Category: 2018

Sports: Armenian divers record unprecedented win in European Championship

Kalashian Nyrie
MediaMax, Armenia
Aug 10 2018
Armenian divers record unprecedented win in European Championship

The pair earned 369.84 points and won the bronze medal for synchronized 10m platform. This is the first time divers from the independent Republic of Armenia take a medal in seniors’ competition.

The gold medalists are the Russian divers with 423.12 points, who are followed by the British divers with 399.90 points.

“This victory is the result of hard work that our athletes and coach Hrachya Chandiryan did. I congratulate us all with this achievement,” President of Diving Federation of Armenia Gabriel Ghazaryan posted on his Facebook page.

Book: Armenia’s third largest city to host presentation of "The Gambler" about Kirk Kerkorian

Hagop Kamalian
Panorama, Armenia
Aug 10 2018
Culture 12:55 10/08/2018 Armenia

The presentation of “The Gambler”, a book about American-Armenian businessman, billionaire, philanthropist, Executive Director of Tracinda Corporation and National Hero of Armenia, Kirk Kerkorian, is set to be held in Armenia’s third largest city of Vanadzor.

The Armenian version of the book published by Edit Print publishing house will be presented at the Lori regional library of the city on August 11, Panorama.am reports.

“We continue presenting the “The Gambler” about Kirk Kerkorian in the country’s different regions. The regional presentations are aimed at not only introducing the book to the local residents and telling them who was Kirk Kerkorian, but also boosting the cultural life of the inhabitants of regions,” said Shavarsh Karapetyan, the marketing director of the publishing house.

On 4 August, the presentation of the book was held in the second largest city of Gyumri.

Authored by William C. Rempel, “The Gambler: How Penniless Dropout Kirk Kerkorian Became the Greatest Deal Maker in Capitalist History Hardcover” was released in the United States on 23 January 2018. 

Rempel states that this is an inspiring story of the 98-year life of Kirk Kerkorian, a boy who would run barefoot on the soft and fertile land of the San Joaquin Valley until his family’s financial crisis turned him into a city boy who was forced to fight for finding his place on the dirty sidewalks of Los Angeles.

He was a tough boy who would cry during funerals, a modest person who would secretly take pride in his achievements, a business genius who would ignore the MBA’s advisors, a brave pilot and movie magnate, a gambler in casinos and in Wall Street and a person who would place bets on the most probable outcome with a supernatural skill and minimum risks.

This is factually a documental book, since all the citations and descriptive scenes are based on eyewitness accounts or previously published stories.   

Monaco concert to mark renowned Armenian composer Aram Khachaturian’s 115th birth anniv.

Emil Lazarian
Panorama, Armenia
Aug 10 2018

The Opéra de Monte-Carlo in Monaco is hosting a charity concert to mark the 115th birth anniversary of renowned Armenian composer Aram Khachaturian.

The concert scheduled to be held on 2 September features world-famous soprano Hasmik Papian and a laureate of numerous international competitions, pianist Nareh Arghamanyan, armeniancollection.com reports.

“Given the fact that this year marks the 115th birth anniversary of great Armenian composer, musician Aram Khachaturian, who was the first Armenian to perform at the Opéra de Monte Carlo of Monaco in 1974, we find it appropriate to organize a concert dedicated to Aram Khatchaturian at the same concert hall.

“We are glad to inform that Aram Khatchaturian received a warm welcome by Prince of Monaco Rainier Rene III and Princess Grace Kelly in 1973. By their suggestion Aram Khatchaturian’s concert was organized in Opéra de Monte-Carlo in 1974,” the website said.

The charity concert is aimed at supporting “Ognem” and “Fund 100” charitable foundations.

The event is initiated and organized by the Business Partners of Armenia company as part of its Armenian Collection 2018 Monte-Carlo program aimed at boosting the cultural and economic ties between Armenia and Monaco.

The program also features exhibitions, tasting of ARARAT legendary Armenian brandies and other events.

Prominent Armenian actor Yervand Manaryan turns 94 today

Dabaghian Diana
Panorama, Armenia
Aug 10 2018

August 10 marks the birthday anniversary of renowned Armenian actor, director, screenwriter, Honored Arts Worker of Armenia, Yervand Manaryan, who turns 94 today.

Speaking to Shant News, Manaryan’s daughter, Arpenik said his father intends to celebrate his birthday anniversary at home, in a narrow family circle. She also added the actor had already received birthday congratulations from his old friends from Yerevan State Puppet Theatre after Hovhannes Tumanyan, who paid him a visit on Friday morning.

To note, the prominet actor has undergone a surgery after being hospitalized in early June. He feels slightly weak at the moment, his daughter said.

Manaryan was born in 1924, in Arak, Iran. He attended the Haykazian School, later the American and Persian Colleges in Tehran. In 1946, his family repatriated to Soviet Armenia along with thousands of other Iranian Armenians. He graduated from the filmmaking department of Yerevan Institute of Theatre and Fine Arts in 1952.

He worked as an actor and a director at Hakob Paronyan Musical Comedy Theatre and Gabriel Sundukyan State Academic Theatre. From 1957 to 1959, he served as the general director of Yerevan State Puppet Theatre after Hovhannes Tumanyan. Manaryan became the artistic director of Argus Puppet Theatre in 1988. He also served as one of the chief directors of Yerevan State Puppet Theatre.

Manaryan wrote the script for “Tzhvzhik” (‘Fried Liver’), a famous Soviet Armenian short film. He is best known for his roles in such films as “Karine”, “Morgan’s Relative” and “A Bride from the North”.

U.S. Armenians to honor Terry George, Eric Esrailian

Chalian Meline
PanArmenian, Armenia
Aug 10 2018
– 11:05 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Community leaders and grassroots advocates from throughout the Eastern U.S. will gather to mark a year of progress and share plans for future successes at the 12th Annual Armenian National Committee of America-Eastern Region (ANCA-ER) Gala, to be held October 13 at the prestigious Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City.

Armenian Genocide-era epic “The Promise” Director and Executive Producer Terry George and Eric Esrailian will be ANCA Eastern Region Freedom Award recipients this year, while tireless community advocate and educator Ken Sarajian will be honored with the Vahan Cardashian Award.

“We look forward to hosting the gala in New York City and coming together to honor and recognize Terry George, Eric Esrailian, and Ken Sarajian, who have worked tirelessly not only to advance the Armenian Cause but to raise awareness about genocide and atrocities for all humanity,” said ANCA-ER Chairman Steve Mesrobian. “The gala committee is working hard to organize an incredibly memorable event.”

This year’s gala will feature an elegant cocktail hour and silent auction followed by dinner and program. Individuals interested in purchasing tickets or to obtain individual or corporate sponsorship information, please visit or call 201-788-5425.

The ANCA-ER Freedom Award honors individuals who have succeeded in bringing the history of the Armenian people and the truth about the Armenian Genocide to the mainstream public consciousness. Terry George, recognized internationally for his groundbreaking film, “Hotel Rwanda” in 2004, and Eric Esrailian helped to fulfill the vision of the late Kirk Kerkorian, educating the public about the perseverance of the Armenian nation through the international blockbuster, “The Promise.” Though several obstacles were unleashed during production, the film went on to screen in the Vatican, the United States Capitol, various venues worldwide, and most recently, at the 2018 Smithsonian Folklife Festival.

“I am truly honored to be the latest recipient of the ANCA – ER Freedom Award,” explained George. “The fight for worldwide recognition of the Armenian Genocide is a central battle in the never-ending struggle for truth, justice and reconciliation. I am proud to be a small part of that struggle and excited to renew my commitment to the continuing struggle of the Armenian diaspora. Thank you to the ANCA-ER for their great work.”

Previous ANCA-ER Freedom Award recipients include: U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John M. Evans; Pulitzer Prize winner author and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power; U.S. Senator Robert Menendez; the late U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy; U.S. Senators Robert Dole and Elizabeth Dole; Baroness Caroline Cox; best-selling author Chris Bohjalian; renowned lawyer Robert Morgenthau and the Morgenthau family; Former House Majority Whip David Bonior; lawyer, writer, and human rights activist Fethiye Çetin; President of the Republic of Artsakh Bako Sahakyan; U.S. Senator Mark Kirk; U.S. Senator Christopher Van Hollen, Jr.; and U.S. Senator Ed Markey and Congresswoman Niki Tsongas.

The Vahan Cardashian Award is given annually to an ANCA Eastern Region activist or supporter who demonstrates longstanding accomplishments on behalf of the Armenian Cause. The 2018 Cardashian Award recipient Ken Sarajian continues to work diligently within the Armenian community and in his chosen field of public education to promote civic activism and awareness. Along with building strong key Congressional relationships throughout the years, he, more recently, joined Shant Mardirossian at the New Jersey Council of Social Studies, educating teachers on the life-saving efforts of Near East Relief during the Armenian Genocide.

Past recipients of the ANCA-ER Cardashian Award include Vahe Amirian of New Jersey; Martha Aramian of Rhode Island; Bedros Bandazian of Virginia; Melanie Kerneklian of Virginia; Tatul Sonentz-Papazian of Massachusetts; Ruth Thomasian of Massachusetts; Stephen Dulgarian of Massachusetts; Professor Richard Hovannisian of California; Zohrab Tazian of Indiana; Alice Movsesian of New Jersey; Armen Topouzian of Michigan; John Jerikian of Washington, DC; Levon Palian of Washington; DC, Tom Vartabedian (in memoriam) of Massachusetts; and Carolann Najarian of Boston, MA.

The ANCA Eastern Region Endowment Fund is a 501(c)(3) charitable and educational organization that supports the Armenian National Committee of America Eastern Region in outreach to Armenian American communities. All contributions to the ANCA ER Endowment Fund are tax-deductible to the full extent allowable by law.

Film: German actor Richard Sammel cast in new Karabakh film

Aram Torosian
PanArmenian, Armenia
Aug 10 2018
– 16:30 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – German actor Richard Sammel will star in a new English-language film, “Gate to Heaven”, about Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) by Armenian filmmaker Jivan Avetisyan.

“Meet and greet the main actor of Gate to Heaven, Richard Sammel,” the film’s official Twitter account revealed.

“It’s a great honour for us to work with such a prolific and talented actor!”

The movie will center on the eternal conflict of the good and the bad, the reevaluation of the truth and the conscience and the people’s destinies.

In the movie, Finnish journalist Robert Stenval, 50, returns to Artsakh in 2016 to cover the war which has been reignited after a 22-year ceasefire. During his journalistic investigation, Robert meets Sofia Martirosyan, 35, a young opera singer, who happens to be the daughter of missing photojournalist Edgar Martirosyan, whom Robert abandoned in captivity during the fall of the village of Talish in 1992. Robert and Sophia’s frequent rendezvous ignite a passionate romance.

After more than two dozen documentaries and short films, Avetisyan’s two feature films “Tevanik” and “The Last Inhabitant” received worldwide recognition by participating in international film festivals and film markets in Cannes, Los Angeles, Venice, Shanghai and Toronto. “Tevanik” has received over ten awards and most recently “The Last Inhabitant” won Best Feature Film at the Scandinavian International Film Festival 2018.

Turkish Press: Akdamar Church in eastern Turkey attracts visitors

Tatoyan Vazgen
Anadolu Agency (AA), Turkey
August 9, 2018 Thursday
Akdamar Church in eastern Turkey attracts visitors
 
 
Medieval Armenian church in Turkey’s eastern Van province accepted into UNESCO tentative list in 2015
 
 
By Cemal Asan
 
VAN, Turkey
 
Akdamar Church, a medieval Armenian church, in Turkey’s eastern Van province draws the interest of foreign and domestic visitors.
 
The church, located on Akdamar Island in Lake Van, was built between 915 and 921 A.D. by architect Bishop Manuel, under the supervision of Gagik I Ardzruni, an Armenian king.
 
It was accepted in the UNESCO Tentative List of World Heritage on April 13, 2015.
 
“Akdamar Church represents a unique accomplishment in Christian architecture, displaying for the first time sculpted imagery on the exterior of a church in such an elaborate profusion,” according to the UNESCO website.
 
The church, which was opened as a monument museum in 2007, has been hosting annual international religious ceremonies organized by the Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul once a year since 2010.
 
Muzaffer Aktug, Van provincial director of culture and tourism, told Anadolu Agency that the church deserved to be included in the permanent list of UNESCO.
 
“Around 83,000 people visited the island in the first seven months of this year,” Aktug said.
 
He added that efforts were underway to get the church on UNESCO’s World Heritage list.
 
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Larisa Alaverdyan about Kocharyan’s case: The process is undergoing with violations of human rights (video)

Yeghisabet Arthur
  • 14:06 | August 9,2018 | Politics
  • Armenian:

Human rights defender Larisa Alaverdyan condemns that many blamed Robert Kocharyan’s lawyers for defending him. Also, she considers the SIS’s public statements wrong, as they will have an impact on the case study.

She considers that the attorney should not be identified with the accused, and Armenia should overcome this problem as soon as possible.

“I fully agree with Hayk Alumyan. It is not me that have to present his professional knowledge and honesty. As well as Aram Orbelyan, who is also involved in the case. He is a brilliant expert in international law. This shameful campaign against advocates is not good,” says Larisa Alaverdyan.

The former human rights defender also emphasized that such cases should be examined perfectly to reach a good result. She thinks that there should not be haste, otherwise Robert Kocharyan’s rights are violated. According to her, the human factor is the reason of such haste as they want to express their loyalty to the new authorities as soon as possible. It is possible that the new authorities also have the same haste, and they also want to prove to the public very quickly.

Artur Vanetsyan: Weapons discovered at Abrahamyan’s factory can have links with the weapons used during the 2008 March 1 events (video)

Alex Jidarian
  • 14:20 | August 9,2018 | Politics
  • Armenian:

After today’s Cabinet session, Director of the National Security Service of Armenia Artur Vanetsyan told reporters that the search operations discovered weapons which maybe have links with the weapons used during the 2008 March 1 events.

“The hidden weapons can have links with the weapons used during the 2008 March 1 events, but it is still a version which should be checked, the results will be clear after the expertise,” he said and added that NSS agents have discovered weapons which could have been used during the 2008 March 1-2 events by persons who were not representatives of any law enforcement agency.

Citizen hammers his legs in Republic Square (video)

Garnik Tadevosian
  • 14:49 | August 9,2018 | Social
  • Armenian:

The citizen hammered his legs in Republic Square. In this way, he tried to draw attention. Armen Yeranosyan has been dismissed from work for nearly two and a half years and cannot pay for loans.

“I worked as a locksmith at Sotq gold mine for 3 years. It was my father’s birthday. I went to concrete the tomb building, and I do not deny that I drank 8 cups and came to work. But I did not take part in the work. They released me from work without any ground.”

Armen Yeranosyan has appealed to the Human Rights Defender many ties, and in 2016, he sewed his mouth for the same purpose.

“I appealed to all instances. I want to meet with Nikol Pashinyan to get me back to work, so I will be able to close my loans, and do not need their work for myself.”

Finally, the Ministry of Emergency Situations moved him to the hospital in order to organize further medical aid there.