Category: News

On June 2 the first resident-Ambassador of Japan to Armenia Eiji Taguchi handed over the copies of his credentials to Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian.

Congratulating the Ambassador on the occasion of his appointment and wishing him a fruitful activity, Minister Nalbandian attached importance to the opening of the diplomatic mission of Japan in Yerevan. Minister Nalbandian expressed hope that the opening of the mission would give a new impetus to the development of bilateral relations. Edward Nalbandian expressed gratitude for Japan’s continued support to Armenia since the independence.

Thanking for the reception and wishes, Ambassador Eiji Taguchi reassured that would exert maximum efforts for the strengthening and deepening of bilateral friendly relations.

During the meeting the sides touched upon a wide range of issues related to the Armenian-Japanese agenda, attached importance to the development of parliamentary ties, discussed the steps taken to deepen trade and economic cooperation, exchanged views on the strengthening of interaction within the International organizations as well as holding political consultations between Foreign Ministries.

Minister Nalbandian expressed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ support to the newly established Embassy of Japan in the implementation of its mission.

The international auction house Sotheby’s withdrew from auction on Tuesday a painting by Ivan Aivazovsky that Russia’s Interior Ministry said last week had been stolen in 1997 from a private collection in Moscow, Reuters reports.

The auction house said “Evening in Cairo” by Russian artist of Armenian descent Ivan Aivazovsky, had been withdrawn from sale at the request of the consignor, or seller.

Russia’s Interior Ministry had asked that British police block the auction.

Sotheby’s said last week it had found no record of the painting in the databases of stolen art and would proceed with the sale on June 2, with the agreement of the consignor and the family which said it had been stolen.

In an emailed statement on Tuesday, Sotheby’s said: “Ivan Aivazovsky’s Evening in Cairo, Lot 23, in Sotheby’s 2 June 2015 Sale of Russian Pictures has been withdrawn at the request of the consignor.”

It said there was “no further information available”.

Russia’s Interior Ministry declined immediate comment, saying it would make its position clear later on Tuesday.

The Interior Ministry did not name the complainant but Sotheby’s earlier identified them as the Nosenko family, which Russian media said had purchased the painting in the 1940s.

The 1870 painting had been listed as a lot on the website of Sotheby’s, with an estimated value of 1.5-2 million pounds ($2-$3 million), as part of a collection of Russian pictures due to be sold in London on June 2.

The Sotheby’s website had listed the work’s provenance as being in the collection of N.I. Dedov.

Sotheby’s kept the identity of the seller confidential but said that it had acquired the painting in good faith in 2000.

As an expression of human kindness, Dignity Health Glendale Memorial Hospital employees, physicians, and supporters commemorated the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide by making personal donations benefitting the Armenian Relief Society (ARS).

Funds raised were matched by the Glendale Memorial Hospital Foundation, and on June 10th, nearly $22,000 will be presented to ARS to support mental health services for Glendale community members.

Some of Canada’s most renowned artists received lifetime achievement awards this year’s Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards Gala, the country’s most prestigious award given for artistic accomplishments.

Oscar-nominated Armenian Canadian filmmaker Atom Egoyan, known for works such as “The Sweet Hereafter” and “The Captive,” was among the laureates at the award ceremony held Saturday at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.

Other award winners included songwriter Sarah McLachlan, actress and director Diana Leblanc, composer and conductor Walter Boudreau, and actor R. H. Thomson.

World famous Armenian photographer Yousuf Karsh between 1943 and 1987, including the three powerful portraits on view—capturing her first as a warm, spontaneous princess and then later as the elegant queen she became, the British Embassy of Armenia writes in a Facebook post.

Yousuf Karsh has snapped portraits of some of the most iconic figures of the last century. His wide-ranging pool of subjects includes Winston Churchill, John F. Kennedy, Joan Crawford, and Walt Disney.

 

 

A Canadian court has ordered British American TobaccoPLC, Philip Morris International Inc. and Japan Tobacco Inc. to pay 15.6 billion Canadian dollars ($12.5 billion) in damages to Quebec smokers after a 17-year legal battle, in the latest case to roil the global tobacco industry, reports.

More than one million Quebecers—comprising smoking addicts and people who had become sick from smoking—were represented in class-action suits claiming tobacco companies should be held responsible for selling a harmful product and obscuring the health impact of smoking.

Imperial Tobacco Canada, a unit of British American Tobacco, was ordered to pay 10.4 billion Canadian dollars. Rothman’s Benson & Hedges—a unit of Philip Morris—and JTI-Macdonald Ltd., a unit of Japan Tobacco, were also ordered to make payments. The case stretched back to 1998 and went to trial in 2012.

The judgment called on the companies to pay initial compensation of at least 1.13 billion Canadian dollars within 60 days, regardless of whether they appeal the ruling. Imperial Tobacco Canada’s share is $743 million Canadian dollars.

The firms argued that Canadian smokers have had a high awareness of smoking health risks for decades, not least through health warnings on cigarette packaging.

A Belgian municipal agent in charge of ”street peacekeeping” in Molenbeek, a commune of Brussels, will be fired after he said on Facebook that he would kill “each and every Jew,” the reports. 

“The word Jew itself is dirty. If I were in Israel, frankly, I would do to the Jews what they do with the Palestinians — slaughter each and every one of them,” Mohamed N., who used the pseudonym Bebeto Gladiateur, wrote on Friday during a debate on the social network.

The comment came during a discussion about a Brussels MP of Turkish origin who was excluded from her party for not acknowledging the Armenian genocide.

Mohamed N. tried to divert the conversation over to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict but was reprimanded by the thread’s initiator.

His comments caused an uproar.” This is very serious and unacceptable ”, said Francoise Schepmans, mayor of Molenbeek, a commune with a large Muslim population,” adding that the anti-Semitic remarks are all the more unacceptable that they are made by a person who plays the role of mediator in the streets of the town. ‘’They are the image of communal authority.’’

“It is obvious that we cannot tolerate that and I have launched a dismissal procedure,’’ she said.

I decided to launch a dismissal procedure,” she added

The delegation headed by Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan will participate in the regular sitting of the Council of Defense Ministers of the CIS participating states to be held in Kazakhstan on June 3.

Minister Ohanyan will leave Kazakhstan for Tajikistan on June 4 to participate in the sitting of the Council of Defense Ministers of the CSTO member states.

Egypt intends to establish a free trade zone with the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), comprising Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus and Armenia, by the end of 2016, the Egyptian ambassador to Russia told

A free trade zone deal between the sides was discussed in February during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Cairo. Egypt sent an official request to establish a free trade zone with the EEU last year.

“There is a kick-off already in the negotiation process and we estimate that it is going to take from 12-18 months,” Mohamed Elbadri told Sputnik.

At this stage of negotiations, the envoy added, each party will study the benefits of mutual cooperation before entering into direct talks regarding the details of the agreement.

The treaty should cover all trade in commodities between the countries.

The Russia-led EEU officially came into force on January 1. The bloc aims to achieve the free flow of goods, services, capital and labor across its member states, with provisions for a greater integration in the future.

Last week, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev approved a free trade zone agreement between the EEU and Vietnam.

More than 1,200 people gathered for the groundbreaking ceremony of the Armenian Genocide Memorial Monument at Sunset Park which is the largest area park and centrally located in Las Vegas, reports.

Armenian-American Cultural Society of Las Vegas (AACS) is leading this project with the support of all Las Vegas Armenian churches and organizations. The project was initiated in 2006. Since then, AACS Board Members had several meetings with Las Vegas city authorities and Sunset Park was selected as the future location for the Armenian Genocide Memorial Monument.

Clark County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the monument proposal on January 5, 2015. The monument is a gift from AACS and the Nevada Armenian-American community and Clark County Board of Commissioners accepted the monument to be placed at Sunset Park.

The project is estimated to cost $200,000 which will cover the design and construction of the monument in addition to a maintenance agreement reached with Clark County Parks and Recreation Department.

The $200,000 is anticipated to cover all groundbreaking, inauguration, maintenance expenses as well as funds to publish a book regarding the Las Vegas Armenian-American community history leading to the construction of the monument. The book will be authored by UNLV History Department Professor Michelle Tusan.

Mistress of Ceremonies Lenna Hovanessian invited the guests to stand for the flags presentation by Las Vegas Homenetmen Artsakh chapter scouts followed by both the Armenian and USA national anthems sang by Maral Saccoyan. After the emcee’s introduction, the newly appointed Honorary Consul of Republic of Armenia in Las Vegas, Adroushan Andy Armenian delivered the keynote speech. Armenian provided a brief history of the Las Vegas Armenian community going back to 1911, when the first Armenian family settled in the area. Armenian also referred to the State of Nevada saving the lives of tens of thousands of Armenian orphans by donating in 1919 over $100,000 to the Near East Relief Fund as part of fundraising efforts that was taking place across USA during that period.

Armenian concluded his remarks by thanking America and thanking the State of Nevada for providing the Armenian-American community an opportunity for new beginnings in fabulous Las Vegas. The monument at Sunset Park will be a gift from the Armenian-American community in Las Vegas to the people of Southern Nevada so that new generations remember the tragic history in order not to repeat such terrible deeds in the future.

Armen Anooshian provided the latest update regarding the monument fundraising progress stating that all building department approvals are in place and that $122,000 in donations have already been raised. We estimate construction to start in July with completion by end of September 2015. Anooshian shared the podium with AACS veteran Board members Hriyr Dadaian, Arpiar Babikian and Garry Deratzou who all emotionally expressed their appreciation of this landmark event.

Hovanessian invited official guests who took the podium and expressed their support for the construction of the Armenian Genocide Memorial Monument at Sunset Park while condemning the Armenian Genocide and urging President Obama to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide. Among the speakers who presented proclamations were US Senator Dean Heller, US Congresswoman Dina Titus, US Congressman Cresent Hardy, Clark County Commission Chairman Steve Sisolak, Clark County Commissioner Mary Beth Scow, City of Las Vegas Councilwoman Lois Tarkanian and Councilman Stavros Anthony. Also Present was Nevada GOP Chair Michael McDonald and representatives of Nevada Lieutenant Governor Mark Hutchison, Senator Harry Reid and Congressman Joe Heck.

As a guest speaker, Deputy Consul General, Valery Mkrtumian from the Consulate General of Republic of Armenia in Los Angeles, on behalf of the Republic of Armenia greeted the official guests and members of the Las Vegas Armenian-American community. Mkrtumian expressed his appreciation for State of Nevada’s official recognition of the Armenian Genocide as well as Nevada Legislators who on April 14, 2015 adopted proclamations at the State capitol, Carson City, in both the State Assembly and State Senate.

After the official remarks community members gathered at the future monument site for the groundbreaking service lead by the clergy. Archpriest Fr. Nareg Matarian, Archpriest Fr. Avedis Torossian, Fr. Arsen Kassabian, Pastor Sam Agulian, Pastor Nerses Kopalyan, Father Nadim Abou Zeid from the Lebanese Maronite St. Sharbel church as well Pastors from the Ethiopian and Assyrian churches participated in ground blessing prayer service.

The ceremonial first turning of the earth took place with the participation of Senator Dean Heller, Congressman Cresent Hardy, Clark County Commission Chairman Steve Sisolak, Clark County Commissioner Mary Bath Scow, City of Las Vegas Councilwoman Lois Tarkanian, City of Las Vegas Councilman Stavros Anthony, Honorary Consul of Republic of Armenia in Las Vegas Andy Armenian and AACS President Levon Gulbenkian.

Reverend Fathers, followed by representatives of all local Armenian-American organizations, major donors and past and present AACS Board members took their turn for ceremonial turning of the earth.

A cultural program followed where dancers from Armenian Dance Academy of Las Vegas performed several dances followed by recitation, songs and dances performed by ARS Shoushi Chapter Saturday School students.

At the conclusion of the program, Emcee Lenna Hovanessian thanked the Centennial Commemoration Organizing Committee members and recognized the efforts of the committee chairman Abe Kassamanian for his hard work. Hovanessian also thanked Clark County Parks & Recreation Department management, staff and the park police for their valuable support.

A large number of community members then headed to Las Vegas Boulevard where a caravan of “Billboard Trucks” drove along the Strip all night long raising awareness about the Armenian Genocide Centennial to tens of thousands of tourists on Las Vegas Boulevard.