Author: Ani Tigranian

On April 25, 2017 the Georgia State Capitol was crowded with Atlanta Armenian-Americans who had gathered there for the annual Armenian Genocide commemoration event hosted by the Armenian National Committee of Georgia. Many state and city-level elected officials were also present at the ceremony. Through the leadership and efforts of the local ANC, Georgia is one of the leading US states in properly commemorating the Armenian Genocide through annual remembrance events as well as proclamations and resolutions issued by the State Legislature, Atlanta City Council, Members of Congress, and other elected officials.

This year the commemoration event included powerful remarks by the ANC of Georgia chairs Sarkis, Aroutioun, and Vardoui Agasarkisians, Georgia Armenian community activists as well as elected officials. In his opening remarks Dr. Sarkis Agasarkisian thanked the Georgia public officials for being outspoken on the Armenian Genocide issue despite the gag-rule attempts by Ankara on many countries. He also recounted the history of the atrocities committed against the Armenian and other Christian minorities by the Ottoman Turkish government and the continuous denial by Turkey of its crime. Dr. Agasarskian mentioned that despite 3 out of every 4 Armenian being massacred in their ancestral homeland, Turkish government’s plan of complete annihilation of the Armenian nation failed because of several factors, including the strong Christian faith and heritage. “Despite the possibility of being saved from the Ottoman sword, many Armenian preferred to die as Christian martyrs and that same Christian faith ensured their ability to revive after finding refuge in the Middle East, Europe, USA, and elsewhere,” Dr. Agasarkisian remarked.

Another factor was the unprecedented humanitarian assistance and compassion shown by the American people and relief efforts undertaken by the Congressionally-mandated Near East Relief organization, which saved around 260 thousand of Armenian lives. Speaking of the continuous Turkish denial he emphasized the importance for Turkey to face its own history – with the Armenian Genocide being the darkest page in that – since otherwise Turkey does not have a chance of becoming a democratic society and a reliable partner of the United States in its global fight against ISIS and other extremist groups in the region, whom Ankara is allegedly now supporting. Turkey will become a true friend of the United States and the West only when it faces its history and recognizes the Armenian Genocide. Dr. Agasarkisian concluded his remarks by reconfirming the commitment and the strong will of Armenians worldwide to continue the march for truth and justice for the Armenian Genocide after 102 years and far beyond.

The speech was followed by a reading of the proclamations issued by the Georgia State legislature and Atlanta City Council, where the state and city authorities were recommitting their strong stance with the Armenian people in their fight for truth and justice for the Armenian Genocide. Other speakers included Kenya Johnson, who brought the message from Fulton County Solicitor General Keith Gammage in commemorating the Armenian Genocide with the Armenian-American community. Robbin Shipp – former Member of the House — from Georgia governor’s office stressed in her speech that the recognition of the Armenian Genocide will prevent the humanity from other genocides. She read the statement by the Georgia Governor Nathan Deal where the governor speaks of the importance to publicly recounting the Armenian Genocide and other painful historic episodes in the world to enhance our sensitivity and consciousness towards others.

In her remarks, Dr. Juliette Stepanian-Apkarian, professor at  Emory University thanked all the elected officials for joining the remembrance event mentioning that all human and civil rights advocates are there for the Armenian Genocide as it is one of the first human rights issues and its universal recognition and condemnation will highly contribute towards promoting and protecting human rights worldwide.

The event concluded with remarks by Nathan Whatson Musheghian who read the statements issued by the legendary Civil Rights activist and Congressman John Lewis, Atlanta City Mayor Kasim Reed, and Noah Whatson Musheghian ended the program with a prayer in memory of all the innocent victims of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923.

Sting has said he is impressed to hear Manchester United fans have used one of his songs for their chant about Henrikh Mkhitaryan, the reports.

United fans sing “Whoa Mkhitaryan, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, he’s our midfield Armenian” to the tune of Englishman in New York.

“I am very happy about that,” Sting said. “I like to see songs repossessed and refitted for different purposes. It is pretty good too.

“As a songwriter I think it is extraordinary the way those chants go around a massive group of people, and suddenly they are all singing the same thing.”

Russian broadcaster Channel One will not broadcast the Eurovision Song Contest next month because the country’s competitor has been barred from host country Ukraine.

Russia’s decision removes any chance of it competing this year, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) said.

Ukraine is refusing to allow Julia Samoilova to perform at Eurovision because she has visited Crimea in 2014.

The EBU has condemned the ban.

It says Ukraine is undermining the non-political nature of the contest.

The union, which produces Eurovision, said it had offered two possible solutions to Channel One. The proposals were for Ms Samoilova to perform via satellite from Russia or for another contestant to be allowed to travel to Ukraine to take her place.

Both were rejected and the broadcaster has now announced it will not televise the event.

“Unfortunately this means Russia will no longer be able to take part in this year’s competition,” the EBU said. “We very much wanted all 43 countries to be able to participate and did all we could to achieve this.”

Joint Press Release by the Republic of Armenia and European Union on the initialling of the Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA):

On 21st of March at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Yerevan, on behalf of the Republic of Armenia Chief negotiator Garen Nazarian, Deputy Foreign Minister and Trade lead negotiator Garegin Melkonian, First Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Investments and on behalf of the European Union (EU) Chief negotiator Luc Devigne, Deputy Managing Director in the European External Action Service and Trade lead negotiator Petros Sourmelis, Head of Unit in the European Commission, initialled the Armenia – EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

The Agreement will be an important step to broaden the scope of bilateral relations between Republic of Armenia and the European Union.

It will strengthen the political dialogue and set a solid basis for the continuation of economic and social reforms. Strong commitments to democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, underpin the new agreement and Armenia-EU future cooperation. The CEPA will also create the framework for stronger cooperation in sectors such as energy, transport and the environment, for new opportunities in trade and investments, and for increased mobility for the benefit of the citizens.

Relations between Armenia and the EU have seen a significant strengthening in recent years. The CEPA is a joint endeavour, which will further deepen their relations within the larger framework of the revised European Neighbourhood Policy and Eastern Partnership. The CEPA will offer EU and Armenia a platform to bring their relations to a new, higher level.

– The Armenian presence in Europe stretches from London to Larnaca, Lisbon to Lviv; the Armenian Catholic Mkhitarian Congregation is among the most impactful examples of that legacy and this year marks a three-century-long presence in one of Europe’s most iconic towns.

The vaporetto leaves from San Zaccaria to one of the most unique corners of Venice, a testament to the centuries of multi-cultural history of that magnificent city. The unique corner is really an island – Isola di San Lazzaro degli Armeni, or the Island of St. Lazarus of the Armenians. This year marks the 300th anniversary of that island becoming home to the Mkhitarian or Mechitarist Congregation.

Mkhitar was born in Sebastia (modern-day Sivas, in central Turkey) in 1676. He joined the Armenian Church at a time when it was facing the challenges of a modernising world. Drawn to Western Christianity and its already-established traditions of education and publishing, Mkhitar ran his own printing house in Constantinople (Istanbul), bringing together other like-minded individuals who longed to rejuvenate and invigorate a community at times struggling in the social and political milieu of the 17th century Ottoman Empire. Facing the resistance of the authorities, Abbot Mkhitar and his followers, who established the congregation named after the founder in 1700, spent some time moving from place to place – first to Greece, then up the Adriatic – before finally establishing themselves on what used to be a leper colony off Venice in 1717.

In the centuries that followed, the Mkhitarian fathers had a profound effect on research, education, and publishing in Europe generally, and for the Armenian world in particular. Still today, the monastery they founded continues to produce books; Venice is one of two cities in the world that can boast having published at least one Armenian book every year for three hundred years or more, with just a few interruptions (the other city being Istanbul). Whether as first-time publications of ancient manuscripts, translations of significant European works, or the other way around, the Armenian legacy has been showcased to the European and broader world through the efforts of these monks, and the doors of Europe have likewise been opened for Armenians thanks to their activities.

“The Mkhitarian Congregation has always served as a bridge,” says Father Serop Jamourlian, “both for tying the Armenian reality to the European world in terms of scholarship and spirituality, and also as a bridge of universal human values: it is a representative of the East in the West and the conveyor of Western ideas to the East.”

Perhaps the most significant impact the Congregation has had involves the development of language and identity. It was the Mkhitarian fathers who first published modern dictionaries of the Armenian language. Modern scientific approaches to research and education also owe much to these Armenian priests in Venice, who once upon a time ran a network of some thirty schools across Europe and the Middle East.

The reputation of San Lazzaro was so strong that Napoleon Bonaparte offered that monastery special permission to continue functioning even after he shut down other religious institutions in Venice in 1810. A few years later, the island’s most famous guest – Lord Byron – spent some months during 1816-1817 studying the Armenian language.

The Mechitarists have suffered some setbacks over the course of their rich history, such as a significant split in the Congregation that led to a second monastery being established in Vienna in 1811. They reunited in 2000. The two had meanwhile carried on Abbot Mkhitar’s mission diligently. Both Venice and Vienna are known as centres of learning for the Armenian world.

Although the Mkhitarian Congregation is not as active as it used to be, with a smaller membership and growing challenges within a generally more secular global environment, it continues to run four schools in places reflecting the footprint of the Armenian Diaspora: Beirut, Los Angeles, Buenos Aires, and Istanbul. A school was established in Yerevan, in the Republic of Armenia, in the year 2007 – a good indication of the renewal of Diaspora-Homeland ties since the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Special commemorations are planned for September during this 300th anniversary year – celebrations alongside the people of Italy and Venice. Father Serop emphasises that their welcoming and hospitable attitude towards the Armenians is based on the experience of many centuries of deep ties. What lies in store for the Mkhitarian Congregation? Father Serop says that the mission has always been and remains, “Service to the Armenian nation”.

Manchester United edged a nervy encounter with Russian minnows FC Rostov at Old Trafford to reach the Europa League quarter-finals with a 2-1 aggregate victory.

Juan Mata got the decisive goal for United when he stabbed in from Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s flick, but Rostov threatened to take the game to extra time and Sergio Romero made two good saves late on.

The United goalkeeper first kept out Sardar Azmoun’s flicked header before thumping away Christian Noboa’s free-kick.

Yerevan will host the first Music Drive International Rock Festival from March 24 to 27. The festival will be held at the National Academic Theatre after Gabriel Sundukyan, but will be accompanied by side events at clubs and the neighboring English Park.

The three-day rock festival has been initiated and organized by the Armenian Ministry of Culture and the Rock Association. According to Minister of Culture Armen Amiryan, the festival will be funded from state budget and informed that 32 million AMD has been allocated for this purpose.

Why a rock festival? “Because rock means youth, freethinking and freedom we all aspire to.  I’m confident the festival will become an annual tradition and we’ll welcome every spring with this beautiful event. It will bring new color and new spirit to the city,” Armen Amiryan says.

The festival will bring together eight rock bands from England, the United States, Sweden, Denmark, etc.

General Coordinator of the festival Vardan Grigoryan says some well-known bands and virtuoso musicians have been invited.

The festival aims to ensure Armenia’s presence on international rock arena, establish traditions in the sphere and provide for an opportunity for exchange of best experience, Vardan Grigoryan says.

New South Wealth Premier Gladys Berejiklian has posed for a fashion spread in The Australian Women’s Weekly, the reports.

According to the source, Berejiklian chose to wear a black dress by her close friend Carla Zampatti in the shot obtained by Fairfax Media. She also turned down a Giorgio Armani ensemble that had been borrowed for the shoot, instead preferring to be photographed in her own pink jacket bought from fast-fashion chain Zara.

“This is my lucky dress. I bought it on sale,” she told the magazine.

The Premier was interviewed for the corresponding feature twice and opens up about her father, her relatives in war-torn Aleppo and the decision to remain childless, an issue that is framed as her “life choice”.

“I’ve never made a conscious decision to choose work over other considerations. It’s just the way it’s happened in my life and I’m very happy with where I am,” she said.

“Although we are a national magazine, we chose to profile Gladys because she is only the 10th female state government leader ever and the second in NSW. We are fierce supporters of all women, whatever their politics,” The Australian Women’s Weekly’s editor-in-chief Kim Doherty told Fairfax Media.

“Gladys has a classic Australian story to tell. In these days of division over immigration, she is an inspiring success story. As she told us, she only spoke Armenian until the age of five.”

Tensions were high at the line of contact between the armed forces of Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan last night, the NKR Defense Ministry reports.

The rival used D-44 cannons, mortars, grenades and firearms of different calibers as it violated the ceasefire 80 times, firing over 950 shots in the direction of the Armenian positions.

The front divisions of the NKR Defense Army follow the developments at the line of contact and take necessary measures to pressure the activeness of the rival.