Category: 2019

The Center for Advanced Genocide Studies and the Institute of Armenian Studies at the University of Southern California are sponsoring a noontime program on Thursday, March 5, featuring Professor Richard Hovannisian and his Armenian Genocide Oral History Collection.

During his more than fifty years of teaching at the University of California, Los Angeles, Hovannisian created a course in the 1970s on Armenian Oral History, in which he trained students to interview survivors of the Armenian Genocide.

Over the years, some 1,000 interviews have been conducted, becoming the largest collection of its kind in existence. In 2018, the Richard Hovannisian Collection was entrusted to the Shoah Foundation at USC for preservation and academic and scholarly research.

In the March 5 program, Hovannisian will discuss the origins and development of his course at UCLA, as well the uses and potential misuses of oral testimony. His former students Lorna Tourian Miller, Tamar Mashigian and Salpi Ghazarian will share their own impressions and experiences in adding to the collection.

“Preserving History: Armenian Voices from the Classroom to the Archive,” featuring Prof. Hovannisian will take place at noon on Tuesday, March 5 at USC’s Doheny Memorial Library , Room 240, 3550 Trousdale Pkwy, Los Angeles.

BY ARAM KOUYOUMDJIAN

Three years ago, the Hamazkayin Theatre Company, which was then newly formed, staged “Dzaghgamani Kaghdnikuh” (The Secret of the Flower Pot) as its inaugural production. Catering to younger audiences and featuring puppetry alongside live performances, “Flower Pot” was not a flawless production, but a promising one, and it suggested that Hamazkayin was intent on filling a void in the realm of innovative children’s theater.

It took the company a while to build on its initial promise, but its latest offering, “Chigareliyi Argadzneruh” (The Adventures of Chigareli), written by Rouben Maroukhyan and directed by Gohar Karapetyan (with Grigori Hakobyan), was an ambitious step up. Despite its occasional stumbles, “Chigareli,” which played last week at the Colony Theatre in Burbank, proved to be a visually engaging and frequently entertaining piece that was chock-full of earnest moralizing.

“Chigareli” is the nickname of the play’s protagonist, a young boy named Mushegh, whose body has mutated as a result of his bad behavior – particularly his mistreatment of the environment. With overgrown ears, an elongated nose, and a hunchback, he no longer looks like a “normal” boy. In order to regain his former features, he must travel to a special fountain hidden within a forest and seek Nature’s forgiveness.

Mushegh’s journey makes up the bulk of the plot, as he encounters, through various scenes, characters engaged in all sorts of problematic conduct, from unhealthy habits (smoking) to deadly sins (sloth). He first meets a shopkeeper who demands exorbitant prices for the raggedy clothes he’s selling while practically giving away quality goods. Mushegh learns his first lesson here about distorted values.

He next comes across a miserly woman who hoards jewels and other riches, but won’t put any of them to use, even as she is disheveled and starving; she is beholden to her acquisitions and wants more. The second lesson is about materialism and greed; ensuing scenes also cover lies, theft, and pollution.

That the script transcends Armenocentric themes for universal ones (especially the environment – so timely) was refreshing. Scenes were zippy, especially when punctuated with music that further enlivened the action. The production was actually quite rich in both sight and sound. The set featured an oversized backdrop, and the costumes were colorful and festive and wonderfully wacky. (Kudos to scenic and costume designer Lucia Manoukyan.)

Upon closer scrutiny, the script didn’t always hold up. For instance, it regarded looking different – being the Other – as an abnormality; and, at times, it simply reduced responsible citizenship to obedience.

Still, the production made for an enjoyable hour (plus not-so-enjoyable 25 minutes for a late start), thanks to a charming cast, featuring both seasoned performers and beginners. The imbalance was particularly noticeable in the production’s more demanding scenes and its closing number, since certain cast members seemed intimidated by the choreography and were clearly unfamiliar with the lyrics.

Fortunately, in the leading role, Kevork Manoukian was first-rate as Chigareli, lending the character a clownish walk and an eccentric, energetic disposition. Shahe Harboyan, donning a wig and groovy clothes, provided strong support as a sinister smoker, while Maral Nashalian Arsenian delivered one of her best performances to date as the miserly woman, relishing the character’s witchy appearance and reveling in her every word and gesture.

The production had six daytime performances for students from Armenian schools (as well as Jefferson Elementary in Glendale) before playing three shows for the public at large. Through this model, Hamazkayin is seeking to cultivate the new generation of Armenian theatergoers. “Chigareli” was another significant step forward in that direction.

Aram Kouyoumdjian is the winner of Elly Awards for both playwriting (“The Farewells”) and directing (“Three Hotels”). His next production, “Constantinople,” is slated to have its world premiere this fall.

SÃO PAULO, Brazil—The annual world-renowned São Paulo Carnival, which ushers in the Lent, featured a series of floats and dancers paying homage to Armenia, in a segment of the parade appropriately called, “Viva Haysatan,” reported the Agencia Prensa Armenia.

The Armenia-themed floats were the brainchild of the “Rosas de Ouro” samba school, whose dancers performed during the São Paulo in Carnival on Saturday, accompanied by 500 members of Brazil’s Armenian community.

The show started by paying homage to the Armenian Genocide, commemorating the martyrs who were killed in the desert and the rebirth of the Armenians, followed by the colors of the flag representing the the Armenian News, which a bird that symbolizes Armenia.

The first float, “Splendor of Paradise in the Plains of Ararat,” referenced Adam and Eve and Noah’s Ark (which, according to the legend, docked at Mount Ararat), according to estacaoarmenia.com.br.

The second float, “Cradle of Fascinating Warriors,” carried gigantic golden sculptures of King Tigranes the Great as well as Assyrian, Persian, Greek, Roman, and great Armenian warriors.

The third float “The Christian Faith Illuminating the Armenian People” showed the Armenian saints and apostles and history of Christianity in Armenia.

The fourth float carrying Mayr Hayastan (Mother Armenia) titled “Armenian Art – Inheritance of Your Children,” represented Armenian culture and referenced some of its great figures such as Charles Aznavour. Also it featured Mesrob Mashdots, creator of the Armenian alphabet.

In conclusion, Sociedade Rosas de Ouro successfully presented the beauty of Armenia and its culture with a spectacular show.

The governor of the Syrian city of Aleppo, Hussein Diab, praised relations with Armenia during a meeting on Saturday with Armenia’s Ambassador to Syria Tigran Gevorgyan.

According the press service of Armenia’s Foreign Ministery, Diab also praised Armenia’s balanced policy toward Syria, as well as the huge humanitarian assistance during the Syrian war. He particularly emphasized the fact that Armenia is the only country that preserved its twi diplomatic representations in Syria, one of which, the Consulate General of Armenia, operates in Aleppo.

Ambassador Gevorgyan stressed that the Armenians are always ready to help the people of Syrian, a brilliant proof of which is the arrival of the specialized humanitarian mission to Aleppo.

The two also discussed the situation of the Armenian community in Aleppo. The Governor assured that the self-government bodies of Aleppo pay special attention to the issues of Aleppo-Armenians.

On the same day Ambassador Gevorgyan met with the religious and secular leaders of the Armenian community in Aleppo. The Consul General of Armenia in Aleppo Armen Sargsyan, member of the Syrian parliament Jirayr Reisian, the leader of the Prelate of Syrian Archbishop Shahan Sarkissian, the head of the Armenian Evangelical community Harutyun Selimian and the leaders of Aleppo Armenian community institutions were present at the meeting.

The Ambassador noted that Armenia attaches great importance to close cooperation with Diaspora-Armenian institutions. Tigran Gevorgyan assured that the diplomatic representations of Armenia are ready to provide comprehensive support to the Armenian community in Syria.

YEREVAN (Azatutyun.am)—A German-Italian consortium planning to build a new thermal power plant in Armenia has secured over $200 million in funding from the World Bank Group and other multilateral lenders.

The ArmPower consortium consists of a subsidiary of Germany’s Siemens group and two Italian companies. One of them, Renco, will also act as the engineering, procurement and construction contractor for the new Yerevan-based plant that will further diversify foreign ownership in the Armenian energy sector.

Renco had supposedly launched the project with a ground-breaking ceremony in March 2017 attended by then President Serzh Sarkisian. The start of the construction was delayed, however.

Armenia’s current government froze Renco’s contract with the Sarkisian administration shortly after taking office in May 2018. It said the deal is not beneficial for the Armenian side and must be renegotiated.

The two sides signed a revised deal in November. Energy Minister Garegin Baghramyan said concessions made by the Italian firm will allow Armenia to save $160 million in energy expenses over the next 25 years.

Baghramyan also said that electricity to be generated by the new plant will be cheaper than power supplies coming from two other gas-powered facilities that currently meet roughly one-third of the country’s energy needs.

The Washington-based International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, also stressed the project’s economic importance for Armenia on Monday. “A modern 250-megawatt combined-cycle gas turbine power plant in the south of Yerevan will help increase efficiency for gas-fired electricity generation,” it said in a statement.

The statement said the funding for the project includes a “$42 million loan for IFC’s own account” as well as “$121 million from IFC’s innovative syndications platform … plus parallel loans from the Asian Development Bank, the OPEC Fund for International Development, and the German development finance institution DEG.”

In addition, it said, the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), which is also part of the World Bank Group, will provide up to $39 million in loan guarantees to “help Renco manage non-commercial risks.”

“We are committed to starting the work as soon as possible to complete the commissioning of the plant within schedule,” Renco’s chief executive, Giovanni Rubini, was quoted as saying.

Rubini said in November that the construction will take just over two years.

Renco has done business in Armenia since the early 2000s. It has not been involved in the local energy sector until now, investing instead in luxury housing, hotels and office buildings. But the company has built, installed or operated power generation and distribution facilities in other parts of the world.

YEREVAN—The Armenian Revolutionary Federation Bureau, headed by its chairman Hagop Der Khachadourian, held meetings over the weekend with His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, as well as representatives of the “Bright Armenia” opposition faction of parliament.

The Bureau delegation went to Etchmiadzin on Saturday, where it was welcomed by Catholicos Karekin II, according to an announcement by the ARF Public Information office.

The meeting with the Catholicos, touched upon issues relating the challenges faced by Armenia, its people and the Armenian Apostolic Church, as well as Armenia-Diaspora relations.

The ARF representatives introduced their views and concerns on the aforementioned issues to the Catholicos, expressing readiness to cooperate in the name of national unity.

Der Khachadrouian was joined by fellow Bureau member Arsen Hambadtsumyan and ARF Supreme Council of Armenia chairman Ishkhan Saghatelyan on Monday for the meeting with the “Bright Armenia” parliamentary faction, headed by its chairman Edmon Marukyan, who was accompanied by fellow members of parliament Mane Tandilyan and Gevorg Gorgisyan.

The meeting participants discussed inter-party cooperation opportunities, a number of issues of mutual interest, in particular, the national-state agenda, the Armenia-Diaspora relation, as well as issues relating to the current domestic political situation and forming an Armenia-Artsakh military-political alliance.

An agreement was reached to continue the inter-party contacts, discuss the possibilities of coming up with joint initiatives at highlighted cooperation directions, as well as holding consultations on issues of mutual interest if necessary.