Category: 2019

Asbarez: Artsakh President Awards Carolann Najarian with ‘Vachakan Barepasht’ Medal

Albert Nalbandian
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10 hours ago

ARTSAKH—On Tuesday, April 16, Dr. Carolann Najarian received the prestigious “Vachakan Barepasht” medal from Artsakh President Bako Sahakyan. The award acknowledges her distinguished service in Artsakh—during and after the war—as field doctor, health-care advisor, humanitarian aid worker, and philanthropist.

In a private ceremony held at his offices, President Sahakyan highlighted Dr. Najarian’s exemplary patriotic work, and expressed hope that she will continue supporting Artsakh’s development.

A child of Armenian Genocide survivors, Carolann Najarian was among the first to respond to the devastating 1988 earthquake in Armenia. As president of the Armenian Health Alliance, Inc., she spearheaded medical relief efforts, making more than 50 trips to deliver medical aid to the destroyed region.

Since then, she has been an integral part of the movement to rebuild Armenia and Artsakh, leading and supporting a number of initiatives. Yesterday’s award was one of many honors she has received for her philanthropic work. They include the Humanitarian Award of Boston University’s School of Medicine Alumni Association (2004), the Ellis Island Medal of Honor (1999), the Armenian International Women’s Association Achievement Award (1997), the Haystack Award for Charity, United Church of Christ, MA (1996), and the Armenian National Committee’s Vahan Cardashian Award (2017).

Dr. Najarian was accompanied yesterday by her husband, George, along with friends and colleagues including the “Hayastan” All-Armenia Fund and the Tufenkian Foundation, which continue their ongoing efforts to develop and resettle Artsakh. Following the meeting, participants visited Stepanakert’s Renaissance Square and the Freedom Fighters Park.

This was Dr. Najarian’s first visit to Artsakh in over 12 years. Sharing her impressions, she said “I feel happy and fortunate to see Artsakh completely transformed. I see happy people who walk the streets in peace…”. Her husband George Najarian added, “Artsakh is the heart of Armenia. Artsakhtsis fought on the front-line and we – Diasporans – fought on a different front, providing financial and material support to Artsakh’s people” ․

Tufenkian Foundation representatives were honored to stand with Carolann Najarian, a trustee and valued member of the Tufenkian Foundation family, as she received this well-deserved recognition.

Prelate’s Easter Message

Torgomian Varazdat
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6 hours ago

Western Prelate Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian

The triumphant message of the glorious Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ once again emboldens our lives, illuminates our hearts and spirits with His light, and bolsters our faith with the hope of eternal life. Today we rejoice, for “Christ was resurrected and His enemies scattered.” Life triumphed over the bonds of death, goodness over evil, light over darkness, truth over lies, and justice over injustice.

The Son of God came to this earth with a message of love, peace, hope, forgiveness, and reconciliation, preaching redemption and salvation for all mankind. Many received Him, took up their cross and followed Him, while others felt threatened and sought to defeat Him. His opponents, the supposed teachers and defenders of the law, had so much hatred and deception in their hearts that they could not tolerate His fair and just condemnation and subsequently plotted to have Him killed with the help of the chief priests. To the distraught apostles and disciples who witnessed firsthand the slanderous accusations against their beloved teacher, His condemnation, arrest, crucifixion, and ultimately His death and burial, it appeared as though evil had triumphed. But it was only the beginning, for “on the third day He rose again, and ascended into heaven with the same body and sat at the right hand of the Father” (Nicene Creed).

The haze of doubt and cloud of despair was dispelled as the Resurrected Christ appeared to His disciples. Armed with kindled faith and restored hope by the triumph of the Resurrection, they began a new life as bold witnesses to the glory of God, witnesses to truth and justice, while the forces of darkness, that is, the chief priests and the Pharisees, suffered defeat.

The light, truth, power, and promise of the Resurrection reached and illuminated the Armenian nation through the apostles. The Armenian people, too, became fearless witnesses and remained so during the countless sufferings, persecutions, death and destruction that we endured throughout the centuries, armed with the conviction that in the end, truth and justice will always prevail, and heartened by the words of our Lord Himself, “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it” (Matthew 16:25).

Dear faithful,

Each year, Easter comes to remind us that the Lord came that we may have life, and that we may have it more abundantly (John 10:10). There will always be evil in the world; there will be hate, envy, deception, persecution, and more. There will be moments when our faith is tested and our hope is weakened, but we must not despair. “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Yes, Jesus overcame all, and “everyone born of God overcomes the world” (1 John 5:4).

We live in a challenging time with no shortage of negative influences that can threaten the integrity of our individual, family, community, and spiritual life. Thus, it is vital that we remain vigilant. We must plant and cultivate seeds of love, peace, truth, and justice first within our own hearts and then in the hearts of those around us, so that we may collectively choose the path of light and goodness in our spiritual lives, in our service, duties, and in our mission.

Come, before all else, let us invite the Resurrected Lord to dwell in our hearts and to breathe the power of the Resurrection in us as He breathed the Holy Spirit on the apostles (John 20:22). Only then will we be able to “put on the whole armor of God” and “stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11) to become intrepid witnesses to the truth and justice of our Lord.

Encouraged by these reflections, renewed and revitalized in body, mind, and spirit through the spiritual journey of Great Lent, and, above all, fortified in faith, hope, and joy by the power and promise of the Resurrection, we convey our heartfelt wishes for a happy and blessed Easter to our clergy, councils, parishes, schools, community organizations, and faithful.

We pray for the light of the triumphant Resurrection to radiate throughout the world and throughout Armenia, Artsakh and the Diaspora especially, inspiring and guiding the sacred mission of our government, religious, and national leaders.

May the breath of the Resurrection reinvigorate our lives and may the glory of Easter transform us in our daily walk so that we may live and serve as “children of light” and guardians of truth and justice.

CHRIST IS RISEN FROM THE DEAD
BLESSED IS THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST
HAPPY AND BLESSED EASTER TO ALL

Prayerfully,
Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian
Prelate, Western United States
Easter 2019




A.G. – It’s Still HOT!

Jagharian Tania
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6 hours ago

Garen Yegparian

BY GAREN YEGPARIAN

In recent years, it has become somewhat fashionable to pooh-pooh, demean, argue against, or perceive conspiracies in efforts to obtain recognition of the Genocide by the United States.

I, too, may have contributed to this mindset to some extent by advocating and promoting greater focus on the need to seek reparations and return of our lands.

People have different reasons for contending that we are “wasting” our energy on recognition efforts. Some argue that passage of resolutions in 1975 and 1984 by the House of Representatives, President Ronald Reagan’s 1981 proclamation, and the 1951 Genocide reference by the U.S. government in a filing with the World Court constitute recognition. Others want more attention and effort directed at supporting the two Armenian republics. Fringe folks concoct, and assert the existence of, improbable conspiracies wherein our advocacy groups “abuse” the Genocide to “make” money, using this ludicrous argument to further their own destructive agenda or vendetta. A few are simply “tired of” all the effort we have put in to achieving recognition.

But at a recent panel discussion held in UCLA’s law school, one of the speakers, Armen Hovannisian, an attorney active in the Armenian Bar Association and ARF made a very illuminating point. When lawsuits involving potential reparations for Genocide era losses have been brought by Armenians to the U.S. courts, in all but a few, early, cases, they have lost. The underlying cause of this is the very fact that we do not have explicit, unambiguous, recognition by the U.S. government.

And, even if the above examples might have been considered that kind of recognition, they have been eclipsed by the fact that subsequent congresses and presidents have not taken a position when presented with the opportunity, thus creating doubt. The courts are latching on to this and avoiding the issue.

The way the courts are doing this is through the use of “preemption” – a legal concept in the U.S. Constitution. Preemption says that foreign policy is the domain of the federal government. Therefore, if the federal government has not said there was an Armenian Genocide, then the courts are not in a position to act as if there was one. That also means that the states may not act as if there was one. That’s why the California law allowing descendants of those who had bought life insurance from various western companies to sue for the payouts was found unconstitutional.

Ergo, if we want to even begin to receive restitution through the courts, the Genocide recognition must remain on our agenda until it is formally received. This does not mean that other issues of concern and importance should not be pursued, especially reparations and lands. Much work needs to be done to prepare the hearts and minds of not only non-Armenian supporters of our issues, but even among ourselves. This does not mean that we should not work on the critically important issues confronting the two Armenian republics, or our Diasporan communities’ needs, or even the massive life-difficulties faced by Armenians still living under Turkish oppression.

It simply means the U.S. Genocide recognition is more timely and necessary than ever; that it is not a passé issue; that it must be a significant part of any agenda of items pursued by our lobbying groups.

I am now profoundly convinced of the importance of securing unambiguous, explicit, recognition by the U.S. government, both executive and legislative branches.

I ask you to consider this matter seriously and at great length. I ask you to unreservedly join hands to achieve this long-delayed goal.

North Valley ACF Armenian Center to be Named ‘Melkon and Angel Melkonian’

Bedik Zaminian
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6 hours ago

Melkonian family with Rev. Razmig Khachadourian and North Valley ACF chair Vache Donoayan

Mr. & Mrs. Varant and Hoori Melkonian make a generous contribution

The Armenian Cultural Foundation North San Fernando Valley chapter announced that it will name its community center the “Melkon and Angel Melkonian” Youth Center, after a generous contribution from the couple’s son and daughter-in-law, the well-known activists and benefactors, Mr. & Mrs. Varant and Hoori Melkonian.

Mr. & Mrs. Varant and Hoori Melkonian

The donation was announced during a March 2 banquet, prompting ACF leaders to announce the naming of the center in honor of the benefactors’ parents. An official naming and honoring ceremony will be held in June.

North Valley ACF leaders extended their gratitude to Varant and Hoori Melkonian for their generosity and unwavering support to the organization.

Varant and Hoori Melkonian were the sponsors the Armenian Youth Federation Artsakh Chapter office, which is named after them.

For decade, the North San Fernando Valley Armenian Cultural Foundation chapter has been working hard to bring together members of the Armenian community.

Seated: Hoori Melkonian (left) with Angel Melkonian. Standing: Vahe and Silva Melkonian with North Valley ACF chairman Vache Donoyan

Years later, the ACF North Valley chapter purchased a community center on Chatsworth Street, which has served as the home for various organizations, among them the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Arshavir Shiragian Gomideh, the AYF Artsakh, the AYF Junior Hrair Maroukhian and the Armenian Relief Society Lori chapters, as well as the headquarters for the local ANCA chapter.

From l to r: Vahe Melkonian, North Valley ACF Chairman Vache Donyan and Hoori Melkonian

Some years back the hall of the center was named “Titizian Hall,” following a generous contribution from local activist George Titizian.

RFE/RL Armenian Report – 04/19/2019

Ani Tigranian 
                                        Friday, 
Kocharian Not Responsible For March 2008 Deaths, Says Babayan
        • Sargis Harutyunyan
Armenia -- Samvel Babayan, a retired army general, at a news conference in 
Yerevan, .
Former President Robert Kocharian did not order security forces to shoot and 
kill opposition protesters in Yerevan in 2008, Samvel Babayan, 
Nagorno-Karabakh’s former top military commander, said on Friday.
Babayan questioned the fairness and legality of Kocharian’s continuing 
pre-trial detention on charges stemming from a post-election crackdown on the 
Armenian opposition. He argued that nobody has been charged so far in the 
deaths of eight protesters and two police servicemen in vicious street clashes 
that broke out on March 1, 2008.
The violence followed the forcible dispersal of nonstop opposition protests 
against official results of the February 2008 presidential election which gave 
victory to Serzh Sarkisian, Kocharian’s longtime ally and preferred successor. 
Both men are natives and former wartime leaders of Karabakh.
“We need to know who ordered, who carried out those killings and how it all 
happened,” Babayan told a news conference. “Has anything been solved on that 
score? No.”
“I am sure that the order was not issued by [Kocharian,]” insisted Babayan. He 
said that Kocharian was “in the process of handover” of power to Sarkisian and 
therefore could not have tried to cling to power at any cost.
“The investigating team has officially stated that [Kocharian] has nothing to 
do with the killings,” he went on. “If he has nothing to do, why are you 
prosecuting him? For violating the constitutional, they say. I say, ‘OK, bring 
the case to court so we can see what it’s all about.’”
Kocharian, who completed his second and final presidential term in April 2008, 
was arrested in December on charges of illegally using Armenian army units 
against supporters of Levon Ter-Petrosian, the main opposition candidate in the 
disputed presidential ballot. He denies the charges as politically motivated.
Babayan, 53, was appointed as the commander of Karabakh’s Armenian-backed army 
shortly after Kocharian became the unrecognized republic’s leader in 1992. The 
two men are thought to have maintained a cordial rapport even after Babayan was 
arrested in 2000 for allegedly masterminding a botched attempt on the life of 
the next Karabakh president, Arkady Ghukasian.
The once powerful general was released from prison in 2004. He challenged 
Sarkisian after the latter succeeded Kocharian as Armenia’s president.
In March 2017, Babayan was arrested on charges of illegal arms acquisition and 
money laundering which he strongly denied. A court in Yerevan subsequently 
sentenced him to six years in prison.
Armenia’s Court of Cassation overturned the guilty verdict in June 2018, 
releasing Babayan from prison. The decision came more than a month after 
Sarkisian was overthrown in a popular uprising led by Nikol Pashinian, the 
current Armenian prime minister.
Babayan, who now wants to run in Karabakh’s next presidential election due in 
2020, on Friday drew parallels between the criminal charges brought against him 
and Kocharian. “When they arrested me, they said I smuggled a rocket or a 
nuclear bomb from Georgia,” he said. “It turned out later that I didn’t smuggle 
anything from anywhere.”
Parliament Rejects Import Tariff Sought By Tsarukian
        • Gayane Saribekian
Armenia -- A cement plant in Ararat.
The National Assembly approved on Friday a government bill which the opposition 
Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) said is not far-reaching enough to protect 
domestic manufacturers of cement against cheap cement imports from neighboring 
Iran.
The parliament’s pro-government majority refused to amend the bill amid 
mounting political tensions with BHK leader and businessman Gagik Tsarukian, 
whose assets include one of Armenia’s two cement plants.
Earlier this year, the Armenian government moved to impose hefty taxes on 
imports of much cheaper Iranian cement which more than tripled last year, 
threatening continued operations of the Armenian plants. An Armenian parliament 
committee on economic issues watered down the relevant government bill on April 
12 to ensure that the tariff does not apply to cement clinker, a nodular 
material developed before the final stage of cement production and easily 
turned into the construction material.
Tsarukian’s Multi Group, which includes the Ararat Tsement plant, denounced the 
amendment, saying that it renders the bill meaningless. It said Ararat Tsement 
would be able to use cheap Iranian clinker and manufacture cement without the 
vast majority of its more than 1,000 workers. Hundreds of them received notices 
of termination later on April 12.
The workers responded by going on strike on April 15. They ended the protest 
after Tsarukian cancelled the planned layoffs two days later. The tycoon 
cautioned at the same time that the clinker tariff sought by him is vital for 
the future of the plant located in Ararat, a small town 50 kilometers south of 
Yerevan.
Armenia -- A cement plant in Hrazdan.
BHK lawmakers echoed those warnings as the parliament debated the bill and 
ultimately passed it in the first reading on Friday. “We would lose our cement 
production capacities,” one of them, Mikael Melkumian, said.
Minister for Economic Development Tigran Khachatrian and pro-government 
deputies insisted, however, that cement imports must not be blocked altogether 
because healthy competition between domestic and foreign manufactures will only 
benefit Armenia’s construction sector.
Hayk Gevorgian, a senior lawmaker representing Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian, 
also attacked Tsarukian, saying that a company presumably linked to the BHK 
leader had privatized Ararat Tsement for just $200,000 in 2002. Gevorgian also 
implicitly accused the company of evading taxes until last year’s “velvet 
revolution” that brought down the country’s former government.
Tsarukian angrily denied those claims in a rare speech delivered on the 
parliament floor. In separate comments to the press, he said that Pashinian’s 
bloc will bear responsibility for economic consequences of the bill.
Armenia - Businessman Gagik Tsarukian (L) and protest leader Nikol Pashinian 
speak to reporters in Yerevan, 2 May 2018.
Tensions between My Step and the BHK have risen since Tsarukian strongly 
criticized the government’s economic policies early this month. Senior 
representatives of the two political forces traded fresh accusations in the 
parliament on Thursday.
Pashinian and Tsarukian met to discuss the cement dispute and other contentious 
issues later on Thursday. Tsarukian afterwards described the meeting as “very 
warm” but did not report any concrete agreements.
The BHK backed the Pashinian-led “velvet revolution” as it gained momentum in 
April 2018. It joined Pashinian’s first cabinet formed in May. The premier 
fired his BHK-affiliated ministers in October, accusing Tsarukian’s party of 
secretly collaborating with the former ruling Republican Party.
The BHK finished a distant second in the December 2018 parliamentary elections 
which Pashinian’s bloc won by a landslide.
Senior Official Denies Corruption Charges
        • Arus Hakobian
        • Naira Nalbandian
Armenia -- Davit Sanasarian, head of the State Oversight Service, attends a 
cabinet meeting in Yerevan, .
A prominent Armenian government official on Friday laughed off corruption 
accusations leveled against him but urged supporters not to undermine the 
government when defending his innocence.
“It would have made more sense to suspect me of assassinating [U.S. President 
John] Kennedy than of being involved in corruption,” Davit Sanasarian, the 
suspended head of the State Oversight Service (SOS), said in a Facebook post.
The National Security Service (NSS) indicted Sanasarian on Thursday as part of 
an ongoing investigation into allegedly corrupt practices in government-funded 
supplies of medical equipment to hospitals. It arrested two senior SOS 
officials in late February, saying that they attempted to cash in on those 
supplies.
According to the NSS, Sanasarian abused his powers to help his subordinates 
enrich themselves and a private company linked to them.
Sanasarian, whose agency is tasked with combatting financial irregularities in 
the public sector, was quick to reject the charges as “fabricated.” Many of his 
supporters, among them Western-funded civic activists, defended him on social 
media, turning on the NSS and its influential director, Artur Vanetsian, in 
particular.
Sanasarian urged them to exercise restraint. “The former regime’s 
propagandists, supposedly defending me, are trying to satisfy their penchant 
for weakening the [current] authorities,” he wrote. “At any rate, in this 
torrent of various kinds of reports, please stop for a while and remember that 
state interests are the main thing.”
Sanasarian, 34, is a former opposition and civic activist who had for years 
accused Armenia’s former leaders of corruption. He actively participated in 
last year’s “velvet revolution,” which succeeded in large measure because of 
widespread popular frustration with graft.
Speaking to reporters shortly before being formally charged, Sanasarian said he 
does not believe that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian ordered the NSS to 
prosecute him for political reasons.
Armenia - Deputy parliament speaker Lena Nazarian talks to journalists, 
Yerevan, .
Another Pashinian ally, deputy parliament speaker Lena Nazarian, ruled out on 
Friday any political motives behind the high-profile criminal case. “There is 
no way anyone can fabricate charges against any official,” she told reporters.
Nazarian also stressed that no member of Pashinian’s political team is immune 
to prosecution. “In the fight against corruption, embezzlement and other 
abuses, we will not be dividing people into our allies and outsiders,” she said.
Edmon Marukian, the leader of the opposition Bright Armenia Party (LHK), 
likewise suggested that the “surprise” charges brought against Sanasarian are 
unlikely to be politically motivated. “It may be [the result of NSS] sloppiness 
or I don’t know what,” he said. “But I don’t think it’s political persecution. 
We’ll see.”
Press Review
Lragir.am says that corruption charges brought against Davit Sanasarian, the 
head of the State Oversight Service (SOS), mark the most serious scandal that 
has erupted in Armenia since last year’s regime change. The publication 
suggests that the National Security Service (NSS) probably had “quite weighty 
grounds” to indict Sanasarian. It wonders whether NSS Director Artur Vanetsian 
discussed the high-profile case with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian before the 
indictment.In any case, it says, it is quite unusual for a serving high-ranking 
Armenian official to be prosecuted on corruption. It also says Pashinian can 
seize upon this case to show that he is really serious about combatting 
corruption in Armenia.
“Hraparak” wonders whether the new authorities are getting “carried away” in 
their fight against corruption and “sacrificing sons of the revolution” 
“History is full of many such examples,” the paper says. “But there is also 
another truth,” it adds. “Human beings are greedy. As a rule, even the most 
ideological individuals succumb to temptations when dealing with lots of money. 
No one is born corrupt. One becomes corrupt over time. At first, they accept 
small gifts and take bribes in kind. Then come diners, trips, free services, 
jobs for friends and relatives. And in the end the time comes for big corrupt 
deals, multimillion-dollar kickbacks.”
“Aravot” says that for Gagik Tsarukian and members of his Prosperous Armenia 
Party (BHK) the previous Armenian parliaments were a much more comfortable 
place than the current one is. “The thing is that since 1995 the [former] 
parliaments attracted, apart from politicians, people whose only goal was to 
protect their business interests,” explains the paper. “For example … many 
members of the former parliament majority were also businesspeople. Whatever 
one thinks of it, the 88-strong majority in the current National Assembly came 
to the parliament to implement some ideas. Their and the Bright Armenia party’s 
function is political.” By contrast, it says, the main mission of BHK deputies 
is to further their leader’s business interests.
(Lilit Harutiunian)
Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2019 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
www.rferl.org

Concert-exhibitions of Sipan Olah and Klingen Choir and Cultural Organization

Hovhannisian John

 
Concert-exhibitions of Sipan Olah and Klingen Choir and Cultural Organization


Armenian News Network / Armenian News

April 10, 2019

LONDON, UK


After his year-long concert tour in the Republic of Malta, the well-known opera tenor, conductor and pianist Sipan Olah has finally come back to London and with his ever-lasting enthusiasm didn’t keep the audience waiting for too long… He has immediately resumed the rehearsals and concerts of the Klingen Choir and Cultural Association, and has started preparation work for upcoming recital concerts. March was particularly significant with two major events organised for admirers of art in general and the Armenian community in particular. The first one was the annual celebration of the Russian ‘Maslenica’ festival organised by the Russian Embassy in the UK in cooperation with a wide variety of community organizations. The mentioned event took place in St John’s Smith Square on 15 March. The Klingen Choir and Cultural Association was taking part in the event for the first time and performed a Russian folk song called ‘Maslenica’ together with the Russian Choir, as well as an Armenian folk song composed by Stephen Shaqaryan, highlighting the beauty of traditional Armenian folk music.

The second event was the recital concert and exhibition ‘Love Songs and Arias’ that took place at St Cuthbert’s Church on 23 March. Tenor, Conductor and Pianist Sipan Olah performed a number of  enchanting vocal and instrumental pieces alongside lyric soprano and violinist Hayarpi Yeghikyan and pianist Ingrid Chan. At the end of the event there was a picture exhibition by well-known  artist Leonie Pilart (Piladjian). 15 arias and songs in seven languages were performed, including pieces by European and Armenian composers A. Satie, W. Mozart, E. Grieg, F. Vecsey, V. Kotoyan, Al. Harutiunian, M. Glinka, R. Rogers, I. Gershwin, W. Sanderson, C. Bixio, S. Vert, E. Curtic. Several of the pieces had already been presented to the Maltese audience during his tour of 40 concerts in the Republic of Malta in 2018. The programme was comprehensive and complicated and demanded a high level of performance skills, which was supremely demonstrated by the well-known singer. Impressive piano duet by Ingrid Chan and Sipan Olah – Aram Khachaturian,  ‘dance of pink maidens’; Hayarpi Yeghikyan – the enchanting sound of the violin captures the audience – E. Bagdasaryan and F. Vecsey in the programme accompanied by Sipan Olah on the piano; vocal solos by tenor Sipan Olah and soprano Hayarpi Yeghikyan . At the end of the concert there were two vocal duets performed by Sipan Olah and Hayarpi Yeghikyan (composed by E. Curtic and F. Lehar), which were the culmination of the concert and everyone was absolutely fascinated by the magical effect of art and the real sensation of catharsis, which makes this world seem more flawless and pure. London-based art enthusiasts and particularly the Armenian community thoroughly admired the performance of the young singer. Sipan Olah’s enchanting voice, the clear vibrations of Hayarpi Yeghikyan’s lyric soprano, Ingrid Chan’s magic touch of the piano keys will long echo in the memories of the audience. Furthermore, the masterpieces were in perfect harmony with the sophisticated atmosphere of the church and the magical strokes of Leonie Pilart’s brush. It is noteworthy, that this was the artist’s second project carried out with the Klingen Choir and Cultural Association. This time she presented her series of flower paintings. We should  pay tribute to the well-known artist – as this year she is celebrating the 50th anniversary of her artistic activity. The mentioned event was the opening event to be followed by exhibitions in Lebanon, Armenia and the USA. 

It is an honour to mention that the Mayor of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Councillor Marie-Therese Rossi,  who honoured the event with her presence – highlighted the importance of organising such events. The Mayor was presented with a painting by Leonie Pilart ‘The Daughter of Karabakh’, which was accepted with a great pleasure by the worshipful guest.

It is additionally worth noting, that there were high-ranking representatives of political and cultural cycles as well as the clergy, who mixed with the multicultural audience enjoyed the performance. Furthermore, quite a few members of the Russian community were present, which additionally proves the viability and importance of the newly created alliance.


It requires an immense amount of organisational work and very high levels of professional skills to organise such events and it is absolutely fascinating that there are such exceptional young people, who make our community life much more interesting and our national culture more recognisable and noticeable through the use of the universal language of music.

—-


famous operatic tenor, group leader and: pianist Sipan Olah, of Malta in the Republic approx one year lasted and: from shaking good luck brought the concert series finishing finally returned London, and: only himself special diligence due to to the audience long to wait did not give: Immediately handyman happened “Klingen of the choir and: cultural ասոցիացիայի՚ of experiments and: concerts to resume, how also solo concert preparatory to the works: Art lovers and: community in life special significance and importance having two voluminous with events stood out this the month: The first march  15 –in place had the concert was United In the kingdom Russia embassy and:  community by organized yearly “Russian Մասլեննիցա՚ փառատոնին՝ of London Westminster John: Smith Square in the concert hall: The aforementioned at the event first times her participation brought Klingen the choir, which no only russian of the choir with united performed russian folk ՙՄասլեննիցա՚ the song, also national color representative` Stepan Shakaryan “Armenian folk of songs շարքը՚: Strictly impressive was also A:. Pushkin and: M:. of Glinka authored by “Remembering i am great the moment” ռոմանսը՝ Sipan Olahi matchless performance:

Secondly the event march 23-in Kensington royal community St. Cutbet  majestic in the church place had a concert–the exhibition was` “Dear songs and: արիաներ՚ with the title, to which except famous tenor Sipan From Olah their participation were to bring also lyrical soprano, violinist Hang on Yeghikyan, pianist Ingrid Chan, how also named artist Leoni Pillard (Pilavjian): of the event within sounded European and: Armenian:  composers` A:. Amber, V:. Mozart, It is. Grieg, F:. Vesey, V:. Kotoyan, Al:. Harutyunyan, M:. Glinka, R:. Rogers, In:. Gershwin, V:. Sanderson, S:. Bixio, by number fifteen arias and: songs` seven in languages, creations, of which most of them already and awarded were Maltese of the audience warm ընդունելությանը՝ 2018 the. of Malta in the Republic place had around 40 concerts during: The program  complicated was, inclusive and: require was performative high level, which great  manner carried out popular the singer:  Piano of creations impressive  duet Ingrid Won’t and: Sipan Olahi participation – Aram: Khachatryan:, Pink girls the dance: Hang on Yeghikyan– sounds is violin cooler the voice. in the program is. Baghdasaryan and: S:. Well:sayի՝ with accompaniment Sipan Olahi, vocal solo performances tenor Sipan Olah and:  soprano Hang on Yeghikyan: Concert final in the sector Hang on Yeghikyan and: Sipan Olahi performance sounded of Curtis and: F:. Polish two duet, which ones the concert at the peak made it. all of them indeed, enjoyed of art magical effect, catharsis real the power, which the world makes is the most good and perfect: Londoner music lover society and: especially Armenian: the community aesthetic big pleasure received young singer impressive from performances: of the audience of memory in yet long will respond Sipan Olahi velvet the voice, Hang on Yeghikyan lyrical soprano judgement vibrations, Ingrid Won’t fingerprints of the piano on the keyboard, more, sounding masterpieces surprisingly attunement were majestic of the church with soul to the arches, Leoni Pillard brush magical to the blows: In: by the way, this of the artist second together the manual was Klingen of the choir and: cultural association with: This times he introduced himself her of flower paintings in a row: Respect tribute let’s serve famous the artist. this year he note is her creative activity fifty the year: This event participation start was, to which to follow are exhibitions in Lebanon, In Armenia and: USA:–to whom: Greatest with pride need is mention also, that at the event present was of London Kensington and: Chelsea Royal of the community boss, mayor mary Theresa Rossi, which her in the presence of was honored manual participants, at the same time time show giving like events organization importance: Artist Pillard to him gave Karabakh the girl the canvas, which warmly accepted high rank official by:

Remarkable don’t fact too. at the concert present were english and: Armenian: apostolic of the church high rank spiritual fathers, political and: cultural recognized figures, which ones mixed up multinational to the audience rooting were impressive performances: Floor: is mention, that at the concert present were Russian community numerous representatives, which extra times proved newly created of friendship vitality and importance:

Yes, like this events the organization no only professional high qualities is require, also organizational enormous work, and: great is, that in us there are such young can forces, which ones warms up are community the life and of music international in language our national the culture makes recognizable, considerable, noticeable: 



Nairuhi Petrosyan, London

Armenian Klinhgen Choir and Cultural Association

London

KCCA Admin
kcca.uk 


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Extension of Waiver of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act With Respect to Assistance to the Government of Azerbaijan

Jane Topchian
Federal Register, State Department Documents and Publications USA

A Notice by the State Department on 04/18/2019

Pursuant to the authority contained in title II of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2002 (Pub. L. 107-115); E.O. 12884, as amended by E.O. 13346; and Department of State Delegation of Authority 245-2, I hereby determine and certify that extending the waiver of section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act of 1992 (22 U.S.C. 5812 note) with respect to Azerbaijan:

  • Is necessary to support United States’ efforts to counter international terrorism; or
  • is necessary to support the operational readiness of U.S. Armed Forces or coalition partners to counter international terrorism; or
  • is important to Azerbaijan’s border security; and
  • will not undermine or hamper ongoing efforts to negotiate a peaceful settlement between Armenia and Azerbaijan or be used for offensive purposes against Armenia.

Accordingly, I hereby extend the waiver of section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act. This determination shall be published in the Federal Register. The determination and memorandum of justification shall be provided to the appropriate committees in Congress.

Dated March 22, 2019.

John J. Sullivan,

Deputy Secretary of State.

[FR Doc. 2019-07734 Filed 4-17-19; 8:45 am]


Le député Philippe Folliot menacé de mort après «un incident» en Turquie lors d’un séminaire parlementaire de l’OTAN

Manouk Vasilian
La Depeche. France
17 avr. 2019
Philippe Folliot lors de l’ouverture du séminaire en Turquie. Capture d’écran Tweeter
Publié le 17/04/2019 à 11:02 , mis à jour à 11:09
                                                                                                    
l’essentiel Le député du Tarn Philippe Folliot a vécu un déplacement très mouvementé en Turquie où il dirigeait la délégation française participant à un séminaire de l’assemblée parlementaire de l’OTAN. La délégation française a quitté la séance. Philippe Folliot et sa collègue Sonia Krimi ont été menacés sur les réseaux sociaux.

Philippe Folliot va se souvenir longtemps de son déplacement en Turquie à l’occasion d’un séminaire dans le cadre de l’assemblée parlementaire de l’OTAN. Le député tarnais qui dirige la délégation française se retrouve président de séance. La situation dérape quand le président du Parlement turc, puis le ministre turc des affaires étrangères attaquent la France sur le Rwanda, et qualifient de “populiste” la reconnaissance du génocide arménien par la France.

“J’étais président de séance, je ne pouvais donc pas répondre. C’est ma collègue Sonia Krimi qui est intervenue” rapporte Philippe Folliot. Devant la violence de l’attaque verbale des représentants turcs, la délégation française décide de quitter la séance. Un épisode inédit au sein de l’assemblée parlementaire de l’OTAN, précise Philippe Folliot. 

https://www.ladepeche.fr/2019/04/17/le-depute-philippe-folliot-menace-de-mort-apres-un-incident-en-turquie-lors-dun-seminaire-parlementaire-de-lotan,8137133.php   

“Les autorités turques ont cherché à minimiser la portée de l’incident” indique encore Philippe Folliot. Les officiels turcs attaquent alors la députée de la Manche Sonia Krimi sur ses origines.

 “La parole et l’action de la France, et Emmanuel Macron ne sauraient être dénigrés et caricaturés sans réactions” réagit Philippe Folliot sur son compte Twitter.


L’affaire ne s’arrête pas là. Reconnus à l’aéroport au moment de repartir, les parlementaires français déclenchent des réactions. “Certaines personnes nous ont insultés, d’autres voulaient faire des selfies” explique Philippe Folliot assez incrédule qui prend la défense de sa collègue parlementaire sur les réseaux sociaux.

Tout s’emballe alors. “D’habitude, mes tweets sont vus par 1500 à 5000 personnes… Là, certains tweets ont été vus 115 000 fois, 80 000 fois… Certains messages sont injurieux, d’autres sont menaçants. Il y a dans le lot des menaces de mort. Certains messages sont en Turc donc on ne les comprend pas” détaille Philippe Folliot.

Surpris mais pas impressionné, Philippe Folliot poursuit sa mission au sein de l’assemblée parlementaire de l’OTAN avec de nouveaux déplacements prévus.




Génocide: les Arméniens fâchés contre la Belgique

Chakrian Hovsep
Le Soir– Belgique
13 avr. 2019

Les Arméniens de Belgique ne décolèrent pas. Le 24 avril prochain, la Chambre va adopter une proposition de loi qui élargit la portée de l’article 20 de la loi contre le racisme et la xénophobie du 30 juillet 1981, dite loi Moureaux. Qui ne concerne pas le génocide arménien mais bien les génocides rwandais et de Srebrenica.

Par Frédéric Delepierre 


Le texte réprime toute dénégation, minimisation ou tentative de justification des génocides reconnus par une juridiction internationale. La future loi concerne donc les génocides rwandais et de Srebrenica, en ex-Yougoslavie. Depuis 1995, le négationnisme de l’Holocauste des juifs fait l’objet d’un texte spécifique. Rien donc concernant le génocide arménien. Ce à quoi Koen Geen, le ministre de la Justice, rétorque que « le génocide arménien ne relève pas du champ d’application de cette loi, car il ne fait pas l’objet d’une décision rendue par une juridiction internationale ».

Tel qu’il est formulé, le projet de loi est une transposition d’une décision-cadre de l’Union européenne et d’une Convention du Conseil de l’Europe. Président du Comité des Arméniens de Belgique, Nicolas Tavitian, estime que la Belgique aurait pu agir autrement. « Il est regrettable que la Belgique prenne en compte la limitation suggérée, mais pas imposée, par les textes européens au négationnisme des seuls génocides et crimes contre l’humanité qui ont été sanctionnés par une juridiction internationale. »

La négation du génocide arménien ne sera pas réprimée, les Arméniens de Belgique sont furieux

Garnik Tadevosian
DHnet, Belgique
12 avril 2019

Jean-Claude Matgen Publié le vendredi 12 avril 2019 à 11h41 – Mis à jour le samedi 13 avril 2019 à 23h07

<img src=””https://t3.ldh.be/uEsMfgmmiq5-RBGJSMyY_sWgfYk=/0x371:4693×2717/620×310/filters:watermark(dh.png,-0,-0,0)/5cb05d347b50a60b45a4d895.jpg” alt=”” title=”© Reporters”>
Monde

Il est prévu que, le 24 avril, la Chambre, en séance plénière, adopte une proposition de loi qui émane des députés MR, rejoints par le CD&V, la N-VA et l’OpenVLD.

Elle élargit la portée de l’article 20 de la loi contre le racisme et la xénophobie du 30 juillet 1981, dite “loi Moureaux”. Approuvé récemment en commission de Justice de la Chambre, le texte réprime toute dénégation, minimisation ou tentative de justification des génocides reconnus par une juridiction internationale.

Sont concernés les génocides rwandais et de Srebrenica, en ex-Yougoslavie. Le négationnisme de l’Holocauste des juifs est, de son côté, visé par une loi spécifique datant de 1995.

Le ministre de la Justice Koen Geens a confirmé que la proposition devait être adoptée juste après les vacances de Pâques.

S’exposera désormais à des sanctions pénales “quiconque (…) nie, minimise grossièrement, cherche à justifier ou approuve des faits correspondant à un crime de génocide, à un crime contre l’humanité ou à un crime de guerre (…) établis comme tels par une décision définitive rendue par une juridiction internationale, sachant ou devant savoir que ce comportement risque d’exposer soit une personne, soit un groupe, une communauté ou leurs membres, à la discrimination, à la haine ou à la violence”.

Koen Geens a précisé qu’en votant cette disposition, la Belgique se conformera au prescrit de l’Union européenne et du Conseil de l’Europe, qui exigent que les Etats adaptent leur législation en ce sens depuis plusieurs années.

Le ministre en a profité pour indiquer que le “ génocide arménien ne relève pas du champ d’application de cette loi, car il ne fait pas l’objet d’une décision rendue par une juridiction internationale”.

Cette restriction passe très, très mal au sein de la communauté arménienne de Belgique.

Vendredi, dans un communiqué, les représentants des Arméniens, Assyriens et Grecs pontiques ont dit regretter “que l’élargissement de l’arsenal législatif en cours punissant le négationnisme se soit limité à la dénégation des génocides rwandais et de Srebrenica”.”

Le Comité des Arméniens de Belgique, le Centre culturel du peuple de Mésopotamie, la Fédération des Assyriens de Belgique, la Fédérations des Araméens (syriaques) et l’Association des Grecs pontiques “Kamian K’en Argos” déplorent que le législateur se refuse “à condamner la dénégation du génocide commis contre leurs communautés par le gouvernement ottoman Jeune Turc en 1915.”

Ils rappellent que le jour prévu pour le vote de la proposition de loi, à savoir le 24 avril, coïncide avec le jour de la commémoration du génocide des Arméniens. “Si la Chambre souhaitait insulter la mémoire des victimes du génocide de 1915, elle n’aurait pas pu mieux s’y prendre”, soulignent les auteurs du communiqué qui en appellent à une modification du texte.

Les communautés signataires rappellent que la Belgique a reconnu le génocide des Arméniens au Sénat et à la Chambre, ainsi qu’à travers une déclaration du Premier ministre Charles Michel.

Quatre reconnaissances. Le mot génocide a été “inventé” en 1944 par Raphael Lemkin, juriste polonais. Un génocide est un acte (massacre, atteinte grave à l’intégrité, préjudice mental ou physique) “commis dans l’intention de détruire, tout ou en partie, un groupe national, ethnique, racial ou religieux”, selon la convention des Nations unies du 9 décembre 1948. Le génocide arménien de 1915 est l’un des quatre génocides reconnus par les instances onusiennes. Le génocide des Juifs lors de la Seconde Guerre mondiale a été reconnu par la cour de Nuremberg en 1945 et a servi de point de départ à la définition du terme. Depuis, le massacre des Tutsis au Rwanda, en 1994, et le massacre de Srebrenica (Bosnie-Herzégovine), en 1995, ont été qualifiés de génocide par les tribunaux pénaux internationaux pour le Rwanda et l’ex-Yougoslavie.

Sanctions. En Belgique, nier le génocide du peuple juif par le régime nazi est puni depuis 1995. La Chambre s’apprête à voter une loi sanctionnant pénalement ceux qui nieraient l’existence des génocides commis au Rwanda et à Srebrenica. Mais ce texte n’évoque pas le génocide arménien pour les raisons évoquées ci-dessus.

Jean-Claude Matgen