sennaya Ploschad and Tekhnologichesky Institut stations.

Armenia FM meets Minsk Group Co-Chairs

Yeghisabet Arthur

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian received today OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs Igor Popov, Stéphane Visconti and Richard Hoagland and Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk.

The Co-Chairs briefed Minister Nalabndian on the results of the meetings in Baku.

The interlocutors discussed ways of furthering the Karabakh settlement process, emphasizing the importance of implementation of the agreements reached at Vienna and St. Petersburg summits.