Category: News

Asbarez – In collaboration with Salmast Heritage Association (SHA), Cambridge Professor of Linguistics, Bert Vaux, conducted a week-long research project on the dialect of Salmast, also believed to be the language of Historic Armenia.

The SHA identified nine Salmasttsi speakers of the dialect, arranged for appropriate space and technological support for interviews, and recorded individual and group sessions. The research subjects were from Haftvan, Mahlam, Sarna, Payajuke, and Akhtkhan. Dr. Vaux studied phonetic as well as written vocabulary words and sentences, and recorded the variations between regional definitions and pronunciations. The totality of the information they shared was qualified as “priceless,” as native speakers of the dialect are aging and not easily accessible. Most importantly, the week-long field work on the Salmast dialect showed that many of the words and definitions brought to light by the nine Salmasttsi interviewees are not found in Muradyan’s dictionary, the foremost authority on Armenian dialects.

Linguistics Professor Vaux received his PhD from Harvard where he taught for nine years. He is an internationally recognized expert in his field, is fluent in several languages including Armenian, and has published several textbooks and numerous papers on such topics as Historical Linguistics, Phonology, Dialectology and related subjects. He enjoys working with native speakers to document endangered languages, especially dialects of Armenian, Abkhaz, and English.

Dr. Vaux’ partial list of publications includes: The Phonology of Armenian; The Armenian Dialect of New Julfa, Isfahan; Eastern Armenian, A Textbook; A Textbook of Western Armenian; Hamshetsma: The Language of the Armenians of Hamshen; The Armenian Dialect of Khodorjur; Vowel Harmony in the Armenian Dialect of Marash; Syllabification in Armenian, Universal Grammar and the Lexicon; Armenian Encyclopedia of Languages and Linguistics and more.

The  has listed American-Armenian designer Carolyn Rafaelian, a mother of three children, among the 50 Most Powerful Moms of 2017.

“A new addition to , Carolyn was dubbed leader of the jewelry world with an estimated net worth of $700 million. She was born into the jewelry business, but, initially, working in her parent’s Rhode Island factory served as punishment.

She told  that her Armenian-American parents would send her and her four siblings to “card earrings” when they fell out of line. Eventually, she started designing special talismans for friends, adorned with symbols and saints that offered spiritual protection. Those took off and Alex and Ani was born in 2004—so named for her two oldest daughters.

Carolyn gives back through her Charity by Design division, donating a portion of the proceeds from specially designed charms to more than 50 nonprofits, including March of Dimes, Living Water International and VH-1 Save the Music. Last year, they donated $2 million to UNICEF. When she started the company, she told DuJour she was honest with her then-young kids about what her life as a working woman was like.

“Let’s not forget, we are a strong species,” she said. “I think men have their challenges now, women have their challenges now, but it’s only a challenge if you want it to be a challenge. My father did not treat any of us differently, my brother or his girls. We did what we needed to do, we were all treated the same, and we made what we made out of life.”

Asbarez – On Saturday, eight Armenian-American received the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor during an official ceremony at the iconic and historic gateway for hundreds of thousands who were welcomed into the United States by the Statue of Liberty and made America their home.

The National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations, which awards the medals, announced that Varant Frank Melkonian, Dr. Garo M. Tertzakian, Ara Tekian, Joan Agajanian Quinn, Lucine Mardirosian, Harvey, Andy Andranik Madadian, Ruth Bedevian and Kurken Yetvart Berksanlar will receive medals of honor.

From successful businessmen, to a pioneering physician, to artists who enrich our lives through art and music and those who dedicate their lives to the advancement of our community through philanthropy, service to church and our organizations, the eight Armenians represent a cross-section of our ever-expanding reality.

The eight Armenians were joined by such luminaries as  journalist Fareed Zakaria, and former astronaut Buzz Aldrin. An Ellis Island International Medal of Honor was also presented to Malala Yousafzai, the teenager who won the Nobel Peace Prize after being shot in her native Pakistan while fighting for a girl’s right to an education.

According to the NECO website, “the Ellis Island Medals of Honor embody the spirit of America in their celebration of patriotism, tolerance, brotherhood and diversity. They recognize individuals who have made it their mission to share with those less fortunate their wealth of knowledge, indomitable courage, boundless compassion, unique talents and selfless generosity; all while maintaining the traditions of their ethnic heritage as they uphold the ideals and spirit of America. As always, NECO remains dedicated to the maintenance and restoration of America’s greatest symbol of its immigrant history, Ellis Island.”

Past Armenian-American Ellis Island Medal recipient s include, Harry Nadjarian, Mike Sarian, Vahe Karapetian, Elizabeth Aghbabian, Maria Mehranian, Dalida Keuroghlian, Sylva Akaragian and Christopher Atamian among dozens of others.

Arsen Poghosyan, Deputy Head of the General Department of Civil Aviation of Armenia, received a delegation led by Eamonn Brennan, Chief Executive of the Irish Aviation Authority.

The meeting addressed a wide range of issues related to air cooperation between Armenia and Ireland, including the perspective of establishing direction air communication between the two countries, which will have a positive influence on the development of interstate relations.

 

 

 

Iranians will be electing the country’s new President on May 19. Five candidates will be running in the election after Tehran Mayor Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf withdrew from the race, urging voters to cast their ballot for conservative cleric Ebrahim Rais.

At a meeting held last week representatives of the Armenian community compiled a two-page petition addressed to Iranian presidential hopefuls.

“Iranian Armenians are free to opt for any candidate. We have no lobbying in its classical sense. Most Armenians back the reformists. This does not mean, however, that there are no supporters of conservatives,” Armenian member of the Iranian Majlis Karen Khanlaryan said in an interview with .

The community, however, shares common concerns, which have been presented to the candidates.

“We have raised the issue of Armenian Genocide recognition, and demanded material and moral support for the development and preservation of the Armenian community,” Karen Khanlaryan said.

Speaking about the concerns, the lawmaker said: “A number of churches and schools need to be protected, but the Armenian community is unable to cover the costs by itself. The budget allowances provided to the community are not enough,” he said.

For Karen Khanlaryan, recognition of the Armenian Genocide is of primary importance and should be on the agenda of the elected President.

“The issue of Armenian Genocide recognition should come on the agenda, considering the regional developments,” the MP said, adding, however, that “it’s hard to predict the results.”

The community has also demanded to involve Armenians in government activities. “We have not had any representative in the executive. There have been office employees, but no has been appointed to a political post,” Khanlaryan said.

The petition has been sent out to all candidates, even the one who withdrew from the race. There has not been any response.

Karen Khanlaryan noted that “the incumbent President has spoken about minority rights,” and the MP sees this as a hint.

The Azerbaijani side used firearms of different caliber as it violated the ceasefire about 55 times at the line of contact with the Artsakh forces.

The rival fired over 1,200 shots in the direction of the Armenian positions on May 15-16.

The Azerbaijani side also used 60mm mortars (3 shells) and an antitank grenade launcher (9 shells) at different sections of the line of contact.

The rival used a Spike guided missile in the eastern direction, partially damaging one unit of military equipment. No casualties were reported.

Advanced units of the Artsakh Defense Army resorted to response actions to pressure the activeness of the rival and confidently continued with their military duty all along the line of contact.

Former adviser to Emmanuel Macron, when he was in Bercy, Astrid Panosyan is a favorite to be named France’s new Minister of Employment and Social Affairs,  reports.

The government is expected to be announced later today.

Mrs. Astrid Panosyan has been Chairwoman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer at Societe de Tayninh SA since September 1, 2015. Mrs. Panosyan has been the Chief Resources Officer and Member of the Management Board at Unibail-Rodamco SE since September 1, 2015 and serves as its Chief Executive Officer in charge of Central Operations.

She serves as the President of Doria SAS, Unibail Management SAS and Espace Expansion Immobilière SAS. She also holds the position of member of the Management Board of Uni-Expos SA.

She served as an Advisor and Member of the Cabinet of French Minister of Economy, Industry and Digital Affairs, where she was in charge of economic attractiveness and international investments. She served as the Secretary of the Board of Groupama S.A. until September 22, 2014 and General Secretary since 2011. She joined Groupama S.A. in 2002, where she held various senior positions in the international department, the department of strategy and the department of finance.

Previously, she joined AXA’s strategy department in 1998. She served as Head Officer of Strategy and Head Officer of Business Support & Development Asia-Pacific at AXA. She began her career at the AT Kearney. She serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Unibail-Rodamco Participations SAS and U&R Management BV. She served as a Director of Cegid Group SA from December 20, 2011 to November 27, 2014. She was a member of the Board of Directors at CEDID Group S.A. Mrs. Panosyan graduated from HEC Paris, IEP Paris, Ecole des Hautes Etudes Commerciales de Montreal and Kennedy School of Government of Harvard University.

On 16 May Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan visited the Talish village of the Martakert region, Artsakh President’s Press Office reports.

The President got acquainted with the activities being carried out in the village and gave corresponding instructions to the heads of appropriate structures for proper implementation of the activities.

Photo: AFP    

The UN Security Council has unanimously condemned North Korea’s latest missile test and warned of new sanctions, the BBC reports.

In a statement, the 15-member Council demanded that Pyongyang conduct no further such tests.

North Korea earlier said the missile it had tested on Sunday was a new type of rocket capable of carrying a large nuclear warhead.

The missile travelled some 700km (435 miles), reaching an altitude of 2,000km and landing in the sea west of Japan.

North Korea said it was a test of the abilities of a “newly developed ballistic rocket”.

In April, AGBU Lebanon announced its participation in the United Nations Global Compact Platform (UNGC), an international platform for development, implementation and disclosure of responsible and sustainable policies and practices. It calls for the participation of both businesses and NGOs to work toward a vision of creating “an engaged community that advances sustainability practices nation-wide.”

AGBU Lebanon is the first Armenian non-profit organization in Lebanon to take part in the UN Global Compact platform and supports the ten principles of the compact with respect to human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption. “Our leadership believes that the key to reaching out to the Lebanese community at large lies in partnerships. This partnership follows in the footsteps of earlier partnership with the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs at the American University of Beirut, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Foundation of Human and Humanitarian Rights, Lebanon. With this commitment, we express our intent to support the Global Compact by advancing these principles and will make a clear statement of this commitment to our stakeholders and the public,” says Anita Lebiar, the executive director of AGBU Lebanon.

AGBU Lebanon believes it is possible and crucial to create and ensure sustainability, a belief that coincides with the vision of the Global Compact Network in Lebanon. “Our participation will reflect our values: envisioning the Lebanon we want; setting ambitious and achievable community targets; institutionalizing and mobilizing to make these targets happen; and implementing and monitoring them. We look forward to partnering with other UN agencies and being part of other platforms, the vision of which align with our scope of work. UNGC is just the start,” says AGBU Lebanon District president Gerard Tufenkjian. Through this partnership, AGBU Lebanon is also demonstrating a commitment to act responsibly; contribute to the development of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, such as quality education, gender equality and partnerships; and collaborate with national and regional stakeholders on various projects.

Officially launched at the UN headquarters in New York in 2015, UNGC is the largest sustainability platform with 9,000 business, 4,000 non-business and 85 local networks in more than 160 countries worldwide. It calls for institutions to embrace, support and enact, within their sphere of influence, a set of core values in the areas of human rights, labor standards environment and anti corruption.